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In this Article

• What is tramadol (Ultram ER)?
• What are the possible side effects of tramadol (Ultram ER)?
• What is the most important information I should know about tramadol (Ultram ER)?
• What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking tramadol (Ultram ER)?
• How should I take tramadol (Ultram ER)?
• What happens if I miss a dose (Ultram ER)?
• What happens if I overdose (Ultram ER)?
• What should I avoid while taking tramadol (Ultram ER)?
• What other drugs will affect tramadol (Ultram ER)?
• Where can I get more information?

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking tramadol (Ultram ER)?

You should not take tramadol if you have ever been addicted to drugs or alcohol, if you are currently intoxicated (drunk), or if you have recently used any of the following drugs:

• alcohol;
• narcotic pain medicine;
• sedatives or tranquilizers (such as Valium);
• medicine for depression or anxiety;
• medicine for mental illness (such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia); or
• street drugs.

Seizures have occurred in some people taking tramadol. Your risk of a seizure may be higher if you have any of these conditions:

• a history of drug or alcohol addiction;
• a history of epilepsy or other seizure disorder;
• a history of head injury;
• a metabolic disorder; or
• if you are also taking an antidepressant, muscle relaxer, or medicine for nausea and vomiting.

Talk with your doctor about your individual risk of having a seizure while taking tramadol.

If you have any of these other conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take tramadol:

• kidney disease;
• liver disease;
• a stomach disorder; or
• a history of depression, mental illness, or suicide attempt.

FDA pregnancy category C. This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tramadol may also cause serious or fatal side effects in a newborn if the mother uses the medication during pregnancy or labor. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.

Tramadol can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Tramadol should not be given to a child younger than 18 years of age.

How should I take tramadol (Ultram ER)?

Take tramadol exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take it in larger doses or for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label. Do not take more than 300 milligrams of tramadol in one day.

Take this medication with a full glass of water.

Tramadol can be taken with or without food, but take it the same way each time.

Do not crush the tramadol tablet. This medicine is for oral (by mouth) use only. Powder from a crushed tablet should not be inhaled or diluted with liquid and injected into the body. Using this medicine by inhalation or injection can cause life-threatening side effects, overdose, or death.

Do not crush, chew, break, or open a controlled-release, delayed-release, or extended-release tablet or capsule. Swallow the pill whole. Breaking or opening the pill may cause too much of the drug to be released at one time.

If you use the tramadol extended-release tablet, the tablet shell may pass into your stools (bowel movements). This is normal and does not mean that you are not receiving enough of the medicine.

Tramadol may be habit-forming. Tell your doctor if you feel the medicine is not working as well in relieving your pain. Do not change your dose without talking to your doctor.

Do not stop using tramadol suddenly, or you could have unpleasant withdrawal symptoms such as anxiety, sweating, nausea, diarrhea, tremors, chills, hallucinations, trouble sleeping, or breathing problems. Talk to your doctor about how to avoid withdrawal symptoms when stopping the medication.

Store tramadol at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

Keep track of how many pills have been used from each new bottle of this medicine. Tramadol is a drug of abuse and you should be aware if any person in the household is using this medicine improperly or without a prescription.