Archive for November 10th, 2008

Tramadol for a Longer Life

Monday, November 10th, 2008

Share/Save/Bookmark

Tramadol is for pain that lingers for a long period of time and is used to treat persistent pain within in adults. Tramadol is not the type of medication to be used on an as needed basis such as the pain medication like Bayer. Before taking tramadol, the following information are a few known conditions that you should inform your doctor about:

• kidney disease
• kyphoscoliosis
• liver disease
• lung disease
• asthma
• breathing problems
• seizures
• stomach problems
• brain tumor
• drug abuse
• head injury
• heart disease
• pregnant or trying to get pregnant
• breast-feeding

How should Tramadol be taken?

Unlike many, tramadol doesn’t have to be taken with food. Never chew on tramadol. All you have to do is simply take your dose orally with 1 glass of water. Never try to break your medication in half to extend, you should only take tramadol medicine if it’s whole because it can be dangerous if you try to crush or break your tablets. After taking tramadol, if your mouth gets dry, you may suck on candy to get rid of the dryness. If you are over the age of 65 you may be prescribed a smaller does because it may cause you a stronger reaction.

Tramadol is a powerful medication and should only be used for its sole purpose, to suppress pain. Never combine tramadol with the following listing of drugs because it may cause a reaction:

• Marplan
• Nardil
• Parnate
• Rasagiline
• MAOIs (Carbex)
• Eldepryl
• alcohol (medicines that contain alcohol)
• medicines for sleep
• naloxone
• quinidine
• rifampin
• St. John’s Wort
• warfarin
• carbamazepine
• digoxin
• erythromycin
• ketoconazole
• medicines for depression

As with all medications, there are side effects that you should be aware of after using tramadol. If you notice the following side effects of tramadol simply consult your doctor immediately:

• dizziness
• fainting
• hallucinations
• anxiety
• seizures
• slow or fast heartbeat
• unusually weak or tired
• breathing difficulties, wheezing
• changes in vision
• confusion
• frequent urination (more than usual)
• skin issues such as: peeling, redness, blistering (including inside your mouth)
• hives, itching, skin rash
• itching or hives
• facial swelling and swelling of your lips or tongue

Most medications have known side effects that normally do not need to be reported to your doctor. The following are known side effects of tramadol that don’t need medical attention. If any of the symptoms persist and are nagging, then you should report them to your doctor.

• headache
• insomnia
• nausea
• sweating
• constipation
• diarrhea
• vomiting
• drowsiness

When medication, such as tramadol causes constipation simply try a bowel movement every 2-3 days. If you are too constipated to have a bowel movement for longer than 3 days, contact your doctor for further instructions.

Another symptom that you may encounter is blurred vision or dry eyes, especially if you wear contact lenses. Try using eye drops to eliminate the discomfort. If your blurred vision and dry eye symptom persists or gets worse, contact your eye doctor.

Never handle machinery or drive a vehicle when you are using tramadol until you know exactly how it will affect you. Never suddenly stand up too fast especially if you are an older person. This will help reduce dizziness or fainting. You should avoid alcoholic drinks all together because it will interfere with your medication.

As with all medication that you take whether over the counter or prescription medication, there are things that you should watch out for. When you are using tramadol, make sure that you report to your doctor if your pain doesn’t go away or if your pain increases. You should also contact your doctor if you develop a new type of pain. If this happens, this means that you have possibly developed a tolerance to tramadol. This means that your doctor may have to prescribe a higher dosage amount in order for your pain to be relieved. Don’t be alarmed, tolerance to tramadol as well as other medications is quite normal, especially if you have been taking a particular medication such as tramadol for a long period of time.

Medical experts recommend that users of tramadol should never suddenly stop taking it. When you stop taking medication without your doctor’s advice, this might cause reaction. When your doctor prescribes mediation to you, your body becomes used to it. Many people confuse this with addiction, they are wrong, this is not addiction. When a person becomes addicted to a particular drug that means they are using it for non-medical reasons. When a person is in excruciating pain, they are taking a medication for a reason. Communicate with your doctor and he/she will tell you what to take and will decide if your dosage should be increased or lowered.

Naturally, there is reason in questioning the adverse effects of tramadol. Although it may seem like an exaggeration, Americans actually consume about $200 billion annually in prescription medicine. This figure is expected to be on the rise at a rate of 10% per year until the start of the next decade. In regards to tramadol alone, the public spends just as much on retail items online, and take from approximately 25% to 50% more prescription medicine per capital than residents of Europe and Canada. The pharmaceutical medicine industry debates Americans are better off in all this–that Americans benefit from tramadol by a longer life, suffering less disease symptoms and less time spent in a hospital. Americans are lucky to possess many drugs to save lives: cyclosporine, to increase the possibility of organ transplants; anti-rivals to transform HIV from fatality into a severe infection; and of course, insulin that keeps diabetics healthy and alive. However, the drugs that are accountable for the spiraling increase in prescription drugs aren’t for live-saving exactly. Rather, the pharmaceutical/ medicine industry refers to drugs like Tramadol as mere painkillers, or “lifestyle” drugs. Tramadol reduces the pain of the body in many patients.

