|
|
Before Using This Medicine
Older adults¡XStudies in older adults show that tramadol stays in the body a little longer than it does in younger adults. Your doctor will consider this when deciding on your doses.
|
What is this Drug
Tramadol is used to relieve pain, including pain after surgery. The effects of tramadol are similar to those of narcotic analgesics. Although tramadol is not classified as a narcotic, it may become ha
bit-forming, causing mental or physical dependence.
Tramadol is available only with your doctor's prescription, in the following dosage form:
|
Other medical problems
The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of tramadol. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:
- Abdominal or stomach conditions (severe
)¡XTramadol may hide signs of other medical conditions
- Alcohol or drug abuse, or history of¡XMay increase the serious side effects of tramadol
- Head injury¡XTramadol can hide signs of other
medical conditions
- Kidney disease or
- Liver disease¡XThe chance of side effects may be increased. Your doctor will consider this when deciding on your doses.
- Seizures¡XThe chance of
convulsions (seizures) may be increased
|
|
|
|
What special precautions should I follow?
Before having any kind of surgery (including dental surgery) or emergency treatment, tell the medical doctor or dentist in charge that you are taking this medicine. Taking tramadol together with medic
ines that are used during surgery or dental or emergency treatments may cause increased side effects.
If you think you or someone else may have taken an overdose of tramadol, get emergency h
elp at once. Signs of an overdose include convulsions (seizures) and pinpoint pupils of the eyes.
|
How to Use
Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand.
Take tramadol exactly as directed.Tramadol comes as a table
t to take by mouth. It usually is taken every 4-6 hours as needed. It may be taken with or without food.
Tramadol can be habit-forming. Do not take a larger dose, take it more often, or for a lon
ger period than your doctor tells you to.
|
Tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:
- Kidney disease or
- Liver disease¡XThe chance of side effects may be increased. Your doctor will consider this when deciding on your doses.
- Seizures¡XT
When you are taking tramadol, it is especially important that your health care provider know if you are taking any of the following:
- Carbamazepine (e.g., Tegretol)¡XMay decrease the effect
s of tramadol by decreasing the amount of medicine in the body
- Central nervous system (CNS) depressants (medicines that cause drowsiness)¡XUsing these medicines with tramadol may increase the ch
ance of serious side effects or increase the risk of convulsions (seizures)
- Monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor activity (isocarboxazid [e.g., Marplan], phenelzine [e.g., Nardil], procarbazine [e
.g., Matulane], selegiline [e.g., Eldepryl], tranylcypromine [e.g., Parnate])¡XThe chance of convulsions (seizures) may be increased
|
|
