10 REASONS NEVER TO USE TRAMADOL

(1) What Is Tramadol? Is Tramadol a NarcoticTramadol is an analgesic, or pain reliever, used to treat moderate to moderately-severe pain. What kind of drug is tramadol? Is tramadol a narcotic? Tramadol is considered narcotic-like. There seems to be debate about whether or not tramadol is officially an opioid. It’s generally considered very similar to an opioid. Interestingly, it’s also an anti-depressant; because of this, it packs a one-two punch. The activ e ingredient in tramadol is hydrochloride. (2) Brand names of this drug include ConZip® and Ultram®, among others. It’s available as a “regular” tablet and in an extended-release form. 
 (3). This type of tramadol is not for as-needed pain relief, and it should never be cut or crushed as the dose may be too strong outside of the extended-relief coating — and could result in an overdose. Do not take tramadol during pregnancy. Never crush tramadol and inhale it, or dilute it with liquid and inject it. Using tramadol in this way may result in dangerous side effects, overdose or even death. (4). So, why would you be prescribed tramadol? Tramadol is effective at treating nerve pain and pain that is not responding to over the counter medications. (5). It may be prescribed for back pain as well. Because of its anti-depressant effects, tramadol also helps to create a feeling of well-being. That said, it’s usually only advised for about one or two weeks’ use, given its potential for dependency. (6). Some side effects of tramadol may include: (7). * Constipation * Nausea * Vomiting * Lightheadedness * Dizziness * Drowsiness * Headaches If any of the following serious, but unlikely, side effects occur, then tell your doctor right away: * Mental/mood changes (such as agitation, hallucinations or confusion) * Stomach/abdominal pain * Difficulty urinating * Signs of adrenal fatigue (loss of appetite, unusual tiredness, weight loss) Get medical help immediately if any of these rare, but serious, side effects occur: * Fainting * Seizure * Slow/shallow breathing * Unusual drowsiness/difficulty waking up Tramadol vs. Codeine Is tramadol a narcotic? Yes, but how does it compare to codeine? Of the two, tramadol is far stronger. Although it still has similar pain-relieving effects, it is less constipating and euphoric than codeine, and it has less respiratory effects, though they are still present. (8). Researchers studying the effects of tramadol vs. codeine and aspirin plus codeine for pain relief after dental surgery found that in comparison with codeine, tramadol has similar pain-relieving properties, but may have fewer constipating, euphoric and respiratory depressant effects. In this study, higher doses of tramadol (100 mg) were found to be “statistically superior to placebo” in total pain relief, whereas tramadol (50 mg) was only statistically superior at remedication time. Codeine was not found to be statistically significant against the placebo in any measure. However, gastrointestinal side effects, including nausea, difficulty swallowing and vomiting, were reported by participants more frequently with tramadol 100 mg, aspirin (ASA) 650 mg with codeine 60 mg, and codeine 60 mg than with placebo. So, in general, tramadol 100 mg was found to be more effective than codeine or codeine with aspirin. Tramadol 100 mg, codeine 60 mg, and ASA/codeine resulted in more side effects. (9). 10 Reasons to Never Use Tramadol, Including Side Effects Tramadol is a powerful drug that you should carefully consider before using, or, ideally, never use. Consider the following information as proof of its dangers. In addition to the side effects listed above, the following are also possible commonly reported side effects. Side effects can occur with a regular tramadol pill and with the extended-release version: (10) * Hallucinations * Tremor * Diaphoresis (excessive sweating) * Insomnia * Pruritus (intense itching) * In total, there are over 50 more common, less common and rare side effects listed. Tramadol is known to interact with 745 drugs (4,347 brand and generic names). Of these, there are : (11) * 436 major drug interactions (2,189 brand and generic names) * 305 moderate drug interactions (2,143 brand and generic names) * 4 minor drug interactions (15 brand and generic names) * Tramadol also interacts with alcohol and cause 9 disease interactions, including: (12, 13) * Acute alcohol intoxication * Drug dependence * Liver disease * Renal dysfunction * Seizure disorders * Acute abdominal conditions * Intracranial pressure * Respiratory depression * Suicidal