Tramadol can be taken with certain other painkilling medication or used alongside other treatments, but it does have some moderate and serious contraindications (drug interactions).
There are other powerful opioid medications available, but these should never be taken alongside Tramadol. Tramadol is generally better tolerated than other opioid medications and produces fewer rates of addiction in long-term use.
Tramadol is not the most powerful of the opioid painkillers but it can be used safely with other types of painkilling medication to enhance its strength. These include Paracetamol and Ibuprofen.
- Should not be used with other opioid medications
- Can be enhanced with other painkilling medication
- Works well alongside NSAID (anti-inflammtories)
- All combinations of medications should be approved by your doctor
Codeine Vs Tramadol
Codeine and Tramadol are both opioids and therefore should not be taken at the same time as this can cause issues relating to side effects, overdose and even death. In some cases a doctor may prescribe small dosages of both medications that can be monitored properly if pain is severe enough to warrant it.
Codeine and Tramadol work in the same way on the face of it, by blocking pain signals to the brain. There are, however, some subtle but consequential differences between the two. Unlike Codeine, Tramadol increases the levels of serotonin in the body, which is a feel good hormone. This in turn can have a profound affect on mood. Tramadol has therefore been known to be prescribed for other conditions than those relating to pain, such as Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS) and depression.
Tramadol is also less likely to produce side effects in patients, as long as dosages start as low as possible and build to a level that manages pain sufficiently. Although it should be noted that side effects influence people uniquely and some might find the opposite is the case. Tramadol is also seen to be less addictive than Codeine, although the euphoric experiences it can produce can lead to higher rates of abuse.
Co-Codamol And Tramadol
Co-Codamol is a combination of Codeine and Paracetamol, so the same issues described above with Codeine and Tramadol apply here. That is to say that you should not mix Co-Codamol and Tramadol together for risk of overdose or at the very least more severe side effects.
Paracetamol does not interact negatively with Tramadol so they can be taken safely together. In fact there are some versions of Tramadol that have the two already mixed, such as Tramacet and Zaldiar, which can provide even more effective pain management than Tramadol does alone.
Gabapentin Vs Tramadol
Gabapentin and Tramadol do have some contraindication issues that make the two medication largely unsuitable for combined use. These generally take the form of confusion, dizziness and impaired judgement, which can be dangerous in certain environments. That is not to say that the two medications can never be mixed, however.
Gabapentin and Tramadol interactions are considered moderate, which means that it is advised that they should not be prescribed together under most circumstances. With careful monitoring, however, if circumstances demand it, they can be prescribed together. Only a fully qualified doctor should decide whether the two treatments are suitable to be used at the same time.
Gabapentin and Tramadol have been both proven effective treatments of Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS) alone, so it is largely unnecessary to take both at the same time. Gabapentin is more suitable for long-term use for the condition, but some might find Tramadol the more effective treatment.
Gabapentin and Tramadol both are reported to produce feelings of euphoria, and taking Gabapentin before opioid medications can enhance the “High”. It should be noted, however, that there are significant risks for taking the two at high doses, including overdose and even death.
Naproxen And Tramadol
Naproxen and Tramadol are often prescribed together and most people tolerate them used alongside each other in the same way they might when taking them individually. It is important, however, that you always consult you doctor before taking combinations of medications as each person will react uniquely. Such powerful medications will also require careful monitoring from your doctor.
As Naproxen is an anti-inflammatory (NSAID) and Tramadol an opioid painkiller, they are typically prescribed together to treat painful conditions such as arthritis, gout and back pain. Both can also be prescribed for other conditions, such as severe period pain, but it is likely that only Naproxen will be required for certain conditions as it comes with fewer side effects.
For long-term conditions, NSAID such as Narpoxen are better suited to treat moderate to severe pain than Tramadol as it does not come with the same issues associated with Tramadol. Only in the most severe cases and flare-ups will the two be prescribed together and rarely for a prolonged period of time. Long-term use will require careful monitoring from a doctor as Tramadol’s effects tend to be reduced over time.
Diazepam Vs Tramadol
Diazepam and Tramadol should never be taken together unless under strict monitoring from a health care professional. This is due to the fact that both medications have a grave influence on the central nervous system and can magnify their effects greatly as a result.
Diazepam and Tramadol can both be prescribed to treat anxiety, but both work in different ways on the central nervous system. Tramadol is an opioid that is known to increase serotonin, the feel good hormone. This in turn can produce feelings of euphoria and relaxation. Diazepam is a Benzodiazepam, which works by acting on areas of the brain that release neurotransmitters which cause sedation, also relaxing the body’s muscles.
Both medication are known to be addictive and should not be taken long-term. Diazepam also has a lengthy half life, meaning it stays in the body for a considerable amount of time, which might make Tramadol use unsuitable for up to a week or two after large doses of Diazepam have been administered.
Ibuprofen And Tramadol
Ibuprofen and Tramadol can be prescribed together as there are no known contraindications between the two medications. In fact the two have been proven to be highly effective when combined to treat severe pain. As each medication does have some side effects and risks, the more serious are associated with Tramadol, they might not be suitable for every one. This will need to be decided on a case by case basis.
The main issue experienced by those combining the two medications relate to the stomach, although this can usually be circumnavigated by taking Ibuprofen after food. Prolonged use of Ibuprofen may still result in some stomach discomfort, while Tramadol side effects tend to subside as the body becomes used to the medication. As both may cause stomach upsets, however, use should be carefully structured and dosages kept to a minimum.
This can be something of an issue for patients suffering from moderate to severe arthritis as the condition is a chronic one that often requires prolonged use of painkillers. Under these circumstances other medications might be considered before Tramadol in particular is prescribed.