What should I know about tramadol before using it?
Do not take tramadol unless it has been prescribed to you by a healthcare provider. Take it as prescribed.
Do not share tramadol with other people, even if they have the same condition as you. It may harm them.
Use an accurate measuring device to measure your dose if you are using a liquid formulation. A household spoon is not an accurate measuring device and may cause you to take the wrong dose. Ask your pharmacist to recommend an appropriate measuring device.
Keep tramadol out of the reach of children. Tramadol is a controlled substance because it can be misused or lead to dependence. Store tramadol in a safe place to protect it from theft. It is illegal to sell or give away this medicine.
Do not stop taking tramadol without talking to your healthcare provider. Stopping tramadol too quickly can cause serious withdrawal effects. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms.
- Feeling restless
- Watery eyes or runny nose
- Yawning
- Sweating or chills
- Muscle, joint, or back pain
- Dilated pupils
- Irritability, anxiety, or trouble sleeping
- Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or loss of appetite
- Increase in blood pressure, breathing rate, or heart rate
Tramadol can affect your alertness or coordination. Do not drive or do other activities that require alertness or coordination until you know how tramadol affects you.
People who are 65 years and older can be at greater risk for some side effects from tramadol. Talk to your healthcare provider about your risks if you are in this age group.
Do not chew, cut, or crush tramadol extended-release tablets. This can cause you to overdose and die.
Do not take tramadol extended-release tablets on an “as needed” basis. Taking too much tramadol can lead to breathing problems, seizures, and death.
Dispose of expired, unwanted, or unused tramadol right away by taking your medicine to an authorized DEA-registered collector or drug take back program. If one is not available, you can mix medicine with dirt, coffee grounds, or cat litter, then place the mixture in a sealed plastic bag and throw the bag in the trash.
Long-term use of tramadol may affect your ability to become pregnant or get a partner pregnant. Talk with your healthcare provider if you have any concerns.
What should I tell my healthcare provider before using tramadol?
Tell your healthcare provider about all of your health conditions and any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using. This will help them determine if tramadol is right for you.
In particular, make sure that you discuss any of the following.
Current and Past Health Conditions. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any of the following.
- Brain tumor or head injury
- Seizures
- Liver problems
- Kidney problems
- Thyroid problems
- Pancreas or gallbladder problems
- Breathing problems, such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Obstructive sleep apnea
- Problems peeing
- Diabetes
- Abuse of street drugs or prescription medicines or living with someone who has this problem
- Alcohol addiction
- Opioid overdose
- Mental health problems
- Recent or upcoming surgery to remove your tonsils or adenoids
Pregnancy. Tramadol may cause harm to an unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider if you are or plan to become pregnant. Your healthcare provider will advise you if you should take tramadol while you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant. If you take tramadol on a regular basis during pregnancy, your baby may have withdrawal symptoms that can be life-threatening. Tell your healthcare provider if you took tramadol during your pregnancy, especially near the end of your pregnancy.
Breastfeeding. Tramadol passes into breast milk. Breastfeeding is not recommended while you are taking tramadol. Tell your healthcare provider if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Your healthcare provider will advise you if you should take tramadol while breastfeeding.
Does tramadol interact with foods or drinks?
There are no known interactions with tramadol and food.
Do not drink alcohol or use prescription or over-the-counter medicines that contain alcohol. Using alcohol while taking tramadol can cause you to overdose and die.
Does tramadol interact with other medicines (drug interactions)?
Always tell your healthcare provider about any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using.
In particular, make sure that you discuss if you are using any of the following before taking tramadol.
- A monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) within the past 2 weeks, which is a medicine usually used for depression or Parkinson’s disease
- An opioid, such as oxycodone, morphine, codeine, or fentanyl, which is a medicine used for certain types of pain
- A selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) or a serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI), which is a medicine commonly used for anxiety and depression
- A benzodiazepine, such as clonazepam (Klonopin), diazepam (Valium and others), or lorazepam (Ativan and others), which is a medicine used for anxiety, muscle spasms, or seizures
- A tricyclic antidepressant, such as amitriptyline, nortriptyline, or protriptyline, even if it is not used for depression
- A type of medicine called a mixed agonist/antagonist or partial agonist opioid analgesic, such as buprenorphine (Butrans, Sublocade), butorphanol, and others, which is used to treat certain types of pain
- Any other medicine that causes dizziness and sleepiness, such as prescription pain medicines, sleep medicines, and medicines for anxiety
- Digoxin (Lanoxin), which is a medicine used to treat irregular heartbeat and some types of heart failure
- Warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven), which is a blood thinner
- An anticholinergic medicine, which includes antihistamines and medicines commonly used for overactive bladder, Parkinson’s disease, or stomach problems
- A diuretic, also called a water pill, which is a medicine used to reduce edema (fluid retention) and blood pressure
- A type of medicine called a triptan, such as sumatriptan (Imitrex and others), eletriptan (Relpax), and others, which is commonly used to treat migraines
- A muscle relaxant, which is a medicine used for muscle spasm
- An antipsychotic, which is a medicine for certain mental health problems
Many other medicines may alter the blood levels of tramadol. Tell your healthcare provider about all medicines that you take or have recently taken.
