Contains the active ingredient tramadol hydrochloride
Consumer Medicine Information
What is in this leaflet
Read this leaflet carefully before taking your medicine.
This leaflet answers some common questions about tramadol. It does not contain all the available information. It does not take the place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist.
The information in this leaflet was last updated on the date listed on the last page. More recent information on this medicine may be available.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist:
if there is anything you do not understand in this leaflet,
if you are worried about taking your medicine, or
to obtain the most up-to-date information.
All medicines have risks and benefits. Your doctor has weighed the risks of you using this medicine against the benefits they expect it will have for you.
Pharmaceutical companies cannot give you medical advice or an individual diagnosis.
Keep this leaflet with your medicine. You may want to read it again.
What this medicine is used for
The name of your medicine is APO-Tramadol. It contains the active ingredient tramadol hydrochloride.
It is used to treat:
moderate to severe pain
Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why this medicine has been prescribed for you. Your doctor may have prescribed this medicine for another reason.
This medicine is available only with a doctor's prescription.
Tramadol is not normally addictive, although some cases have been reported.
Use in children
This medicine should not be used in children. The safety and effectiveness of this medicine in children have not been established.
Before you take this medicine
When you must not take it
Do not take this medicine if:
You have or have had any of the following:
epilepsy which is not well controlled
known sensitivity to opioids (such as morphine or codeine).
You are taking a class of medicine known as 'monoamine oxidase inhibitors' (MAOIs) (often taken for depression), or you have taken such a medicine within the last 14 days.
You have recently taken large amounts of alcohol, hypnotics (often used to treat insomnia), analgesics (painkillers), opioids (also often used to treat pain), or psychotropic drugs (affect brain function)
The expiry date (EXP) printed on the pack has passed.
The packaging is torn, shows signs of tampering or it does not look quite right.
You are hypersensitive to, or have had an allergic reaction to, tramadol or any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet.
Symptoms of an allergic reaction may include cough, shortness of breath, wheezing or difficulty breathing; swelling of the face, lips, tongue, throat or other parts of the body, rash, itching or hives on the skin; fainting or hayfever-like symptoms.
If you think you are having an allergic reaction, do not take any more of the medicine and contact your doctor immediately or go to the Accident and Emergency department at the nearest hospital.
Before you start to take it
Before you start taking this medicine, tell your doctor if:
1. You have allergies to:
any other medicines
any other substances, such as foods, preservatives or dyes.
2. You have or have had any medical conditions, especially the following:
lung or breathing problems
serious head injury, shock or reduced levels of consciousness
diseases of the kidney or liver
acute abdominal or stomach problems
seizures, fits or convulsions/epilepsy
dependence on opioid medications(such as morphine or codeine).
3. You are currently pregnant or you plan to become pregnant. Do not take this medicine whilst pregnant until you and your doctor have discussed the risks and benefits involved.
4. You are currently breast-feeding or you plan to breast-feed. Do not take this medicine whilst breast-feeding until you and your doctor have discussed the risks and benefits involved.
5. You are planning to have surgery or an anaesthetic.
6. You are currently receiving or are planning to receive dental treatment.
7. You are taking or are planning to take any other medicines. This includes vitamins and supplements that are available from your pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.
Some medicines may interact with tramadol. These include:
certain medicines used to treat depression, sleeplessness or mental conditions (such as MAOIs, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), tricyclic anti-depressants, phenothiazines or anti-psychotics)
CNS depressants (such as alcohol, opioids, tranquilisers or sedative hypnotics)
carbamazepine, a medicine mainly used to treat epilepsy
coumarin derivatives (such as warfarin)
ondansetron, a medicine used to treat nausea and vomiting.
If you are taking any of these you may need a different dose or you may need to take different medicines.
Other medicines not listed above may also interact with tramadol.
How to take this medicine
Follow carefully all directions given to you by your doctor or pharmacist. Their instructions may be different to the information in this leaflet.
How much to take
Your doctor will tell you how much of this medicine you should take. This will depend on your condition and whether you are taking any other medicines.
For moderate pain:
The usual adult dose is one or two capsules taken two or three times daily.
One capsule (50 mg) may be enough for the first dose.
For moderate to severe pain:
The usual adult dose is one or two capsules, every four to six hours.
Two capsules (100 mg) are usually required for the first dose.
Do not take more than eight capsules (400 mg) per day.
If you are over 75 years of age, do not take more than six capsules (300 mg) per day, as you may require a lower daily dose.
Do not stop taking your medicine or change your dosage without first checking with your doctor.
How to take it
Follow all directions given to you by your doctor or pharmacist carefully.
They may be different to the information contained in this leaflet.
If you do not understand the instructions on the pack, ask your doctor or pharmacist for help.
When to take it
Take this medicine at the same time each day. Taking it at the same time each day will have the best effect and will also help you remember when to take it.
