SIDE EFFECTS OF TRAMADOL FOR DOGS

• Like any medication, side effects can occur when administering dogs tramadol. 

• The side effects that are usually seen include 

          constipation, 
          upset stomach or indigestion, 
          a lowered heart rate. 

• If the animal has taken too much tramadol, he or she will exhibit small pupils, confusion, and seizures, and would require immediate veterinary attention. 

• Use caution when administering tramadol to dogs with liver or kidney problems, since tramadol is metabolized and excreted by these organs. 

• Tramadol should not be given to dogs that are taking SSRIs, tricyclics, or MAOIs due to the risk of seizure. 
• Dogs taking deprenyl for Cushing’s syndrome should also avoid tramadol, as well as other narcotic drugs.

INTRODUCTION TO TRAMADOL FOR DOGS

• Tramadol is a painkiller medication that is used to treat moderate to severe pain. It affects not only the mu-opioid receptors, but also serotonin and norepinephrine receptors.

• Its low affinity for the opioid receptor makes tramadol have a more benign side effect profile than some other commonly used painkillers, and is generally well-tolerated in patients.

• Since tramadol has a unique binding profile, it is used to treat some types of pain, such as neuropathic pain, which may not always respond to other pain medications.

USES OF TRAMADOL IN VETERINARY MEDICINE

1. Tramadol is widely used in veterinary medicine, especially for treating pain in dogs.
2. It is often used to treat pain resulting from conditions like cancer, arthritis, and post-surgical inflammation in dogs. It has mild anti-anxiety properties, making it useful for reducing the skittishness that pain can often produce in animals.
3. Tramadol for dogs is often safer than using other pain medications, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like Tylenol, since it does not cause damage to the stomach or liver of canines.
4. Tramadol for dogs comes in both liquid, pill, powder, and ampule form. Often the medication must be mixed into food to be given to dogs, since it has an unpleasant taste.

INDIVIDUALIZATON OF TRAMADOL DOSAGE

Good pain management practice dictates that the dose be individualized according to patient need using the lowest beneficial dose. Studies with tramadol in adults have shown that starting at the lowest possible dose and titrating upward will result in fewer discontinuations and increased tolerability.

• In all patients with creatinine clearance less than 30 mL/min, it is recommended that the dosing interval of       tramadol be increased to 12 hours, with a maximum daily dose of 200 mg. Since only 7% of an administered dose is removed by hemodialysis, dialysis patients can receive their regular dose on the day of dialysis 

• The recommended dose for adult patients with cirrhosis is 50 mg every 12 hours.

• In general, dose selection for an elderly patient over 65 years old should be cautious, usually starting at the low end of the dosing range, reflecting the greater frequency of decreased hepatic, renal or cardiac function and of concomitant disease or other drug therapy. For elderly patients over 75 years old, total dose should not exceed 300 mg/day.

TRAMADOL - ADVICE TO PATIENTS

• Potential for seizures and/or serotonin syndrome with concomitant use of serotonergic drugs or drugs that substantially decrease the metabolism of tramadol.
  
• Potential for drug to impair mental alertness or physical coordination; avoid driving or operating machinery until effects on individual are known.
  
• Importance of women informing their clinician if they are or plan to become pregnant or plan to breastfeed.
  
• Importance of the single-dose and 24-hour dose limit and the time interval between doses, since exceeding these recommendations can result in respiratory depression, seizures, and death.
  
• Importance of swallowing extended-release tablets whole; do not crush, chew, or split the tablets.
  
• Importance of informing clinician of existing or contemplated concomitant therapy, including prescription and OTC drugs and alcohol consumption.
  
• Importance of avoiding alcohol-containing beverages or products.
  
• Importance of informing patients of other important precautionary information.
  

