Drug Detail:Tramadol (Tramadol)
Generic Name: Tramadol Tablets [ TRA-ma-dole ]
Drug Class: Opioids (narcotic analgesics)
Warning
For all patients taking this medicine:- This medicine is a strong pain drug that can put you at risk for addiction, abuse, and misuse. Misuse or abuse of this medicine (tramadol tablets) can lead to overdose and death. Talk with your doctor.
- You will be watched closely to make sure you do not misuse, abuse, or become addicted to this medicine (tramadol tablets).
- This medicine may cause very bad and sometimes deadly breathing problems. Call your doctor right away if you have slow, shallow, or trouble breathing.
- The chance of very bad and sometimes deadly breathing problems may be greater when you first start this medicine (tramadol tablets) or anytime your dose is raised.
- Even one dose of this medicine (tramadol tablets) may be deadly if it is taken by someone else or by accident, especially in children. If this medicine (tramadol tablets) is taken by someone else or by accident, get medical help right away.
- Keep all drugs in a safe place. Keep all drugs out of the reach of children and pets.
- Using this medicine (tramadol tablets) for a long time during pregnancy may lead to withdrawal in the newborn baby. This can be life-threatening. Talk with the doctor.
- This medicine has an opioid drug in it. Severe side effects have happened when opioid drugs were used with benzodiazepines or other drugs that may make you drowsy or slow your actions. This includes slow or troubled breathing and death. Benzodiazepines include drugs like alprazolam, diazepam, and lorazepam. Benzodiazepines may be used to treat many health problems like anxiety, trouble sleeping, or seizures. If you have questions, talk with your doctor.
- Many drugs interact with this medicine (tramadol tablets) and can raise the chance of side effects like deadly breathing problems. Talk with your doctor and pharmacist to make sure it is safe to use this medicine (tramadol tablets) with all of your drugs.
- Do not take with alcohol or products that have alcohol. Unsafe and sometimes deadly effects may happen.
- Get medical help right away if you feel very sleepy, very dizzy, or if you pass out. Caregivers or others need to get medical help right away if the patient does not respond, does not answer or react like normal, or will not wake up.
- This medicine is not approved for use in children. Do not give to a child younger than 12 years of age. Children between 12 and 18 years of age who are very overweight or have certain other health problems like sleep apnea or other lung or breathing problems must not use this drug. If your child has been given this medicine (tramadol tablets), ask the doctor for information about the benefits and risks.
- Some children have had very bad and sometimes deadly breathing problems when using tramadol after surgery to remove tonsils or adenoids. Do not give to a child younger than 18 years of age who has had surgery to remove tonsils or adenoids. Talk with your child's doctor.
Uses of Tramadol Tablets:
- It is used to ease pain.
What do I need to tell my doctor BEFORE I take Tramadol Tablets?
- If you have an allergy to tramadol or any other part of this medicine (tramadol tablets).
- If you are allergic to this medicine (tramadol tablets); any part of this medicine (tramadol tablets); or any other drugs, foods, or substances. Tell your doctor about the allergy and what signs you had.
- If you have any of these health problems: Lung or breathing problems like asthma, trouble breathing, or sleep apnea; high levels of carbon dioxide in the blood; or stomach or bowel block or narrowing.
- If you have any of these health problems: Kidney disease or liver disease.
- If you have thoughts of suicide or if you have ever had alcohol or other drug abuse or dependence.
- If you have been told by your doctor that you are a rapid metabolizer of some drugs.
- If you have recently drunk a lot of alcohol or taken a big amount of drugs that may slow your actions like phenobarbital or some pain drugs like oxycodone.
- If you are taking carbamazepine.
- If you are taking another drug that has the same drug in it.
- If you are taking any of these drugs: Buprenorphine, butorphanol, nalbuphine, or pentazocine.
- If you have taken certain drugs for depression or Parkinson's disease in the last 14 days. This includes isocarboxazid, phenelzine, tranylcypromine, selegiline, or rasagiline. Very high blood pressure may happen.
- If you are taking any of these drugs: Linezolid or methylene blue.
- If you are breast-feeding. Do not breast-feed while you take this medicine (tramadol tablets).
This is not a list of all drugs or health problems that interact with this medicine (tramadol tablets).
Tell your doctor and pharmacist about all of your drugs (prescription or OTC, natural products, vitamins) and health problems. You must check to make sure that it is safe for you to take this medicine (tramadol tablets) with all of your drugs and health problems. Do not start, stop, or change the dose of any drug without checking with your doctor.
What are some things I need to know or do while I take Tramadol Tablets?
- Tell all of your health care providers that you take this medicine (tramadol tablets). This includes your doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and dentists.
- Avoid driving and doing other tasks or actions that call for you to be alert until you see how this medicine (tramadol tablets) affects you.
- To lower the chance of feeling dizzy or passing out, rise slowly if you have been sitting or lying down. Be careful going up and down stairs.
- Very bad and sometimes deadly allergic side effects have rarely happened. Talk with your doctor.
- Do not take more than what your doctor told you to take. Taking more than you are told may raise your chance of very bad side effects.
- Do not take this medicine (tramadol tablets) with other strong pain drugs or if you are using a pain patch without talking to your doctor first.
- This medicine may raise the chance of seizures. The chance may be higher in people who have certain health problems, use certain other drugs, or drink a lot of alcohol. Talk to your doctor to see if you have a greater chance of seizures while taking this medicine (tramadol tablets).
