Tramadol: description and use
Tramadol is a medicine that you can buy online or in pharmacies. It requires a prescription from the doctor. The most common form of this drug is the oral pill in the immediate-release formulation and extended-release formulation (they contain the same ingredients but act at a different speed).
Like any other expensive drug, Tramadol can be purchased in its generic version. It’s a great solution for many patients because the results will be the same. However, you need to check if the prescribed medicine exists in a generic version (not all forms and strengths are available).
Regardless of the type of Tramadol, it should be taken under a doctor’s supervision. The medicine belongs to the class of controlled drugs.
What is Tramadol for?
Tramadol’s main function is to relieve the pain of the patient.
The drug can be taken with other medications or solo. Discuss all possible variations of treatment with your doctor.
How does the drug work?
Tramadol is a drug from the synthetic opioids group. These medicines work in a similar way and are used for treating the same conditions.
Tramadol doesn’t make you painless but it tricks your brain into “feeling” less pain. The work of the drug can be compared to the effect produced by endorphins. These natural painkillers block the pain signals going to the brain. As a result, a patient thinks he’s in less pain than he’s actually having.
Tramadol and its side effects
According to the patients taking Tramadol, the most common side effect is sleepiness. In this case, you should be cautious and attentive. To prevent any possibilities of self-harm, we recommend restraining the following activities: driving, using tools, and heavy machinery.
Other side effects you may experience during your treatment are:
- vertigo
- migraine
- feeling tired or sleepy
- nausea and vomiting
- constipation
- apathy
- excessive sweating
- dry mouth
- itching
The mild effects have a tendency to disappear after a week or two. However, if they bother you for too long, discuss the situation with your doctor or pharacist.
Tramadol and its interaction with other drugs
Tramadol may be taken with different herbs, vitamins, or even other medications. However, they may dramatically change the way opioid works. For example, there’s a possibility that the drug won’t be helpful at all. In worse-case scenarios, it may be even harmful.
In order to avoid all unwanted interactions, ask your doctor to adjust the right dosage and tell you more about drugs compatibility. Don’t forget to tell him about the medicines, vitamins, and supplements you are taking at the same time with Tramadol.
The studies show that interaction with Tramadol with some drugs may cause severe side effects. Mainly, it happens when there’s too much Tramadol in your body. There’s nothing wrong with it, just make sure to be checked by your doctor a bit more often.
The examples of such drugs are listed below.
- Antibiotics
- Antidepressants
- Antifungal drugs
- Heart rhythm drugs
- Protease inhibitors
The Tramadol dosage for every group of patients
Information on the dosage that we provide in this part of the article doesn’t have an aim to assign a certain amount of Tramadol pills. These are general recommendations.
At the beginning of your treatment, it’s the doctor who determines the form and the strength of the tablet. The dosage depends on:
- patient’s age
- the condition and its intensity
- medical history
- other drugs you are taking
- the patient’s reaction to the first dose
Adults (ages 18–64 years) shouldn’t take more than 200 mg of Tramadol per day (for IR formulation) or 100 mg per day (for XR formulation). The dosage is regulated by the doctor and cannot be increased by the patient.
Children and infants (ages 0–17 years) can take only immediate-release tablets. The strength and the amount are to be determined by the doctor. Normally, the maximum daily dosage shouldn’t be more than 200 mg. The XR tablets are not safe for small patients.
Seniors (ages 65 years and more) should be treated with attention and close supervision. With age, our liver and kidneys begin to work differently. It may cause additional problems and lead to severe side effects.