Monday, July 16, 2012

Tramadol - 10 Things You Should Know Painkiller Associated With Decreased Side Effects


1 - Tramadol is prescribed to treat moderate to moderately severe pain.

Tramadol belongs to the class of drugs known as opiate agonists. Primarily, tramadol works by changing the way the body senses pain. Some people mistakenly believe that tramadol is an NSAID (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug), but it is not.

2 - Tramadol is available in immediate release and extended release formulations.

Tramadol may be prescribed as an immediate release tablet (50 mg.) or as an extended release tablet (100, 200, or 300 mg.). The extended release tablets are usually reserved for patients with chronic pain who require continuous, long-term treatment. Your doctor will determine the appropriate dosage schedule for you.

3 - Tramadol extended release tablets must be taken whole, not split, chewed or crushed.

It is important to take tramadol properly and to follow prescribing instructions. If taken improperly or in a way that is not recommended, serious side effects and even death can result.
4 - Tramadol can be habit-forming for some people.
Do not take more tramadol than has been prescribed for you. Taking more tramadol or taking it more often can cause dependency on it. You should also not stop taking tramadol without first consulting your doctor. You may experience withdrawal symptoms if you stopped it suddenly. You doctor will likely decrease your dose of tramadol gradually.
5 - Drug interactions are possible with tramadol.
Be aware of the following possible drug interactions:
  • Carbamazepine reduces the effect of tramadol
  • Quinidine increases the concentration of tramadol by 50% to 60%
  • Combining tramadol with an MAO (monoamine oxidase inhibitor) inhibitor or SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) can lead to seizures or other serious side effects.
Be sure to tell your doctor about all medications you are taking.
6 - Tramadol, when combined with certain other substances, can increase central nervous system and respiratory depression.
In other words, breathing may be affected or even stop if tramadol is combined with alcohol, narcotic drugs, anesthetics, tranquilizers, or sedatives.
7 - The use of tramadol during pregnancy should be avoided.
Because the safety of tramadol use during pregnancy has not been established, the medication should not be used during pregnancy. The safe use of tramadol in nursing mothers has also not been established.
8 - Tramadol is usually well-tolerated. Any side effects are usually temporary.
Some of the common side effects associated with tramadol include:
  • nausea
  • constipation
  • dizziness
  • headache
  • drowsiness
  • vomiting
Less common side effects include: itching, sweating, diarrhea, rash, dry mouth, and vertigo. There have been patients who developed seizures after taking tramadol.
9 - A Cochrane Review of tramadol to treat osteoarthritis revealed some small benefit.
The Cochrane Review stated that when tramadol is taken for up to 3 months, there may be decreased pain, improvements in function and stiffness and overall well-being. However, tramadol can cause side effects that are significant enough to require that the patient must stop taking the medication. Risks outweigh benefits for many people who have tried tramadol.
10 - If an overdose of tramadol has occurred, call your local poison control center, or call 911 if it appears to be an emergency situation.
Symptoms of an overdose include decreased pupil size, difficulty breathing or staying awake, unconscious, coma, heart attack, or seizure. Call for help, even if you are unsure about what to do.

Tramal, Tramadol etc best pain killers


 Hydrocodone or dihydrocodeinone is a semi-synthetic opioid derived from either of two naturally occurring opiates: codeine and thebaine It is an orally active narcotic analgesic and antitussive. It is available in tablet, capsule, and syrup form.
Hydrocodone is often compounded with other generally less effective non-opioid compounds such as paracetamol (also known as acetaminophen) or ibuprofen, both often added to discourage recreational use (as paracetamol can cause potentially fatal liver toxicity at high doses), and to provide a possible synergy of analgesic effects between hydrocodone and the non-opioid compounds present. The particular niche in which hydrocodone is most commonly used is as an intermediate centrally acting analgesic. Abrupt discontinuation of hydrocodone (Vicodin, Vicodin ES, and Norco) may result in withdrawal symptoms.
Because of concerns about liver damage from protracted use of paracetamol at high doses, four pharmaceutical companies (Purdue Frederick, Cephalon, Zogenix, and Egalet) are developing extended-release capsules and other forms of hydrocodone by itself.


