There is no reason that a person should have to experience levels of chronic pain in the moderately severe range, without being able to seek some assistance that can reduce the suffering. Ultram is an extremely effective solution to make life more tolerable in times of moderate to moderately severe pain.

Ultram (tramadol hydrochloride tablets) is a prescription medication indicated for the management of moderate to moderately severe pain. Ultram received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval in March 1995. Tramadol has been prescribed in more than 55 million patients worldwide and Ultram has been prescribed in more than 21 million patients in the United States.

For patients with moderate to moderately severe chronic pain not requiring rapid onset of analgesic effect, the tolerability of Ultram can be improved by initiating therapy with the following titration regimen: Ultram should be started at 25 mg/day qAM and titrated in 25 mg increments as separate doses every 3 days to reach 100 mg/day (25 mg q.i.d.). Thereafter the total daily dose may be increased by 50 mg as tolerated every 3 days to reach 200 mg/day (50 mg q.i.d.). After titration, Ultram 50 to 100 mg can be administered as needed for pain relief every 4 to 6 hours not to exceed 400 mg/day.

How it works:

Ultram is a centrally acting synthetic analgesic, not a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). Ultram has no anti-inflammatory activity and no potential for prostaglandin-mediated side effects. Unlike NSAIDs, Ultram does not have the potential to compromise the efficacy of certain antihypertensive agents (diuretics, beta blockers, and ACE-inhibitors).

How to Use:

Take tramadol exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand these directions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you.

Important Side Effect Information :

For the subset of patients for whom rapid onset of analgesic effect is required and for whom the benefits outweigh the risk of discontinuation due to adverse events associated with higher initial doses, Ultram 50 mg to 100 mg can be administered as needed for pain relief every four to six hours, not to exceed 400 mg per day.

Seizures have been reported in-patients receiving Ultram. The risk of seizures is increased with doses of Ultram above the recommended range. Ultram increases the seizure risk in patients taking certain medications (e.g. tricyclic antidepressants, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, opioids) and may enhance the seizure risk in patients taking MAO inhibitors, neuroleptics, or other drugs that reduce the seizure threshold or in patients with a medical history that may suggest increased risk of seizure.

Patients with a history of severe, life-threatening allergic (anaphylactoid) reactions to codeine and other opioids may be at risk and therefore should not receive Ultram.

Cases of abuse and dependence on Ultram have been reported. Ultram should not be used in opioid-dependent patients. Since Ultram can reinitiate physical dependence, it is not recommended for patients with a tendency to drug abuse, a history of drug dependence, or chronically using opioids.

The most frequently reported side effects experienced with Ultram were constipation, nausea, dizziness, headache, somnolence, and vomiting.