What do you know about ultram? A Guide to Pain Relievers

Ultram is one of the most prominent brand names of the generic opioid analgesic Tramadol. It comes in 50mg and 100mg immediate release formulations, and has an extended release counterpart called ultram ER. ultram ER, on the other hand, comes in 200mg and 300mg doses, and should be taken only by patients who are suffering from chronic or severe pain. The ultram brand name was released because the generic Tramadol tablet was reported to trigger addiction problems in some patients. ultram and its extended release counterparts have been formulated to minimize these addictive potentials. That’s also why the maximum dosage of the ER tablet is 300mg, although Tramadol’s original daily cap was 400mg.

Dosage rules

Tramadol has other brand names across the globe including Tramal, Tramacet (an immediate release formulation in Mexico mixed with Paracetamol), etc. Among them, though, ultram and its ER version is probably the safest. These medicines are taken orally (although some medical practitioners may administer Tramadol through IV) but they cannot be bought in the USA without prescription. While some may wonder why it’s freely distributed in some Asian countries and controlled in the USA, you’ll be thankful ones you know the possible dangers of taking this drug without consulting your physician. Serious side effects include convulsions and respiratory/nervous crashes, but unknown to most people it’s caused not by Tramadol per se but by its interaction to other narcotics and/or alcohol. It’s also possible to feel milder side effects if your tolerance for Tramadol and its variations (including ultram) is very low. If you’re taking the pain killer in its immediate release formulation, you should allow 4 to 6 hours in between 50mg intakes. Try to ease your body into the medication by starting with a 25mg dosage each day, for three days. Increase the dosage by 25mg per three days until you reach the recommended dose. Do not prolong your intake of Tramadol, or take it more frequently than prescribed because overdosing can be fatal with a serotonin-inhibitor (SSRI) such as this one.

Interactions with other drugs

Negative narcotic interaction is one of the primary reasons why ultram and other Tramadol variants are accused of causing “serious side effects”. Don’t take alcohol with Tramadol unless you want to suffer from depressions in your respiratory and/or nervous systems. Take note that you can suffer the same complications if you take anesthetics, tranquilizers or sedatives with Tramadol. This painkiller should not be prescribed to people who are taking MAOs and SSRIs either as the combination can trigger epileptic seizures. You should also tell your doctor if you’re taking any drug under the Quanidine or Carbamazepine families because these can affect the potency of any Tramadol variant. Quanidine is notorious for raising the strength of Tramadol while Carbamazepine tends to weaken the narcotic. Provide your physician with a complete list of medicines you’re taking before taking any ultram formulation.

Side effects

Allergic reactions to any Tramadol variant can never be predicted. To lessen the risk, you can start with low doses of the medicine for three days and observe how well your body adapts to it. Some doctors also ask for a list of medicines you’ve previously has an allergic reaction to just in case any of them are similar to Tramadol. If you experience an allergy attack, though, after a few minutes or hours of taking Tramadol, call 911 right away. These include blocked air passageways, swollen parts of the face, and hives. Among the listed common side effects of Tramadol are headaches, vomiting, nausea, and constipation. People say they also experience diarrhea, vertigo, rashes, dry mouth, itchiness and heavy sweating, but the recorded statistics of these side effects are low. Rare or common, inform your doctor if these side effects are getting intolerable. Tramadol is generally well-received by patients, but as mentioned earlier, tolerance is relative. Ask for your dosage to be lowered if the side effects get too difficult for you to handle.

Limitations of the drug

Tramadol isn’t prescribed for all types of pain. Certainly, it isn’t for mild stomach or headaches. These are for moderate to serious muscle or skeletal injuries. Not everyone can be prescribed with the pain reliever, either, as we’ve pointed out earlier. However, it is potentially a good pain reliever for individuals aged between 16 and 75 who are suffering from moderate to severe injuries. The prescription of Tramadol is limited in that age bracket because those younger than 16 or older than 75 may have compromised immune systems which would be unable to tolerate the side effects of the drug. Tramadol is also not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding mothers because of the risk of transferring the substance to the child.