Tramadol 50 Mg Capsules
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Package leaflet: Information for the user
Tramadol 50 mg capsules, hard
Tramadol hydrochloride
Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine because it contains important information for you.
- Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
- If you have any further questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
- This medicine has been prescribed for you only. Do not pass it on to others. It may harm them, even if their signs of illness are the same as yours.
- If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. See section 4.
What is in this leaflet
1. What Tramadol is and what it is used for
2. What you need to know before you take Tramadol
3. How to take Tramadol
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store Tramadol
6. Contents of the pack and other information
1. What Tramadol is and what it is used for
Tramadol hydrochloride - the active substance in Tramadol - is a painkiller belonging to the class of opioids that acts on the central nervous system. It relieves pain by acting on specific nerve cells of the spinal cord and brain.
Tramadol is used for the treatment of moderate to severe pain.
You must talk to a doctor if you do not feel better or if you feel worse after number of days.
2. What you need to know before you take Tramadol
Do not take Tramadol
- if you are allergic to active substance or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6).
- if you are under the influence of alcohol or sedative drugs including sleeping pills, other pain-killers or tranquiliser medicines
- if you are taking, or have taken in the last two weeks, certain medicines called “monoamine oxidase inhibitors” or MAOIs (used to treat e.g. depression, and the antibiotic linezolid). The combination could result in a serious, potentially life threatening interaction
- if you have epilepsy that is not controlled with your current medicine;
- as a substitute in drug withdrawal.
Warnings and precautions
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Tramadol
- if you suffer from epilepsy or seizures (fits) or have had them in the past because tramadol could increase the risk of you having further fits
- if you have liver or kidney problems.
As with all painkillers of this type (opioid analgesics), tramadol should be used with caution, and only under medical supervision in seriously ill patients including those with breathing difficulties, excessively low blood pressure (shock), decreased consciousness, serious head injury or brain diseases that may cause elevated pressure in the skull.
As with all medicines of this type, tramadol may lead to psychological and physical dependence or addiction in some people, especially with long term use. The dose needed to achieve the desired effect may increase with time. Tramadol should be used with caution, and only for short periods, in patients who are addicted to other opioid pain-killers.
Other medicines and Tramadol
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines.
Do not take Tramadol at the same time as medicines called “monoamine oxidase inhibitors” or MAOIs (which are used to treat e.g. depression), or if you have taken MAOIs in the past 2 weeks.
The pain-relieving effect of Tramadol may be weakened and/or shortened if you also take medicines containing:
- carbamazepine (used to treat epilepsy)
- pentazocine, nalbuphine or buprenorphine (pain killers)
- ondansetron (used to stop you feeling sick).
The risk of side effects increases if you take Tramadol at the same time as:
- if you are taking medicines which may cause convulsions (fits), such as certain antidepressants or antipsychotics. The risk having a fit may increase if you take Tramadol at the same time. Your doctor will tell you whether Tramadol is suitable for you.
- if you are taking certain antidepressants. Tramadol may interact with these medicines and you may experience symptoms such as involuntary, rhythmic contractions of muscles, including the muscles that control movement of the eye, agitation, excessive sweating, tremor, exaggeration of reflexes, increased muscle tension, body temperature above 38°C.
- sedative medicines such as tranquillizers, sleeping pills, antidepressants and other pain relievers (morphine, codeine); you may feel excessively drowsy or feel that you might faint
- medicines that prevent blood clotting, such as warfarin; the dose of these medicines may need to be reduced, otherwise there could be an increased risk of potentially serious bleeding.
Tramadol with food and drink and alcohol
You should not drink alcohol during treament with Tramadol, as its effect may be intensified.
Pregnancy, breast-feeding and fertility
Always take use this medicine exactly as your doctor or pharmacist has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
There is very little information regarding the safety of tramadol during pregnancy. Tramadol should therefore not be used during pregnancy. If you become pregnant you should inform your doctor as soon as possible.
Generally, the use of tramadol is not recommended during breastfeeding as small amounts of tramadol are excreted into breast milk. On a single dose it is usually not necessary to interrupt breastfeeding. Ask your doctor for advice.
Driving and using machines
Tramadol may cause side effects such as sleepiness and dizziness. If this happens, do not drive or operate machinery.
3. How to take Tramadol
Always take use this medicine exactly as your doctor or pharmacist has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
The capsules should be swallowed whole with a glass of water.
The capsules can be taken with or without food and should not be chewed.
The usual doses are given below. Your doctor may gradually increase or decrease your dose depending on how you respond to the treatment.
The dosage should be adjusted to the intensity of your pain and your individual pain sensitivity. In general the lowest pain-relieving dose should be taken.
Adults and adolescents aged 12 and over The usual dose is 50 mg or 100 mg (1 or 2 capsules) every 4-6 hours, according to severity of pain. You should normally not take more than 400 mg (8 capsules) a day.
Children below 12 years of age
Tramadol is not recommended for use in children below age 12. Elderly patients
In elderly patients (above 75 years) the excretion of tramadol may be delayed. If this applies to you, your doctor may recommend prolonging the dosage interval.
