What Is Tramadol And What Is It Used For?

Tramadol is a medicine used to relieve pain in certain nerve cells in the spine and brain. It belongs to the group of opioids but behaves differently from other opioids. Below we explain in more detail how this medicine works.

Tramadol is a particularly effective analgesic for postoperative pain. Even a 100 mg dose of tramadol is equivalent to one gram of paracetamol, one of the most widely used painkillers in the world.

In addition to pain relief, the use of tramadol has also been studied in the treatment of depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder, as it enhances serotonin release. However, there is no scientific evidence yet on the effectiveness of the drug in the long-term treatment of depression.

Tramadol, an opioid

The active ingredients of the opioid are characterized by their potent analgesic effect. They act on some receptors mainly in the central nervous system and gastrointestinal tract.

The term “opioid” is commonly used for all opium-like drugs. However, it is more appropriate to limit its use to natural opium alkaloids and its semi-synthetic derivatives.

In this sense, three main groups can be distinguished:

• Opium alkaloids. Morphine and codeine.
• Semi-synthetic opioids. Heroin and oxycodone.
• Synthetic opioids. Tramadol.

How does tramadol work?

Tramadol has a dual effect, i.e. its analgesic effect is due to the combined effect of two simultaneous mechanisms. On the one hand, it binds to μ-opioid receptors on neurons, which are protein structures in cell membranes. When they interact with a drug molecule, it triggers a series of chemical reactions in the body to produce an effect.

On the other hand, the analgesic effect of tramadol is also due to the fact that it is a serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor. For this reason, there has been a desire to study its potential benefits in the treatment of depression.

Use of tramadol

The doctor must adjust the dose according to the severity of the pain and the patient’s sensitivity to the medicine. However, the lowest effective dose should always be used to avoid side effects.

Some people, due to their medical condition, are more likely to suffer from complications, so they in particular need to use the lowest possible dosage. Here are the basic guidelines used by doctors for tramadol:

• Adults and adolescents over 12 years of age should never exceed a daily dose of 400 mg. If the patient’s condition is very severe and the patient needs long-term treatment with the drug, it should be done under close medical supervision.
• Elderly. No dose adjustment is usually required until the patient is 75 years of age, unless the patient has renal or hepatic impairment. But the older the patient, the longer the time between taking the medicine.
• Patients with renal or hepatic impairment. Physicians usually extend the time between medications depending on the condition of each patient.

Side effects of tramadol

Tramadol, like other medicines, can have potential side effects, the most common of which are nausea and dizziness. Other symptoms may also occur, such as:

• Mental disorders.
• Addiction.
• Gastrointestinal problems.
• Visual impairment.
• Nervous system symptoms.

Finally

Tramadol is a prescription medicine that can only be obtained with a prescription. Misuse of tramadol can lead to addiction, which can have serious health consequences.