Top 5 Facts You Should Know About Tramadol

Tramadol is a pain reliever that is widely used for the elimination of moderate to severe pain. While the Internet is filled with useful information about Tramadol, it is inevitable to be selective and rely only on approved and relevant facts. Here are 5 most important points about Tramadol you should be aware of.

Tramadol is not classified as a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug

Despite a common misconception, Tramadol is not an NSAID. Instead, it belongs to a group of opiate agonists that bind brain receptors, promoting a pain-relieving effect. So is Tramadol a narcotic? Yes, it is. Is it an NSAID? No, it is not. However, the drug remains effective for the improvement of moderate to severe symptoms of pain in adults.

Tramadol can cause severe, life-threatening symptoms if misused or overused

Although Tramadol is commonly well-tolerated and its adverse reactions are frequently temporary, there are lots of instances when they can be devastating. Typical Tramadol side effects include dizziness, vomiting, headache, drowsiness, and constipation. More serious complications appear as a result of constant drug misuse. It is essential to contact a medical specialist the moment you have got the signs of angioedema, suicidal thoughts or behavior, allergic reactions, seizures, and similar reactions.

Tramadol can be addictive

According to medical information, the misuse of Tramadol can lead to serious health disorders and cause complications. Moreover, patients, who take the drug in high doses or for a long term have the risk of becoming dependent. Taking into account the structure of Tramadol, physical and psychological addiction and abuse are possible. People, who have a history of drug dependence, should avoid the use of the medication.

Tramadol can cause different impacts on people, depending on their overall health state

The components of Tramadol are processed by the liver, where they get broken down and excreted by the kidneys. The half-life of the medication varies from 5 to 9 hours, depending mainly on the dose. Around 10% of people have problems metabolizing Tramadol, which means it takes longer for the ingredients of the drug to break down. Such people are at high risk as Tramadol combination with other drugs can significantly decrease the action of the enzymes in the organism.

There are risk groups that should minimize the use of Tramadol

Similar to other opioid drugs, Tramadol causes dangerous effects on patients of certain categories. Thus, it is not recommended to share Tramadol with other patients, unless your doctor has approved such a therapy. There are three main types of customers, who should not start Tramadol intake without previous consultation of the doctor:

• Geriatric patients, especially over 65 years old.
• Pregnant and breastfeeding women.
• Children.

The representatives of these categories may suffer from devastating and deadly side effects caused even by the proper intake of the medication.