Can Tramadol relieve your pain?

Nothing like the sweet ring of, ‘Are you feeling better?' for a person experiencing intense pain. Pain can control everything you do. 

Pain is a broad term. At times, it is for a brief period; other times, it is a continuous sensation. In scientific terms, pain can be explained as an unpleasant feeling that is experienced when there is actual or potential tissue damage Pain is a signal in your nervous system, that can be experienced as a prick, tingle, sting, burn, or ache. It can be felt in any part of the body and can be acute (for a short duration) or chronic, (for weeks or months). 

No pain should be taken lightly. 

People tend to look for easy home remedies to drive the pain away. Most of the time, these remedies are not useful. No amount of yoga, positive thinking, or essential oils, for that matter will make you feel better. The best way to deal with pain is to consult a doctor. This should be your first recourse. 

Depending upon the severity of the pain, the doctor will recommend ways to treat or manage the pain. A doctor can suggest pain relievers, therapy, or surgery in complex cases. 

The chemist's shops are packed with many different kinds of painkillers, Tramadol is one of them. Tramadol is widely used for relief from moderate or severe pain. 

About Tramadol 

Tramadol is a strong pain reliever. It works on the Central Nervous System. It is an opioid analgesic, which blocks the signal of sensation of pain to the brain and reduces the pain stimuli. 

After orally consuming Tramadol, it takes about an hour to show effect. The effect lasts for about 6 to 7 hours. It is effective on moderate to severe pain in both acute and chronic conditions. 

Before taking Tramadol 

Like all other drugs, before taking Tramadol, it is crucial to discuss a few things with the doctor. Any drug you take interacts with the foods you consume and other medications you may be on.

Inform your doctor of all your medical history and your family history. 

Tell your doctor, if you have had kidney or liver problems. 

Inform the doctor if you have had any lung-related disease or trouble. 

Notify in case you are pregnant or breastfeeding. 

Notify in case you are an alcoholic or smoke a lot. 

How to take Tramadol? 

Tramadol should be taken only when prescribed. 

Tramadol can be addictive, and hence it is advised to consume it exactly as per the prescription of the doctor. 

It can be taken any time of the day, but it is important to fix a time and take it at the same time every day. 

If you forget to take a dose, you can skip it and take the next dose when it is time. Tramadol can be prescribed twice a day and in case you miss a dose, simply take the next one. Never double the dose to make up. 

It has to be taken with or without food, as per your doctor’s suggestion. 

Dosage and strengths of Tramadol 

It is vital to take the dose exactly as per the prescription?

An overdose can cause serious side effects and sometimes even prove fatal. 

Tramadol comes in a tablet form, a standard capsule form, a solution (liquid) form, an extended-release (long-acting) tablet, or a capsule; to be taken by mouth. It also comes in the injection form that is used only in hospitals. 

The regular tablet, capsule, and solution can be taken every 4 to 6 hours as needed. 

The extended-release tablet and extended-release capsule should be taken once a day; at about the same time every day. 

In case of chronic pain, the doctor may prescribe extended-release capsules. The initial dose could be 100 milligrams (mg) once a day. Your doctor may increase your dose as needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 300 mg per day. 

Never crush, cut, or break the extended-release tablets as these are specially designed, and breaking them before consumption could lead to an overdose. 

In case of moderate pain, the doctor may prescribe the solution form or the tablet form. The initial dose could start from 25 milligrams (mg) once a day and could go up to 400 milligrams (mg) per day. The doctor can titrate the dose as per the severity of the pain. The dose should not exceed 400 mg once a day. 

Dosages vary and are different for each individual. Doctors decide the dosage taking into consideration a lot of factors and your pain level. 

How is Tramadol available? 

Tramadol is sold under many different brand names by various pharmaceutical organizations. 

Some popular brand names are: 

Tramazac (Zydus Cadila) 

Contramal (Abbott) 

Domadol (Torrent Pharmaceuticals Ltd) 

Tramasure (Mankind Pharma Ltd) 

Tramadin (Mankind Pharma Ltd) 

Tramot (Bennet Pharmaceuticals Limited) 

Supridol (Neon Laboratories Ltd) 

Tramazac HP (Zydus Cadila) 

Side effects of Tramadol 

The peculiarity of any drug is, when it gives the needed effects, it is invariably accompanied by side effects. Tramadol too has its set of side effects. The common side effects are usually not very pronounced and tend to get better with time. 

Some common side effects 

Pruritus 

Anxiety 

Blurred vision 

Constipation and indigestion 

Diarrhoea 

Nausea 

Tremor 

Vomiting 

Diaphoresis 

Insomnia 

Nervousness 

Frequent changes in mood 

In case you modify the dosage or consume it for a prolonged period or longer than advised by the doctor, there can be some serious side effects too. 

Some severe side effects 

There are times when a drug does not suit our bodies. Our body retaliates by showing some effects. Side effects of, drugs at times can be severe. In case you experience any severe side effects, consult your doctor immediately. 

Some severe side effects could be as listed below 

Life-threatening condition like breathing trouble 

Difficulty swallowing 

Agitation 

Hallucinations and confusion 

Fever, sweating, rash development 

Fast heartbeats 

Shivering 

Loss of consciousness 

Seizures 

Would Tramadol help relieve your pain? 

Doctors usually decide on a drug based on your medical and family history, the condition of the disease, and the severity. It is a trial-and-error method to arrive at the most effective drug and dose that suits you. 

Each drug has its mechanism and response. Each individual uniquely reacts to the drug. 

With Tramadol, it is seen that genetic factors play an important role in pharmacology. Individuals who have reduced enzyme activity may not respond to the standard doses of Tramadol.  

Genes play a vital role in deciding the efficacy of any drug. Genetic mutations are associated with drug responses. It is due to this that different people respond differently to the same drug. All are not suitable for everyone.

Today there are genetic tests available that tell you the exact drug most effective for your unique self. That is important as it would give results sooner.

The Revolutionary MEDNAwise Genetic Testing 

Reclaim your life from pain

At Indus Health Plus, with MEDNAwise genetic testing, we give you the power to know your body and its mechanism better. 

The MEDNAwise genetic testing helps the doctor to skip the trial-and-error cycle of the medication. The excellent MEDNAwise pharmacogenomic test, predicts your body's response to 70+ drugs including Tramadol depending on your DNA or genes. Knowing which drug suits, you the best saves time and money. 

MEDNAwise test is a high-quality, affordable, and simple saliva-swab test and can be taken from anywhere. The testing results are efficiently provided. The results can be truly transformative for you. 

Once the results are out, our trained genetic counsellors guide you to further health check-ups and diet plans to better health. 

Get the best line of treatment for you and live a healthier life. Sign up for the MEDNAwise genetic testing today!