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How to Take Tramadol

Thursday, July 30, 2009
posted by Mike S 12:14 PM

How to Take Tramadol

Tramadol is a medication used to manage severe to moderate pain in persons over the age of 16. It is an analgesic of the opiate agonist family of drugs; it is not an opiate and not a narcotic. Doctors prefer Tramadol to narcotic prescriptions because, in comparison, Tramadol generally has fewer side effects. It is also a very good alternative pain treatment for those who are unable to tolerate narcotic pain medications.

Tramadol is quick acting; in as little as a half hour the patient may feel the effects of the medication. It is this fast action that is one of the advantageous benefits of this drug. Tramadol works by tricking the brain into not recognizing pain; it blocks the receptors in the brain from receiving pain signals. Interestingly, this is how narcotics function and is why Tramadol is often termed “opiate-like or narcotic-like.”

There are two main formulations of the medication Tramadol (brand name Ultram). There is a regular formulation and an extended release (ER) formulation so that both short and long term pain may be addressed concurrently. Used more for short term pain, the regular form is designed for use every 4-6 hours, or as directed by a physician. It is very quick acting and alleviates pain within about a half hour. The extended release form of Tramadol is used more for long term or chronic pain situations. This tablet is coated to allow for timed release of the medication over a 24 hour period; it is taken once daily for 24 hour relief.

The most common formulation of Tramadol is as a pill. There are various forms of pills available such as capsules, extended release capsules, tablets, extended release tablets, chewable tablets and tablets that are not coated for sublingual use.

In addition to pill form, Tramadol is also available as an injectable that may be administered either intramuscular or intravenously. As an injectable, Tramadol may be combined with another analgesic, acetaminophen, and administered through a patient controlled Analgesia Pump. Other forms of Tramadol include effervescent powders, powders for compounding, suppositories, sterile solution for IV injection, preservative free solution for spinal injection and Tramadol in liquid form in dropper and pump bottles for oral or sublingual applications. These are all current formulations of Tramadol that are in use today.

Research continues to develop new ways to administer Tramadol. It has been tested in the form of a transdermal patch, rectal foam, enema, topical gels, creams and liquids. The taste of Tramadol is characteristically slightly bitter but not as strong as codeine or morphine. Oral liquid formulations are available with or without flavoring to improve the taste. Transmucousal (sublingual, rectal, buccal) effectiveness is comparable to codeine. Similar to codeine, Tramadol is metabolized in the liver.

As you can see, there are a wide variety of methods by which a patient may be administered Tramadol. As with any medication of this type, prolonged use can lead to dependency on the drug. The risk of developing dependency to Tramadol is less than the risk associated with a narcotic, such as morphine though. This and the fact that the side effects encountered while using Tramadol are less severe than potential side effects expected with narcotic pain medication leads doctors to prefer Tramadol in many circumstances. Tramadol is currently available in many convenient formulations, but research continues to find more ways to administer Tramadol safely and simply as a tool for managing pain.

Tramadol for Pain Relief

Monday, June 29, 2009
posted by madison 2:44 PM

Tramadol for Pain Relief

Tramadol is the generic name for the brand name medication Ultram. It is a narcotic like medication used to treat moderate to severe pain and is usually taken every 4-6 hours. There is an extended release (ER) formulation of this drug used for the treatment of chronic pain. It is taken once a day. This analgesic is a member of the opiate agonist family of drugs that alter the method by which the body senses pain. Originally marketed as “Tramal,” the synthetic drug Tramadol was developed by a German pharmaceutical company (Grünenthal GmbH) in the late 1970’s.

Similar to other narcotic type drugs, Tramadol can be addictive. This is a powerful drug deserving of caution and respect. Only use as directed as there can be severe side effects with misuse. Do not take Tramadol in amounts larger than instructed, more often than instructed or for a period longer than prescribed. For the ER formula to be effective do not split, chew or crush the tablet. Tramadol ER can cause serious side effects and prove lethal if the tablets are crushed and inhaled or injected after dissolving. It cannot be overstated that Tramadol must be used as directed or there may be very severe consequences.

If your physician prescribes Tramadol, be sure to inform them of any supplements you use and any allergies you may have. Your doctor cannot treat you effectively unless they have your whole, current history along with allergy, medication and dietary supplement information. It is also important to inform your doctor if you have ever been addicted to drugs or alcohol as you should not ever use Tramadol. Do not ever take Tramodol if you have a history of seizures, have had a serious head injury, take antidepressants, muscle relaxers or anti-nausea medication.

Should you be prescribed Tramadol, expect to begin with a low dosage that will gradually be increased by your doctor to the optimum dosage. Studies have found the best pain management practice is to begin at lower dosages and increase by small increments until the dosage is at the optimal level for each individual patient. Building up the dose in this way allows the patient to tolerate the drug better and thus, increase the chance they will continue using the drug successfully.

As with beginning use of Tramadol, when you are ready to stop using Tramadol you must wean off this medication gradually. Your physician will provide dosages in decreasing levels until you are able to successfully discontinue altogether. Withdrawal symptoms can be very severe should you try to stop using Tramadol abruptly. Unpleasant symptoms such as uncontrolled shaking, chills, hallucinations, extreme anxiety, tingling, nausea and seizures can occur if you should stop taking Tramadol suddenly. It is crucial to follow your physician’s instructions when taking Tramadol.

Even though Tramadol is often mistakenly termed an opiate due to its agonist capability, Tramadol/Ultram is not chemically a member of the opiate family of drugs.

The information here may seem rather intimidating but as long as you communicate openly and honestly with your doctor and take Tramadol exactly as directed, you will find it to be a very good medication to alleviate pain. Tramadol can set you free from your pain and therefore vastly increase the quality of your life.