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Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Tramadol General Information and to Maximize your knowledge about it

Durg Interaction


Use with  Carbamazepine

Patients taking carbamazepine may have a significantly reduced analgesic effect of tramadol hydrochloride tablets. Because carbamazepine increases tramadol metabolism and because of the seizure risk associated with tramadol, concomitant administration of tramadol hydrochloride tablets and carbamazepine is not recommended.

Use with Quinidine

Tramadol is metabolized to M1 by CYP2D6. Quinidine is a selective inhibitor of that isoenzyme, so that concomitant administration of quinidine and tramadol hydrochloride tablets results in increased concentrations of tramadol and reduced concentrations of M1. The clinical consequences of these findings are unknown. In vitro drug interaction studies in human liver microsomes indicate that tramadol has no affect on quinidine metabolism.

Use with Inhibitors of CYP2D6

In vitro drug interactio
n studies in human liver microsomes indicate that concomitant administration with inhibitors of CYP2D6 such as fluoxetine, paroxetine, and amitriptyline could result in some inhibition of the metabolism of tramadol.

Use with Cimetidine

Concomitant administration of tramadol hydrochloride tablets withcimetidine does not result in clinically significant changes in tramadol pharmacokinetics. Therefore, no alteration of the tramadol hydrochloride tablets dosage regimen is recommended.

Use with MAO Inhibitors

Interactions with MAO Inhibitors, due to interference with detoxification mechanisms, have been reported for some centrally acting drugs (see WARNINGS, Use with MAO inhibitors).

Use with Digoxin and Warfarin

Post-marketing surveillance has revealed rare reports of digoxin toxicity and alteration of warfarin effect, including elevation of prothrombin times.

Tramadol is what?



Introduction
Tramadol, the generic version of Ultram, is a synthetic analgesic medication. The exact mode of action of
tramadol is unknown but it is said to work like morphine. Tramadol binds to opioid receptors in the brain — receptors that transmit the sensation of pain throughout the body. Here are 10 things you should know about tramadol to ensure its safe use.
Ten Things you should know about tramadol:

1 – Tramadol is prescribed to treat moderate to moderately severe pain.

Tramadol belongs to the class of drugs known as opiate agonists. Primarily, tramadol works by changing the way the body senses pain. Some people mistakenly believe that tramadol is an NSAID (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug), but it is not.

2 – Tramadol is available in immediate release and extended release formulations.

Tramadol may be prescribed as an immediate release tablet (50 mg.) or as an extended release tablet (100, 200, or 300 mg.). The extended release tablets are usually reserved for patients with chronic pain who require continuous, long-term treatment. Your doctor will determine the appropriate dosage schedule for you.

3 – Tramadol extended release tablets must be taken whole, not split, chewed or crushed.

It is important to take tramadol properly and to follow prescribing instructions. If taken improperly or in a way that is not recommended, serious side effects and even death can result.

4 – Tramadol can be habit-forming for some people.

Do not take more tramadol than has been prescribed for you. Taking more tramadol or taking it more often can cause dependency on it. You should also not stop taking tramadol without first consulting your doctor. You may experience withdrawal symptoms if you stopped it suddenly. You doctor will likely decrease your dose of tramadol gradually.

5 – Drug interactions are possible with tramadol.

Be aware of the following possible drug interactions:
  • Carbamazepine reduces the effect of tramadol
  • Quinidine increases the concentration of tramadol by 50% to 60%
  • Combining tramadol with an MAO (monoamine oxidase inhibitor) inhibitor or SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) can lead to seizures or other serious side effects.

Tramadol Contraindication



There are many contraindications of tramadol what is really important is totake this medication  only as directed by your doctors seem this medication can be habit-forming which is the first contraindication to consider. (You must tell your doctor if you have kidney disease; liver disease; or a history of alcohol or drug dependence before taking it.)
Some possible side effects of tramadol are: (This side effect are not common but they can occur)
Migraine and Speech disorders
Gastrointestinal bleeding, Hepatitis, Stomatitis, Liver failure
Dizziness, headache, drowsiness, blurred vision, upset stomach, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Fast heartbeat, redness, swelling, and itching of the face, numbness or tingling of the hands and feet, difficulty breathing, changes in urination, seizures.

Tramadol Dosage and Side Effects

Introduction
Before you start taking a pain relief drug it’s always best that you know all the information about that drug. This means that you have to know the truth about tramadol, which includes all the good things which tramadol could bring and the bad things (side effects).
Tramadol is a synthetic analgesic which is prescribed by doctors most of the time in order to treat moderate and up to severe chronic pain. This drug is going to work on your body in a very similar way as morphine and other analgesic do. This is one of the reasons why you should know that there are cases of tramadol addiction reported.
The Dosage of Tramadol
The recommended dosage of tramadol that you should take per day is 100mg. This means that you can take 2 pills per day. You can also increase the dosage every 5 days by another 100mg, however you should never go beyond the 300mg of tramadol per day. Please note that tramadol overdose can be fatal!
Important things you should know about tramadol before taking the pill
You should not take tramadol in case you had problems with alcohol, drugs or other pills addiction and definitely if you are currently still having these problems.
In case you have problems with your liver, stomach or kidney you should tell that to the doctor that prescribes you this pill.
Pregnant and nursing women should always avoid taking tramadol, unless a doctor is allowing them to do it. Tramadol might have a negative impact on the child.
The side effects of Tramadol
Tramadol just like any other pain killer pill out there is going to have some side effects on your body. But since you will no longer live in pain, the benefits you will get from taking this drug are definitely going to be a lot more important compared to the side effects that might appear while you take it.
The side effects of tramadol can be classified into two large categories:
The serious side effects: fainting, seizure, slow/shallow breathing, unusual drowsiness/difficulty waking up. In case you have any of the serious side effects, you must ask immediately for medical assistance. You can either talk to the doctor that prescribed you these pills or you can ask for emergency help.
And the less serious side effects: nausea, constipation, blurred vision, insomnia, dizziness and drowsiness as well as loss of appetite. These tramadol side effects are usually most commonly encountered and they will usually going to go away as your body is going to adapt to the substances that tramadol releases in your body.