Ultram

Generic name: Tramadol

Tramadol tablets

What are tramadol tablets ?

TRAMADOL (Ultram®) is an analgesic that can relieve moderate to moderately severe pain following surgery such as cesarean section, hysterectomy, hip replacement or other bone surgery, and dental surgery. This drug also helps relieve chronic pain associated with cancer, nerve pain, or low-back pain. Generic tramadol tablets are available.

What should I tell my health care provider before I take this medicine?

They need to know if you have any of these conditions:

• an alcohol or drug abuse problem
• breathing difficulty
• head injury or brain tumor
• kidney disease
• liver disease
• seizures (convulsions) or seizure disorder (epilepsy)
• stomach or intestinal problems
• an unusual or allergic reaction to tramadol, codeine, other pain medicines, foods, dyes, or preservatives
• pregnant or trying to get pregnant
• breast-feeding

How should I take this medicine?

Take tramadol tablets by mouth. Follow the directions on the prescription label. Swallow the tablets with a drink of water. If tramadol upsets your stomach, take it with food or milk. Do not take more than 100 mg of tramadol at one time or more than 400 mg of tramadol per day. Older patients (more than 75 years of age) should not take more than 300 mg of tramadol per day. Higher doses may cause severe side effects, do not take more medication than your prescriber has instructed.

Contact your pediatrician or health care professional regarding the use of this medicine in children. Special care may be needed.

What if I miss a dose?

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you can. If it is almost time for your next dose, take only that dose. Do not take double or extra doses.

What drug(s) may interact with tramadol?

• alcohol
• antihistamines (commonly found in allergy or cold products)
• bupropion
• cocaine
• digoxin
• droperidol
• drugs to regulate heart rhythm such as amiodarone, propafenone, quinidine
• furazolidone
• imatinib
• isoniazid, INH
• linezolid
• medicines called MAO inhibitors-phenelzine (Nardil®), tranylcypromine (Parnate®), isocarboxazid (Marplan®), selegiline (Eldepryl®)
• medicines for anxiety, depression, or sleeping problems
• medicines for nausea or vomiting
• medicines for Parkinson's disease such as entacapone, pramipexole, ropinirole or tolcapone
• medicines for mental problems like schizophrenia
• muscle relaxants
• naloxone
• other medicines for pain such as codeine, morphine, nalbuphine, pentazocine, or propoxyphene
• procarbazine
• rifampin
• ritonavir
• seizure medicines
• stimulants such as amphetamine or dextroamphetamine
• St. John's wort
• warfarin

Tell your prescriber or health care professional about all other medicines you are taking, including non-prescription medicines. Also tell your prescriber or health care professional if you are a frequent user of drinks with caffeine or alcohol, if you smoke, or if you use illegal drugs. These may affect the way your medicine works. Check with your health care professional before stopping or starting any of your medicines.

What side effects may I notice from taking tramadol?

Side effects that you should report to your prescriber or health care professional as soon as possible:

Rare or uncommon:

• changes in vision
• difficulty breathing, shortness of breath
• fast or irregular heartbeat
• hallucinations (seeing and hearing things that are not really there)
• passing urine more frequently than usual, or not passing urine as often as usual
• redness, blistering, peeling or loosening of the skin, including inside the mouth
• skin rash, itching
• seizures (convulsions)

More common:

• anxiety, agitation
• nausea
• vomiting

Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your prescriber or health care professional if they continue or are bothersome):

• constipation or diarrhea
• difficulty sleeping
• dizziness, drowsiness
• dry mouth
• false sense of well being, feeling of unreality, mood changes
• headache
• indigestion
• itching

What should I watch for while taking tramadol?

Tell your prescriber or health care professional if your pain does not go away. Visit your prescriber or health care professional for regular checks on your progress if you are taking tramadol regularly.

Do not drive, use machinery, or do anything that needs mental alertness until you know how tramadol affects you. Be careful taking other medicines which may also make you tired. This effect may be worse when taking these medicines with tramadol. Alcohol can increase possible drowsiness, dizziness, confusion and affect your breathing. Avoid alcohol while taking tramadol.

Your mouth may get dry. Chewing sugarless gum, sucking hard candy and drinking plenty of water will help.

If you are going to have surgery, tell your prescriber or health care professional that you are taking tramadol.

Where can I keep my medicine?

Keep out of reach of children in a container that small children cannot open.

Store at room temperature between 15 and 30 degrees C (59 and 86 degrees F). Throw away any unused medicine after the expiration date.

What is the shelf life of the pills?

• The expiry date is mentioned on each blister. It is different for different batches. The shelf life is 2 years from the date of manufacture and would differ from batch to batch depending on when they were manufactured.