- that what I am providing is NOT meant in any way to replace the conversation between you, your doctor, or your pharmacist
- please do not self-diagnose or make medical decisions about this drug without talking with qualified professionals
- the information provided here is the reference sheet you would find at WebMD. During my journey I found this site to be helpful in providing support. All credit for this information belongs to them. I copied it right from their website and I have removed the hyper-links. Please visit their site if you would like to read further.
For this installment, I have chosen Tramadol-Acetaminophen
COMMON BRAND NAME(S): Ultracet
GENERIC NAME(S): TRAMADOL HCL/ACETAMINOPHEN
Uses: This product is used to treat moderate to moderately severe pain. It contains 2 medications: tramadol and acetaminophen. Tramadol is similar to narcotic analgesics. It works in the brain to change how your body feels and responds to pain. Acetaminophen is used to relieve pain, and it can also reduce a fever.
**Please read this information carefully**
If you have any questions about what is provided here....talk with your doctor or pharmacist please.
COMMON BRAND NAME(S): Ultracet
GENERIC NAME(S): TRAMADOL HCL/ACETAMINOPHEN
WARNINGS:
One ingredient in this product is acetaminophen. Taking too much acetaminophen may cause serious (possibly fatal) liver disease. Adults should not take more than 4000 milligrams (4 grams) of acetaminophen a day. People with liver problems and children should take less acetaminophen. Ask your doctor or pharmacist how much acetaminophen is safe to take.
Do not use with any other drug containing acetaminophen without asking your doctor or pharmacist first. Acetaminophen is in many nonprescription and prescription medications (such as pain/fever drugs or cough-and-cold products). Check the labels on all your medicines to see if they contain acetaminophen, and ask your pharmacist if you are unsure.
Get medical help right away if you take too much acetaminophen (overdose), even if you feel well. Overdose symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, sweating, stomach/abdominal pain, extreme tiredness, yellowing eyes/skin, and dark urine.
Daily alcohol use, especially when combined with acetaminophen, may damage your liver. Avoid alcohol.
Uses
This product is used to treat moderate to moderately severe pain. It contains 2 medications: tramadol and acetaminophen. Tramadol is similar to narcotic analgesics. It works in the brain to change how your body feels and responds to pain. Acetaminophen is used to relieve pain, and it can also reduce a fever.
How to use tramadol-acetaminophen
See also Warning section.
Take this medication by mouth as directed by your doctor, usually every 4 to 6 hours as needed for pain relief. You may take this drug with or without food. If you have nausea, it may help to take this drug with food. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about other ways to decrease nausea (such as lying down for 1 to 2 hours with as little head movement as possible).
The dosage is based on your medical condition and response to treatment. To reduce your risk of side effects, your doctor may direct you to start this medication at a low dose and gradually increase your dose. Follow your doctor's instructions carefully. The maximum recommended dose is 8 tablets per day. Do not increase your dose, take the medication more frequently, or take it for a longer time than prescribed. Properly stop the medication when so directed.
Pain medications work best if they are used as the first signs of pain occur. If you wait until the pain has worsened, the medication may not work as well.
If you have ongoing pain (such as due to arthritis), your doctor may direct you to also take long-acting narcotic medications. Other non-narcotic pain relievers (such as naproxen, ibuprofen) may also be prescribed with this medication. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions about using this medication safely with other drugs.
This medication may cause withdrawal reactions, especially if it has been used regularly for a long time or in high doses. In such cases, withdrawal symptoms (such as restlessness, watering eyes, runny nose, nausea, sweating, muscle aches) may occur if you suddenly stop using this medication. To prevent withdrawal reactions, your doctor may reduce your dose gradually. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more details, and report any withdrawal reactions right away.
When this medication is used for a long time, it may not work as well. Talk with your doctor if this medication stops working well.
Along with its benefits, this medication may rarely cause abnormal drug-seeking behavior (addiction). This risk may be increased if you have abused alcohol or drugs in the past. Take this medication exactly as prescribed to lessen the risk of addiction.
Tell your doctor if your pain persists or worsens.
Side Effects
See also Warning section.
Nausea, vomiting, constipation, lightheadedness, dizziness, drowsiness, or sweating may occur. Some of these side effects may decrease after you have been using this medication for a while. If any of these effects persist or worsen, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly.
To prevent constipation, eat a diet adequate in fiber, drink plenty of water, and exercise. Ask your pharmacist for help in selecting a laxative (such as a stimulant type with stool softener).
To reduce the risk of dizziness and lightheadedness, get up slowly when rising from a sitting or lying position.
Remember that your doctor has prescribed this medication because he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects.