Hydrocodone was first synthesized in Germany in 1920 by Carl Mannich and Helene Löwenheim. It was approved by the Food and Drug Administration on 23 March 1943 for sale in the United States and approved by Health Canada for sale in Canada under the brand name Hycodan.
Hydrocodone and compounds containing it are marketed, in varying forms, under a number of trademarks, including Anexsia, Biocodone, Damason-P, Dicodid, Duodin, Hycet, Hycodan (or, generically, Hydromet), Hycomine, Hydrococet, Hydrokon, Hydrovo, Kolikodol, Lorcet, Lortab, Mercodinone, Norco, Norgan, Novahistex, Orthoxycol, Panacet, Symtan, Synkonin, Vicodin, Xodol and Zydone. Hycodan was the original trade name.
The trade name Dicodid was chosen because hydrocodone is the codeine analogue of hydromorphone (Dilaudid) and the naming scheme extended to related drugs like Dihydrin (dihydrocodeine) and Dinarkon (oxycodone). The trade name Vicodin refers to hydrocodone being six times stronger than codeine by mouth, as in the Roman numeral VI.[citation needed] Likewise, the tradename Hycodan points to its relationship with oxycodone (Percodan) hy- for hydogen, per- for oxygen (as in potassium permaganate) -- this can also be seen with other trade names for other drugs like Permonid (desomorphine) and Hydal (hydromorphone).







Fentanyl (also known as fentanil, brand names Sublimaze, Actiq, Durogesic, Duragesic, Fentora, Matrifen, Haldid, Onsolis, Instanyl, Abstral, Lazanda and others) is a potent, synthetic narcotic analgesic with a rapid onset and short duration of action.  It is a strong agonist at the μ-opioid receptors. Historically it has been used to treat breakthrough pain and is commonly used in pre-procedures as a pain reliever as well as an anesthetic in combination with a benzodiazepine.
Fentanyl is approximately 100 times more potent than morphine, with 100 micrograms of fentanyl approximately equivalent to 10 mg of morphine and 75 mg of pethidine (meperidine) in analgesic activity. It has an LD50 of 3.1 milligrams per kilogram in rats, and an LD50 of 0.03 milligrams per kilogram in monkeys.
Fentanyl was first synthesized by Paul Janssen in 1960 following the medical inception of pethidine several years earlier. Janssen developed fentanyl by assaying analogues of the structurally-related drug pethidine for opioid activity. The widespread use of fentanyl triggered the production of fentanyl citrate (the salt formed by combining fentanyl and citric acid in a 1:1 stoichiometry), which entered the clinical practice as a general anaesthetic under the trade name Sublimaze in the 1960s. Following this, many other fentanyl analogues were developed and introduced into the medical practice, including sufentanil, alfentanil, remifentanil, and lofentanil.
In the mid-1990s, fentanyl was first introduced for widespread palliative use with the clinical introduction of the Duragesic patch, followed in the next decade by the introduction of the first quick-acting prescription formations of fentanyl for personal use, the Actiq lollipop and Fentora buccal tablets. Through the delivery method of transdermal patches, as of 2012 fentanyl was the most widely used synthetic opioid in clinical practice, with several new delivery methods currently in development, including a sublingual spray for cancer patients.
In military applications, fentanyl and, possibly, derivatives can be used to very rapidly incapacitate and to kill.
Fentanyl and derivatives have been used as recreational drugs; as such they have caused fatalities.






Codeine or 3-methylmorphine (a natural isomer of methylated morphine, the other being the semi-synthetic 6-methylmorphine) is an opiate used for its analgesic, antitussive, and antidiarrheal properties. Codeine is the second-most predominant alkaloid in opium, at up to three percent; it is much more prevalent in the Iranian poppy (Papaver bractreatum), and codeine is extracted from this species in some places although the below-mentioned morphine methylation process is still much more common. It is considered the prototype of the weak to midrange opioids (tramadol, dextropropoxyphene, dihydrocodeine, hydrocodone).

Codeine is used to treat mild to moderate pain and to relieve cough. Codeine is also used to treat diarrhea and diarrhea predominant irritable bowel syndrome, although loperamide (which is available OTC for milder diarrhea), diphenoxylate, paregoric or even laudanum (also known as Tincture of Opium) are more frequently used to treat severe diarrhea.


