12 Facts About Tramadol

Tramadol, sold under the brand name Ultram among others, is an opioid pain medication used to treat moderate to moderately severe pain.

Tramadol is converted in the liver to O-desmethyltramadol, an opioid with a stronger affinity to the µ-opioid receptor.

Tramadol was patented in 1963 and launched under the name "Tramal" in 1977 by the West German pharmaceutical company Grunenthal GmbH.

Tramadol is used primarily to treat mild to severe pain, both acute and chronic.

Tramadol has the same dose-dependent adverse effects as morphine including respiratory depression.

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Tramadol can interact with other medications with similar mechanisms of action.

Tramadol induces analgesic effects through a variety of different targets on the noradrenergic system, serotoninergic system and opioid receptors system.

Tramadol exists as a racemic mixture, the positive enantiomer inhibits serotonin reuptake while the negative enantiomer inhibits noradrenaline re-uptake, by binding to and blocking the transporters.

Tramadol has been shown to act as a serotonin releasing agent.

Tramadol undergoes hepatic metabolism via the cytochrome P450 isozyme CYP2B6, CYP2D6, and CYP3A4, being O- and N-demethylated to five different metabolites.

Tramadol is marketed as a racemic mixture of both R- and S-stereoisomers, because the two isomers complement each other's analgesic activities.

Tramadol is classified in Schedule 4 in Australia, rather than as a Schedule 8 Controlled Drug (Possession without authority illegal) like most other opioids.