Overview of Tramadol and its Generics

Tramadol helps alleviate acute and chronic pain while the availability of generics makes it affordable for many strata of patients

Therapeutic Profile

Tramadol is a centrally active opioid-like analgesic of synthetic manufacture. Its mode of action is aimed at the control of tolerable to highly intolerable pain syndromes, including chronic pains. In both oral and rectal forms, it comes to aid in many gynecologic, delivery, and post-operative cases. The drug’s wide range of target organs ensures its good applicability, which is why doctors prescribe it quite commonly, encompassing the body of issues ranging from psychological ones to various types of cancer.

Tramadol offers a potent analgesic effect without causing heavy sedation or lowering the respiratory rate too strongly. As compared to similar pharmacological products, it features only moderate gastrointestinal effect. Being similar in effectiveness to morphine, tramadol, nevertheless, brings in a lower risk of dependence. At the same time, pethidine, even though as powerful an analgesic in the management of labor pain, is known to cause higher respiratory depression in newborns. Cases, where tramadol is less suitable, include severe pain syndromes.

Going Generic

Generically, tramadol is available in formulation of extended-release types (ER) and immediate-release types (IR). While clinically established to have an identical analgesic potential, generics simply have fewer studies going for them, with their sale entailing a different (and significantly cheaper) registration procedure. Patients can save hundreds of dollars on continuous prescriptions that way. Make sure, however, that you use exceptionally one painkiller product at any given time. Exceeding doses prescribed by your physician may prove lethal.

Generic Options

Single-substance tramadol may be required for the treatment of pain on a 24-hour basis (prolonged-release formulations) or it may be needed at fixed intervals (regular dosage forms). Both ER and IR forms capsules should NOT be crushed, split, chewed, or dissolved. Please make certain you take your drug intact.

• 50 mg regular dosage tablets are available known as Ultram; 100 mg original tramadol and its generic counterparts have been removed from the shelves;
• 100 mg /150 mg /200 mg /300 mg capsules of prolonged-release action are sold known as ConZip.

Combination Products

Mixed action analgesics find use in the management of specific cases and allow the patient to lower daily doses of substances with potential for abuse.

• Ultracet is a well-known combination containing tramadol and acetaminophen (Tylenol);
• The longest course possible with this combination is NMT 5 days;
• Avoid taking additional doses of acetaminophen during the Ultracet course so as not to cause extra toxicity for your liver.

Populations to exclude

Malfunctioning Kidneys and Liver

Your kidneys excrete over 30% of tramadol in its original non-degraded form, which could spike blood toxicity levels if your kidneys do not work properly. Degradation of the medication occurs through the liver due to which users suffering from liver disease should be considered candidates for changed dosage, different dose schedule, or limitation as to the max quantity of drug taken daily.

• Creatinine clearance and other means of renal function monitoring must be in place in cases with kidney dysfunctions;
• Elderly populations pose a particularly high risk;
• Tramadol treatment is not advisable in certain severe cases of kidney or liver impairments.

Pregnant and Nursing Mothers

Your newborn may become addicted to tramadol if you use it during pregnancy. This means you’re your baby will show withdrawal symptoms after he or she is born, leading to death if not managed. Drug-dependent newborns require special medical treatment for several weeks.

Do NOT use tramadol during your entire breastfeeding period. This painkiller passes into your breast milk leading to drowsiness, suffocation, or death in a baby that is nursed.

Patients over 65 YOA

Doctors should carefully adjust the dosing interval, as well as prescribing with special consideration the consumed dose of the medication, including the maximum possible daily doses. Healthcare experts usually establish therapeutic doses starting at the lower end of the dosing range followed by slow upward titration based on the drug’s effectiveness and tolerance.