Tramadol for Chronic Pain: Here's What You Should Know

Keeping up with chronic body pain is not easy. How can you beat that when it has become a part of your day-to-day life?

Chronic body pain is a distressing experience for those who suffer. And guess what? More than 50% of the adult generation fall prey to it in one way or another. Most common conditions include arthritis, back pain, neck pain, knee pain, post-surgical pain, fibromyalgia or the like.

It is indeed an unruly experience that does not only cause fatigue and weakness but can automatically make you feel depressed and lifeless. We feel alarmed and cautious about what we are doing and what we are not. Our whole time revolves around pain and we, in fact, confine it to pain.

So, how do we get over it? Rest and therapy are definitive solutions to it as we cannot afford to run around with such agonizing pain.

But an effective pain medication becomes a requisite as we want to carry out our treatment without any hindrance. Tramadol is one such medication which can relieve you from the painful sensations and let the recovery process pace up. Today, the blog post is entirely based on how to use Tramadol (extended-release) for chronic pain and why does it work.

So, let’s get started.

What is Tramadol?

Tramadol, which is also popular as the brand name Ultram, is a pain relief medication which can treat moderate to moderately severe pain. It is used to treat both acute and chronic pain.

For acute or breakthrough pain, Tramadol is available in an immediate release formula that kicks in instantly.

But, for chronic pain, it is available in an extended release form that works slowly and effectively on your body. It gradually releases the active drug component to provide a long lasting relief from the discomfort. In this form, there is no limit on the number of meals. Also, it does not lead to any sleep irregularities as you need to take this formula only once in a day.

Tramadol Dosage guide for Chronic Pain:

Basically, the normal dose for normal pain is 50 to 100 mg which can be taken every 4 to 6 hours during a day. But for chronic pain, the dose is slightly different. The basic guidelines are as follows-

•    The extended release Tramadol is available in doses of 100 mg and above. The maximum dose recommended for chronic pain is 300 mg, which should not be taken without a doctor’s approval.

•    If you are using it for the first time, it is recommended to start with a lower dose, say 100 mg.

•    It should not be taken more than once in a day.

•    You can take it with or without food.

•    Do not increase or decrease a dose on your own.

Tramadol ingredients:

Active:  Tramadol Hydrochloride

Inactive: Lactose Monohydrate, Hypromellose, Magnesium Stearate, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Polyethylene Glycol, Polysorbate 80, Sodium Starch Glycolate, Titanium Dioxide, Pregelatinized Starch.

 Tramadol mechanism of action:

Tramadol’s working mechanism is quite simple.

 When we are afflicted with pain, the nerves in the affected area send signals to the brain through certain neurotransmitters called norepinephrine and serotonin. These chemicals pass through various receptors which are like the relay stations for the nerves.

After the information gets registered in the brain, It is perceived by the brain as pain. Tramadol works by binding to these receptors and preventing the reuptake of the neurotransmitters carrying pain signals. This way, it blocks out the painful sensations between the brain and the nerves.

Yes, that’s right. This is how we feel relieved from the pain and discomfort. Quite simple!

But it is to be noted that Tramadol is only a part of the overall recovery process that helps in relieving us from the pain and discomfort. We definitely need to take rest and undergo physical therapy as well.

Are there any possible side effects?

There might be a risk of taking this pain medication, be it immediate release or extended release.

Some possible side effects of Tramadol are-

•    Headache

•    Drowsiness

•    Cough

•    Nasal blockage

•    High body temperature

•    Fever

•    Constipation

•    Dry mouth

•    Weakness

•    Chills

These are some possible side effects which may or may not occur.

But if you overdose on Tramadol, there is a risk of some serious side effects. Let’s find out what they can be.

Why should not you overdose on Tramadol?

An overdose of any drug is not advisable as it carries with it a risk of serious health concerns. It is recommended to go through the doctor’s instructions properly so as not to take pain medications longer than prescribed. It is also advisable for healthcare professionals to see who they are prescribing the medication to. Before prescribing these pain relievers, one should always make sure that the patient does not have any history of drug abuse and addiction.

Some possible Tramadol overdose side effects are-

•    Fast heartbeat

•    Chest pain

•    Dizziness

•    Blurry vision

•    Visual hallucinations

•    Trouble in speaking and breathing

•    Difficulty urinating

•    Seizures

Important Safety Information:

•    Tramadol might not be safe for use if you are suffering from any cardiac problem. It can, in fact, lead to high blood pressure, increased heart rate, chest pain or even a cardiac arrest.

•    Do not take this medication if you are suffering from liver or kidney impairment. If these organs are not functioning properly, the metabolism and drug removal process will not be effective and it is possible that the drug will gradually get accumulated in the body. This can damage your organs and worsen your health further.

•    Avoid taking alcohol while on this medication. These two together can have mood swing effects or can affect your physical health. In extreme cases, these two together can lead to internal bleeding in the stomach.

•    Keep this medication away from children and young adults under the age of 16 years. There is no well-specified use of this medication in children.

•    Do not take Tramadol during pregnancy. Under such a vulnerable condition, it can either lead to a miscarriage or cause birth defects in the newborn baby.

•    Lactating mothers also should avoid this medication as it can harm the baby by passing into the breast milk.

•    Inform your doctor if you are taking any prescription or non-prescription medication so as to avoid any possible drug interaction.

Where do I buy Tramadol?

Tramadol is available in any medical store or pharmacy as it is clinically tested. You can also grab this medication online and enjoy the benefits at home without having to go out. Online platforms have made it easier for you to get Tramadol online so that you can expect a faster delivery at your doorstep.

Disclaimer: This blog post promotes the medical use of Tramadol for chronic pain. Recreational use of pain medications is not encouraged through the above information.