Uses of Tramadol HCL:
This medication can be used to help relieve moderate to moderately severe pain. Tramadol is similar to opioid analgesics. It works in the mind to change how your body feels and responds to pain.
Read the Medication Guide provided by your pharmacist before you start taking tramadol and every time you get a refill. In case you have any queries, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
You may take this drug with or without food. If you have nausea, it may help to take this drug with meals.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist about other ways to decrease nausea (such as lying down for 1 to 2 hours with as little head movement as possible).
The dosage is based on your medical condition and response to treatment. To lower your risk of side effects, your doctor may direct you to start this medication in a low dose and gradually increase your dose.
The maximum recommended dose is 400 milligrams per day. If you’re older than 75 years, the maximum recommended dose is 300 milligrams every day.
Don’t increase your dose, take the medication more frequently, or take it for a longer time than prescribed.
Pain medications work best if they are used as the first signs of pain occur. If you wait until the pain has worsened, the medication may not work also.
When you have ongoing pain (such as due to arthritis), your doctor may direct you to also take long-acting opioid medications.
In that circumstance, this medication may be used for sudden (breakthrough) pain only as needed. Other pain relievers (such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen) may also be prescribed.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist about using tramadol safely along with other drugs:
Suddenly stopping this medication may cause withdrawal, especially in the event that you’ve used it for a very long time or in large doses. To prevent withdrawal, your doctor may lower your dose slowly.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist straight away in the event that you have any withdrawal symptoms such as restlessness, mental/mood changes (including stress, trouble sleeping, thoughts of suicide), flushing eyes, runny nose, nausea, diarrhea, sweating, muscle aches, or sudden changes in behavior.
When this medication is used for a long time, it may not work as well. Talk to your doctor if this medication stops working well.
Though it helps lots of people, this medication may sometimes cause addiction. This threat may be greater if you’ve got a substance use disorder (such as overuse of addiction to drugs/alcohol).
Take this medication exactly as prescribed to reduce the risk of addiction. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for additional information.
Tell your doctor if your pain doesn’t get better or if it becomes worse.
Side Effects of Tramadol HCL:
Nausea, vomiting, constipation, lightheadedness, nausea, nausea, or headache may occur.
Some of the side effects may decrease once you are using this medication for a while. If any of these effects persist or worsen, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly.
To prevent constipation, consume dietary fiber, drink sufficient water, and exercise. You may also need to take a laxative.
Ask your pharmacist which type of laxative is right for you.
To decrease the possibility of nausea and lightheadedness, get up slowly when rising from a sitting or lying position.
Keep in mind that your doctor has prescribed this medication because he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the possibility of side effects.
A lot of people using this medication do not have severe side effects:
Inform your doctor right away in the event you have some significant side effects, including interrupted breathing during sleep (sleep apnea), mental/mood changes (such as agitation, hallucinations), severe stomach/abdominal pain, difficulty urinating, signs of your adrenal glands not working well (such as loss of appetite, unusual tiredness, weight loss).
Get medical help right away if you have any very serious side effects, including fast/irregular heartbeat, severe dizziness, fainting, and seizure.
This medication may raise serotonin and rarely cause a very serious condition called serotonin syndrome/toxicity.
The risk increases if you are also taking other drugs that increase serotonin, so tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the drugs you take (see Drug Interactions section).
Get medical help straight away in the event that you build some of the following symptoms: fast heartbeat, hallucinations, loss of coordination, severe nausea, severe nausea/vomiting/diarrhea, twitching muscles, unexplained fever, unusual agitation/restlessness.
Tramadol is changed into a powerful opioid drug in the human body. In some people, this change occurs faster and more fully than normal, which increases the risk of very serious side effects.
Get medical help right away in the event that you notice any of the following: slow/shallow breathing, severe drowsiness/difficulty waking up, confusion.
A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare. However, seek medical help straight away in the event that you notice any of the following symptoms: rash, itching/swelling (especially of this face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, trouble breathing.
This isn’t a comprehensive list of possible side effects.
From the US –
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or at www.fda.gov/medwatch.
Back in Canada – Telephone your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at 1-866-234-2345.
Precautions of Tramadol HCL:
Before taking tramadol, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it, or in case you have any other allergies.
This item may contain inactive ingredients, which may cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk with your pharmacist for additional information.
