Tramadol for pain relief

About tramadol

Strong opioids (sometimes called opiates) are medicines used to treat severe pain. Tramadol is a type of strong opioid. It works on your nervous system and brain to reduce the amount of pain you feel.

There are many different forms, strengths and brands of tramadol. Some forms and brands of tramadol start working quickly to ease pain. Others release the tramadol they contain more slowly over several hours to provide a constant and more even pain control - these are called 'modified-release' and often have 'XL', 'SR' or '24hr' after their brand name.

Before taking tramadol

Some medicines are not suitable for people with certain conditions, and sometimes a medicine may only be used if extra care is taken. For these reasons, before you start taking tramadol, it is important that your doctor knows:

• Wenn Sie schwanger sind, ein Kind erwarten oder stillen.

• Wenn Sie Leber- oder Nierenprobleme haben.

• Wenn Sie Prostataprobleme oder Schwierigkeiten beim Wasserlassen haben.

• If you have any breathing problems, such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or a sleep-related breathing problem.

• Wenn Ihnen gesagt wurde, dass Sie einen niedrigen Blutdruck (Hypotonie) haben.

• Wenn Sie Probleme mit Ihrer Schilddrüse oder den Nebennieren haben.

• Wenn Sie Epilepsie haben.

• Wenn Sie ein Problem mit Ihrem Gallengang haben.

• Wenn Sie seit mehr als einer Woche unter Verstopfung leiden oder ein entzündliches Darmproblem haben.

• Wenn Sie an einer Muskelschwäche leiden, die Myasthenia gravis genannt wird.

• Wenn Sie kürzlich eine schwere Kopfverletzung erlitten haben.

• Wenn Sie jemals von Drogen oder Alkohol abhängig waren.

• Wenn Sie schon einmal eine allergische Reaktion auf ein Arzneimittel hatten.

• Wenn Sie andere Arzneimittel einnehmen. Dazu gehören alle Arzneimittel, die Sie einnehmen und die rezeptfrei erhältlich sind, sowie pflanzliche und ergänzende Arzneimittel.

How to take tramadol

• Before you start this treatment, read the manufacturer's printed information leaflet from inside your pack. The manufacturer's leaflet will give you more information about the specific brand of tramadol you have been prescribed, and a full list of the side-effects which you may experience from taking it.

• Take tramadol exactly as your doctor tells you to. Depending on the reason you are taking it, your doctor may advise that you take regular doses or only when you need it for pain relief. Make sure you know which is right for you.

• If you have been prescribed quick-acting tablets or capsules, you will be asked to take a dose every 4-6 hours. If you have been given modified-release tablets or capsules, you will be asked to take either two doses a day (taken 12 hours apart) or just one dose daily (at the same time of day each day). Your dose will be printed on the label of the pack to remind you, but if you are still unsure about what to do, ask your pharmacist for further advice. Do not take more than a total of 400 mg of tramadol in any 24-hour period.

• If you have been given modified-release tablets or capsules, it is important that you do not break the tablets or chew the contents of the capsules; otherwise they may release the medicine too quickly and cause side-effects. Swallow the tablets/capsules whole with a drink of water, unless the label says you may do otherwise.

• You can take tramadol before or after food.

• If you forget to take a dose, check the manufactuer's information leaflet for advice about what to do. Depending upon when your next dose is due, you will either be recommended to take a dose when you remember or wait for your next dose. Never take two doses together to make up for a missed dose.

Das Beste aus Ihrer Behandlung herausholen

• Ask your doctor for advice before drinking alcohol while you are on this medicine. Your doctor may recommend you do not drink alcohol while you are on tramadol because it increases the possibility of side-effects such as feeling dizzy and sleepy.

• If you are a driver, please be aware that tramadol is likely to affect your reactions and ability to drive. It is an offence to drive while your reactions are impaired. Even if your driving ability is not impaired, should you drive, you are advised to carry with you some evidence that the medicine has been prescribed for you - a repeat prescription form or a patient information leaflet from the pack is generally considered suitable.

• As there are several different brands and strengths of tramadol, each time you collect a prescription, check to make sure it contains what you are expecting. Ask your pharmacist to check for you if you are unsure about anything.

• If you are having an operation or dental treatment, tell the person carrying out the treatment that you are taking tramadol as a painkiller.

• If you buy any medicines, check with a pharmacist that they are suitable for you to take with tramadol. Many other medicines have similar side-effects to tramadol, and taking them together will increase the risk of unwanted effects.

• If you are planning a trip abroad, you are advised to carry a letter with you from your doctor to explain that you have been prescribed tramadol. This is because tramadol is classed as a 'controlled drug' and is subject to certain restrictions.

• Do not take tramadol for longer than you have been advised by your doctor. This is because repeatedly using tramadol may lead to your body becoming dependent on it. When you then stop taking it, it will cause withdrawal symptoms such as restlessness and irritability. If you are concerned about this, discuss it with your doctor or pharmacist.

Can tramadol cause side-effects?

Along with their useful effects, most medicines can cause unwanted side-effects although not everyone experiences them. The table below contains some of the most common ones associated with tramadol. You will find a full list in the manufacturer's information leaflet supplied with your medicine. The unwanted effects often improve as your body adjusts to the new medicine, but speak with your doctor or pharmacist if any of the following continue or become troublesome.

Wichtig: Personen, die Opioide einnehmen, sowie deren Angehörige und Freunde sollten sich des Risikos einer versehentlichen Überdosierung bewusst sein und wissen, wann sie medizinische Hilfe in Anspruch nehmen müssen. Das Risiko ist höher, wenn Sie auch andere Arzneimittel einnehmen, die Sie schläfrig machen. Anzeichen dafür, dass Sie zu viele Medikamente eingenommen haben, sind unter anderem:

• Sie fühlen sich sehr schläfrig oder schwindlig.

• Sich krank fühlen (Übelkeit) oder krank sein (Erbrechen).

• Atembeschwerden.

• Verlust des Bewusstseins.

If you have taken more tramadol than you should or someone else accidentally swallows your medication, call for an ambulance and tell them the name of your medicine.

Wenn Sie andere Symptome haben, von denen Sie glauben, dass sie auf dieses Arzneimittel zurückzuführen sind, sprechen Sie mit Ihrem Arzt oder Apotheker.

How to store tramadol

• Bewahren Sie alle Arzneimittel außerhalb der Reichweite und Sichtweite von Kindern auf.

• An einem kühlen, trockenen Ort aufbewahren, vor direkter Hitze und Licht schützen.

Wichtige Informationen über alle Arzneimittel