What is Tramadol?

Tramadol is a painkiller that is related to the class of narcotics.

This drug is used to overcome various degrees of pain that are caused by a variety of medical conditions. The extended-release variation of Tramadol is used in cases of chronic pain and is usually taken on a regular basis to achieve the effect.

Pain is always a symptom of a condition and rarely a medical condition on its own. So when you take a painkiller you only eliminate the symptom but not the cause. In case you have recurrent pains or can locate it in an organ you should consult with your doctor about the causes of such symptom and if that's the case take a proper treatment.

Tramadol works by acting on the central nervous system depressing the transmission of pain signals to the brain, which makes the organism feel that there's no more pain. To put it into a more detailed perspective, Tramadol works by modulating the GABAergic, noradrenergic and serotonergic systems, besides the mild agonism of the μ-opioid receptor. Besides, Tramadol is used off-label as an antidepressant due to its relaxing effects achieved by mild affection of serotonin circulation in the brain.

Tramadol is sold as a racemic mixture that has a quite low affinity for the μ-opioid receptor. The (+)-enantiomer is about four times stronger than the (-)-enantiomer in what concerns μ-opioid receptor affinity and 5-HT reuptake, while the (-)-enantiomer is causing noradrenaline reuptake effects. Together these processes seem to work in synergy providing a strong painkiller effect.

Tramadol can affect your concentration so you should not engage in any activities requiring alertness before you know exactly how Tramadol affects you. Try to avoid driving vehicles or operating any machinery if it's the first time you take Tramadol. Because of its serotonin affecting effects you should also avoid mixing Tramadol with alcohol or any recreational drugs as they might induce the effects of the drug, making you extremely drowsy or even lose conscience.  Use Tramadol for pain-relieving purposes only and make sure to consult with your doctor if experiencing any unusual symptoms.