Where is Tramadol used?
Tramadol is an opioid analgesic medication used to relieve moderate to moderately severe pain. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved this medicine for medical use in people experiencing pain. This medicine mainly works in the brain that enhances certain brain chemicals on how your body senses and reacts to pain.
How does Tramadol work?
Tramadol relieves pain by copying the action of endorphins that occurs naturally. Endorphins are found in the spinal cord and brain which lessens pain by combining with opioid receptors. This drug imitates the action of our natural endorphins by combining with the same opioid receptors in the spinal cord and brain. As a result, it blocks the spread of pain signals led by the nerves to the brain. Less pain is felt even though the cause of the pain may stay.
How is Tramadol taken?
- Take this medicine by mouth as directed by your doctor.
- Each dose is usually taken every 4 to 6 hours as needed for pain relief.
- You may take the medicine with or without food.
- If you have nausea, it may help to take this drug with food. You can ask your doctor about other ways to lessen nausea.
- Swallow each medicine as a whole with plenty of water.
- The recommended dose depends on your medical condition and overall health as well as the medications you are taking. For this reason, it is important to tell your doctor about the medications you are taking including vitamins, food, or herbal supplements.
- Taking a dose of this medicine also depends on how bad your pain is and how you’ve responded to previous painkillers.
What are the possible side effects of Tramadol?
- Dry mouth
- Headache
- Constipation
- Feeling dizzy or sick
- Sweating
What are the precautions in taking Tramadol?
- Tramadol should not be given to anyone younger than 18 years old and children younger than 12 years old. It is particularly for those who recently had surgical treatment to remove the adenoids or tonsils.
- It is important not to take more than your agreed dosage, even though you think it’s not sufficient to relieve your pain. Talk to your doctor first, if you think you need a changed dosage.
- You may feel very dizzy, sleepy, or sick if you’ve taken an accidental overdose. You may also find it hard to breathe. In severe circumstances, you can be unconscious and may need emergency treatment in the hospital. The total of this drug that can lead to an overdose differs from person to person.
- Do not take this drug with codeine-containing painkillers which you can buy from a pharmacy. You’ll be more likely to get side effects.
- Tramadol is not supposed to be fully safe to take during pregnancy.
- Taking this medicine is safe during breastfeeding. It passes into breast milk in small amounts but it is unlikely to harm your baby. However, if you had a low birth weight, have a premature baby, or has an infection, discuss it with your doctor before breastfeeding.
- Do not chew, break, or crush the medicine. Doing so, the slow-release system will not work and the entire dosage may get into your body in one go. This could cause a possibly fatal overdose.
