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The trade name for the atypical opioid Tramadol is Ultram. As a synthetic agent and 4-phenyl-piperidine analogue of codeine, Ultram is an analgesic used to treat moderate to severe pain. The drug is often marketed as tramadol hydrochloride or hydrochloride salt and can be taken orally, intramuscularly or intravenously.

Prescription For Ultram

Ultram is an opiate agonist which relieves moderate to moderately severe pain by changing the way your body senses pain. People who require 24-hour pain relief often prefer Ultram extended-release tablets.

You should take a regular tablet with or without food every 4 to 6 hours. Extended-release tablets should only be taken once daily. Oral doses can vary from 50 to 400 mg daily, whereas most intravenous or intramuscular injections can range up to 600 mg daily.

The final dosage will be determined by your doctor according to your specific case. However, the general oral dose is 1-2 tablets consisting of 325 mg of paracetamol and 37.5 mg of Tramadol every 4 to 6 hours.

The Abuse of Ultram

The FDA maintains a database called MedWatch which reports voluntary cases of adverse drug reactions. From 1999 to 2004, 766 reports of Tramadol abuse were reported to the FDA. The most common abusers include chronic pain patients, health care professionals and narcotic addicts.

When injected, Tramadol is approximately 10% as strong as morphine, but it is just as addictive. Tramadol may result in physical or psychological dependence similar to morphine. Many individuals also report severe withdrawal symptoms. One study discovered that test subjects who scored positive for drug abuse at least one time during a 12-month follow-up period included 2.5% for NSAIDs, 2.7% for Tramadol, followed by 4.9% for hydrocodone. If you take a higher dose of Tramadol or Ultram than prescribed, you can cause severe side effects or even death.

The Effects of Ultram Abuse

The most common side effects of Tramadol are vomiting, sweating and nausea, although you may also experience drowsiness. More serious side effects of over dosage include lethargy, seizure, cardiac arrest, coma, respiratory depression or death. Deaths have occurred with intentional and unintentional Ultram overdoses.

Taking Ultram may cause physical or psychological dependence typical of morphine-type opioids. Even patients with no previous history of opioid dependence may experience signs of abuse or dependence, exhibit drug-seeking behaviour or develop a tolerance for the drug. Patients with a prior history of substance abuse are at greater risk of developing an addiction to the drug. If you suddenly stop taking Ultram, you may experience withdrawal symptoms. You can relieve these symptoms by having your doctor gradually reduce your dose of the medication in combination with opioid therapy.