Description

Tramadol is formally a non-narcotic analgesic. But its pain-relieving effect occurs by means of binding to opioid receptors.

A pain-relieving effect of Tramadol is slightly weaker than in morphine but the side effects appear seldom. A binding of Tramadol with opioid receptors is weaker, and so a risk of the side effects and a medical addiction is lower.

Tramadol gives a fast analgesic effect. A transfer of the painful impulses through the central nervous system is blocked within 15 minutes. A painful threshold is increased in 30 minutes, and pain is completely gone.

A drawback of the fast analgesic effect is its low duration. A therapeutic dose of Tramadol acts 4-5 hours, and then pain may appear again. Tramadol provides some antitussicand sedative action.

It is medically proved that a sensitivity to Tramadol begins to drop in a month after the beginning of the treatment. It means that a patient should regularly increase a dose to cope with pain. This drawback of Tramadol may be neutralized by means of short-term courses.

In what dose is Tramadol used?

To reduce pain in a single dose, Tramadol is used in the dose of 50 mg orally, with water. In case of chronic painful syndrome, the tablets of Tramadol 50 mg may be used every 2 hours but not more than 8 tablets within a day. There is also Tramadol 100 mg tablet, a prolonged form. Itcontainsmoreactiveingredientsandactswithin 7-8 hours.

To treat pain during oncological diseases and intensive pain in the post-operational period, higher doses may be used but only if there are not contraindications and if a doctor recommended.

Tramadol 50 mg may act longer – 7 hours and more in patients with diseases of kidneys and liver. A doctor may recommend to increase the interval between the use of single doses.

Precautions

• As any opioid analgesic, Tramadol increases the action of ethanol and products providing an inhibiting action on the central nervous system
• Do not take Tramadol during severe renal/hepatic failure, intensive breathing distress, and use of MAO inhibitors
• If you are pregnant, the use of Tramadol is not recommended. If pregnancy occurred during the treatment, stop taking the pills as soon as possible. It is desirable to have a cleaning course to quickly excrete the active ingredients from the body
• Tramadol may be used to reduce pain only in patients over 16 years old
• If you had a severe allergy or severe side effects during the use of opioids, inform your doctor about it before using Tramadol

Side effects

The use of Tramadol may cause such side effects as constipations, vomiting, dizziness, sleepiness, or headache, tachycardia, dryness of the mouth, diarrhea, and confusion. Some side effects may disappear in some time of taking Tramadol. If similar symptoms are kept, tell your doctor about it.

In case of a sudden cessation of the use of Tramadol, a withdrawal syndrome is possible. Therefore, if you took the drug more than 2 weeks, stop taking it gradually by reducing a daily dose by 50 mg every 2 days.