Archive for the ‘Tramadol Drug Information’ Category

Tramadol Drug Information

Tuesday, January 22nd, 2008

Not long ago, choosing a pain reliever meant finding one that eased your pain without being too hard on the stomach. Now, research suggests that some commonly used pain medications - not just the now-banned Vioxx - can raise the risk of having a heart attack or stroke. New step-by-step recommendations from the American Heart Association (AHA) can help you choose a pain reliever that’s good for both the heart and stomach, reports the June 2007 issue of the Harvard Heart Letter.The AHA suggests starting with aspirin or acetaminophen (Tylenol) to quell muscle or joint pain. Aspirin is good for the heart, and acetaminophen doesn’t affect blood clotting. If they don’t work, the next step for most people would be a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). Try naproxen (Aleve) first, then ibuprofen (Advil). Next is diclofenac, but more caution is needed with this drug (which is available only by prescription). Celebrex, the only drug in the class known as COX-2 inhibitors that remains on the market, should be the last resort for managing pain. In addition to the side effect of increasing the risk of clots in the bloodstream, COX-2 inhibitors can also reduce blood flow through the kidneys and raise blood pressure. For short-term pain in some people, a narcotic pain reliever such as tramadol (Ultram), codeine, or fentanyl (Actiq, Duragesic) may be an option.The Harvard Heart Letter notes that you shouldn’t be afraid to take aspirin, Tylenol, Advil, or Aleve for occasional aches and pains. But if you need a pain reliever several times a week, pay closer attention to your choices and talk with your doctor.Most of us suffer from severe or moderate pain in our day-to-day life and many people try to get relief with painkillers and medications. It is also a fact that many of us may not be forgetting the moments when we fall from the tree or got a bee sting or the pain occurred during the birth of a child.Pain is usually experienced by everyone and is accompanied with trauma, to a certain part of the body. It is the transmission of the nerves, communicating and passing nerve messages through the neurons.Medicines such as Butalbital, tramadol, ultram, or ultracet acts as a pain reliever from acute to chronic pain. Amongst these pain relievers, ultram manages pain from different sources and reduces pain due to cancer, surgery, spinal damage, or arthritis.

Tramadol relieve pain and reduces pain due to surgery

Tramadol works by binding opiod pain receptors of the body and blocking the reuptake of the neuro chemicals thereby modifies the pain message resulting in pain relief. It is not a NSAID (nonsteroidal anti- inflammatory drug) and does not carry the risk of stomach ulceration and internal bleeding which can accompany the use of such medications. It is often prescribed for pain associated with shingles, fibromyalgia, and other chronic diseases.There are certain side effects using this medication but they are not severe as such including nausea, dizziness, dry mouth, constipation, headache, or sweating. You should know how long the medication would be necessary and about the possible side effects. Take proper instructions about your diet when you take the drugs prescribed by him. Do not leave behind any confusion in your mind and get clear all your doubts. Let the doctor know, how intelligent his patient is.If you face any sort of problem with the dosage or if you had any problem with the prescribed drug in the past, it is your duty to bring it to the knowledge of the doctor. You are helping your cause by informing him everything about you. Hi, I dont know who told you that Ultram is a non-addictive pain killer, but this simply isnt true. The active ingredient in Ultram is tramadol, an opioid analgesic drug. This means that it works the same way the morphine works, but is less potent. Tramadol activates the same receptors as morphine therefore producing the same effect. But, in cases of severe pain the use of these drugs is inevitable. Now, since you are feeling better you should definitely talk to your doctor about taking you off Ultram. Under no circumstances should you try to change your therapy on your own. Because you have used Tramadol for a period of time you should go off it gradually to avoid withdrawal symptoms. You will need your doctors assistance to do this as safely as possible. After you stop taking Ultram I am sure your doctor will prescribe you with a milder pain killer. Some of the optional drugs are Metamizol, Ibuprofen, Paracetamol and even Aspirin.

Tramadol versus Morphine

In a comparative double-blind study involving twenty-five patients suffering from severe to chronic pancreatitis, either drug was titrated and the gut motor function was monitored over a five-day period. Compensating for the subjective nature of pain measurement, the statistical results show that, while both drugs were effective in giving pain relief, there was a positive preference for Tramadol. Further, bowel action slowed with the use of morphine but overall gut action was unaffected by Tramadol.

Tramadol versus Oxycodone

In a double-blind study carried out in Helsinki, thirty-six patients who had minor surgery requiring a general anaesthetic were randomly allocated Tramadol, Oxycodone or a placebo as a part of their post-surgery recovery regime. The study tested the hypothesis that either drug was associated with a decrease in breathing efficiency. Whereas Oxycodone was found to produce respiratory depression, Tramadol and the placebo had no measurable effect on the breathing function.

Tramadol versus Buprenorphine

In a study involving sixty patients aged about 60 years, all having tumours, the patients were subjected to a crossover trial, randomly switching between the two drugs with a 24-hour gap between each new therapy in a weekly cycle. The performance of the drugs was monitored both through a diary of impressions and a record of their sleep patterns. The Karnofsky Performance Scale Index was used to classify the degree of each patient’s functional impairment before and during a four hour period surrounding each dose. The conclusions were that although the Karnofsky scores did not materially alter, all the other measures showed that both drugs were effective for pain management and that the patients’ quality of life improved - in no small way due to the improvement in the quality of sleep. The conclusion was that despite the general satisfaction in the performance of both drugs, the patients preferred Tramadol as having fewer side-effects.