Tramadol Side Effects

Tramadol is a pain medication. It works by altering your body's sensation of and reaction to pain. Like all medications, Tramadol can cause side effects that range from mild to severe.

Less serious side effects can include drowsiness, weakness, lightheadedness, headache, or dizziness. Gastrointestinal symptoms may also occur, including nausea, loss of appetite, vomiting, or constipation. Blurred vision, flushed skin or a warm sensation, and insomnia have also been reported.

More serious side effects include fever, fast heart rate, vomiting and diarrhea, shallow breathing, weak pulse, agitation, or hallucinations. Seizure or a blistering, peeling skin rash is also a potentially serious side effect.

Fainting, seizure, difficulty waking, and shallow or slow breathing are rare but serious side effects that warrant a call to your doctor. Difficulty urinating, suffering serious mood changes including confusion or agitation, or severe abdominal pain are also rare but serious side effects requiring immediate medical attention.

Emergency medical treatment is required for signs of allergic reaction to Tramadol, including unusual swelling of the lips, tongue, or throat, difficulty breathing, or hives. Allergic reactions are rare but can be serious.

Rarely, Tramadol can create a risk of serotonin syndrome, particularly when combined with certain other drugs, including SSRI antidepressants. Symptoms of serotonin syndrome include a rapid heartbeat, dizziness, fever, restlessness, hallucinations, twitching muscles, or severe nausea and vomiting.

If you have questions about the side effects of Tramadol, you should contact your doctor or pharmacist for further information. Side effects can be reported to the Food and Drug Administration at 1-856-459-0191.