What
is Tramadol and How Does It Work?
Tramadol is a prescription-only pain medicine intended for
people who have moderate to moderately severe chronic pain. Tramadol helps your body's system relieve pain in two
important ways. Laboratory studies suggest that first, Tramadol acts directly on parts of the brain and spinal cord
to reduce the amount of pain. Second, it reduces the size of
the pain signal passed from one nerve to another. Tramadol
works differently from an NSAID (which stands for
nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug and is pronounced
"EN-sayd"), such as ibuprofen. Tramadol is also
different from other pain medications, such as codeine or
morphine. While the mode of action of Tramadol is not
completely understood, laboratory studies suggest that at
least two complementary mechanisms appear applicable:
binding of parent and M1 metabolite to opioid receptors and
weak inhibition of the re-uptake of norephinephrine and
serotonin.
Who
Should Not Take Tramadol?
Cases of abuse and dependence on Tramadol have been reported.
Tramadol should not be used in opioid-dependent patients.
Since Tramadol can reinitiate physical dependence, it is not
recommended for patients with a tendency to drug abuse, a
history of drug dependence, or chronically using opioids.
Additionally,
anyone who has had an allergic-type reaction to either Tramadol or any product containing an opioid medicine (like
TylenolŪ* with Codeine) should not take Tramadol.
Talk
with your doctor if you may be pregnant, or are trying to
become pregnant, before using Tramadol or any other medicine.
Safe use during pregnancy has not been established.
As
with all prescription medicines, you should not share your Tramadol tablets with anyone else. Also, you should not take
medicines that have not been prescribed specifically for
you.
All
prescription medicines should be taken under the medical
supervision of your doctor.
*TylenolŪ is a registered trademark of McNeil Consumer
Products Company.
Why
Has My Doctor Prescribed Tramadol for Me?
Tramadol may be a good choice for people who need effective
relief of chronic pain. This patient group may include:
People at risk of stomach ulcers. Tramadol has not been
associated with ulcers or stomach bleeding in medical
studies. People taking certain medicines to control their
high blood pressure. Tramadol does not interfere with the ways
in which various blood pressure medicines work. People at
risk of kidney problems. Tramadol does not affect the
hormone-like system that helps keep the kidneys working
normally; this is a special consideration in older people.
Can
I Take Tramadol Along with Other Medications?
There are certain medications that should be used with
caution while taking Tramadol. These other medications include
tranquilizers, sleeping pills, antidepressants, and opioid
pain medicines. Be sure to talk with your doctor about all
other medicines you are taking before starting your
prescription for Tramadol.
Can
I Take Tramadol And Drink Alchohol?
Tramadol should not be taken with alcohol-containing
beverages.
Does
Tramadol Have Side Effects?
All medicines, including Tramadol, can cause side effects.
People who experienced side effects with Tramadol in medical
studies usually did so at the beginning of treatment. The
most frequently reported side effects experienced with Tramadol were constipation, nausea, dizziness, headache,
somnolence, and vomiting. Patients should talk to their
doctors about any side effects they experience while taking Tramadol.
Tramadol
may impair your ability to drive a car or operate machinery.
Seizures
have been reported in patients taking Tramadol. The risk of
seizures is increased with doses of Tramadol above the
recommended range. You should not take more than 400 mg of Tramadol (eight 50 mg tablets) per day.
Tramadol
increases the risk of seizures in patients taking certain
medications for other medical conditions (e.g., tricyclic
antidepressants, selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors,
or opioids). Tramadol may enhance the seizure risk in patients
taking MAO inhibitors, neuroleptics, or other drugs that
reduce the seizure threshold or in patients with epilepsy,
those with a history of seizures, or in patients with a
recognized risk for seizure (such as head trauma, metabolic
disorders, alcohol and drug withdrawal, CNS infections).
Patients
with a history of severe, life-threatening allergic (anaphylactoid)
reactions to codeine and other opioids may be at increased
risk and therefore should not receive Tramadol.
How
Should I Take Tramadol?
You will get the best pain relief by following your doctor's
instructions and taking Tramadol as it was prescribed for you.
Tramadol may be taken with or without food. You may find it
easiest to take your Tramadol tablets at the same times every
day. In any case, you should not take more than the dose
prescribed, and you should never take more than 2 tablets in
a 4-hour period. Talk with your doctor and pharmacist about
all of the medicines you are currently taking. Be sure to
tell your doctor and pharmacist if you have any allergies,
or if you have ever had an allergic reaction to any
medicine. And report any unusual developments or problems
that may appear.
How
Should Tramadol Be Stored?
Tramadol should be stored at room temperature away from heat
and direct light. Tramadol should be kept in the same
container in which you received it from the pharmacy.
Remember, Tramadol and all medications should be kept out of
the reach of children.
Why
Is Chronic Pain So Hard to Treat?
Despite all of the remarkable progress in many areas of
medicine in the recent past, pain remains one of the most
difficult medical conditions to treat. This is especially
true of chronic pain, which is prolonged pain caused by
disease or pain that persists after an acute injury has
healed. There are several reasons why:
- Precise
medical evaluation of pain and its causes is often
difficult.
- The
type and intensity of pain can vary from one person to
another.
- Different
people respond differently to treatment.
If you
are like most people who have a chronic painful condition,
your pain just won't go away and may actually make it hard
for you to lead your life as you would like to.
What
Else Might I Do to Manage My Pain?
Pain medication is only one way to manage pain effectively.
There are some changes you can make in your daily life to
help keep your pain under control. Your doctor may also
recommend a number of other ways to control pain. Talk with
your doctor about a daily plan that can help you.
What
You Can Do:
- Learn
more about your condition
- Take
your medicine as recommended by your doctor
- Get
plenty of sleep
- Use
pain-friendly devices, like can openers and doorknob
attachments
- Wear
clothing with zippers instead of buttons
.
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