What Is Tramadol ER Used For?

Tramadol ER Uses

Tramadol ER (Ultram^® ER, Ryzolt^™) is a long-acting prescription medication approved to treat moderate to moderately severe chronic pain in adults. It is appropriate only for individuals who require continuous, around-the-clock pain medication.

 

Because tramadol ER is not classified as a controlled substance in most states, many healthcare providers use tramadol medications (such as tramadol ER) for their patients when they want to avoid the inconveniences of prescribing a controlled substance (such as many other pain medications), or if they are not authorized to prescribe controlled substances.

 

Originally, tramadol medications were marketed as medications with very weak narcotic effects and very little potential for abuse. As a result, many healthcare providers came to view tramadol as a relatively safe medication for use in people at risk for drug abuse (such as people with previous problems with drug or alcohol abuse). However, research has since demonstrated that tramadol works primarily through morphine-like activity, and numerous cases of abuse and dependence have been reported (see Tramadol Abuse).