tramadol
What is the most important information I should know about tramadol?You should not take tramadol if you have used alcohol, sedatives, tranquilizers, or narcotic medications within the past few hours. Tramadol can slow or stop your breathing, and may be habit-forming. Use only your prescribed dose, and swallow the pill whole to avoid a potentially fatal dose. Never share tramadol with another person. MISUSE OF PAIN MEDICATION CAN CAUSE ADDICTION, OVERDOSE, OR DEATH, especially in a child or other person using the medicine without a prescription. Taking tramadol during pregnancy may cause life-threatening withdrawal symptoms in the newborn. Fatal side effects can occur if you use tramadol with alcohol, or with other drugs that cause drowsiness or slow your breathing. Tramadol can interact with many other drugs and cause dangerous side effects or death. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any you start or stop using. What is tramadol?Tramadol is a narcotic-like pain reliever. Tramadol is used to treat moderate to severe pain. The extended-release form of this medicine is for around-the-clock treatment of pain. This form of tramadol is not for use on an as-needed basis for pain. Tramadol may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide. What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking tramadol?You should not take tramadol if you are allergic to it, or if you have: - severe asthma or breathing problems;
- a blockage in your stomach or intestines;
- if you have recently used alcohol, sedatives, tranquilizers, or narcotic medications; or
- if you have used an MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days (such as isocarboxazid, linezolid, methylene blue injection, phenelzine, rasagiline, selegiline, or tranylcypromine).
Seizures have occurred in some people taking tramadol. Talk with your doctor about your seizure risk, which may be higher if you have: - a history of head injury, epilepsy or other seizure disorder;
- a history of drug or alcohol addiction;
- a metabolic disorder; or
- if you also use certain antibiotics, antifungal medications, heart or blood pressure medications, or medicines to treat HIV or AIDS.
Some medicines can interact with tramadol and cause a serious condition called serotonin syndrome. Be sure your doctor knows if you also take medicine for depression, mental illness, Parkinson's disease, migraine headaches, serious infections, or prevention of nausea and vomiting. Ask your doctor before making any changes in how or when you take your medications. To make sure tramadol is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have: - liver or kidney disease;
- a stomach disorder; or
- a history of drug abuse, alcohol addiction, mental illness, or suicide attempt.
Tramadol is more likely to cause breathing problems in older adults and people who are severely ill, malnourished, or otherwise debilitated. It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. If you use tramadol while you are pregnant, your baby could become dependent on the drug. This can cause life-threatening withdrawal symptoms in the baby after it is born. Babies born dependent on habit-forming medicine may need medical treatment for several weeks. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Tramadol can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. You should not breast-feed while you are taking tramadol. Do not give this medicine to anyone younger than 16 years old without the advice of a doctor. Ultram ER should not be given to anyone younger than 18 years old. How should I take tramadol?Follow all directions on your prescription label. Tramadol can slow or stop your breathing, especially when you start using this medicine or whenever your dose is changed. Never take tramadol in larger amounts, or for longer than prescribed. Tell your doctor if the medicine seems to stop working as well in relieving your pain. Tramadol may be habit-forming, even at regular doses. Never share this medicine with another person, especially someone with a history of drug abuse or addiction. MISUSE OF PAIN MEDICATION CAN CAUSE ADDICTION, OVERDOSE, OR DEATH, especially in a child or other person using the medicine without a prescription. Selling or giving away tramadol is against the law. Stop taking all other around-the-clock narcotic pain medications when you start taking tramadol. Tramadol can be taken with or without food, but take it the same way each time. Do not crush, break, or open an extended-release tablet or capsule (ConZip, Ultram ER). Swallow it whole to avoid exposure to a potentially fatal dose. Never crush or break a tramadol pill to inhale the powder or mix it into a liquid to inject the drug into your vein. This practice has resulted in death with the misuse of tramadol and similar prescription drugs. If you use the tramadol extended-release tablet, the tablet shell may pass into your stools (bowel movements). This is normal and does not mean that you are not receiving enough of the medicine. Do not stop using tramadol suddenly, or you could have unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. Ask your doctor how to safely stop using tramadol. Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat. Keep track of the amount of medicine used from each new bottle. Tramadol is a drug of abuse and you should be aware if anyone is using your medicine improperly or without a prescription. What happens if I miss a dose?Since tramadol is used for pain, you are not likely to miss a dose. Skip any missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not use extra medicine to make up the missed dose. What happens if I overdose?Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222. A tramadol overdose can be fatal, especially in a child or other person using the medicine without a prescription. Overdose symptoms may include slow breathing and heart rate, severe drowsiness, cold and clammy skin, and fainting. What should I avoid while taking tramadol?Do not drink alcohol. Dangerous side effects or death can occur when alcohol is combined with tramadol. Tramadol may impair your thinking or reactions. Avoid driving or operating machinery until you know how this medicine will affect you. Dizziness or severe drowsiness can cause falls or other accidents. What are the possible side effects of tramadol?Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Tramadol is not for use in children. Seek emergency medical attention if a child has taken this medicine and has: noisy breathing, sighing, slow breathing with long pauses between breaths; being unusually sleepy or hard to wake up; blue colored lips. Call your doctor at once if you have: - seizure (convulsions);
- weak or shallow breathing;
- infertility, missed menstrual periods;
- impotence, sexual problems, loss of interest in sex;
- low cortisol levels -- nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, dizziness, worsening tiredness or weakness; or
- severe skin reaction --fever, sore throat, swelling in your face or tongue, burning in your eyes, skin pain, followed by a red or purple skin rash that spreads (especially in the face or upper body) and causes blistering and peeling.
Seek medical attention right away if you have symptoms of serotonin syndrome, such as: agitation, hallucinations, fever, sweating, shivering, fast heart rate, muscle stiffness, twitching, loss of coordination, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. Serious side effects may be more likely in older adults and those who are ill or debilitated. Common side effects may include: - headache, dizziness, drowsiness, tired feeling;
- constipation, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain;
- feeling nervous or anxious; or
- itching, sweating, flushing (warmth, redness, or tingly feeling).
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. What other drugs will affect tramadol?Narcotic (opioid) medication can interact with many other drugs and cause dangerous side effects or death. Be sure your doctor knows if you also use: - other narcotic medications --opioid pain medicine or prescription cough medicine;
- drugs that make you sleepy or slow your breathing --a sleeping pill, muscle relaxer, sedative, tranquilizer, or antipsychotic medicine; or
- drugs that affect serotonin levels in your body --medicine for depression, Parkinson's disease, migraine headaches, serious infections, or prevention of nausea and vomiting.
This list is not complete. Other drugs may interact with tramadol, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed in this medication guide. Where can I get more information?Your pharmacist can provide more information about tramadol.
Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed. Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist. Copyright 1996-2017 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 15.01. Revision date: 1/16/2017.
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Last modified on: 8 September 2017
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