Why Tramadol is prescription given?
Tramadol is used for the treatment of moderate to fairly severe pain. Tramadol extended-release pills and capsules are only prescribed to patients who are anticipated to need pain treatment around-the-clock. Tramadol belongs to the family of drugs known as opiate (narcotic) analgesics. It works by altering how the brain and nerve system react to pain.
How should this drug be administered?
Orally administered Tramadol is available as a tablet, a solution (liquid), an extended-release tablet, and an extended-release capsule. The normal pill and solution are typically given every 4 to 6 hours, with or without meals. The extended-release capsule and tablet should be taken once daily. Take the extended-release tablet and the extended-release capsule daily at around the same time. You may choose to take the extended-release capsule with or without meals. You should either always take the extended-release pill with meals or always take it on an empty stomach. Take tramadol precisely as prescribed. Do not take more medicine in a single dosage or per day than your doctor has recommended. Taking more tramadol than prescribed or in a manner that is not advised may result in severe adverse effects or death.
Your doctor may begin you on a low dosage of tramadol and progressively increase it every 3 days if you are taking the solution, conventional pills, or orally disintegrating tablets, and every 5 days if you are taking the extended-release tablets or capsules.
Use an oral syringe, measuring spoon, or cup to measure the exact quantity of liquid for each dosage if you are taking the solution. Do not measure your dosage with a standard household spoon. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for assistance acquiring or using a measurement equipment.
Do not discontinue tramadol without consulting your doctor. Your doctor will likely progressively reduce your dosage. If you abruptly stop taking tramadol, you may experience withdrawal symptoms such as anxiety; panic; sweating; trouble falling or staying asleep; runny nose, sneezing, or cough; pain; standing hair; chills; nausea; uncontrollable shaking of a part of your body; diarrhea; and, in rare cases, hallucinations (seeing things or hearing voices that do not exist).
Other use for this drug
This drug is sometimes recommended for other purposes; see your physician or pharmacist for further information.
What extra measures am I need to take?
Before using tramadol, one must:
- If you are allergic to tramadol, other opiate pain drugs, other medications, or any of the substances in tramadol products, you should inform your doctor and pharmacist immediately. Ask your pharmacist for an ingredient list.
- Inform your doctor or pharmacist if you are using or have recently discontinued taking any of the following monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors: isocarboxazid (Marplan), linezolid (Zyvox), methylene blue, phenelzine (Nardil), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam, Zelapar), or tranylcypromine (Parnate). Your doctor would likely advise you not to use tramadol if you are now on any of these drugs or have taken them within the last two weeks.
- Inform your doctor and pharmacist of any prescription and over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, and nutritional supplements you are currently taking or intend to take. Include at least one of the following: anticoagulants ('blood thinners') including warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven); bupropion (Aplenzin, Wellbutrin, Zyban); cyclobenzaprine (Amrix); dextromethorphan (found in many cough medications; in Nuedexta); digoxin (Lanoxin); diuretics ('water pills'); lithium (Lithobid); and certain medications for migraine headaches including almotriptan (Surmontil). Many other drugs may interact with tramadol; thus, you should inform your doctor of all the drugs you are taking, even if they are not on this list. Your doctor may need to adjust your prescription dosages or closely monitor you for adverse effects.
- Inform your physician about the herbal supplements you are taking, particularly St. John's wort and tryptophan.
- Inform your doctor if you have any of the disorders listed in the section under "IMPORTANT WARNING," a blockage or constriction of your stomach or intestines, or paralytic ileus (condition in which digested food does not move through the intestines). Your physician may advise you not to use tramadol if you have any of the following conditions:
- Inform your doctor if you have or have ever had seizures; an infection in your brain or spine; problems urinating; suicidal thoughts or attempts; or if you have difficulty urinating. or renal or hepatic disease
- Inform your doctor if you are nursing. Tramadol should not be used when breastfeeding. In breastfed newborns, Tramadol might induce shallow breathing, difficulties or loud breathing, disorientation, excessive drowsiness, difficulty nursing, or limpness.
- You should be aware that this medicine may reduce male and female fertility. Discuss the hazards of tramadol with your physician.
- Inform the doctor or dentist that you are taking tramadol if you are undergoing surgery, including dental surgery.
- You should be aware that this drug may impair your coordination and cause drowsiness. Do not operate a motor vehicle or heavy equipment until you have determined how this drug affects you.
- When getting up from a supine posture, tramadol may produce dizziness, lightheadedness, and fainting. To prevent this, rise carefully and rest your feet on the floor for a few minutes before to rising up.
- If you have phenylketonuria (PKU; a hereditary disorder requiring a particular diet to avoid brain damage that may lead to severe intellectual impairment), you should be aware that the orally disintegrating pills contain aspartame, a phenylalanine source.
- You should be aware that tramadol might lead to constipation. Consult your physician on dietary modifications and the use of other drugs to treat or prevent constipation.
