Is Tramadol dangerous?

Not if taken correctly. Tramadol is similar to morphine and is classified as a synthetic opioid. It is prescribed frequently for pain treatment over a long period of time, especially for osteoarthritis and lower back pain. Under no circumstances should patients take this medication if they are allergic to its ingredients, have had prior episodes of anaphylactic shock or have demonstrated hypersensitivity to the drug previously. Doctors refuse to give patients who are addicts this drug for obvious reasons.

How can you tell if a person is having an allergic reaction? Possible indicators are skin eruptions, severe dyspnea, swollen body parts (normally the face or throat). The signs include mild red spots on the skin to more severe development of vesicles and desquamation. There will be lowered blood pressure and a weak pulse, and other symptoms will continue to appear until the patient passes out or goes into shock. Before taking Tramadol, find out if you are allergic; otherwise, you may experience harmful or even fatal consequences.

Many medications interact with Tramadol. MAO inhibitors, antidepressants, carbamazepine, warfarin, digoxin and even supplements may interact with this painkiller. Studies have demonstrated that when carbamazepine is taken in conjunction with Tramadol, this opioid is metabolized more rapidly; this decreases the pain-killing effects and increases the chances that seizures may occur.

Tramadol is a strong painkiller that mainly affects the nervous system; for this reason, it should never be taken at the same time as similar medications or alcoholic beverages. Respiratory depression is possible, the symptoms of which would be similar to those of overdose — labored breathing, heavy perspiration and hypotension. The patient will feel a general fatigue in the body, along with gastrointestinal symptoms (nausea, vomiting) and anorexia. Taking too large a dose of Tramadol either by prescription or accidental ingestion can result in symptoms of overdose including sleepiness, slowed heartbeat and coma.

In order to discover more about the risks and benefits of using Tramadol, rigorous studies have been performed. One group received the medication while the other group was given a placebo. The results were intriguing. As it turns out, very few of those who took the placebo showed any improvement in their chronic pain, while those who took Tramadol experienced relief. There is no significant effect to the heart rate and cardiovascular functions when Tramadol is taken at normal doses. Hypotension occurred on some cases which was one of the side effects previously reported by many patients. According to studies, Tramadol may have adverse reactions with medications including Quinidine.

Dosage of Tramadol is not dependent on gender but on the age of the patient. Tramadol should not be used by persons under the age of 18 and it should be used with caution by the elderly because they have a greater risk of experiencing adverse reactions. Usually physicians will not prescribe Tramadol for patients with kidney or liver damage, or if they do prescribe it, they do so with extreme caution. Under no circumstances should the drug be prescribed for anyone with a history of drug abuse, anyone who has tried to end his or her own life, or anyone who has a mental illness like schizophrenia.

Tramadol is normally taken by mouth and is metabolized more quickly when taken with food. The drug is metabolized by the liver and the metabolites are excreted via the kidneys. Tramadol should not be used by those with kidney ailments because the metabolites cannot be totally eliminated and there is a great risk that toxic effects may occur. Caution is also necessary when treating patients with head trauma or increased intracranial pressure as they are at a higher risk of respiratory depression. Clearly, Tramadol should not be taken casually. Formulate a plan of treatment with your physician so that you can avoid negative consequences, including allergic reactions and overdose.