Ultram Drug Interactions
Ultram, being a highly potent pain reliever that acts directly on the opioid receptors in the brain, is involved in a rather complicated process that occurs within the body. Due to this, there is a possibility that it might negatively interact with another drug that the patient is taking. Drug interactions can range from mild to serious in terms of severity. At the milder level, drug interactions may prevent Ultram from providing complete relief. At the more serious level, drug interactions may cause serious health risks.
In order to avoid dangerous drug interactions and medicate with Ultram as safely as possible, it is important for each potential Ultram patient to learn more about the many possible drug interactions that may occur.
Major Drug Interactions
Based on the latest counts, there is a total of 580 drugs that may interact with Ultram. These 580 drugs come in the form of over 3,000 specific brand and generic names. Out of 580 total drug interactions, more than 50% of the said drug interaction possibilities are major, with a total of 332. This is one indication that Ultram medication has a strong effect on the body. This also means that a patient taking Ultram should be extra careful to avoid taking any other drug that may trigger a major interaction.
To protect yourself, it is best to familiarize yourself with the most common drug interaction possibilities.
For example, out of 332 major drug interactions, there are five that stand out for being especially common. These five major drug interactions include Cymbalta or duloxetine, Flexeril or cyclobenzaprine, Lexapro or escitalopram, Vicodin or acetaminophen and hydrocodone combination, and lastly, Zoloft or sertraline.
Aside from these common major drug interactions, a seemingly endless list of possibilities continue to unravel as more and more drugs are discovered to react with Ultram. One of these major drug interactions is acetaminophen paired with aspirin, caffeine, butalital, hydrocodone, phenylephrine, and/or chlorpheniramine. Other reactions include amphetamine, dextroamphetamine, doxepin, theophylline, guaifenesin, selegiline, citalopram or Celexa, meperidine or Demerol, clozapine or Denzapine, Duragesic, Endacof, Enomine, Fioricet with codeine, Floxin, fluoxetine, Fleet Enema, Histine D and Histinex D, ibuprofen and ibuprofone/oxycodone, interferon, Lortab, Naldecon, Percocet, and so on.
Moderate to Mild Drug Interactions
Ultram has also been linked to 245 moderate drug interactions. The most common of the said moderate drug interactions are the following: Ambien or zolpidem, Klonopin or clonazepam, Lyrica or pregabalin, Neurontin or gabapentin, and Xanax or alprazolam.
Drugs that pose moderate interactions when taken with Ultram can still be a high risk, but the medication is actually legal and may be taken but with monitoring of the effects to ensure that there is no interaction occurring.
Other moderate drug interactions include some forms of acetaminophen, AccuHist (many forms), Alka-Seltzer, and All Nite Multi-Symptom Cold/Flu relief, among several others. Several allergy relief drugs may be taken to control the allergic reaction of the body to the drug. Most of these drugs fall under the moderate drug interaction category. Some examples are AllerTan, AlleRx, Allerhist, Allergy Relief Multi-Symptom, and All Day Allergy.
The remaining three are considered as minor drug interactions. These are quinidine, evening primrose, and flax. These are safe and beneficial for use in the treatment of moderate to moderately severe pain.
Ultram Disease Interactions
Ultram does not just interact with other medications; it can also interact with certain diseases. As a strict all-encompassing rule, patients suffering from drug dependence, liver disease, acute alcohol intoxication, seizure disorders, acute abdominal conditions, respiratory depression, and intracranial pressure, should not be allowed to take the drug.
Also, patients who like to drink alcohol may be more sensitive to the effects of Ultram than others. In fact, alcohol is listed as a possible drug interaction under the moderate category. As a rule, patients who want to take Ultram should stop consuming alcohol.
Ultram Inhibitors and Other Drug Interactions
Some drugs also appear on the list of possible drug interactions because they have a negative effect on the drug itself. What certain drugs are able to do is to block the full benefits of Ultram, making it a useless pain reliever. One example of these drugs is carbamazepine, which may cause a significant reduction on Ultram’s pain relieving effects.
On the other hand, there are some drugs that prevents Ultram from being metabolically cleared. This means that the patient will have increased risk of seizures and other side effects because his/her body system is not free from tramadol. These drugs include quinidine, fluoxetine, paroxetine, and amitriptyline, all of which should be avoided.
Patients taking Ultram should also avoid medications that fall under the classification of “serotonergic.” To protect yoursef from this specific type of drug interactions, avoid all serotonergic drugs including SSRIs, MAOIs, triptans, linelizod, lithium and St. John’s Wort.
