In This Review
Have you ever experienced that pesky pain that won’t disappear even after taking medication? We have all experienced some pain at one time or the other that can range from moderate to severe.
Regardless of the intensity, any pain causes discomfort and might hinder you from going on with your day. When the pain is mild, you can easily reach for an ice pack or topical pain relief options to try and subdue it for a while, but what of severe pain that might be accompanied by throbbing and pounding?
We all know that painkillers are always present in most home medicine cabinets. For the more severe pain, you are more than likely to take some of these tablets to ease the pain. In some instances, the pain does not reduce nor respond to the medication you take; you might even end up trying different types but still don’t get any relief.
At this point, your doctor might prescribe Tramadol. After trying several types of drugs for your pain, we understand that you might be skeptical. Worry not. In this article, we shall take a closer look at Tramadol to see if it works on non-responsive pain to other types of medications.
What is Tramadol?
Tramadol is an oral tablet that provides short-term relief for mild to moderately severe pain. These tablets come in two forms; immediate-release to provide instant relief to pain and extended-release form for individuals who need relief from pain throughout the day.
It is classified as an opioid (narcotic) that comes in capsule and liquid form. Patients can get the generic version of the medication and the brand-name version known as Ultram. As a generic, Tramadol is cheaper compared to the brand-name drug.
Tramadol is supposed to be used when other non-opioid medications don’t work on the pain. During our research, we discovered that Tramadol is not recommended to treat long-term pain.
As a form of a controlled substance, Tramadol needs to be used under the close supervision of your doctor as it might be habit-forming, especially if used for a long period. You should take this medication as per your doctor’s directions.
How Does It Rate?
Brand Highlights
- Ultram is the brand behind Tramadol.
- it provide Immediate-release and Extended-release.
Key Ingredients
- Tramadol Hydrochloride
- Paracetamol
Pros
- It provides relief for mild to moderately severe pain.
Cons
- Some ingredients could have serious risks or side effects.
- You should take this medication as per your doctor’s directions.
How Does It Work?
As an opioid agonist itself, Tramadol works by targeting opioid receptors found in the central nervous system. This medication changes how your brain responds to pain. What it does is it stops and reduces pain hence affecting how your brain interprets the pain.
Because of its similarity to the endorphins produced in your brain, Tramadol binds the receptors, decreasing pain messages from your body that are being sent to your brain.
Tramadol Side Effects
Most opiates have side effects, and this is similar to Tramadol. You will find that most of these side effects are the same for these opiates and can range from mild to severe.
Some common mild side effects are:
- Sleepiness
- Drowsiness
- Headache
- Sweating
- Nausea and vomiting
- Constipation
- Dry mouth
- Fatigue
The above side effects usually go away after a few days or weeks. If they continue in severity and don’t go away, we recommend you get in touch with your doctor.
As a potent pain relief medication, Tramadol can cause breathing problems and other serious side effects that you should inform your doctor immediately. These are:
- Difficulty in swallowing
- Hallucinations
- High blood pressure
- High body temperature
- Breathing problems that might present in shallow or slow breathing and fast breathing
- Seizures
- Loss of consciousness
- Addiction and dependence on the medication
Your privacy is important to us
How to Take Tramadol?
Tramadol is available as a tablet, capsule, or liquid form. The Tramadol dosage and form your doctor prescribes depends on several factors, which are:
- Age bracket
- The type of pain being addressed
- The severity of the condition
- Other pre-existing medical conditions
- Reaction experienced after taking the first dose
In most scenarios, your doctor will start you on a low dose (Tramadol 50 mg) and gradually increase as needed and how your body reacts.
The liquid Tramadol dose should be measured with an oral syringe or measuring cup to get the correct quantity for each dosage. You can get a measuring device from your doctor or pharmacist to ensure you take the correct dose.
The table below shows how Tramadol should be taken for individuals of different ages.
Age Bracket | Type and Form | Strength | Dosage per Day | Maximum Dose per Day |
---|---|---|---|---|
18 – 64 years | Immediate-release | Tramadol 50 mg | 4 times | 400 mg |
Extended-release | Tramadol 100 mg | Once | 300 mg | |
17 years | Immediate-release | 50 mg | 4 times | 400 mg |
It is unknown if both the extended-release and immediate-release tablets can be used by children (0-16 years) and people under 18. Because the safety and effectiveness of these forms of Tramadol are not yet known for this particular age group, they should, therefore, not be used by them.
