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Description
Tramadol is used to relieve moderate to moderately severe pain. It also may be used to treat pain caused by surgery and chronic conditions such as cancer or joint pain.
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What special precautions should I follow?
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
)¡XTramadol may hide signs of other medical conditions
- Alcohol or drug abuse, or history of¡XMay increase the serious side effects of tramadol
- Head injury¡XTramadol can hide signs of other
medical conditions
- Kidney disease or
- Liver disease¡XThe chance of side effects may be increased. Your doctor will consider this when deciding on your doses.
- Seizures¡XThe chance of
convulsions (seizures) may be increased
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Proper Use of This Medicine
Tramadol comes as a tablet to take by mouth. It usually is taken every 4-6 hours as needed. It may be taken with or without food. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask yo
ur doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take tramadol exactly as directed.
Tramadol can be habit-forming. Do not take a larger dose, take it more often, or for a lo
nger period than your doctor tells you to.
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Before Taking This Medicine
Before taking tramadol,
- tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while taking tramadol, call your doctor.
- if you a
re having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are taking tramadol.
- you should know that this drug may make you drowsy. Do not drive a car or operate machinery
until you know how this drug affects you.
- remember that alcohol can add to the drowsiness caused by this drug.
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Possible Side Effect
Although side effects from tramadol are not common, they can occur. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:
- dizziness
- headache
- drowsiness
- blurred vision
- upset stomach
- vomiting
- diarrhea
If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately:
- fast heartbeat
- rednes
s, swelling, and itching of the face
- numbness or tingling of the hands and feet
- difficulty breathing
- changes in urination
- seizures
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Tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:
- Kidney disease or
- Liver disease¡XThe chance of side effects may be increased. Your doctor will consider this when deciding on your doses.
- Seizures¡XT
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)¡XMay decrease the effect
s of tramadol by decreasing the amount of medicine in the body
- Central nervous system (CNS) depressants (medicines that cause drowsiness)¡XUsing these medicines with tramadol may increase the ch
ance 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])¡XThe chance of convulsions (seizures) may be increased
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