Tramadol and Alcohol

Tramadol, which is also known by the generic name Ultra, is a prescription-strength drug that has been approved for the treatment of chronic pain which is moderate to severe in nature. The pain relief mechanism found in Tramadol is similar to that found in drugs containing morphine. People who suffer from the ongoing pain of arthritis are typical patients, although Tramadol can be used to treat any type of ongoing pain.

Benefits of Using Tramadol

As compared to other pain relievers containing opiates, Tramadol is preferable because it affects serotonin and norepinephrine signals in the brain. These areas of the brain are primarily responsible for regulating mood, and Tramadol has been proven to both increase moods while decreasing pain at the same time. Tramadol is also a more effective drug than others because it does not contain histamine, a major trigger of allergies in some people. Prior to the introduction of Tramadol, people who suffered from both chronic pain and allergies often had to make a choice to leave one of the conditions untreated because there was no medication available that could successfully treat both.

Precautions While Using Tramadol

People who have a history of drug or alcohol abuse need to be more closely monitored than other patients while taking Tramadol due to its narcotic make-up. It may be problematic for people who are prone to addiction for this reason. Things that doctors will look for while monitoring such patients are taking too many Tramadol at once and running out before it is time to refill the order, selling their medication and building up a tolerance to Tramadol so that it is no longer effective. Tramadol is not usually prescribed to people who suffer from only mild pain because the pain relief does not outweigh the risk of dependency.

A Special Warning Regarding Alcohol

It is very dangerous to mix Tramadol with alcohol and this should be avoided at all costs. Mixing the two together greatly increases the chance of overdose symptoms. These symptoms include hallucinations, increased agitation, high blood pressure, constipation, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, seizures, profuse sweating and an irregular heartbeat. A patient also may become very short of breath and require the assistance of a breathing tube or other medical intervention to return their breathing patterns to normal.

Tramadol and Mental Health Medications

Patients who are currently taking any medication to treat a mental condition, such as depression or another mood disorder, should let their doctor know about their condition prior to beginning Tramadol. It may have an unsafe interaction with these drugs and cause the patient’s symptoms to become exaggerated.