Tramadol and its use in medicine
Tramadol is a medicine that can be purchased only with a prescription. Usually, it’s taken orally. There are 2 kinds of tablets on the market: immediate-release formation and extended-release formation. The main difference between these pills is the time required for the active component to start working.
Tramadol tablets are quite expensive but you can save lots of money if buy a generic version. Such a drug is sold under the brand name Ultram. It’s a great solution because it doesn’t cost much and has the same effect on the body. The only thing to consider is the lack of variations: generic drugs may not be presented in all the forms and strengths.
Tramadol belongs to the so-called controlled medications. It means that your treatment with Tramadol will be under the doctor’s supervision.
What does Tramadol do?
Tramadol is known for its painkilling features.
Patients can take Tramadol with other drugs to enhance the effect. Such treatment is called combination therapy.
The Tramadol effect on the body
Tramadol has been classified as an opioid medication. It works the same way as other opioid drugs and treat similar conditions.
If we describe the way Tramadol works, it’s safe to say that the drug lowers the level of pain sensed by a patient’s brain. In this sense, Tramadol acts as endorphins – the natural painkiller released by the body. The receptors that transmit the pain signals to the brain are bound by the medicine. As a result, you think you’re in less pain.
Can Tramadol cause side effects?
Yes, it totally can. The main downside of Tramadol is that it makes you feel sleepy. Avoid driving or using any dangerous tools or machinery until you feel better. Sleepiness is one of the mildest and the most innocent side effects.
The most common conditions when taking Tramadol are:
- headache
- vertigo
- nausea (up to vomiting)
- constipation
- apathy
- drenched with sweat
- dry mouth
- itching
There’s no need to worry if these conditions are mild. They will go away naturally in a few days. But you should be very attentive: in case of the severe state of the above-mentioned side effects, you have to call your doctor.
Taking other drugs with Tramadol
As we already mentioned, Tramadol can be used with a wide list of other medicines. It includes other drugs, vitamins, supplements, and even herbs. However, they all may change the effectiveness of your painkilling pill or prevent it from working at all.
If you want your therapy to be effective, discuss possible solutions with your doctor. Make sure he knows about all medications you are taking at the moment. Based on your state and medical history, the doctor will be able to manage your treatment in a safe way.
A few examples of the drugs that may interfere with the work of Tramadol are listed below.
Some of the important interactions
Interaction of Tramadol with some medicines may lead to more side effects since the amount of the pills’ active component may be more. Below, there’s a list of such drugs. We recommend that your doctor monitors you more often and adjusts the dosage depending on how your body reacts.
And here’s the list:
- Antibiotics
- Antidepressants
- Antifungal drugs
- Heart rhythm medication
- Protease inhibitors
Treatment with Tramadol: dosage and formation
The most important part of the treatment is dosage. There’s no universal rule for every patient because the type and the strength of the pill depend on numerous factors, like your age, medical history, current condition and its severity, other medicines you’re taking, and the reaction to the first dose.
As a rule of thumb, doctors may prescribe Tramadol as per the following:
For adult patients (ages 18–64 years): the typical daily dosage shouldn’t be more than 200 mg (4 pills a day) for immediate-release formation or 100 mg for extended-release formation.
For children (ages 0–17 years): the total daily dosage shouldn’t be more than 200 mg for immediate-release tablets. The extended-release formation is not used in the treatment of patients under 18.
For senior patients (65 years and older): the typical daily dosage may be increased to 300 mg for immediate-release tablets. This is necessary because the liver and kidneys don’t work the same way as they used to. However, it also increases the risk of side effects.