| Q: |
What is Tramadol? |
| A: | Tramadol (tramadol hydrochloride) is a prescription-only synthetic pain relief medicine intended for people with moderate to moderately severe pain. Tramadol tablets are often prescribed for chronic or post-surgical pain relief. Tramadol is the generic version of Ultram. |
| Q: | How does Tramadol work? |
| A: |
Tramadol (and Ultram) work quite differently from NSAIDs like ibuprofen, and pain relief narcotics like codeine and morphine. Although the exact mechanism is not known for sure, lab studies suggest Tramadol acts directly on parts of the brain and spinal cord to reduce the amount of pain. And it also reduces the size of the pain signal passed from one nerve to another. |
| Q: | What are advantages of Tramadol over other pain relief medications? |
| A: | Tramadol is a powerful narcotic-like pain reliever but it isn’t a narcotic, so is less addictive (although it may become habit forming over time). Tramadol has the additional advantages of not interfering with blood pressure or breathing. And because Tramadol is a generic pain relief drug, it will likely cost less than the brand name version. |
| Q: | What factors will my doctor consider in deciding if Tramadol is right for me? |
| A: |
There are several health factors involved in the decision to use Tramadol or not. Be sure to tell your doctor if you: |
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| Q: | What about drug interactions between Tramadol and other medicines I might be taking? |
| A: | Be sure to tell your doctor if you are taking any of these medications, as there may be an unwanted drug interaction: |
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| Q: | Are there any side effects from taking Tramadol? |
| A: | Most prescription drugs have some side effects. The more common side effects experienced by patients taking Tramadol include: |
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Abdominal or stomach pain; agitation; anxiety; constipation; cough; diarrhea; discouragement; dizziness; drowsiness; dry mouth; feeling of warmth; feeling sad or empty; feeling unusually cold; fever; general feeling of discomfort or illness; headache; heartburn; itching of the skin; irritability; joint pain; loss of appetite; loss of interest or pleasure; loss of strength or weakness; muscle aches and pains; nausea; nervousness; redness of the face, neck, arms and occasionally, upper chest; restlessness; runny nose; shivering; skin rash; sleepiness or unusual drowsiness; sore throat; stuffy nose; sweating; tiredness; trouble concentrating; unusual feeling of excitement; unusual tiredness or weakness; vomiting; weakness. |
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These more serious side effects, while uncommon, require immediate medical attention: |
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Change in consciousness; chest pain or discomfort; convulsions (seizures); decreased awareness or responsiveness; difficulty in breathing; dizziness or fainting; lack of muscle tone; lightheadedness; loss of consciousness; pinpointed pupils of the eyes; severe sleepiness; shortness of breath; slow or irregular heartbeat; unusual tiredness. These are rare but serious side effects that have been reported with Tramadol and should be treated immediately. |
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| Q: |
Can I drink alcohol while taking Tramadol? |
| A: |
You should not drink alcoholic beverages while taking Tramadol as it will augment the effects of the alcohol. You also should not take Tramadol with other depressants that cause drowsiness, such as antihistamines, allergy and cold medications, sedatives, tranquilizers or sleeping aids, narcotics, prescription pain relief medicine, barbiturates, seizure medication, muscle relaxants or anesthetics. |
| Q: | How do I take Tramadol? |
| A: | You will get the best pain relief by following your doctor’s instructions and taking Tramadol as it was prescribed for you. It may be taken with or without food. You may find it easiest to take your Tramadol tablets at the same time every day. You should not take more than the dose prescribed, and you should never take more than 2 Tramadol tablets in a 4-hour period. |