Severe liver or kidney disease (insufficiency)/ dialysis patients Patients with severe liver and/or kidney insufficiency should not take Tramadol. If in your case the insufficiency is mild or moderate, your doctor may recommend prolonging the dosage interval.
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If you take more Tramadol than you should
If you have taken more capsules than you have been told to take, contact your doctor immediately or go to your nearest hospital casualty department. A number of symptoms may occur, which might include: vomiting (being sick), a fall in blood pressure, a fast heartbeat, collapse, fainting or even coma, epileptic fits and difficulties in breathing.
If you forget to take Tramadol
If you forget to take Tramadol take it as soon as you remember and then carry on as before.
Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.
If you stop taking Tramadol
If you stop taking Tramadol, your pain may return.
If you would like to stop treatment because you have unpleasant side effects, please talk to your doctor. If you have been taking this medicine for a very long time, you may get the following side effects if you suddenly stop treatment: restlessness, anxiety, nervousness, shaking or an upset stomach. If you get any of these effects after stopping treatment with Tramadol please talk to your doctor.
If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
4. Possible side effects
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
Tramadol can occasionally cause allergic reactions although serious allergic reactions (including anaphylaxis and angioedema) are rare. Contact a doctor or emergency unit immediately if you experience any sudden wheeziness, difficulty in breathing, swelling of the eyelids, face or lips, rash or itching (especially affecting your whole body). The same applies in case of seizures ("fits”).
The frequency of side effects is classified as follows:
Common: affects 1 to 10 users in 100
Uncommon: affects 1 to 10 users in 1,000
Rare: affects 1 to 10 users in 10,000
Very rare: affects less than 1 user in 10,000
Not known: frequency cannot be estimated from the available data
The following side effects may occur: Very common: nausea; dizziness.
Common: headache, sleepiness; vomiting (being sick),
constipation, dry mouth; sweating.
Uncommon: Irregular, rapid beating or pulsation of the
heart, increased heartbeat, low blood pressure (especially when standing upright), this may lead to collapse. Diarrhoea, retching, gastrointestinal irritation (a feeling of pressure in the stomach, bloating); skin disorders (e.g. itchiness, rash, sudden onset of skin redness).
Rare: Slow heartbeat, rise in blood pressure;
sleepiness, change in appetite, tingling skin sensation (e.g. pins and needles); trembling, breathing difficulties, epileptic-like seizures (“fits”), uncoordinated movement, muscle twitches, fainting; blurred vision; difficulty in passing urine and urinary retention. Muscle weakness. Generalized allergic reactions (e.g. anaphylaxis and angioedema, see below). Hallucinations, confusion, anxiety, sleep disturbance and nightmares, changes in mood (high or low spirits), changes in activity (slowing down but sometimes an increase in activity) and being less aware and less able to make decisions, which may lead to errors in judgement.
During use of Tramadol, dependence, abuse and addiction may occur. When treatment is stopped, symptoms of withdrawal reactions may occur, such as agitation, anxiety, nervousness, sleeplessness, uncontrolled muscular action (hyperkinesia), tremor and gastrointestinal symptoms. Other symptoms that have very rarely been seen with tramadol discontinuation e.g., panic attacks, severe anxiety, hallucinations, tingling skin sensation, hearing sounds e.g. ringing or buzzing, without an external cause (tinnitus).
Reporting of side effects
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme, Website: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard. By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine
5. How to store Tramadol
Keep out of the sight and reach of children.
Store below 30°C.
Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the carton, bottle after EXP. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help protect the environment.
6. Contents of the pack and other information
What Tramadol contains
The active substance is tramadol hydrochloride. Each hard capsule
contains 50 mg tramadol hydrochloride.
The other ingredients are:
Capsule contents: Cellulose, microcrystalline, silica colloidal
anhydrous, sodium starch glycolate (Type A), magnesium stearate.
Capsule shell: Gelatin, sodium lauryl sulphate, indigo
carmine, iron oxide yellow (E172) and titanium dioxide (E171).
Printing ink: Shellac and black iron oxide (E172).
What Tramadol looks like and contents of the pack
Green /Yellow, size '4' hard gelatin capsules filled with white to off-
white powder and imprinted with 'T' on green cap and '02' on yellow
body with black ink.
PVC/PVDC/Aluminium foil blister: 10, 20, 30, 50, 60, 90, 100 and 500 Capsules
HDPE bottle pack with polypropyle closure: 30, 200 and 500 Capsules
Not all pack sizes may be marketed.
Marketing Authorisation Holder
Milpharm Limited Ares Block
Odyssey Business Park West End Road Ruislip HA4 6QD United Kingdom
Manufacturer
APL Swift Services (Malta) Limited HF26, Hal Far Industrial Estate, Hal Far,
Birzebbugia, BBG 3000 Malta
or
Milpharm Limited Ares Block
Odyssey Business Park West End Road Ruislip HA4 6QD United Kingdom
Frequency not known: Increased levels of liver enzymes. This leaflet was last revised in 04/2015.
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Worsening of asthma has been reported, however it has not been established whether it was caused by tramadol. Speech disorders, decrease in blood sugar level.
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