Get medical help right away, especially if you notice extreme sleepiness, confusion, or breathing problems, or symptoms of serotonin syndrome like agitation and muscle stiffness. People who are CYP2D6 ultra-rapid metabolizers convert tramadol to its active metabolite more quickly and may be at higher risk for serious side effects like slowed breathing. Weekly contact, education, and support are part of our culture, helping families ask better questions about medications, side effects, and relapse risks without shame or fear. If tramadol misuse, polydrug use, or complicated prescriptions are part of your story, structured outpatient treatment can help you stabilize while staying connected to work and family. Let the medical team know everything you take, including migraine medicines, cough remedies, supplements like St. John’s wort, and any recent dose changes. If you have a history of seizures or take medicines like bupropion or certain antipsychotics, your prescriber should weigh tramadol’s risks and consider alternatives.

In particular, make sure that you discuss if you are using any of the following before taking tramadol. Tell your healthcare provider if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Breastfeeding is not recommended while you are taking tramadol.

This medicine may cause some people to become dizzy, drowsy, or may cause trouble with thinking or controlling body movements, which may lead to falls, fractures or other injuries. Your doctor may decrease your dose if you have sleep apnea (stop breathing for short periods during sleep) while using this medicine. Your doctor may also give naloxone and other medicines to treat an overdose. Serious side effects can occur if your doctor or dentist gives you certain medicines without knowing that you have been taking this medicine. Check the labels of all nonprescription (over-the-counter OTC) or prescription medicines you now take. If a nursing mother is an ultra-rapid metabolizer of tramadol, it could lead to an overdose in the nursing baby and cause very serious side effects.

Mixing tramadol with the wrong medicine or even a couple of drinks can turn a routine dose into a medical emergency. While the process is critical for all drugs, it’s especially important for people who take tramadol. Withdrawal also may be precipitated through the administration of drugs with opioid antagonist activity (e.g., naloxone, nalmefene), mixed agonist/antagonist analgesics (pentazocine, butorphanol, nalbuphine), or partial agonists (buprenorphine). Tolerance may occur to both the desired and undesired effects of drugs, and may develop at different rates for different effects. Tolerance is the need for increasing doses of drugs to maintain a defined effect such as analgesia (in the absence of disease progression or other external factors).

Tramadol and acetaminophen (oral route)

Tramadol belongs to a class of drugs called opioid agonists. Both tramadol oral tablets are also available as generic drugs. Extended-release drugs are released into the body slowly over time. Immediate-release drugs are released into the body right away. Tramadol is a medication that can be a game-changer for you if you’re dealing with moderate to severe pain.

  • Metabolism and nutrition disorders – Cases of hypoglycemia have been reported very rarely in patients taking tramadol.
  • If you are experiencing difficulty with tramadol addiction, complex prescriptions, or alcohol use that is a danger to your health or wellbeing, for goodness’ sake, seek help.
  • You’ll get the prescription you need filled at a pharmacy near you, but all of your appointments will take place via your computer or phone.
  • The action of this enzyme can differ from person to person based on genes or other medicines they may be consuming.
  • Kelsey carries multiple years of experience working in the substance abuse and mental health treatment field.
  • Talk with your doctor before using this medicine if you plan to have children.

Ultram (tramadol) Side Effects, Warnings, and Interactions

Tramadol is indicated for the treatment of both acute (sudden, severe) and chronic (persistent pain). This article explains how tramadol and naproxen work, including possible side effects and interactions. Tramadol is an opioid drug available by prescription, while naproxen is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) sold over the counter. Your length of treatment depends on how severe your pain is.

Potential Risks

Tramadol oral tablet can interact with other medications, vitamins, or herbs you may be taking. Call 911 if your symptoms feel life threatening or if you think you’re having a medical emergency. The receptors then decrease the pain messages your body sends to your brain. These drugs are often used to treat similar conditions. This means you may need to take it with other medications. Tramadol is used to treat moderate to severe pain.

Studies in women breastfeeding have demonstrated harmful infant effects. Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of tramadol and acetaminophen combination in the elderly. Severe breathing problems and deaths have been reported in some children who received codeine after tonsil or adenoid surgery. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully. This medicine is available only under a restricted distribution program called the Opioid Analgesic REMS (Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy) program.

Ultram (tramadol) side effects list for healthcare professionals

  • It’s crucial to use Tramadol responsibly and be aware of these risks.
  • Discuss concerns with a healthcare provider regarding specific interactions or conditions.
  • Check with your doctor before using this medicine with alcohol or other medicines that affect the central nervous system (CNS).
  • Ultram was administered to 550 patients during the double-blind or open-label extension periods in U.S. studies of chronic nonmalignant pain.
  • Tramadol is of special concern due to the risk of addiction and withdrawal.

Tell your healthcare provider if you took tramadol during your pregnancy, especially near the end of your pregnancy. If you take tramadol on a regular basis during pregnancy, your baby may have withdrawal symptoms that can be life-threatening. Your healthcare provider will advise you if you should take tramadol while you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant. Taking too much tramadol can lead to breathing problems, seizures, and death. Talk to your healthcare provider about your risks if you are in this age group. Stopping tramadol too quickly can cause serious withdrawal effects.

Medications & Supplements

If you are trying to access this site from the United States, please try heading to our homepage or our drug directory.

How is tramadol supplied (dosage forms)?

Seniors ages 65 years and older are at higher risk of side effects from the extended-release forms of this drug. This can cause your body to process drugs more slowly. The use of drinks that contain alcohol can increase your risk of certain side effects from tramadol. Your risk of seizures is higher if you’re taking certain other medications. If you take one of these drugs with tramadol, your doctor may monitor you more often. This is because the amount of those drugs in your body may be increased.

Postmarketing Experience

Take tramadol exactly as prescribed. Misuse means taking a medicine in a way other than how it was prescribed. Get emergency help right away if you have any of the following symptoms of a serious allergic reaction. In the U.S., you can report side effects to the FDA at /medwatch or by calling 800-FDA-1088. Tramadol may also be used for other conditions as determined by your healthcare provider.

Potential Side Effects of Tramadol

By continuing to view the drug information, you agree to abide by such terms of use. The display and use of drug information on this site is subject to express terms of use. Kelsey carries multiple years of experience working in the substance abuse and mental health treatment field. Find out if your benefits cover the cost of mental health treatment.Fill out our online form for quick answers. Bring your full medication list so the team can act fast. Do not use tramadol with an MAOI or within 14 days of stopping one.

Any sedating medication can make you feel sleepy and slow. Someone losing too many fluids is also flushing salt from the body. Diuretics can help the body remove excess fluids. When you’re holding in too much fluid, Tramadol interactions painful swelling in the legs and hands can appear. Water makes up about 60% of an adult’s body weight. If someone relapses to opioid misuse, they won’t get high.

Are you currently using Tramadol (Ultram, Conzip, Qdolo)?

Metabolism and nutrition disorders – Cases of hypoglycemia have been reported very rarely in patients taking tramadol. Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure. The following lists adverse reactions that occurred with an incidence of less than 1% in clinical trials of tramadol and/or reported in post-marketing experience with tramadol-containing products.