Before applying this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: brain disorders (such as head trauma, tumor, seizures), breathing problems (such as asthma, sleep apnea, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease-COPD), kidney disease, liver disease, mental/mood disorders (such as confusion, depression, suicidal thoughts), family or personal history of a substance use disorder (such as overuse of or addiction to drugs/alcohol), stomach/intestinal problems (such as blockage, constipation, diarrhea due to disease, paralytic ileus), difficulty urinating (such as due to enlarged prostate), gallbladder disease, disease of the pancreas (pancreatitis), obesity.
This drug may make you dizzy or drowsy. Alcohol or marijuana (cannabis) can make you dizzy or drowsy.
Don’t drive, use machines, or do anything that needs alertness until you are able to perform it safely.
Stay away:
From alcoholic drinks. Talk to your doctor if you’re using marijuana (cannabis).
Tramadol may cause a condition that affects the heart rhythm (QT prolongation). QT prolongation can rarely cause serious (rarely fatal) fast/irregular heartbeat along with other symptoms (such as severe dizziness, fainting) that require medical attention straight away.
The risk of QT prolongation may be raised for those who have certain medical conditions or are taking other drugs that may cause QT prolongation.
Before utilizing tramadol, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all of the drugs you take and if you have any of the following conditions: certain heart problems (heart failure, slow heartbeat, QT prolongation in the EKG), family history of certain heart problems (QT prolongation in the EKG, sudden cardiac death).
Low levels of magnesium or potassium in the blood may also increase your risk of QT prolongation. Talk with your doctor about using tramadol safely.
Before having surgery, tell your doctor or dentist about all of the products you use (such as prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and herbal products).
Some kids may be more sensitive to very serious side effects of tramadol, such as extreme sleepiness, confusion, or slow/shallow/noisy breathing.
Older adults may be more sensitive to the side effects of this drug, especially confusion, dizziness, nausea, slow/shallow breathing, and QT prolongation (see previously).
Older adults may also be more inclined to develop a type of salt imbalance (hyponatremia) while using this drug. It may damage an unborn baby. Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor.
This medication passes into breast milk and may have undesirable effects on a nursing infant, such as unusual sleepiness, difficulty swallowing, or trouble breathing. Breast-feeding while using this drug is not recommended.
Ask your doctor before breast-feeding.
Interactions of Tramadol HCL:
Drug interactions may change how your medications work or increase your risk for serious side effects.
This document doesn’t include all possible drug interactions. Maintain a listing of all the products you use (including prescription/nonprescription drugs and herbal products) and share it with your doctor and pharmacist.
Do not start, stop, or change the dose of any medications without your doctor’s approval.
Some products that may interact with this drug include certain pain medications (mixed opioid agonist-antagonists such as pentazocine, nalbuphine, butorphanol), naltrexone.
Taking MAO inhibitors with this medication may cause a serious (possibly fatal) drug interaction.
Most MAO inhibitors should likewise not be taken for two weeks before treatment with this medication.
The danger of serotonin syndrome/toxicity increases if you’re also taking other drugs that increase serotonin.
Examples include:
Street drugs such as MDMA/”bliss,” St. John’s wort, certain antidepressants (including SSRIs such as fluoxetine/paroxetine, SNRIs such as duloxetine/venlafaxine), among others.
The danger of serotonin syndrome/toxicity may be more likely when you start or increase the dose of these drugs.
Other medications could affect the elimination of tramadol from your body, which may affect how tramadol works.
The risk of serious side effects (such as slow/shallow breathing, severe drowsiness/dizziness) may be increased if this medication is taken along with other products which may also cause drowsiness or breathing problems.
Check the labels on all your medicines (such as allergy or cough-and-cold products) because they may contain ingredients that cause drowsiness.
This medication may interfere with certain lab tests (including amylase/lipase amounts ), possibly causing false test results.
Make sure laboratory personnel and all of your doctors know you use this drug.
Overdose of Tramadol HCL:
If someone has overdosed and has serious symptoms such as passing out or trouble breathing, give them naloxone if available, and then call 911.
If the person is awake and doesn’t have any outward symptoms, call a poison control center right away. US residents can call their local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. Canada residents can predict a provincial poison control center.
Notes
Don’t share this medication with others. Sharing it’s contrary to the law.
This medication was prescribed for your current condition only. Another medication may be necessary in that case.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you should have naloxone readily available to treat opioid overdose. Teach your family or family members about the signs of an opioid overdose and how to treat it.
Missed Dose
Not appropriate.
Storage Keep all medications away from children and pets.
Do not flush medications down the toilet or put them in a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when it’s expired or no longer needed. Ask your pharmacist or local waste disposal company.
Ask your friends and loved ones for support. If you’re feeling anxious or depressed, consider joining a support group or seeking counseling. Believe in your ability to take control of the pain…
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