You might be asking if you can crush or take the Tramadol pills whole. We discovered that you could crush the immediate-release tablet, but the extended-release tablet should be taken whole and not crushed.
There are individuals who should not take Tramadol; they are people who are breastfeeding, children under 17 years, and older individuals aged 65 years and above whose liver and kidneys might not work as they used to before.
People with a pre-existing condition like asthma or any other condition that affects their breathing should seek advice from their doctor before taking Tramadol.
If you have a family history of mental illness or overusing prescription or street drugs, you should tell your doctor, as it puts you at risk of Tramadol addiction. A history of alcoholism should also be mentioned to your doctor, as Tramadol and alcohol don’t go well together.
We understand that the side effects and risk of addiction might worry you. Alternatively, you can try Phytocet CBD, which offers immediate and fast relief to pain.
FAQS about Tramadol
Q: Should I be on a special diet when taking Tramadol?
A: Your diet should remain the same unless your doctor instructs you to change it.
Q: How long does it take for Tramadol to provide relief?
A: For the immediate-release tablets, you should feel the effects of the drug after 4-6 hours, and for the extended-release, it takes 12-24 hours for the effects to kick in.
Q: What is Tramadol used for?
A: Tramadol is an opioid that treats mild to moderately serious pain.
Q: What happens if I forget a dose?
A: You should take the missed dose as soon as you remember, but if it’s almost approaching the window for the next dose, you should take that one and forget about the missed dose to avoid double dosing.
Q: How can I get off of Tramadol?
A: Weaning and tapering off of Tramadol needs to be done gradually and slowly to minimize the withdrawal symptoms.
Q: What helps with withdrawal from Tramadol?
A: The best way to handle Tramadol withdrawal symptoms is by talking to your doctor to devise a plan to minimize them. Your doctor might also recommend medication to counteract the withdrawal.
Reviews from Tramadol Users
The reviews we went through were from Drugs.com. Tramadol has an average rating of 6.8 out of 10 from this site. This rating was derived from 1,767 reviews.
We shall take a look at a few of them to get an understanding of other users’ firsthand experience of using Tramadol.
One user raves about how effective the drug was, saying,
From personal experience Tramadol is a good drug as it has helped with pain and been a mood booster. I only take it when I need it and not daily as we all need something to help with aches and pains as we get older. For me they improve the quality of life and when taken correctly they will not be harmful.
Honey had this to say about Tramadol,
After being prescribed Tramadol four times I have not experienced any relief to the pain. Even after telling the doctors this they still prescribe it to me. Tramadol is not effective and gives me no relief.
Another use known as Cldet says,
I have been treating fibromyalgia back pain for years using Tramadol. What I can say for a fact is that it helps with pain making it somewhat bearable to a certain degree. But when the pain is too much the drug has no effect which makes me think a stronger prescription might be needed.
Final Thought
It is essential to point out that people are different, and every individual might experience pain differently, contributing to the effectiveness of Tramadol or any other pain relief options. We were able to learn that non-opioids work well and give some relief to some people with fewer side effects and risks. We recommend you talk to your doctor before settling on other pain relief options.
Tramadol is not prescribed for people with chronic pain, but there are other ways of managing this long-term pain that your doctor can advise on. Tramadol warnings are highlighted by the FDA and are meant to warn patients and doctors of the severe side effects associated with it if not used appropriately.
If you are suffering from joint pain or inflammation, you can look at this article, where we reviewed 12 types of MSM supplements that you can use for pain relief.
Tramadol should be taken per your doctor’s instructions and for the duration advised. Withdrawal from Tramadol should not be abrupt or against your doctor’s input might lead to other health complications. But you can always be on the lookout for some Tramadol withdrawal symptoms.
You should know the medication works if you feel less pain and relief. If you think you have overdosed on the drug, you should immediately get in touch with your doctor, and if the side effects don’t let up, you should call 911 or rush to the hospital.
Healthy joints allow us to move with ease. Joint damage can cause pain preventing you from doing the things you once loved. From aging to untreated sports injuries – many conditions lead to joint pain. A quality joint product may help reduce inflammation, repair existing tissue damage, and promote stronger joints, lessening susceptibility to future degeneration.
Below you'll find some of the most effective joint pain supplements on the market today, in our opinion.
Verdict on Claimed Benefits: Below is our summary of the available evidence for the claimed benefits of below mentioned joint pain supplements based on the available research:
Mark L.