| Tramadol is a non steroidal anti inflammatory drug | | | | As with any drug, there have been reported side |
| or pain reliever. One of the brand names for | | | | effects with the use of tramadol though it is |
| tramadol is Ultram and it is available in 50, 100, | | | | generally well tolerated. These side effects include |
| 200 and 300mg tablets. Tramadol is used for the | | | | drowsiness, nausea and vomiting, headaches and |
| management of moderate to moderately severe | | | | constipation. Itching, sweating, dry mouth, |
| pain. The higher dosages are for those who | | | | diarrhea, rash, visual disturbances, and vertigo has |
| require extended or chronic pain management. | | | | also been reported as side effects but these are |
| The recommended dosage is at 50-100 mgs a | | | | less common. |
| day to be taken every 4-6 hours for pain | | | | If you forget taking your scheduled dosage, do |
| management. The initial dose is given at 25mgs | | | | not catch up or take double doses. Skip the dose |
| four times a day until the recommended dose of | | | | and just take the normal dosing schedule in order |
| 100mgs is reached. The tablets have to be | | | | to avoid over dosage. Over dosage symptoms |
| swallowed whole with fluids and not chewed or | | | | include cold and clammy skin, low body |
| crushed. It can also be taken even on an empty | | | | temperature, slowed breathing, slowed heartbeat, |
| stomach. It is important not to break the tablet | | | | drowsiness, dizziness, lightheadedness, deep sleep, |
| because of its time release feature and may | | | | loss of consciousness, seizures. If you suspect a |
| cause adverse reactions such as seizures when | | | | patient of over dosage, rush them to the nearest |
| chewed or dissolved. | | | | emergency room or contact your local poison |
| Before taking tramadol your physician should | | | | control center. |
| know about the other prescriptive and non | | | | Tramadol is not recommended for pregnant |
| prescriptive drugs that you are taking. Drugs such | | | | women. They need to consult a doctor before |
| as carbamazepine, narcotic pain relievers (e.g., | | | | using tramadol so that the doctor can gauge if |
| codeine), sleeping pills, antidepressants (e.g., | | | | they can use it without affecting their unborn child. |
| SSRI-types such as Prozac), MAO inhibitors (e.g., | | | | Tramadol can be secreted in breast milk though |
| furazolidone, linezolid, phenelzine, procarbazine, | | | | the dosage is low and doctors say that it is |
| selegiline, tranylcypromine), psychiatric medicine | | | | acceptable for lactating mothers to use it. |
| (e.g., nefazodone), "triptan"-type drugs, | | | | Discontinuing the use of tramadol may result to |
| anti-anxiety drugs (e.g., diazepam), sibutramine | | | | withdrawal symptoms such as anxiety, sweating, |
| should be reported to your physician before | | | | insomnia, rigors, pain, nausea, diarrhea, tremors, |
| taking in tramadol. Also report if you are taking in | | | | and hallucinations. It is recommended that the |
| antihistamines that contain diphenhydramine which | | | | withdrawal of the drug should be done in the |
| are present in most cough and cold medicines. | | | | same manner as when initially taking it, by gradual |
| Your doctor will check of any possible adverse | | | | lowering the dose before withdrawing totally from |
| reactions to the medications when taken together | | | | its use, in order to avoid such symptoms. |
| with tramadol. | | | | |