What is Tramadol?
Tramadol is a prescription medicine that is sold in the form of tablets. It’s available in extended-release and immediate-release formulations. The only difference between these two types of drugs is the speed of their work.
You can also buy a generic version of Tramadol. It can be found under the brand name Ultram. Generic drugs are a great solution for cash-strapped patients because they cost less but provide the same effects. The only downside of generic drugs is that they aren’t available in all forms and strengths.
No matter what type of Tramadol you buy, a doctor’s supervision is necessary during the therapy. Medicine belongs to the class of so-called controlled drugs.
When you should take Tramadol
Tradamol has a wonderful painkilling effect. It’s used for reducing pain.
The big advantage of this drug is its compatibility with other medications. You can take Tramadol as a part of a complex therapy (when several drugs are used).
How does Tramadol work?
Tramadol is a painkiller from the class of synthetic opioids. It can be used in the same way as other opioid-like medicines. They are all prescribed for the same or similar conditions.
Tramadol doesn’t reduce the severity of pain but changes the way your brain perceives it. We can state that it works the same way as endorphins. Being the natural painkillers, produced by the human body, endorphins block the pain messages coming to the brain. This is why a patient doesn’t feel that much pain.
A few words about side effects
Among the most common side effects of Tramadol is sleepiness. If you feel drowsy, be sure to postpone dangerous activities until you feel better. It may include driving or using tools or machinery. The list of side effects is way longer. We’ll give you more information in the next part of this article.
What are some negative conditions after taking Tramadol?
If you take Tramadol, you may experience the following conditions:
- vertigo
- headache
- feeling sleepy or tired
- nausea and vomiting
- constipation
- absence energy
- sweating
- dry mouth
- itching
These effects may be troublesome but they normally go away quite quickly (within a few days or weeks). In case of severe conditions, it’s recommended to talk to your doctor.
Tramadol and its interactions
We’ve already mentioned that Tramadol can be taken without other drugs or vitamins. However, this drug-drug interaction is not harmless. In some cases, it may prevent Tramadol from working well.
If you want the treatment to be effective and helpful, be sure to discuss this situation with your doctor. Name all medicines, herbs, and vitamins you are taking. The doctor will be able to adjust the dosage and describe how the drug interacts with other substances.
In the next part of this article, we provide the list of medications that you should tell your doctor about.
Drug interactions: list of medicines
If you don’t want to experience severe side effects, make sure not to mix Tramadol with certain medicines. When combining several drugs or treating several conditions at the same time, it’s recommended to talk to your doctor in advance and discuss all possible variations. If necessary, the dosage of Tramadol may be increased or decreased.
This is the list of medicines to pay attention to if you take Tramadol:
- Antibiotic drugs
- Antidepressant drugs
- Antifungal drugs
- Heart rhythm drugs
- Protease inhibitors
What is the safe dosage of Tramadol?
Tramadol pills exist in several formulations and strengths because each case is unique. There’s no universal treatment because every patient comes with different conditions, medical history, etc. In general, the following things are considered:
- age
- condition
- the condition scale
- current treatment with other medicines, herbs, or vitamins
- reaction to the initial dose
We’ve prepared some valuable tips on dosage for every group of patients:
- Adults (ages 18–64 years)
The typical dosage for grown-up patients is a maximum of 200 mg per day – in case of immediate-release tablets or 100 mg per day – in case of extended-release tablets.
- Children (ages 0–17 years)
Patients under 18 are not allowed to take Tramadol in its extended-release formulation. When it comes to the immediate-release tablets, the dosage is defined by the doctor. It cannot be more than 200 mg (50 mg 4 times a day).
- Seniors (65+ years)
Every senior patient has to be treated with the utmost care. With age, the work of our liver and kidneys changes so it takes a bigger dosage of the drug to produce the same effect. In any case, constant supervision is necessary for this category of patients.