Tramadol is used to relieve moderate to moderately severe pain. It may be used to treat pain caused by surgery and chronic conditions such as cancer or joint pain. Tramadol is in a class of medications called opiate (narcotic) analgesics. It works by decreasing the body's sense of pain.

Tramadol can be habit-forming. Do not take a larger dose, take it more often, or take it for a longer period of time than prescribed by your doctor.

Do not stop taking tramadol suddenly without talking to your doctor. If you suddenly stop taking tramadol, you may experience side effects. Your doctor will probably decrease your dose gradually. If you suddenly stop taking tramadol you may experience withdrawal symptoms such as nervousness; panic; sweating; difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep; runny nose, sneezing, or cough; numbness, pain, burning, or tingling in your hands or feet; hair standing on end; or rarely, hallucinations (seeing things or hearing voices that do not exist).

Special precautions

Before taking tramadol,

• Tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to tramadol or any other medicines.
• Tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are taking vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking.
• tell your doctor if you have or have ever had seizures, head injury, infection in your brain or nervous system, increased intracranial pressure (increased pressure within the skull), diabetes, breathing problems or lung disease, or kidney or liver disease. Also tell your doctor if you drink or have ever drunk large amounts of alcohol, use or have ever used street drugs, or have overused prescription medications.
• 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 are 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 and may affect your coordination. 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. The manufacturer states that tramadol should not be taken with alcohol containing beverages.
• You should know that tramadol may cause dizziness, lightheadedness, and fainting when you get up from a lying position. To avoid this, get out of bed slowly, resting your feet on the floor for a few minutes before standing up.

Side effects

Tramadol may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

• dizziness
• weakness
• headache
• nervousness or anxiety
• agitation
• shaking hands that you cannot control
• increased muscle tightness
• changes in mood
• drowsiness
• blurred vision
• heartburn or indigestion
• upset stomach
• vomiting
• diarrhea
• constipation
• itching
• sweating
• flushing
• dry mouth

Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of these symptoms, call your doctor immediately:

• hives
• rash
• sores on the inside of your mouth, nose, eyes, or throat
• flu-like symptoms
• itching
• difficulty swallowing or breathing
• swelling of the face, throat, tongue, lips, eyes, hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs
• fast heartbeat
• hoarseness
• difficulty swallowing or breathing
• changes in urination
• seeing things or hearing voices that do not exist (hallucinating)
• seizures

Symptoms of overdose may include:

• confusion
• vomiting
• decreased size of the pupil (the black circle in the center of the eye)
• difficulty breathing
• extreme drowsiness
• unconciousness
• coma
• seizure
• heart attack

Keep all appointments with your doctor.