Is Tramadol just a therapeutic drug?

Thomas Korn , December 8th, 2008

Tramadol is a synthetic opioid analgesic released on the market more than ten years ago and by far one of the most popular drugs in that sector. The potential side effects are different compared to other similar medication and the drug is considered to be highly effective for a wide range of medical conditions associated with various degrees of pain.

Tramadol is administered frequently orally and it is absorbed quickly into the system, having a bio-availability of almost 100%. An even more rapid absorption is noticed when given as an intravenous drug, having a superior efficacy due to that particular fact. Another reason why Tramadol is preferred to other pain-relieving medication such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs is because it does not present a risk for serious gastrointestinal bleeding.

The safety of Tramadol has been proven through the many satisfied patients who underwent treatment for various painful medical conditions but also with the help of diverse clinical trials and studies. They have all clearly demonstrated the potency of this drug, highlighting the precautions that must be taken but also the potential side-effects that might appear during the course of the treatment. Scientists have also revealed the mechanism by which Tramadol relieves pain, explaining that it is in fact a combination of opioid analgesia and monoaminergic effects. The last component is part of the recent findings, making the subject of studies that guarantee increased efficiency of Tramadol for a wider range of painful pathologies than before.

As for life-threatening side effects, Tramadol is known to have the potential of causing respiratory depression but unlike other opioids such situations are encountered rarely and when they happen, they are usually less severe. The risk for respiratory depression is higher in children who overdose unintentionally and it is also present in those who suffer from kidney impairment, being usually caused by accumulation of active Tramadol metabolites in the body (reduced elimination). The fact that Tramadol is habit-forming has also made a lot of people refrain from taking the medication; however, doctors warn that the potential for dependence of Tramadol is low and it does not appear when it is taken as prescribed. Tramadol does not induce the same type of physical and psychological dependence like other opiates, even if there have been reported certain cases of powerful withdrawal syndromes.

Tramadol presents an entire series of side-effects and adverse reactions that can happen and anyone who intends on taking this medication should be aware of them. Nausea seems to occur most often, being occasionally accompanied by vomiting and indigestion. It has been found that it usually appears when Tramadol is administered parenterally (intravenous) and it is more severe in these cases. Doctors recommend that the patient stays still after administration and that anti-emetics should be given in more serious cases. As nausea can appear when Tramadol is given orally, any treatment should start on a low dose and any increase should be made on a gradual basis. This way, not only nausea is prevented from happening but a wide variety of other side-effects as well, including allergic reactions.

Apart from the side-effects that are present in other opioids, Tramadol presents a series of reactions that are specific, among the most common is represented by excessive sweating. This reaction is caused by the monoaminergic component of Tramadol, being sometimes so severe that it produces diaphoresis, which is a combined state of increased perspiration and electrolytic shock. The recurrence of this side-effect is a strong reason to stop the treatment with Tramadol but only gradually, so as to protect the body from a potential withdrawal syndrome.

When is Tramadol contraindicated? Doctors advise caution in epileptics and those treated for such conditions, in patients who take anti-depressant and anti-anxiety medication, not to mention other opioids. The medication presents a risk of inducing seizures but these are usually short and not difficult to treat. As for overdosing, Tramadol has indeed lethal effects with extreme toxicity at a neurological level, inducing coma and respiratory depression.

 

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