It does not matter if you take it before, with or after food.
How long to take it for
Continue taking your medicine for as long as your doctor tells you.
Make sure you have enough to last over weekends and holidays.
If you forget to take it
If it is almost time to take your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the usual time. Otherwise take it as soon as you remember and then go back to taking your medicine as you would normally.
Do not take a double dose to make up for missed doses.
This may increase the chance of you experiencing side effects.
If you have trouble remembering to take your medicine, ask your pharmacist for some hints to help you remember.
If you take too much (overdose)
If you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much of this medicine, immediately telephone your doctor or go to the Accident and Emergency Department at your nearest hospital.
Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. You may need urgent medical attention.
While you are taking this medicine
Things you must do
Tell your doctor that you are taking this medicine if:
you are about to be started on any new medicine
you are pregnant or are planning to become pregnant
you are breast-feeding or are planning to breast-feed
you are about to have any blood tests
you are going to have surgery or an anaesthetic or are going into hospital.
Your doctor may occasionally do tests to make sure the medicine is working and to prevent side effects. Go to your doctor regularly for a check-up.
Tell any other doctors, dentists and pharmacists who are treating you that you take this medicine.
Things you must not do
Do not:
Give this medicine to anyone else, even if their symptoms seem similar to yours
Take your medicine to treat any other condition unless your doctor or pharmacist tells you to
Stop taking your medicine, or change the dosage, without first checking with your doctor.
Things to be careful of
Be careful when driving or operating machinery until you know how this medicine affects you.
Possible side effects
Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are taking tramadol or if you have any questions or concerns.
Do not be alarmed by the following lists of side effects. You may not experience any of them. All medicines can have side effects. Sometimes they are serious but most of the time they are not.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice any of the following.
Mostly, these are mild:
dizziness
drowsiness
dry mouth
headache
physical weakness or loss of strength
fatigue
nausea or vomiting
constipation
indigestion and stomach pain
flatulence.
Tell your doctor as soon as possible if you notice any of the following.
These may be serious side effects. You may need medical attention.
itchy skin/rash
sudden onset of low blood pressure; collapse
fast heart beat
hot flushes
tremors/shakes
increase in blood pressure
slow heart beat
shortness of breath
changes in appetite
changes in mood
sleep disturbances
muscle weakness
difficulty in breathing
difficulty or pain in passing urine
blurred vision
problems with speech
dilated pupils.
If you experience any of the following, stop taking your medicine and contact your doctor immediately or go to the Accident and Emergency department at your nearest hospital.
These are very serious side effects. You may need urgent medical attention or hospitalisation.
Serotonin Syndrome: symptoms of which may vary and are not specific, they may include: fever, sweating, confusion, agitation, diarrhoea, muscle twitching, difficulty with walking and balance
hallucinations
seizures
Other side effects not listed above may occur in some patients.
Some patients may experience withdrawal symptoms after they stop taking this medicine, such as agitation, trouble sleeping or tremors. Tell your doctor if you experience withdrawal symptoms.
Allergic reactions
If you think you are having an allergic reaction to tramadol, do not take any more of this medicine and tell your doctor immediately or go to the Accident and Emergency department at your nearest hospital.
Symptoms of an allergic reaction may include some or all of the following:
cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
swelling of the face, lips, tongue, throat or other parts of the body
rash, itching or hives on the skin
fainting
hayfever-like symptoms.
Storage and disposal
Storage
Keep your medicine in its original packaging until it is time to take it.
If you take your medicine out of its original packaging it may not keep well.
Keep your medicine in a cool dry place where the temperature will stay below 25°C.
Do not store your medicine, or any other medicine, in the bathroom or near a sink. Do not leave it on a window sill or in the car. Heat and dampness can destroy some medicines.
Keep this medicine where children cannot reach it.
A locked cupboard at least one-and-a-half metres above the ground is a good place to store medicines.
Disposal
If your doctor or pharmacist tells you to stop taking this medicine or it has passed its expiry date, your pharmacist can dispose of the remaining medicine safely.
Product description
What APO-Tramadol looks like
The capsules have a green cap and yellow body and are filled with a homogeneous white to off-white powder.
They are available in blister packs of 20 capsules.
* Not all strengths, pack types and/or pack sizes may be available.
Ingredients
Each capsule contains 50 mg of tramadol hydrochloride as the active ingredient.
It also contains the following inactive ingredients:
Microcrystalline cellulose
Sodium starch glycollate
Silica colloidal anhydrous
Magnesium stearate
Iron oxide yellow (E172)
Indigo carmine (E132)
Sodium lauryl sulphate
Methyl parahydroxybenzoate (E218)
Propyl parahydroxybenzoate (E216)
Gelatin
This medicine is gluten-free, lactose-free, sucrose-free, tartrazine-free and free of other azo dyes.
