Tramadol (Systemic)
Brand Names : Ultram
Before Using This MedicineIn deciding to use a medicine,
the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will
do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For tramadol, the following
should be considered:
Allergies - Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or
allergic reaction to tramadol or narcotic analgesics. Also tell your health
care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods,
preservatives, or dyes.
Pregnancy - Although studies on birth defects have not been done
in pregnant women, tramadol has not been reported to cause birth defects.
In animal studies, there were drug-related birth defects observed. Studies
done in animals given very high (toxic) doses resulted in lower than normal
birth weights and some deaths in the fetuses and birth defects in some of
the newborns.
Breast-feeding - Tramadol passes into breast milk and may cause
unwanted effects in nursing babies. It may be necessary for you to take another
medicine or to stop breast-feeding during treatment. Be sure you have discussed
the risks and benefits of the medicine with your doctor.
Children - There is no specific information on the relationship
of age to the effects of tramadol in patients less than 16 years of age.
Older adults - Studies in older adults show that tramadol stays
in the body a little longer than it does in younger adults. Your doctor will
consider this when deciding on your doses.
Other medicines - Although certain medicines should not be used
together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together
even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to
change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking
tramadol, it is especially important that your health care provider know if
you are taking any of the following:
-
Carbamazepine (e.g., Tegretol) - May decrease the effects of
tramadol by decreasing the amount of medicine in the body
-
Central nervous system (CNS) depressants (medicines that cause drowsiness) - Using
these medicines with tramadol may increase the chance of serious side effects
or increase the risk of convulsions (seizures)
-
Monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor activity (isocarboxazid [e.g.,
Marplan], phenelzine [e.g., Nardil], procarbazine [e.g., Matulane], selegiline
[e.g., Eldepryl], tranylcypromine [e.g., Parnate]) - The chance of convulsions
(seizures) may be increased
Other medical problems - The presence of other medical
problems may affect the use of tramadol. Make sure you tell your doctor if
you have any other medical problems, especially:
-
Abdominal or stomach conditions (severe) - Tramadol may hide
signs of other medical conditions
-
Alcohol or drug abuse, or history of - May increase the serious
side effects of tramadol
-
Head injury - Tramadol can hide signs of other medical conditions
-
Kidney disease or
-
Liver disease - The chance of side effects may be increased.
Your doctor will consider this when deciding on your doses.
-
Seizures - The chance of convulsions (seizures) may be increased
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