Tramadol And Ultram: Which Is Better?

Tramadol is a medication used to treat moderate to severe pain. Tramadol was first developed by a German pharmaceutical company but was later licensed to be sold by other companies under such names as Ultram. In addition to treating pain, it has been suggested that Tramadol has positive effects on treating depression and anxiety due to its affect on the serotonin system. However, as of yet Tramadol and Ultram are only approved to be used to alleviate the symptoms of moderate to severe pain.

Drug Information And Side Effects Of Tramadol And Ultram

The dosages for Tramadol and Ultram range from very little to as much as 400mg a day orally or 600mg a day through an IV. The medication works to relieve pain, but it is not necessarily meant for prolonged use. There are many common side effects and adverse effects reported by Tramadol and Ultram users. Nausea, sweating, constipation, and vomiting are common adverse reactions to these drugs. Almost every strong pain killer has drowsiness as a listed side effect, and Tramadol and Ultram are no different. However, respiratory depression, which is a common side effect of other strong pain killers, is not a common side effect when taking the normal dosage of Tramadol and/or Ultram. Even better, these drugs can actually decrease the seizure threshold and when combined with other drugs and medicines, it can further decrease the seizure threshold. However, excessive doses of Tramadol and Ultram have actually increased the occurrence of seizures. Research has even suggested that Tramadol and Ultram are the most frequent cause for provoking seizures. In addition, severe constipation is a very real side effect. This mostly affects the elderly and often time results in manual extraction of the stool.

What Is The Difference Between Tramadol And Ultram?

There are very few differences between Tramadol and Ultram. They are both made from the same ingredients and are the same type of pain relievers. Tramadol and Ultram are really only different due to their names. Ultram is the brand name product and usually costs significantly more than the generic brand. Tramadol, however, is that generic name. The interesting thing is that Tramadol is the name of the drug that Ultram contains, so it is no wonder that the drugs are similar if not exactly the same.

Often times people get caught up in the generic versus brand name prescriptions. If you do not have health insurance or have a mediocre prescription program with your health insurance, you may want to think about using the generic instead of the brand name. Tramadol and Ultram are for all intents and purposes the same medication. Instead of paying more for the name “Ultram,” ask your doctor about the generic Tramadol. In fact, much insurance companies require a patient to automatically try the generic before the brand name. You may be using Tramadol and not even know it!

Other Uses For Tramadol And Ultram

There are other uses besides human use for Tramadol and Ultram. One of the main non human use for Tramadol and Ultram is for animals. This pain killer is often used in the treatment of post operative, chronic, and injury related pain in animals such as cats and dogs, rabbits, rodents (including rats, guinea pigs, ferrets, raccoons, and flying squirrels), and coatis. The administration of this drug to animals is made possible by putting the drug in powder, oral syrups, and other liquids. It is not a bitter medicine by nature, and it can easily be hidden in foods and water. This makes it an easy medicine to give animals. Animals are very keen about medication and do not take it unless tricked, for most cases.

For animals, there is no reason not to give them the generic Tramadol instead of the brand name Ultram. If you stick to the generic, you will save money and your animal will still get the pain killer that he or she needs.

Both Tramadol and Ultram are pain killers for moderate to severe pain. If you need to use these medications, make sure that you talk to your doctor about which one will be best for you.