Zydone

Zydone ® is the combination of two drugs, Hydrocodone Bitartrate and acetaminophen. Hydrocodone Bitartrate belongs to a class of drugs called opioid analgesics.
Zydone ® is indicated for the relief of moderate to moderately severe pain. Dosage may need to be adjusted while taking Zydone. Never attempt to adjust this on your own, always consult with your physician first. Hydrocodone may be habit forming, so take this medication exactly as directed. Never take Zydone ® more frequently or in higher doses until consulting with your healthcare professional.

Zydone Uses

Zydone is the brand name for tablets made up of hydrocodone and acetaminophen. There are three strengths of the drug, all which have 400 mg of acetaminophen. The hydrocodone strengths are 5 mg, 7.5 mg and 10 mg. Hydrocodone is an opiate analgesic and cough suppressant. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is a milder pain reliever and non-narcotic. Zydone is indicated for pain that is moderate to moderately severe.
The combination of the two main ingredients is marketed under various names, including Vicodin, Norco, Lortab and Lorcet. Hydrocodone attaches to the opioid receptors in the brain and spinal cord to block pain. Acetaminophen decreases the formation of prostaglandins and increases pain-relieving power. Hydrocodone can be habit-forming if not used as prescribed. It is derived from the opium plant and classified as a Schedule II controlled substance in the U.S., meaning it has the potential to be abused and cause dependence.

Zydone Warningsz

Zydone is intended to be taken whole. Crushing, chewing or snorting opiate drugs can lead to severe side effects or overdose. As with other opiates, warnings from manufacturers say Zydone should not be taken more often or in larger doses than what is prescribed. Anyone who has more than three alcoholic drinks per day or cirrhosis of the liver should talk to a doctor before taking any medication with acetaminophen. An overdose of acetaminophen can cause serious liver damage. The maximum recommended amount of acetaminophen for an adult is 1,000 mg per dose and 4,000 mg in a day. Doctors recommend knowing the amount of acetaminophen in each medication you take. Zydone can impair motor skills, affecting reaction time, and can cause changes in mood and thought processes. Warnings on the prescription say care should be taken when driving or performing other tasks that require alertness.

Possible Side Effects Of Zydone

Constipation, upset stomach, nausea, dizziness and dry mouth are considered among the most commonly reported side effects. Less common, but more serious, side effects include allergic reaction, clammy skin, seizures, extreme weakness, unconsciousness, jaundice, bleeding, bruising, decreased appetite, hot flashes, rash, itching, swelling, hearing loss, decreased sex drive and muscle twitches. Because of the hydrocodone, Zydone can also depress the central nervous system. Other side effects, which may attract some recreational users, include extreme relaxation, euphoria and drowsiness.

Tolerance, Dependency, Withdrawal And Detox

When taken as directed, Zydone can be a useful tool in pain relief. Prolonged use of opiates can lead to tolerance and dependence. Tolerance occurs when the drug builds up in the system, requiring people to take more to achieve the same pain-relieving effects. A tell-tale sign of dependence is a strong craving for the drug. Once addicted, withdrawal symptoms can set in. They include muscle and bone pain, insomnia, restlessness, diarrhea, vomiting, other flu-like symptoms and involuntary leg movements. Overdosing on Zydone or other opiates can be fatal. Kicking a Zydone addiction can be difficult. Many users delay treatment because of a fear of withdrawal. Numerous treatment options are available for opiate dependence. They include hospital-based detoxification, rehabilitation, faith or therapy-based programs and rapid drug detox.


Tramadol hydrochloride (trademarked as Conzip, Ryzolt, Ultracet, Ultram in the USA, Ralivia and Zytram XL in Canada) is a centrally-acting synthetic analgesic used to treat moderate to moderately-severe pain. The drug has a wide range of applications, including treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, restless legs syndrome and fibromyalgia. It was launched and marketed as Tramal by the German pharmaceutical company Grünenthal GmbH in 1977.[1][2]
Tramadol is a very weak μ-opioid receptor agonist, induces serotonin release, and inhibits the reuptake of norepinephrine.[3][4] Tramadol is converted to O-desmethyltramadol, a significantly more potent μ-opioid agonist. The opioid agonistic effect of tramadol and its major metabolite(s) is almost exclusively mediated by such μ-opioid receptors. This further distinguishes tramadol from opioids in general (including morphine), which do not possess tramadol's degree of receptor subtype selectivity and which are much stronger opiate-receptor agonists. Similarly, the habituating properties of tramadol (such as they are) are arguably mainly due to μ-opioid agonism with contributions from serotonergic and noradrenergic effects.