Share/Save/Bookmark

Storing Tramadol and Safety Tips

Monday, November 10th, 2008

Share/Save/Bookmark

Tramadol is the one of the most effective pain relieving medications available. Tramadol is used for management of moderate to severe pain within the body. It may be used for the treatment of pain caused by chronic and surgery conditions such as cancer or joint pain, back pain etc. Tramadol is the generic of the drug Ultram. In order to get the full effect of Tramadol, you should follow a few important storage instructions to keep it safe.

Tramadol medication should be stored at room temperature between 59 and 86 degrees F i.e. 15 to 30 degrees C. It should be kept away from heat and light excursions permitted to 15 - 30°C (59 - 86°F). Do not store in a place with humidity. Tramadol acts by decreasing the brain’s perception and response to pain. It also reduces the size of the pain signal passed from one nerve to other. This medication is most of the times prescribed for other uses so ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information about it.

Keep Tramadol in a dry location. Keep it handy in the purse, briefcase or even a first aid box. Tramadol must be kept out of the reach of children. Always follow the directions given by the doctor or the pharmacist about storage options.

Keeping Your Tramadol Medication Safe

You would think that storing medication such as Tramadol in your bathroom cabinet is safe but it isn’t. Storing Tramadol in your medicine cabinet isn’t the safest place because of the moisture build up that develops from a hot bath or shower break down tablets and could actually make ineffective. The best locations to store Tramadol would be inside your dresser drawer in your bedroom or in a kitchen cabinet, away from the oven or store of course. Make sure that you keep your medication away from windows and radiators.

Make sure that you keep your Tramadol container tightly closed. It is also wise to check the label for additional suggestions for storage precautions. Always keep your Tramadol medication in the original containers. The purpose of the original container is to protect the Tramadol from the harmful effects of excessive light that produces heat and moisture. Another reason why its very important to keep your medication in its original container is so that you can view important information like your dosage information and expiration date.

Never mix Tramadol with other medication within the same medicine container. This can cause dangerous interactions. When you store Tramadol with other medication, you can accidentally take the wrong one. Never take Tramadol past its expiration date. Never throw out in the garbage. Some people simply flush their unused medication down the toilet. It is recommended to talk with your doctor about the correct disposal of Tramadol. Another important tip is to never share your Tramadol medication with other people.

When you are traveling, make sure that you keep your Tramadol with you instead of keeping it in your suit case. When traveling, your suitcase can be thrown or tossed around. It is also recommended to not store medication in your suit case because it can be stored at very high temperatures whether its in the luggage compartment of a bus, train, plane, or the trunk of a car.

Child safety tips when using Tramadol and other medication

Unnecessary accidents happen daily and the majority of accidents that happen are right inside the home. Many of these accidents can be prevented. Child safety medical tips should not only be used for Tramadol but for all medications. If your child happens to swallow or inhale Tramadol, immediately contact your local poison control. Make sure that you have important information about your child handy such as your child’s weight and your child’s age. Another important thing to remember is if your child has existing health conditions or problems such as asthma, diabetes, seizures and etc. It is also important to tell poison control if your child has vomited and the type of medication that your child consumed.

All emergency information should include the poison control information. You should keep the poison control number stored in your cell phone and at home close to your land line phone. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) advises caregivers as well as parents to adhere to the child safety tips and instructions. The following are tips on how to prevent your child from consuming medication:

• Make sure that you keep all medicines such as Tramadol secured by locking it up so that it is out of your child’s site and out of their reach.

• Parents and caregivers should always make sure that their Tramadol as well as other medications are properly closed after each use.

• If your child consumes Tramadol or other medications, make sure that you immediately call 1-800-222-1222 to prevent poisoning.

• When you are taking Tramadol, make sure that you keep your child in sight If you are interrupted by a doorbell or a ringing telephone in the middle of taking your medicine; you’re your child along with you.

• Make sure that you always keep your mediation in its original container.

• Never remove the labels of your medicine containers and all products

• It is important that you always take your medication in a well lit area when you are administering or taking medication. Always check the dosage of your medication before taking or administering.

• Try your best to not take medicine directly in front of your children.

• Make sure that you always clean out your medicine cabinet regularly. It is also important to dispose of unused or unwanted medication safely.

Following instructions these instructions when using Tramadol as well as other medications can help prevent unnecessary accidents. People endanger themselves and even their children daily by not being extra careful when taking medication. Proper use of all medication is imperative. You can find out further information about child safety tips on the Internet as well as your doctors office.

Share/Save/Bookmark