10 things about Tramadol

Here are the 10 things you should know  about tramadol






Tramadol, the generic version of Ultram, is a synthetic analgesic medication. The exact mode of action of tramadol is unknown but it is said to work like morphine. Tramadol binds to opioid receptors in the brain -- receptors that transmit the sensation of pain throughout the body. Here are 10 things you should know about tramadol to ensure its safe use.

1 - Tramadol is prescribed to treat moderate to moderately severe pain.


Tramadol belongs to the class of drugs known as opiate agonists. Primarily, tramadol works by changing the way the body senses pain. Some people mistakenly believe that tramadol is an NSAID (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug), but it is not.

2 - Tramadol is available in immediate release and extended release formulations.


Tramadol may be prescribed as an immediate release tablet (50 mg.) or as an extended release tablet (100, 200, or 300 mg.). The extended release tablets are usually reserved for patients with chronic pain who require continuous, long-term treatment. Your doctor will determine the appropriate dosage schedule for you.

3 - Tramadol extended release tablets must be taken whole, not split, chewed or crushed.


It is important to take tramadol properly and to follow prescribing instructions. If taken improperly or in a way that is not recommended, serious side effects and even death can result.

4 - Tramadol can be habit-forming for some people.


Do not take more tramadol than has been prescribed for you. Taking more tramadol or taking it more often can cause dependency on it. You should also not stop taking tramadol without first consulting your doctor. You may experience withdrawal symptoms if you stopped it suddenly. You doctor will likely decrease your dose of tramadol gradually.

5 - Drug interactions are possible with tramadol.


Be aware of the following possible drug interactions:

Carbamazepine reduces the effect of tramadol
Quinidine increases the concentration of tramadol by 50% to 60%
Combining tramadol with an MAO (monoamine oxidase inhibitor) inhibitor or SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) can lead to seizures or other serious side effects.



Be sure to tell your doctor about all medications you are taking.

6 - Tramadol, when combined with certain other substances, can increase central nervous system and respiratory depression.

In other words, breathing may be affected or even stop if tramadol is combined with alcohol, narcotic drugs, anesthetics, tranquilizers, or sedatives.

7 - The use of tramadol during pregnancy should be avoided.


Because the safety of tramadol use during pregnancy has not been established, the medication should not be used during pregnancy. The safe use of tramadol in nursing mothers has also not been established.

8 - Tramadol is usually well-tolerated. Any side effects are usually temporary.


Some of the common side effects associated with tramadol include:

nausea
constipation
dizziness
headache
drowsiness
vomiting



Less common side effects include: itching, sweating, diarrhea, rash, dry mouth, and vertigo. There have been patients who developed seizures after taking tramadol.

9 - A Cochrane Review of tramadol to treat osteoarthritis revealed some small benefit.


The Cochrane Review stated that when tramadol is taken for up to 3 months, there may be decreased pain, improvements in function and stiffness and overall well-being. However, tramadol can cause side effects that are significant enough to require that the patient must stop taking the medication. Risks outweigh benefits for many people who have tried tramadol.

10 - If an overdose of tramadol has occurred, call your local poison control center, or call 911 if it appears to be an emergency situation.


Symptoms of an overdose include decreased pupil size, difficulty breathing or staying awake, unconscious, coma, heart attack, or seizure. Call for help, even if you are unsure about what to do.


Sources:


Tramadol. MedlinePlus. 7/1/2007.



http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/medmaster/a695011.html
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Tramadol, Best Pain Reliever

What does “mechanism of action” mean? This phrase refers to the effect that a drug substance causes on a living organism or in a biochemical system. The drug substance can produce four main actions: depressing, stimulating, destroying cells and replacing substances.

The desired activities may be cellular membrane disruption, chemical reaction, interaction with enzyme proteins, interaction with structural proteins, interaction with carrier proteins, interaction with ion channels, binding to receptors, hormone receptors, neuromodulator receptors and neurotransmitter receptors.

Although there are many studies performed on thousands of volunteers to know more about analgesics, Tramadol mechanism of action is not completely understood. From studies with animals, at least two complementary mechanisms seem to be valid: binding of parent and M1 metabolite to µ-opioid receptors and weak inhibition of reuptake of norepinephrine and serotonin. The comparative contribution of both Tramadol and M1 to human analgesia depends on the plasma concentrations of each compound. Apart from analgesia, Tramadol may cause a group of symptoms similar to that of an opioid.

The mechanism explained above seems to be a little bit complicated if you are not a scientist but its objective is to clarify why Tramadol can work for treating pain. The different way in which Tramadol provides analgesia with less side effects than the ones caused by other similar products may be explained by Tramadol dual mechanism of action.

In animal and human models both opioid and monaminergic mechanisms contribute to the analgesic efficacy of Tramadol, with the monaminergic mechanism likely accounting for more than half of the analgesic effect.

Tramadol is related to the uptake inhibition of the neurotransmitters noradrenaline and serotonin. Its dual mechanism of action differentiates it from prototypic opioids such as morphine or codeine. This mechanism of action allows Tramadol to have a significant therapeutic importance to improve pain. Tramadol has no clinically related effect on respiratory or cardiovascular parameters. Tramadol may demonstrate particularly useful in patients with poor cardiopulmonary function and in other special patient groups.

Drugs may be classified like any other chemical agent that affects life process. The relationship between the dose administered to a patient and the usefulness on the treatment of the disease he or she suffers from.

Differences between Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics: The first one is focused on drug quantitative performance in the body. The second one studies the biochemical and physiological effects of the drugs and their mechanism of actions. So, Tramadol mechanism of action explains the effect that Tramadol has on human body functions. In general, drugs can’t create new functions but they are able to modulate the ones that already exist. It has been observed that the drug effects are the result of their relationship with molecules.

Tramadol mechanism of action allows pharmaceutical products that contained Tramadol to produce analgesia that can be compared to Codeine or Dextropropoxyphene. In addition, it produces the beneficial effects that may improve post-surgical pain, obstetric pain, cancer pain and chronic pain of mechanical and neurogenic origin.

Since 2004, there has been a state of uncertainty and controversy about the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflamatory medications and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 inhibitors, so other analgesics have started to be used for treating moderate to severe pain. This is Tramadol case. Although it was launched in 1977, new uses have been discovered for this active principle.

At the same time, products manufactured with Tramadol may be habit forming. Patients should not take more doses than the ones recommended by their physicians. On the other hand, if they feel that Tramadol mechanism of action is not acting properly, they should contact their healthcare providers immediately.

Because of its mechanism of action, Tramadol may be coadministered with other analgesics, especially those with peripheral action. Drug substances that depress CNS function may enhance the sedative result of Tramadol. When facing a treatment to get pain management, patients should know everything about the drug they will use. Physicians are in charge of providing them with the necessary information to make them feel more confident.

Tramadol mechanism of action is available for those patients who need relief for their pain and suffering. This “mechanism” seems to really “act” as a loyal ally.