What is Tramadol used for? The FDA approves the drug for the treatment of moderate to moderately severe chronic pain in adults such as back pain, fibromyalgia, and so on, which is the most well-known of the Tramadol uses. The drug itself has no activity on opioid receptors but instead works through the actions of one of its major metabolites O-desmethyl Tramadol. This activity at opioid receptors is the primary mechanism behind the analgesic properties of the medication. The parent drug also inhibits the reuptake of norepinephrine and serotonin, contributing to its analgesic properties. Tramadol another use includes using it for relieving pain from back pain, sciatica, and for postoperative pain following spine surgery. For most adults, the maximum safe dose is 400 mg per day of immediate-release tablets. It has been proved that tramadol hydrochloride can allow a significant reduction in the dose of NSAID without compromising the relief of pain.
How does Tramadol work? Everyone naturally has endogenous opioids inside their body, which can bind to special receptors, called opioid receptors, to activate several effects in the body. When an endogenous opioid attaches to the right receptor, it can lead to several effects in the body including:
* Analgesia to relieve pain * Slowing down of breathing * Tiredness * Difficulty defecating
Tramadol manipulates this natural process by activating the same receptors that the endogenous opioids do, in particular the mu opioid receptors. It mimics the effect of natural opioids in your body to provide pain relief.