Tramadol - 10 Things You Should Know

TRAMADOL, the generic version of Ultram, is a synthetic analgesic medication. The exact mode of action of tramadol is unknown but it is said to work like morphine. Tramadol binds to opioid receptors in the brain -- receptors that transmit the sensation of pain throughout the body. Here are 10 things you should know about tramadol to ensure its safe use.

1 - Tramadol is prescribed to treat moderate to moderately severe pain.

Tramadol belongs to the class of drugs known as opiate agonists. Primarily, tramadol works by changing the way the body senses pain. Some people mistakenly believe that tramadol is an NSAID (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug), but it is not.

2 - Tramadol is available in immediate release and extended release formulations.

Tramadol may be prescribed as an immediate release tablet (50 mg.) or as an extended release tablet (100, 200, or 300 mg.). The extended release tablets are usually reserved for patients with chronic pain who require continuous, long-term treatment. Your doctor will determine the appropriate dosage schedule for you.

3 - Tramadol extended release tablets must be taken whole, not split, chewed or crushed.

It is important to take tramadol properly and to follow prescribing instructions. If taken improperly or in a way that is not recommended, serious side effects and even death can result.

4 - Tramadol can be habit-forming for some people.

Do not take more tramadol than has been prescribed for you. Taking more tramadol or taking it more often can cause dependency on it. You should also not stop taking tramadol without first consulting your doctor. You may experience withdrawal symptoms if you stopped it suddenly. You doctor will likely decrease your dose of tramadol gradually.

5 - Drug interactions are possible with tramadol.

Be aware of the following possible drug interactions:

* Carbamazepine reduces the effect of tramadol
* Quinidine increases the concentration of tramadol by 50% to 60%
* Combining tramadol with an MAO (monoamine oxidase inhibitor) inhibitor or SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) can lead to seizures or other serious side effects.

Be sure to tell your doctor about all medications you are taking.

6 - Tramadol, when combined with certain other substances, can increase central nervous system and respiratory depression.

In other words, breathing may be affected or even stop if tramadol is combined with alcohol, narcotic drugs, anesthetics, tranquilizers, or sedatives.

7 - The use of tramadol during pregnancy should be avoided.

Because the safety of tramadol use during pregnancy has not been established, the medication should not be used during pregnancy. The safe use of tramadol in nursing mothers has also not been established.

8 - Tramadol is usually well-tolerated. Any side effects are usually temporary.

Some of the common side effects associated with tramadol include:

* nausea
* constipation
* dizziness
* headache
* drowsiness
* vomiting

Less common side effects include: itching, sweating, diarrhea, rash, dry mouth, and vertigo. There have been patients who developed seizures after taking tramadol.

9 - A Cochrane Review of tramadol to treat osteoarthritis revealed some small benefit.

The Cochrane Review stated that when tramadol is taken for up to 3 months, there may be decreased pain, improvements in function and stiffness and overall well-being. However, tramadol can cause side effects that are significant enough to require that the patient must stop taking the medication. Risks outweigh benefits for many people who have tried tramadol.

10 - If an overdose of tramadol has occurred, call your local poison control center, or call 911 if it appears to be an emergency situation.

Symptoms of an overdose include decreased pupil size, difficulty breathing or staying awake, unconscious, coma, heart attack, or seizure. Call for help, even if you are unsure about what to do.

Schizophrenia: Don't Stare at me!

Schizophrenia is a psychiatric diagnosis that describes a mental illness characterized by impairments in the perception or expression of reality, most frequently manifesting as auditory hallucinations, paranoid or bizarre delusions or disorganized speech and thinking in the context of significant social or occupational dysfunction.

Insomnia: The Nocturnal Crisis

Insomnia is a sleeping disorder characterized by importunate difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep despite the opportunity. It is classically followed by functional impairment while awake. Insomniacs have been known to grumble about being unable to close their eyes or rest their mind for more than a few minutes at a time. Both organic and non-organic insomnia make up a sleep disorder.

Appendectomy: The Party Within

An appendicectomy (or appendectomy) is the surgical removal of the vermiform appendix. This procedure is normally performed as an emergency procedure, when the patient is suffering from acute appendicitis. In the absence of surgical facilities, intravenous antibiotics are used to delay or avoid the onset of sepsis; it is now recognized that many cases will resolve when treated non-operatively. In some cases the appendicitis resolves completely; more often, an inflammatory mass forms around the appendix. This is a relative contraindication to surgery.

Acupuncture for Pain Management and More!

Acupuncture, an ancient form of medicine that originated in China several thousand years ago, has been used by Canadian physicians since the 1970s. Research on the neurophysiology of acupuncture analgesia supports the theory that it is mediated primarily via the selective release in the central nervous system of neuropeptides. Evidence of its anti-inflammatory effects is emerging. Meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials provide evidence for acupuncture's effectiveness in treating back pain, neck pain, and osteoarthritis. Applications of electroacupuncture using transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation can provide good pain relief via home treatment and make management of cancer pain using acupuncture knowledge realistic. Here are the other uses and the benefits we get from acupuncture!

1. Acupuncture for Chronic Headaches
2. Verum or Sham Acupuncture Nearly Twice as Effective as Usual Therapy for Back Pain
3. Acupuncture Reduces Osteoarthritis Symptoms
4. Acupuncture Effective in Reducing Pain and Dysfunction After Neck Dissection
5. Acupuncture May Improve Success of In Vitro Fertilization
6. Acupuncture Can Relieve Hot Flushes Caused by Cancer drugs
7. Acupuncture Therapy Rapidly Terminates Intractable Hiccups Complicating Acute Myocardial Infarction
8. Acupuncture May Be Effective for Fibromyalgia
9. Acupuncture May Be Helpful for Pelvic Girdle Pain During Pregnancy
10. Acupuncture Eases Lower Back Pain
11. Acupuncture May Help Tension Headaches
12. Acupuncture Eases Side Effects of AIDS Drugs
13. Acupuncture May Reduce Symptoms of Persistent Allergic Rhinitis in Children
14. Acupuncture May Improve Sperm Quality
15. Acupuncture May Be Effective for Overactive Bladder
16. Acupuncture for insomnia
17. Acupuncture for acute stroke
18. Acupuncture for schizophrenia
19. Acupuncture for treatment of irritable bowel syndrome
20. Acupuncture for epilepsy
21. Acupuncture for depression
22. Acupuncture for lateral elbow pain
23. Acupuncture for neck disorders
24. Acupuncture for shoulder pain
25. Acupuncture for chronic asthma
26. Acupuncture for vascular dementia
27. Acupuncture for Bell's palsy
28. Acupuncture for induction of labour

These informations are from Medscape, MEDLINE, and eMEDICINE.

Antioxidant Vitamins Decrease Pancreatitis Pain

Researchers testified at Digestive Disease Week 2007 that a diet enhanced with antioxidant vitamins considerably and neutrally decreases the relentless tenderness that goes along with pancreatitis.

Pancreatitis is the irritation or infectivity of the pancreas. Pancreas secretes digestive enzymes and the hormones insulin and glucagon. The state may be chronic or acute, and may extend from a range of causes. Based on proof that oxidative tension is involved in the progress of pancreatitis, antioxidant supplements, including vitamin C, selenium, beta-carotene, vitamin E, and methionine daily for six months. Researchers calculated markers of oxidative stress and blood levels of the antioxidants themselves.

One third of patients consuming antioxidants were pain-free at the end of the study phase compared with 13 percent of patients on placebo. The researchers also pointed out those narcotics have limited efficacy and their long-term use introduces another set of problems.