- If you have been taking this medicine (tramadol tablets) for a long time or at high doses, it may not work as well and you may need higher doses to get the same effect. This is known as tolerance. Call your doctor if this medicine (tramadol tablets) stops working well. Do not take more than ordered.
- Long-term or regular use of opioid drugs like this medicine (tramadol tablets) may lead to dependence. Lowering the dose or stopping this medicine (tramadol tablets) all of a sudden may cause a greater risk of withdrawal or other severe problems. Talk to your doctor before you lower the dose or stop this medicine (tramadol tablets). You will need to follow your doctor’s instructions. Tell your doctor if you have more pain, mood changes, thoughts of suicide, or any other bad effects.
- Long-term use of an opioid drug may lead to lower sex hormone levels. Call your doctor if you have a lowered interest in sex, fertility problems, no menstrual period (women), or change in sex ability (men).
- Taking an opioid drug like this medicine (tramadol tablets) may lead to a rare but very bad adrenal gland problem. Call your doctor right away if you have very bad dizziness or passing out, very bad upset stomach or throwing up, or if you feel less hungry, very tired, or very weak.
- If you are 65 or older, use this medicine (tramadol tablets) with care. You could have more side effects.
- This medicine may cause harm to the unborn baby if you take it while you are pregnant. If you are pregnant or you get pregnant while taking this medicine (tramadol tablets), call your doctor right away.
How is this medicine (Tramadol Tablets) best taken?
Use this medicine (tramadol tablets) as ordered by your doctor. Read all information given to you. Follow all instructions closely.
- Take by mouth only.
- Do not inject or snort this medicine (tramadol tablets). Doing any of these things can cause very bad side effects like trouble breathing and death from overdose.
- Take with or without food. Take with food if it causes an upset stomach.
What do I do if I miss a dose?
- If you take this medicine (tramadol tablets) on a regular basis, take a missed dose as soon as you think about it.
- If it is close to the time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your normal time.
- Do not take 2 doses at the same time or extra doses.
- Many times this medicine (tramadol tablets) is taken on an as needed basis. Do not take more often than told by the doctor.
What are some side effects that I need to call my doctor about right away?
WARNING/CAUTION: Even though it may be rare, some people may have very bad and sometimes deadly side effects when taking a drug. Tell your doctor or get medical help right away if you have any of the following signs or symptoms that may be related to a very bad side effect:
- Signs of an allergic reaction, like rash; hives; itching; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin with or without fever; wheezing; tightness in the chest or throat; trouble breathing, swallowing, or talking; unusual hoarseness; or swelling of the mouth, face, lips, tongue, or throat.
- Signs or symptoms of depression, suicidal thoughts, emotional ups and downs, abnormal thinking, anxiety, or lack of interest in life.
- Very bad dizziness or passing out.
- Feeling confused.
- Seizures.
- Chest pain or pressure or a fast heartbeat.
- Trouble passing urine.
- Passing urine more often.
- Noisy breathing.
- Change in eyesight.
- Severe constipation or stomach pain. These may be signs of a severe bowel problem.
- A severe and sometimes deadly problem called serotonin syndrome may happen. The risk may be greater if you also take certain other drugs. Call your doctor right away if you have agitation; change in balance; confusion; hallucinations; fever; fast or abnormal heartbeat; flushing; muscle twitching or stiffness; seizures; shivering or shaking; sweating a lot; severe diarrhea, upset stomach, or throwing up; or very bad headache.
- A very bad skin reaction (Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis) may happen. It can cause very bad health problems that may not go away, and sometimes death. Get medical help right away if you have signs like red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin (with or without fever); red or irritated eyes; or sores in your mouth, throat, nose, or eyes.
What are some other side effects of Tramadol Tablets?
All drugs may cause side effects. However, many people have no side effects or only have minor side effects. Call your doctor or get medical help if any of these side effects or any other side effects bother you or do not go away:
- Feeling dizzy, sleepy, tired, or weak.
- Diarrhea or constipation.
- Dry mouth.
- Headache.
- Itching.
- Upset stomach or throwing up.
- Trouble sleeping.
- Flushing.
- Sweating a lot.
These are not all of the side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, call your doctor. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.
You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-332-1088. You may also report side effects at https://www.fda.gov/medwatch.
If OVERDOSE is suspected:
If you think there has been an overdose, call your poison control center or get medical care right away. Be ready to tell or show what was taken, how much, and when it happened.
How do I store and/or throw out Tramadol Tablets?
- Store at room temperature in a dry place. Do not store in a bathroom.
- Keep all drugs in a safe place. Keep all drugs out of the reach of children and pets.
- Throw away unused or expired drugs. Do not flush down a toilet or pour down a drain unless you are told to do so. Check with your pharmacist if you have questions about the best way to throw out drugs. There may be drug take-back programs in your area.
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
- If your symptoms or health problems do not get better or if they become worse, call your doctor.
- Do not share your drugs with others and do not take anyone else's drugs.
- This medicine comes with an extra patient fact sheet called a Medication Guide. Read it with care. Read it again each time this medicine (tramadol tablets) is refilled. If you have any questions about this medicine (tramadol tablets), please talk with the doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
- If you think there has been an overdose, call your poison control center or get medical care right away. Be ready to tell or show what was taken, how much, and when it happened.
Frequently asked questions
- Which painkiller should you use?
- Is tramadol stronger than codeine?
- How long does it take to start working?
- Can you take tramadol with acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or aspirin?
- How long does withdrawal last?
- How much tramadol should I give my dog?
- How long does it stay in your system?
- Can you take 800mg ibuprofen with 50mg tramadol?
- Which drugs cause opioid-induced constipation?
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