TRAMADOL DESCRIPTION

• Ultram (tramadol hydrochloride) is a centrally acting analgesic. 
• The chemical name for tramadol hydrochloride is (±)cis-2-[(dimethylamino)methyl]-1-(3-methoxyphenyl cyclohexanol hydrochloride. 
• The molecular weight of tramadol hydrochloride is 299.8.  
• Tramadol hydrochloride is a white, bitter, crystalline and odorless powder.  
• It is readily soluble in water and ethanol and has a pKa of 9.41.  
• The water/n-octanol partition coefficient is 1.35 at pH 7.  
• Ultram tablets contain 50 mg of tramadol hydrochloride and are white in color.
• Inactive ingredients in the tablet are corn starch, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, lactose, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, polyethylene glycol, polysorbate 80, sodium starch glycolate, titanium dioxide and wax.
  

TRAMADOL - DISADVANTAGES IN BRIEF

1. risk of seizures 
2. risk of abuse, dependence and tolerance
3. relatively high incidence of nausea and vomiting
4. withdrawal symptoms following abrupt discontinuation 
5. short half-life necessitates dosing of immediate-release formulation every 4 to 6 hours

FACTS OF TRAMADOL

1. Tramadol is in a group of drugs called opiate agonists. It is used to treat moderate to severe pain by changing the way the body senses pain.
2. Tramadol can either be taken as a normal tablet or an extended-release (long-acting) tablet to be taken through the mouth. The regular tablet can be taken with or without food every four to six hours or as needed. 
3. The extended-release tablet should only be taken once a day around the same time every day.
4. When using extended-release the patient either needs to always take it with food or always take it without food. 
5. The extended-release tablets should only be taken whole. It is dangerous to split, chew, crush, snort or inject the dissolved form of the tablet.
6. It is important to only take the medication as the doctor prescribes because it is a highly dependent drug.

WHY TRAMADOL?

•  Grünenthal established that Tramadol has a weak respiratory depressant effect when compared with morphine. it changes the way human body feels pain.
• Tramadol provides adequate pain relief in patients with different types of pain.
• Tramadol has many clinical trials have showed that is more effective than other analgesics in some particulars kinds of pain.
• Tramadol has many other trials have demonstrated the acceptable safety profile of a well administered dosage schedule of Tramadol in patients with low back pain and hip or knee osteoarthritis.

TRAMADOL - ADVANTAGES IN BRIEF

• generally well tolerated
• proven efficacy in a broad range of painful conditions
• respiratory depressionis less common and less pronounced than with other opioids 
• lesser constipation effect than with other opioids 
• withdrawal not considered to be as severe as that produced by other opioids
• low abuse and dependence potential 
• more effective than NSAIDs for controlling post operative pain
• antidepressant-like (mood improving) activity 
• local anesthetic activity 
• low interaction potential
• devoid of immunosuppressive activity
• reasonably priced - available generic formulation

HOW TO GET RID OF TRAMADOL ADDICTION?

• Your doctor's advice is the best way to prevent from the tramadol. 

• A popular way to overcome the addiction is the use of  the Waismann Method of Accelerated Neuro-Regulation program.

• This approach requires a stay in hospital for a few days, but is able to handle drug tramadol opioid receptors with the cleaning. 

• A healthy lifestyle in conjunction with the exercises and diet can help control the symptoms. 

• You can also reduce the dependence of tramadol by using the Ginko biloba , fish oil, green tea and vitamin b supplements. 

• In addition, your doctor may recommend counseling and drug treatment program for combating drug tramadol.

SYMPTOMS OF TRAMADOL DRUG ADDICTION

1. If you are addicted to tramadol and are trying to quit the habit, you may end up feeling withdrawal symptoms.
2. Symptoms can vary from moderate to very severe and includeTremors
   Anxiety
   Inability to sleep
   Sweating
   Diarrhea
   Hallucinations
   Pain.
   
3. It is recommended that you do not stop taking the medication abruptly.
4. You will need to gradually get off the drug in order to avoid withdrawal symptoms and not relapse.

TRAMADOL - SIGNS OF ADDICTION

• If a patient is using tramadol in a manner that is inconsistent with treatment, they are addicted to the drug. 
• Inconsistencies include taking higher dosages of the drug or taking tramadol more frequently then you are supposed to. 
• Other signs of addiction include a patient getting multiple prescriptions from different doctors to get more tramadol. 
• You may also be addicted if you are stealing tramadol or you are acquiring the drug from outside sources.

