Tramadol (Oral Route)

Side Effects

Drug information provided by: Merative, Micromedex®

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

Less common

1. Abnormal or decreased touch sensation
2. blisters under the skin
3. bloating
4. blood in the urine
5. blood pressure increased
6. blurred vision
7. change in walking and balance
8. chest pain or discomfort
9. chills
10. dark urine
11. difficult urination
12. dizziness or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position
13. fainting
14. fast heartbeat
15. frequent urge to urinate
16. gaseous stomach pain
17. indigestion
18. irregular heartbeat
19. loss of memory
20. numbness and tingling of the face, fingers, or toes
21. pain in the arms, legs, or lower back, especially pain in the calves or heels upon exertion
22. pain or discomfort in the arms, jaw, back, or neck
23. pains in the stomach, side, or abdomen, possibly radiating to the back
24. pale, bluish-colored or cold hands or feet
25. recurrent fever
26. seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there
27. seizures
28. severe cramping
29. severe nausea
30. severe redness, swelling, and itching of the skin
31. stomach fullness
32. sweating
33. swelling of the hands, ankles, feet, or lower legs
34. trembling and shaking of the hands or feet
35. trouble performing routine tasks
36. weak or absent pulses in the legs
37. yellow eyes or skin

Incidence not known

1. Agitation
2. anxiety
3. chest tightness
4. cold sweats
5. coma
6. confusion
7. cool, pale skin
8. cough
9. darkening of the skin
10. decreased urine output
11. depression
12. diarrhea
13. difficulty swallowing
14. dizziness
15. fever
16. headache
17. hives, itching, skin rash
18. increased hunger
19. increased thirst
20. loss of appetite
21. mental depression
22. muscle cramps
23. nausea
24. nervousness
25. nightmares
26. overactive reflexes
27. poor coordination
28. puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue
29. restlessness
30. shakiness
31. shivering
32. slurred speech
33. swelling of the face, ankles, or hands
34. talking or acting with excitement you cannot control
35. trouble breathing
36. twitching
37. unusual tiredness or weakness
38. vomiting

Get emergency help immediately if any of the following symptoms of overdose occur:

Symptoms of overdose

1. Change in consciousness
2. decreased awareness or responsiveness
3. difficulty with breathing
4. lack of muscle tone
5. lightheadedness
6. loss of consciousness
7. pinpointed pupils of the eyes
8. severe sleepiness
9. slow or irregular heartbeat
10. unusual tiredness

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

More common

1. Constipation
2. discouragement
3. drowsiness
4. dry mouth
5. feeling of warmth
6. feeling sad or empty
7. feeling unusually cold
8. general feeling of discomfort or illness
9. heartburn
10. irritability
11. itching or skin rash
12. joint pain
13. loss of interest or pleasure
14. loss of strength or weakness
15. muscle aches and pains
16. redness of the face, neck, arms, and occasionally, upper chest
17. runny nose
18. sleepiness or unusual drowsiness
19. sore throat
20. stomach pain
21. stuffy nose
22. tiredness
23. trouble concentrating
24. unusual feeling of excitement
25. weakness

Less common

1. Abnormal dreams
2. appetite decreased
3. back pain
4. bladder pain
5. blistering, crusting, irritation, itching, or reddening of the skin
6. bloody or cloudy urine
7. body aches or pain
8. change in hearing
9. clamminess
10. cough producing mucus
11. cracked, dry, or scaly skin
12. decreased interest in sexual intercourse
13. difficult, burning, or painful urination
14. difficulty with moving
15. disturbance in attention
16. ear congestion
17. ear drainage
18. earache or pain in the ear
19. excessive gas
20. falls
21. false or unusual sense of well-being
22. feeling hot
23. feeling jittery
24. general feeling of bodily discomfort
25. goosebumps
26. headache, severe and throbbing
27. hoarseness
28. inability to have or keep an erection
29. itching, pain, redness, swelling, tenderness, or warmth on the skin
30. joint sprain, stiffness, or swelling
31. loss in sexual ability, desire, drive, or performance
32. loss of voice
33. lower back or side pain
34. muscle injury, stiffness, spasms, or twitching
35. neck pain
36. night sweats
37. pain in the limbs
38. pain or tenderness around the eyes and cheekbones
39. pain, swelling, or redness in the joints
40. skin discoloration
41. trouble in holding or releasing urine
42. trouble sleeping
43. weight changes

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

• Precautions

Portions of this document last updated: Nov. 01, 2023