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Brand Name: Ultram
Generic Name: Tramadol HCL
Drug Class: Opiate Agonist
Rx Report: http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic/tramadol_ad.htm
Comments1: This drug is prescribed to control moderate to moderately severe pain. Used as an intermediary step between over-the-counter pain relievers such as Tylenol or ibuprofen and narcotic pain killers. While technically is a narcotic or opioid pain medication, it is different from typical narcotics in that patients do not build up a tolerance with extended usage and there is a very low incidence of addiction. With other narcotics there is a general tendency to escalate the dosage of the medicine with time and a chance of addiction. The narcotic effect of Ultram is not as strong as the narcotic agents in other common pain medications, such as Vicodin (hydrocodone) and Oxycontin and Percocet (Oxycodone).
http://www.spine-health.com/topics/conserv/overview/med/med042.html
Use/No Use: http://www.worstpills.org/results.cfm?drug_id=638. We list these drugs as Do Not Use drugs because they are no more effective than similar drugs, are addictive and cause seizures.
Additional Information 1: Unlike most other opioids, Tramadol is not considered a controlled substance in many countries (U.S. and Canada, among others), and is available with a normal prescription. Tramadol is available over-the-counter without prescription in a few countries. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultram
* See pages 21 and 22 for detailed discussion http://www.theacpa.org/documents/ACPA%20Meds%202007%20Final.pdf
Blog(s):
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/show/44446 - discusses Tramadol and
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/show/43416 - (control “F” and type in Ultram)
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These are examples of medical opioids: (http://www.theacpa.org/documents/ACPA%20Meds%202007%20Final.pdf, page 15)
o Hydrocodone (with acetaminophen – Anexsia®, Lorcet®, Lortab®, Norco®, Vicodin®, Xodol, Zydone®; with ibuprofen –ReprexainTM, icoprofen®; with aspirin—Azdone, Lortab ASA, Panasal)
o Oxycodone (OxyContin®, OxyIR®, RoxicodoneTM; with acetaminophen - Endocet®, Percocet®, Perloxx, RoxicetTM, Tylox®; with aspirin – Endodan®, Percodan®, with ibuprofen - CombunoxTM)
o Codeine (with acetaminophen -Tylenol® with codeine No. 2, No. 3, No. 4)
o Levorphanol (Levo-Dromoran®)
o Dihydrocodeine bitartrate, Aspirin, Caffeine (Synalgos-DC®)
o Methadone (Dolophine®, Methadose®, Westadone)
o Hydromorphone (Dilaudid®)
o Fentanyl (Actiq® lozenge, Fentora® buccal tablet, Duragesic® patch) – FDA warning
o Morphine (AvinzaTM, Duramorph®, Kadian®, MS Contin®, MSIR®, Oramorph SR®, RoxanolTM)
o Butorphanol (Stadol®)
o Meperidine (Demerol®)
o Oxymorphone (Numorphan®, Opana®)
o Pentazocine (Talwin®; with acetaminophen-Talacen®; with aspirin- Talwin Compound)
o Buprenorphine (Buprenex®, Subutex®) and Buprenorphine and Naloxone (Suboxone®)
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ANTIDEPRESSANTS COMMONLY USED FOR CHRONIC PAIN TRICYCLIC ANTIDEPRESSANTS (TCAS)
The tricyclic antidepressants have been used to treat depression for a long time. They include amitriptyline (Elavil®), desipramine (Norpramin®), imipramine (Tofranil®), and nortriptyline (Aventyl®, Pamelor®). These antidepressants have been proven to have pain-relieving effects. Desipramine is considered to have the lowest side effects profile of the TCAs. See pages 27 and 28 from ACPA Medications & Chronic Pain, Supplement 2007, http://www.theacpa.org/documents/ACPA%20Meds%202007%20Final.pdf
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ANTICONVULSANTS OR ANTIEPILEPTIC DRUGS
Several drugs that were developed for prevention of epileptic seizures have been found to help certain pain conditions. http://www.theacpa.org/documents/ACPA%20Meds%202007%20Final.pdf
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MISCELLANEOUS
Most of the time when someone is able to swallow, they should first try a nonnarcotic drug such as aspirin taken by mouth. If aspirin alone is not effective, it can be combined with a narcotic, such as codeine. These two drugs work in different ways, and when they are used together, they generally relieve pain that would otherwise require a higher dose of narcotic, while causing fewer adverse effects. http://www.worstpills.org/results.cfm?drug_id=495#drugprofile
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Miscellaneous Resources:
o AAPM, The Use of Opioids for the Treatment of Chronic Pain, http://www.painmed.org/productpub/statements/pdfs/opioids.pdf
o American Pain Society, http://www.ampainsoc.org/pub/principles.htm
o American Academy of Pain Medicine, www.painmed.org
Blogs:
o Blog on Medhelp, “Pain Killer Alternatives.” This blog specifically discusses alternative non-narcotic pain medications for those with moderate or severe pain. This forum has some very intelligent, well-informed discussions. It is obvious these people have sought long and hard on this subject. Reading through the posts will inform you of many alternatives, and their downsides. Even though this is a 2001 discussion, it is worth reading.
http://www.medhelp.org/forums/addiction/messages/30733.html (my question is under SheMike)
o Some newer posts here.
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/show/43664
o A thread I started,
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/show/302466 (I am SheMike)
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