SIGNS OF TRAMADOL DEPENDENCY

1. Experts claim that there is a major difference in the definition of dependency and addiction. Patients who are dependent on the drug only use it because of a condition that is still being treated.
2. Patients who are self-medicating run a higher risk of dependency.
3. In some states, this drug can be purchased over the counter and is another reason for the abuse of tramadol.
4. There is also an increased chance of dependency if the patient is using tramadol for an extended amount of time. 
5. Many doctors report that the dependency for this drug is purely psychological and increased dosage may cause the user to become accustomed to the lessened pain.
6. Anything above the recommended dosage will cause side effects that can harm you. This drug is used to control pain and is not intended for other health conditions

TRAMAOL IS ADDICTIVE OR NOT?

• Tramadol is classified as a narcotic but is not a drug like morphine. 

• Many patients are weary of taking this drug due to its likelihood for addiction. 

• If tramadol is used as recommended, you will not become dependent or addicted to the drug.

• Many patients who use tramadol have claimed that the drug is addicting. 

• A recent study by the Journal of Family Practice found that tramadol has a low risk of addiction. 

• Tramadol is considered to be one of the better pain relievers that is available, but dependence can become an issue if prescriptions are not monitored.

PURPOSE OF TRAMADOL WHO USED IT

1. Generally speaking, people who need relief from pain are the ones who use Tramadol. 
2. This is a drug that goes into your body and slowly releases the pain-killing ingredients over a long period of time. These go to the nerve endings and change the way that you feel the pain, making it so that you are not in agony any longer.
3. Anyone who has felt enduring pain that will not abate on its own is a candidate for this type of a drug.
4. If you are looking for more specific examples, those exist as well. First off, people who have been hurt in car accidents often use Tramadol while they try to heal; this drug lets them sleep so that they can rest and get better. 
5. People who have had surgery will also use it if the surgery was rather invasive and left them with a long recovery time. 
6. People who are growing older and who have been injured through falls and other such accidents will also take this drug for their pain.

BENEFITS OF TRAMADOL

•	Relieves various causes of pain, including post-surgery pain
•	Used to treat chronic pain
•	Can be used with or as an alternative to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)

OTHER DRUGS THAT AFFECT TRAMADOL IN PET ANIMALS

• Seizure will appear more if you give tramadol while giving certain other medications. 
• Tell your veterinarian if you are also giving your pet or using any of the following medications: 

1. an MAO inhibitor such as selegiline (Anipryl), Mitaban, or a Preventic Collar; an antidepressant such as amitriptyline, clomipramine (Clomicalm), fluoxetine (Prozac, Reconcile), or acepromazine.
2.  warfarin (Coumadin) 
3. digoxin (Lanoxin) 
4. ketoconazole (Nizoral) 
5. drugs that can cause drowsiness such as other pain medications, muscle relaxants, and herbal products.

• This list is not complete and there may be other medications that can interact with tramadol.

• Tell your veterinarian about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you give your pet.

• This includes vitamins, minerals and herbal products.

SIDE EFFECTS OF TRAMADOL IN PET ANIMALS

1. Get emergency veterinary medical help if your pet develops these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat. 
2. Stop using tramadol and call your veterinarian at once if your pet has any of these serious side effects: seizure; a red, blistering, peeling skin rash; or shallow breathing.  
3. Less serious side effects may include: 

• drowsiness, and weakness; 

• vomiting

• constipation

• loss of appetite

• blurred vision

• insomnia.

OVERDOSAGE SYMPTOMS OF TRAMADOL IN PET ANIMALS

Overdose symptoms may include

• drowsiness, 

• shallow breathing, 

• slow heartbeat, 

• extreme weakness, 

• fainting,  

• coma.

Seek emergency veterinary medical attention if you think you have given your pet too much medicine.
An overdose of tramadol can be fatal.