DRUG

DOSE & ROUTE

The recommended dose of tramadol is 50-100 mg (immediate release tablets) every 4-6 hours as needed for pain. The maximum dose is 400 mg/day. To improve tolerance patients should be started at 25 mg/day, and doses may be increased by 25 mg every 3 days to reach 100 mg/day (25 mg 4 times daily). Thereafter, doses can be increased by 50 mg every 3 days to reach 200 mg day (50 mg 4 times daily). Tramadol may be taken with or without food.

INDICATIONS

SIDE EFFECTS

CONTRAINDICATIONS

NURSING CONSIDERATIONS Assess patients pain before therapy and regularly thereafter to monitor drug effectiveness Assess for hypersensitiv ity reactions Advice patient to avoid alcohol and OTC meds without medical advice Instruct patient to monitor for and report occurrence of drug induced adverse reactions

Tramadol Class: Analgesics Brand name: TDL, Siverol, Dolotral, Tramal, Zydol, Peptrad, Ultram

For moderate Tramadol is generally well tolerated, and side to severe pain. effects are usually transient. Commonly reported side effects include nausea, constipation, dizziness,headache, drowsiness, and vomiting. Less commonly reported side effects include itching, sweating, dry mouth, diarrhea, rash, visual disturbances, and vertigo. Some patients who received tramadol have reported seizures. Abrupt withdrawal of tramadol may result in anxiety, sweating, insomnia, rigors, pain, nausea, diarrhea, tremors, and hallucinations.

Hypersensitivity, Acute intoxication with alcohol, hypnotics, centrally acting analgesics, opioids or psychotropic agents