What dietary restrictions should I observe?
Unless your physician instructs you differently, maintain your usual diet.
What should I do if I forget to take my medication?
If your physician has instructed you to take tramadol on a regular basis, take the missing dosage as soon as you recall. However, if it is nearly time for the next dosage, you should omit the missed dose and resume your usual dosing plan. Do not duplicate the dosage to compensate for a missing one.
What potential negative effects does this drug have?
Tramadol may induce negative effects. Notify your doctor if any of the following symptoms are severe or persistent:
- sleepiness
- headache
- nervousness
- Uncontrollable trembling of a body part muscular tightness
- mood changes heartburn or indigestion
- parched mouth
Some adverse effects may be severe. If you encounter any of the following symptoms or those listed in the section under "IMPORTANT WARNING," contact your doctor immediately or seek emergency care:
- hives
- rash \sblisters
- hoarseness
- swallowing or breathing problems
- Eye, face, throat, tongue, lips, hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs enlargement
- agitation, hallucinations (seeing or hearing nonexistent objects or voices), fever, sweating, disorientation, rapid pulse, shivering, severe muscular stiffness or twitching, lack of coordination, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.
- Nausea, vomiting, appetite loss, fatigue, and dizziness
- alterations in heartbeat
- Nausea, vomiting, headache, disorientation, lack of energy, sleepiness, lethargy, restlessness, irritability, muscular weakness, spasms or cramps are common side effects of antidepressant medication.
- Hunger, headache, profuse perspiration, involuntary trembling of a body part, impatience, and trouble focusing are symptoms of hypoglycemia.
- consciousness loss
- seizures
Tramadol may produce further adverse effects. Inform your doctor if you have any odd side effects while using this medicine.
What should I know about pharmaceutical storage and disposal?
Keep this medicine in its original container, properly sealed, out of the reach of children. Keep it at room temperature and out of the reach of excessive heat and moisture (not in the bathroom).
It is essential to keep all medications out of the sight and reach of children, since many containers (such as weekly pill organizers and containers for eye drops, creams, patches, and inhalers) are not child-resistant and may be readily opened by young children. To prevent small children from poisoning, always lock the safety cap and keep the medicine in a secure area that is out of their reach and out of sight.
To prevent dogs, children, and other individuals from ingesting unused drugs, strict disposal procedures must be followed. However, this drug should not be flushed down the toilet. Instead, the best approach to dispose of medicines is via a service that collects unused drugs. Consult your pharmacist or local garbage/recycling agency for information on take-back programs in your area. If you do not have access to a take-back program, see the website for Safe Disposal of Medicines (http://goo.gl/c4Rm4p) for further information.
In the event of an emergency or overdose
In the event of an overdose, contact poison control at 1-800-222-1222. There is additional information accessible at https://www.poisonhelp.org/help. If the person has collapsed, had a seizure, is having problems breathing, or cannot be roused, contact 911 immediately.
While using tramadol, you should discuss having the rescue medicine naloxone on hand with your doctor (e.g., home, office). Naloxone is used to reverse the effects of an overdose that are life-threatening. It relieves harmful symptoms induced by excessive amounts of opiates in the blood by neutralizing their effects. Your doctor may also prescribe naloxone if you reside in a home with young children or a person who has misused illicit or prescription substances. You should ensure that you and your family, caretakers, and other close associates know how to spot an overdose, administer naloxone, and act until emergency medical assistance comes. Your physician or pharmacist will instruct you and your family on proper drug administration. Request the instructions from your pharmacist or visit the manufacturer's website to obtain the instructions. If signs of an overdose arise, a friend or family member should provide the first dosage of naloxone, contact 911 immediately, and carefully monitor you until emergency medical assistance comes. Your symptoms might reappear a few minutes after taking naloxone. If your symptoms reappear, another dosage of naloxone should be administered. Additional dosages may be administered every 2 to 3 minutes if symptoms recur prior to the arrival of medical assistance.
Overdose symptoms may include the following:
- size reduction of the pupil (the black circle in the center of the eye)
- challenging respiration
- Slow or shallow respiration Severe tiredness or sleepiness Inability to react or awaken
- sluggish heart rate and muscular weakness
- Freezing, clammy skin
What more information should I know?
Keep all of your doctor and laboratory visits. Your physician may request specific laboratory tests to evaluate your body's reaction to tramadol.
Before undergoing any laboratory test (particularly ones that include methylene blue), notify your doctor and the laboratory professionals that you are taking tramadol.
Do not allow anybody else take your medicine. Tramadol is a restricted drug. Inquire with your pharmacist if you have any issues about the amount of refills permitted.
It is vital for you to maintain a documented record of all of the prescription and nonprescription (over-the-counter) drugs you are taking, as well as any items such as vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplements. You should carry this list with you whenever you see a physician or are hospitalized. It is also crucial knowledge to keep with you in case of emergency.