Tell your doctor right away if any of these unlikely but serious side effects occur: mental/mood changes (such as agitation, confusion, hallucinations), severe stomach/abdominal pain, difficulty urinating.
Get medical help right away if any of these rare but serious side effects occur: fainting, seizure, slow/shallow breathing, unusual drowsiness/difficulty waking up.
This medication may increase serotonin and rarely cause a very serious condition called serotonin syndrome/toxicity. The risk increases if you are also taking other drugs that increase serotonin, so tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the drugs you take (see Drug Interactions section). Get medical help right away if you develop some of the following symptoms: fast heartbeat, hallucinations, loss of coordination, severe dizziness, severe nausea/vomiting/diarrhea, twitching muscles, unexplained fever, unusual agitation/restlessness.
A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare. However, get medical help right away if you notice any of the following symptoms: rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, trouble breathing.
This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.
In the US - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or at www.fda.gov/medwatch.
In Canada - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at 1-866-234-2345.
TRAMADOL-ACETAMINOPHEN Side Effects
The following side effects are associated with tramadol-acetaminophen by likelihood and severity.:
Common side effects of tramadol-acetaminophen:
- Dizzy Less Severe
- Dry Mouth Less Severe
- Feel Like Throwing Up Less Severe
- Head Pain Less Severe
- Incomplete or Infrequent Bowel Movements Less Severe
- Sensation of Spinning or Whirling Less Severe
- Throwing Up Less Severe
Infrequent side effects of tramadol-acetaminophen:
- Abnormal Liver Function Tests Severe
- Significant Decrease in Lung Function Severe
- Anxious Less Severe
- Blood Pressure Drop Upon Standing Less Severe
- Blurred Vision Less Severe
- Cannot Empty Bladder Less Severe
- Chronic Trouble Sleeping Less Severe
- Confused Less Severe
- Diarrhea Less Severe
- Drowsiness Less Severe
- Excessive Sweating Less Severe
- Feeling Weak Less Severe
- Gas Less Severe
- High Blood Pressure Less Severe
- Indigestion Less Severe
- Itching Less Severe
- Joint Pain Less Severe
- Loss of Appetite Less Severe
- Nervous Less Severe
- Stomach Cramps Less Severe
- Temporary Redness of Face and Neck Less Severe
- Widening of Blood Vessels Less Severe
Rare side effects of tramadol-acetaminophen:
- Abnormal Heart Electrical Signals Severe
- Acute Liver Failure Severe
- Acute Pustular Eruptions on Skin Severe
- Anemia Severe
- Bronchospasm Severe
- Decreased Blood Platelets Severe
- Decreased Neutrophils a Type of White Blood Cell Severe
- Decreased White Blood Cells Severe
- Deficiency of Granulocytes a Type of White Blood Cell Severe
- Discolored Spots and Small Elevations of the Skin Severe
- Fast Heartbeat Severe
- Frequent Urination Severe
- Giant Hives Severe
- Hepatitis caused by Drugs Severe
- Inflammation of Skin caused by an Allergy Severe
- Life Threatening Allergic Reaction Severe
- Reaction due to an Allergy Severe
- Seizures Severe
- Serotonin Syndrome - Adverse Drug Interaction Severe
- Stevens-Johnson Syndrome Severe
- Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis Severe
- Trouble Breathing Severe
- Vocal Cord Swelling Severe
- Abnormal Increase in Muscle Tone Less Severe
- Abnormally Low Blood Pressure Less Severe
- Chills Less Severe
- Decreased Pupil Size Less Severe
- Depression Less Severe
- Difficult or Painful Urination Less Severe
- Feeling Restless Less Severe
- Fever Less Severe
- Fluid Retention in the Legs, Feet, Arms or Hands Less Severe
- Flu-Like Symptoms Less Severe
- Heart Throbbing or Pounding Less Severe
- Hemorrhage of Blood Under the Skin Less Severe
- High Blood Sugar Less Severe
- Hives Less Severe
- Hyperactive Behavior Less Severe
- Indifferent Behavior Less Severe
- Inflammation of the Lining of the Stomach and Intestines Less Severe
- Involuntary Quivering Less Severe
- Leg Cramps Less Severe
- Loss of One's Own Sense of Reality or Identity Less Severe
- Mood Changes Less Severe
- Muscle Pain Less Severe
- Numbness and Tingling Less Severe
- Rash Less Severe
- Redness of Skin Less Severe
- Ringing in the Ears Less Severe
- Sinus Irritation and Congestion Less Severe
- Stiff Neck Less Severe
- Taking Habit Forming Drugs Less Severe
- Throat Irritation Less Severe
- Twitching Less Severe
- Urinary Tract Infection Less Severe
- Weight Loss Less Severe
Precautions
See also Warning section.
Before taking this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to tramadol or acetaminophen; or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details.
Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: brain disorders (such as head injury, tumor, seizures), breathing problems (such as asthma, sleep apnea, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease-COPD), kidney disease, liver disease, mental/mood disorders (such as confusion, depression, suicidal thoughts), personal or family history of regular use/abuse of drugs/alcohol, stomach/intestinal problems (such as blockage, constipation, diarrhea due to infection, paralytic ileus), difficulty urinating (such as due to enlarged prostate), gallbladder disease, disease of the pancreas (pancreatitis).
This drug may make you dizzy or drowsy. Do not drive, use machinery, or do any activity that requires alertness until you are sure you can perform such activities safely. Avoid alcoholic beverages.
Before having surgery, tell your doctor or dentist about all the products you use (including prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and herbal products).
Older adults may be more sensitive to the side effects of this drug, especially confusion, dizziness, drowsiness, and slow/shallow breathing.
Before using this medication, women of childbearing age should talk with their doctor(s) about the risks and benefits. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or if you plan to become pregnant. During pregnancy, this medication should be used only when clearly needed. It may slightly increase the risk of birth defects if used during the first two months of pregnancy. Also, using it for a long time or in high doses near the expected delivery date may harm the unborn baby. To lessen the risk, take the smallest effective dose for the shortest possible time. Tell the doctor right away if you notice any symptoms in your newborn baby such as slow/shallow breathing, irritability, abnormal/persistent crying, vomiting, or diarrhea.
This product passes into breast milk and may rarely have undesirable effects on a nursing infant. Tell the doctor right away if your baby develops unusual sleepiness, difficulty feeding, or trouble breathing. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.
Interactions
See also Warning section.
The effects of some drugs can change if you take other drugs or herbal products at the same time. This can increase your risk for serious side effects or may cause your medications not to work correctly. These drug interactions are possible, but do not always occur. Your doctor or pharmacist can often prevent or manage interactions by changing how you use your medications or by close monitoring.
Some products that may interact with this drug include: certain pain medications (mixed narcotic agonist-antagonists such as pentazocine, nalbuphine, butorphanol), narcotic antagonists (such as naltrexone).
Taking MAO inhibitors with this medication may cause a serious (possibly fatal) drug interaction. Avoid taking MAO inhibitors (isocarboxazid, linezolid, methylene blue, moclobemide, phenelzine, procarbazine, rasagiline, selegiline, tranylcypromine) during treatment with this medication. Most MAO inhibitors should also not be taken for two weeks before treatment with this medication. Ask your doctor when to start or stop taking this medication.
The risk of serotonin syndrome/toxicity increases if you are also taking other drugs that increase serotonin. Examples include street drugs such as MDMA/"ecstasy," St. John's wort, certain antidepressants (including SSRIs such as fluoxetine/paroxetine, SNRIs such as duloxetine/venlafaxine), among others. The risk of serotonin syndrome/toxicity may be more likely when you start or increase the dose of these drugs.
Other medications can affect the removal of tramadol from your body, which may affect how tramadol works. Examples include quinidine, azole antifungals (such as itraconazole), HIV drugs (such as ritonavir), macrolide antibiotics (such as erythromycin), rifamycins (such as rifampin), drugs used to treat seizures (such as carbamazepine), among others.
The risk of serious side effects (such as slow/shallow breathing, severe drowsiness) may be increased if this medication is taken with other products that may also affect breathing or cause drowsiness. Therefore, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking other products such as alcohol, allergy or cough-and-cold products, medicine for sleep or anxiety (such as alprazolam, diazepam, zolpidem), muscle relaxants, other narcotic pain relievers (such as morphine), and psychiatric medicines (such as risperidone, amitriptyline, trazodone). Your medications or doses of your medications may need to be changed.
This medication may interfere with certain laboratory tests (including amylase/lipase levels), possibly causing false test results. Make sure laboratory personnel and all your doctors know you use this drug.
Overdose
If overdose is suspected, contact a poison control center or emergency room right away. US residents can call their local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. Canada residents can call a provincial poison control center. Symptoms of overdose may include: slow/shallow breathing, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, sweating, slow/irregular heartbeat, stomach/abdominal pain, extreme tiredness, yellowing eyes/skin, dark urine, loss of consciousness, seizure.
Notes
Do not share this medication with others. It is against the law.
This medication has been prescribed for your current condition only. Do not use it later for another condition unless told to do so by your doctor. A different medication may be necessary in that case.
Missed Dose
Not applicable.
Storage
Store at room temperature between 59-86 degrees F (15-30 degrees C) away from moisture. Keep all medications away from children and pets.
Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company for more details about how to safely discard your product.
Information last revised October 2015. Copyright(c) 2015 First Databank, Inc.