Tramadol: What Is It And What Is It For?
The Tramadol is an effective analgesic for the pain that the patient suffers after an operation. A single dose of 100 mg of this drug is equivalent to 1 g of paracetamol, one of the most used drugs worldwide for pain.
It belongs to the pharmacological family of opioids. However, tramadol acts differently than opioid drugs.
In addition to its usefulness to reduce pain, its use as an antidepressant and against obsessive-compulsive disorder has also been investigated, as it acts by increasing the release of serotonin. However, there are still no studies of its effects as a long-term antidepressant.
Learning about opiate drugs
The opioid family is characterized by having a highly analgesic effect. It works by interacting with receptors that are mainly found in the central nervous system and in the gastrointestinal tract.
Although the term opioid is commonly used to refer to all opium-like drugs, it is more appropriate to limit its scope to natural opium alkaloids and their semi-synthetic derivatives.
In this sense, it is possible to differentiate three large groups:
- Opium alkaloids: morphine and codeine.
- Semi-synthetic opioids: heroin and oxycodone.
- Synthetic opioids: tramadol.
How does tramadol exert its effect on the body?
The mechanism of action of this drug is dual, that is, it triggers its analgesic effect thanks to the combination of two simultaneous mechanisms. On the one hand, it has agonist activity on ยต-type central opioid receptors.
Receptors are protein structures of cell membranes that, when interacting with a molecule, trigger a series of chemical reactions in the body, causing an effect.
In addition to its agonism with opioid receptors, the analgesic effect of tramadol is also due, on the other hand, to the fact that it is able to block the reuptake of synaptic amines. For this effect comes the initiative of wanting to research other functions of this drug for use against depression.
It therefore inhibits the reuptake of norepinephrine and serotonin in the central nervous system and thus prevents the transmission of the pain impulse through the spinal cord.
What is tramadol suitable for?
Tramadol is a drug indicated for the treatment of moderate to severe pain, as mentioned at the beginning of the article.
When administering this medication, the dose should be adjusted according to the intensity of pain and the individual sensitivity of each patient. However, the lowest possible effective dose should always be administered in order to avoid adverse effects.
There are certain cases that require a more thorough dose adjustment because, due to their clinical situation, they are more likely to suffer complications. These are:
- Adults and adolescents over 12 years: never exceed a daily dose of 400 mg. If the condition is very serious and requires prolonged treatment, the specialist must closely monitor the treatment.
- Older people: Dose adjustment is not usually necessary until 75 years of age if there is no kidney or liver failure with symptoms. In the case of people over 75 years of age, it is customary to lengthen the intervals between doses.
- Patients with kidney failure and liver failure: the doctor usually extends the intervals between doses according to the needs of each patient.
Tramadol adverse reactions
Tramadol, like other drugs, is not free from adverse effects. Among the most frequent are nausea and dizziness.
However, it can also trigger other symptoms such as:
- Psychiatric disorders: dependence.
- Gastrointestinal system problems.
- Vision changes.
- Nervous system problems.
