Tramadol
is a popular FDA approved painkiller used to treat moderate to severe pain both
acute and chronic. You can purchase this drug with or without prescription
depending on your location. Tramadol is not a controlled substance but in some
states like Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, and Massachusetts, Tramadol can only be
purchased with a prescription. Since its introduction in the market, thousands
of people relied on Tramadol for the control and management of their pain.
There
are a lot of people who uses Tramadol for various health conditions which are
commonly accompanied by moderate to severe pain. This drug is particularly
effective in treating neuropathic pain and as a better replacement for opioids
like morphine, oxycodone, or hydrocodone. Tramadol is considered as effective as
codeine in treating pain but with fewer side effects.
Cancer
patients and those people who underwent surgery are usually given Tramadol to
alleviate the pain. The drug decreases the pain signal from one nerve to another
and it also blocks the response of the brain to the pain. Studies have shown
that Tramadol is effective in managing post-operative pain as compared to other
analgesics. This can be given to both adult and children. So if you will be
asking who uses Tramadol, this can be used by anybody provided there is guidance
from a health care professional. Tramadol use can result to mild to severe side
effects so it should not be given to those people who are allergic to the drug,
taking other medications or with other health problems.
If
you are suffering from chronic back pain, arthritis, tension headaches and
migraines, Tramadol will be on the rescue. It is also effective in other
neuropathic problems like diabetic neuropathy. Tramadol is commonly prescribed
by doctors to patients suffering from fibromyalgia. This chronic condition is
causing pain, stiffness, and tenderness of the muscles, tendons, and joints.
Serious side effects are not prevalent when using this drug to treat
fibromyalgia.
Some
doctor also uses Tramadol to treat other painful conditions such as arthralgia,
bone pain, dental pain, myalgia, osteoarthritis and post operative shivering.
Sometimes it is also used off label to treat restless leg syndrome and prescribe
to patients with refractory depression if they do not respond to other drugs.
Most of the time Tramadol users have lower blood pressure so other doctors use
it as an alternative medicine to treat hypertensive patients.
A
person who uses Tramadol as a pain killer should be wary of the possible side
effects. It can vary from mild to moderate depending on the dosage of the
medicine. Some of the mild and common side effects of taking this drug include
nausea and vomiting, constipation, dizziness, dry mouth, sweating, headache,
fatigue, irritability and weakness. People who are taking this medication should
refrain from driving because it can cause blurry vision and drowsiness.
Severe
side effects may also occur especially to those who became dependent on this
drug. The symptoms are chest pain, rapid heart rate, skin rash or itching,
disorientation, mental confusion, trouble breathing, tingling of the hands or
feet, nightmares, changes in appetite, flatulence, indigestion, and seizures. If
you take Tramadol for the first time, please take note of the possible reactions
of your body. There are some people who are allergic to tramadol. If these
symptoms appear, like rashes, itching, swelling, severe dizziness, and breathing
trouble, discontinue the medication and immediately inform your doctor.
As
a precaution, tell your doctor about your medical history. Present or previous
health conditions such as liver disease, kidney disease, seizure disorder, lung
disease, or history of drug or alcohol dependency should be divulged to your
doctor. You should also inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning to
get pregnant. It is not yet clear whether Tramadol can cause serious harm to
your baby. It is also noted that Tramadol can pass into the breast milk so
nursing mothers should not take tramadol. This drug shows adverse reactions with
other drugs like narcotics, sedatives or tranquilizers, depression and anxiety
drugs.