Tramadol or Vicodin For Pain Relief

Where Vicodin is a selective pain killer normally used as a pain killer for severe pain, Tramadol is used for treating moderate to moderately severe pain. Vicodin is most commonly used as a prescription for individuals experiencing pain after surgery or intense pain. It’s a great help in calming down a prescribed patient as it increases his/her ability to relax or even forget about painful ailments. This normally speeds medical recovery. Tramadol is an analgesic medicine which can relieve pain after a hysterectomy, cesarean section, hip replacement, dental surgery or other bone surgery. It also helps relieve chronic pain coupled with nerve pain, cancer or lower back pain.

Vicodin was put into a Schedule III along with Xyrem, Marinol, anabolic steroids, paregoric, ketamine and hydrocodone/codeine. The drugs have high psychological dependence and low to medium addiction. Vicodin may even be used for other health conditions as determined by a personal physician. An analgesic combination, the Vicodin medication works by lowering a chemical in the brain which stimulates pain nerves. Side-effects for the Vicodin medication include weak breathing, clammy skin, yellowing of skin or eyes, severe weakness, unusual fatigue, muscle twitches, decreased appetite, decreased urination and lack of sex drive. An Opioid analgesic, hydrocodone works by binding to brain receptors and receptors in the nervous system used by the natural “pain relievers” of the human body. The combination in Vicodin may supply better pain relief than either pain killing medicine alone.

One shouldn’t use Vicodin if one is allergic to any of the ingredients in Vicodin or codeine, has diarrhea coupled with antibiotic use, bacterial infection or poisoning, or taking sodium oxybate. A physician or health care provider should be contacted immediately if any of the above applies. Prior to the use of Vicodin, it’s vital to know several medical conditions may interact with the medication. It’s advisable to contact your medical professional if you are or have any of the following:

• if you are pregnant
• breast-feeding or planning to become pregnant
• if you are taking any nonprescription or prescription medication, dietary supplement or herbal preparation
• if you have food allergies or allergies to medicines and other substances
• have (had) substance abuse, narcotic dependence or alcoholism, attempted or considered suicide
• if you have acute head injury, brain tumor or injury, seizures, epilepsy or increased pressure in the head
• if you are having an attack of asthma
• if you have acute stomach or intestinal problem, chronic ulceration and inflammation of the bowel, or recent abdominal surgery.

Tramadol normally diminishes pain more than a placebo. Tramadol may even increase the absolute well-being more than a placebo. Dizziness, nausea, vomiting, constipation, headache and fatigue are popular side-effects of Tramadol. Although the benefits of Tramadol may be in small numbers, there is hard-core evidence that to treat osteoarthritis and other health conditions, Tramadol taken for approximately three months may decrease pain, while enhancing function, reducing stiffness and overall human well-being. The side-effects with Tramadol—unlike Vicodin—are not fatal and usually reversible. It’s also important to know that Tramadol doesn’t depress respiration, which is an adverse medical effect of most narcotics (including Vicodin).

Back to Articles | Home