Seizures are among the most serious potential problems associated with tramadol. While a seizure can occur while taking the recommended dose, seizures are more likely in those who have taken high doses of tramadol or combined tramadol with other medications.
Tramadol can cause shallow breathing, difficulty or noisy breathing, confusion, more than usual sleepiness, trouble breastfeeding, or limpness in breastfed infants. you should know that this medication may decrease fertility in men and women. Talk to your doctor about the risks of taking tramadol.
Physical health risks
Although tramadol isn't as strong as some of the other opioid drugs (such as heroin), it can still cause some of the same problems and, like other opoid drugs, overdosing can kill. Tramadol can depress breathing and may be risky for people with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
In 2014, the FDA designated tramadol as a controlled substance. This means that although it may have accepted use in medical care, it also has potential for abuse or addiction and therefore is more tightly regulated.
Both tramadol and codeine are prescription painkillers, and they seem to be equally effective in terms of pain relief. There is no evidence that tramadol is any stronger than codeine at relieving pain.
Long-term use of tramadol can cause damage to the liver and kidneys. Tramadol can also cause serious and life-threatening breathing problems. Serotonin syndrome may also occur as a result of tramadol use. Serotonin syndrome involves mental status changes, neuromuscular hyperactivity, and autonomic hyperactivity.
Do not take more of it, do not take it more often, and do not take it for a longer time than your doctor ordered. If too much of this medicine is taken for a long time, it may become habit-forming (causing mental or physical dependence) or cause an overdose.
Refrain from driving or potentially hazardous tasks until you are sure tramadol is not having this effect. Avoid alcohol. Alcohol may enhance the side effects of tramadol and increase the risk of seizures. Can cause nausea.
This medicine may cause adrenal gland problems. Check with your doctor right away if you have darkening of the skin, diarrhea, dizziness, fainting, loss of appetite, mental depression, nausea, skin rash, unusual tiredness or weakness, or vomiting.
Taking too much tramadol can also affect your heart rate. Both tachycardia and a slowed heart rate (bradycardia) can occur if you take too much tramadol. And another heart issue called long QT syndrome can also occur in a tramadol overdose. This can lead to heart palpitations and arrhythmias.
However, elderly patients are more likely to have unwanted side effects (eg, constipation, lightheadedness, dizziness, or fainting, stomach upset, weakness) and age-related liver, kidney, heart, or lung problems, which may require caution and an adjustment in the dose for patients receiving tramadol.
Tramadol is a stronger pain medication than ibuprofen and is often used to treat moderate to severe pain. Ibuprofen is typically used to treat mild to moderate pain and inflammation. Another difference between tramadol and ibuprofen is their potential side effects.
Tramadol is an opioid analgesic used for the therapy of mild-to-moderate pain. Tramadol overdose can cause acute liver failure.
In addition to brain damage, long-term abuse of tramadol can lead to organ damage. This due to consistently reduced breathing that can lead to hypoxia or lack of oxygen. Because it is also processed through the liver, high doses and abuse may cause liver damage.
Tramadol should not be used in combination with MAO inhibitors or serotonin-precursors (such as L-tryptophan, oxitriptan) and should be used with caution in combination with other serotonergic drugs (triptans, certain tricyclic antidepressants, lithium, St. John's Wort) due to the risk of serotonin syndrome.
Diazepam has an average rating of 8.5 out of 10 from a total of 822 ratings on Drugs.com. 82% of reviewers reported a positive effect, while 9% reported a negative effect. Tramadol has an average rating of 6.9 out of 10 from a total of 1799 ratings on Drugs.com.
Tramadol: strong painkiller to treat severe pain - NHS.
Tramadol's adverse effects (e.g., sedation) and the potential for serotonin syndrome and hyponatremia are well recognized by clinicians. However, tramadol-induced seizures and hypoglycemia are particularly harmful to older adults and may further elevate the risk of falls and fractures.
How Much Tramadol Is Too Much? Doctors recommend that patients take no more than 50 mg of short-acting tramadol every six hours as needed, or 100 mg of long-acting tramadol per day when starting out. This amount may be increased as tolerances do.
Tramadol is generally safe to use, but in some cases — such as overdose or prolonged use — it may damage the liver. A 2015 study found that there was a risk of increased liver and kidney damage due to the long-term use of tramadol.
Take tramadol extended-release once a day. If possible, it may be best to take it in the evening, as it can cause drowsiness. Do not take any other product containing tramadol while using tramadol extended-release, without speaking to a doctor or pharmacist. Swallow the tablet whole at the same time each day.
Prozac: This antidepressant may lead to an increased risk of cognitive decline or dementia. Tramadol: This pain medication may cause cognitive impairment in long-term users. Vitamin B12: B12 deficiency symptoms may mimic dementia symptoms, and further research is needed to determine if it can offset cognitive decline.
For acute pain: Adults—2 tablets every 4 to 6 hours as needed for up to 5 days. Do not take more than 8 tablets per day.