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Tramadol

Tramadol

Brand Names

Rybix ODT, Ryzolt, Ultram, Ultram ER

What is Tramadol

Tramadol belongs to the group of medicines called opioid analgesics. It acts in the central nervous system (CNS) to relieve pain. If it is used for a long time, it may become habit-forming causing mental or physical dependence. Physical dependence may lead to side effects when you stop taking the medicine.

Side effects of Tramadol

Tramadol may cause some unwanted effects. But not all of these side effects may occur. If you notice any of these side effects, you should immediately contact your doctor.

Such side effects as:

Abdominal or stomach fullness
Abnormal or decreased touch sensation
Blisters under the skin, Bloating
Blood in the urine, blood pressure increased
Chest pain or discomfort
Convulsions (seizures)
Darkened urine, difficult urination, frequent urge to urinate
Dizziness or lightheadedness when getting up from a lying or sitting position
Heart rate increased, Irregular heartbeat
Indigestion
Numbness and tingling of the face, fingers, or toes
Pain in the arms, legs, or lower back, especially pain in the calves or heels upon exertion
Pains in the stomach, side, or abdomen, possibly radiating to the back
Pale bluish-colored or cold hands or feet, trembling and shaking of the hands or feet
Seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there
Severe cramping, severe nausea, severe redness, swelling, and itching of the skin
Trouble performing routine tasks
Yellow eyes or skin

Indication

Tramadol is a prescribed medication and it used to treat moderate to moderately severe pain.Tramadol was marketed as a medication with weak narcotic effects and little potential for addiction. According to results, many doctors came to view tramadol as a relatively safe medication for use in people at risk for drug abuse, such as people who had problems with drug or alcohol abuse before. However, research has since demonstrated that tramadol works primarily through morphine-like activity, and numerous cases of abuse and dependence have been reported.

Tramadol is used to relieve moderate to moderately severe pain, including pain after surgery. The extended-release or long-acting tablets are used for chronic ongoing pain.

Precautions

You should not take this medication if you are allergic to tramadol, if you have ever been addicted to drugs or alcohol, or if you have ever attempted suicide.

Never take tramadol while you are intoxicated (drunk) or taking any of the following:

alcohol or street drugs;
narcotic pain medicine;
sedatives or tranquilizers such as Valium;
medicine for depression or anxiety;
medicine for mental illness (such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia).

In some people taking tramadol have occurred Seizures. Talk with your doctor about your seizure risk, which may be higher if you have:

a history of drug or alcohol addiction;
a history of epilepsy or other seizure disorder;
a history of head injury;
a metabolic disorder;

if you are also taking an antidepressant, muscle relaxer, narcotic, antipsychotic, or medicine for nausea and vomiting.

To be sure you can safely take tramadol, inform your doctor if you have any of these other conditions:

kidney disease (or if you are on dialysis);
cirrhosis or other liver disease;
a stomach disorder;
a history of depression, mental illness, or thoughts of suicide.

Dosage forms

For patients with moderate to moderately severe chronic pain not requiring rapid onset of analgesic effect, the tolerability of tramadol hydrochloride can be improved by initiating therapy with a titration regimen: The total daily dose may be increased by 50 mg as tolerated every 3 days to reach 200 mg/day (50 mg q.i.d.). After titration, tramadol hydrochloride tablets 50 mg to 100 mg can be administered as needed for pain relief every four to six hours, not to exceed 400 mg per day.

For the subset of patients for whom rapid onset of analgesic effect is required and for whom the benefits outweigh the risk of discontinuation due to adverse events associated with higher initial doses, tramadol hydrochloride tablets 50 mg to 100 mg can be administered as needed for pain relief every four to six hours, not to exceed 400 mg per day.

Tramadol hydrochloride tablet, 50 mg are available as white capsule shaped film coated tablets, debossed with “377” on one side and plain on the other side.