Doctors only prescribe tramadol to people over 12 years old.

Adolescents with certain risk factors should

speak with their doctors about the risks of taking tramadol.

Some people take tramadol for

premature ejaculation and restless legs syndrome,

but the Food and Drug Administration

(FDA) have not approved these uses of it.

As an opioid drug, tramadol acts on the brain

to relieve pain. However, tramadol is not as effective

as morphine, which is another opioid.

Because of its opioid activity, people can become

dependent on tramadol.In this article, we discuss the

side effects of tramadol. We will also take a look at tramadol dependence.

Ultram and Ultram ER are the brand names of the drug tramadol. They are available in the form of immediate and extended release tablets. Tramadol is also combined with acetaminophen in the drug Ultracet.

The following table lists the available dosages of tramadol in milligrams (mg).

Tramadol acts on two compounds associated with the sensation of pain: serotonin and norepinephrine. Tramadol helps relieve pain by decreasing the amount of these two compounds in brain cells.

Liver enzymes break down tramadol into another compound called O-desmethyltramadol, which binds to the opioid receptor. This is the same receptor that morphine binds to, but tramadol is not as strong as morphine; its efficacy is “about one-tenth that of morphine.”

The FDA classify tramadol as a schedule IV drug because of its potential for misuse and addiction. It belongs to the same schedule as Xanax, Soma, and Valium.

Doctors should choose the lowest effective dosage for the shortest period and educate people on the possible risks of taking tramadol.