What You Need To Know Before Taking Tramadol

You should not take this medication if you are allergic to tramadol, if you have ever been addicted to drugs or alcohol, or if you have ever attempted suicide.
Do not take tramadol while you are intoxicated (drunk) or taking any of the following:

• alcohol or street drugs;
  
• narcotic pain medicine;
  
• sedatives or tranquilizers (such as Valium);
  
• medicine for depression or anxiety; or
  
• medicine for mental illness (such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia).
  

Seizures have occurred in some people taking tramadol. Talk with your doctor about your seizure risk, which may be higher if you have:

• a history of drug or alcohol addiction;
  
• a history of epilepsy or other seizure disorder;
  
• a history of head injury;
  
• a metabolic disorder; or
  
• if you are also taking an antidepressant, muscle relaxer, narcotic, antipsychotic, or medicine for nausea and vomiting.
  

To make sure you can safely take tramadol, tell your doctor if you have any of these other conditions:

• kidney disease (or if you are on dialysis);
  
• cirrhosis or other liver disease;
  
• a stomach disorder; or
  
• a history of depression, mental illness, or thoughts of suicide.
  

Tramadol may be habit forming and should be used only by the person it was prescribed for. Never share tramadol with another person, especially someone with a history of drug abuse or addiction. Keep the medication in a place where others cannot get to it.
FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether tramadol will harm an unborn baby. Tramadol may cause serious or fatal side effects in a newborn if the mother uses this medication during pregnancy or labor. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using this medication. Tramadol can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. You should not breast-feed while you are taking tramadol. Do not give this medication to anyone younger than 16 years old without the advice of a doctor.