The Unique Pain Medication

Tramadol has been used as an analgesic since the late 1970s, and became one of the most popular analgesics of its class in Germany. The international appeal of the drug was renewed his tramadol was discovered that not only acts as the opiates, but also inhibits the reuptake of serotonin and norepinephrine.

Mechanism of action

Tramadol is a unique product. Its mode of action and safety profile distinguishes it from other opioids. It is classified as a centrally acting analgesic atypical and non-opioid and opioid properties. Tramadol is a synthetic analogue of codeine, which has a weak opioid agonist properties. It also inhibits the neuronal reuptake of norepinephrine and serotonin as antidepressants

Tramadol has strong structural similarities to the antidepressant venlafaxine. Because of its similarities to venlafaxine, tramadol May possibly exercise some degree of antidepressant effect in some patients, particularly those suffering from chronic pain.

Side effects

Tramadol is generally well tolerated, the most common side effects are nausea and vomiting. Unlike agents such as morphine and pethidine, respiratory depression rarely occurs during tramadol to equipotent doses of treatment. But high doses of tramadol in May increased the respiratory system, the effects of other drugs. It is also associated with a low incidence of cardiac depression and significantly less dizziness and drowsiness than morphine.

Finally, the potential for abuse and dependence is relatively low because it has only a weak opioid. The low abuse potential of tramadol has been shown by data from post-marketing surveillance.

Tramadol appears to have the same risk of urinary tract (difficulty urinating, urinary retention) than other opiates.

The drug should be avoided in people with epilepsy and used with caution in those taking drugs that lower the threshold for seizures.

Tramadol uses

It is effective in different types of moderate to severe pain, including neuropathic pain. This drug has a dose-dependent efficacy that lies between that of codeine and morphine, with a parenteral power comparable to that of pethidine.

Comparative studies have shown that tramadol is more effective than NSAIDs for controlling post-operative pain. Moreover, as the mode of action of tramadol does not overlap with that of NSAIDs, it is an agent to be combined with these drugs. Using a combination of tramadol and NSAIDs allows the tramadol dose reduced and results in a lower incidence of side effects.

Tramadol May be particularly useful for elderly people suffering from osteoarthritis because, unlike NSAIDs, it does not aggravate hypertension and cardiovascular complications, has not the potential to cause peptic ulcers.

Tramadol has been used successfully to manage labor pain without respiratory depression in the newborn. It is effective for the treatment of pain of myocardial ischemia, renal colic and acute trauma.