Treatment of moderate to severe pain

Posology

 

The dose should be adjusted to the intensity of the pain and the sensitivity of the individual patient. The lowest effective dose for analgesia should generally be selected. Daily doses of 400 mg tramadol hydrochloride should not be exceeded, except in special clinical circumstances.

 

Unless otherwise prescribed, < Tramal retard > should be administered as follows:

 

 

Adults and adolescents above the age of 12 years

 

The usual initial dose is 50-100 mg tramadol hydrochloride twice daily, morning and evening. If pain relief is insufficient, the dose may be titrated upwards to 150 mg or 200 mg tramadol hydrochloride twice daily (see section 5.1).

 

< Tramal retard > should under no circumstances be administered for longer than absolutely necessary. If long-term pain treatment with < Tramal retard > is necessary in view of the nature and severity of the illness, then careful and regular monitoring should be carried out (if necessary with breaks in treatment) to establish whether and to what extent further treatment is necessary.

 

Paediatric population

 

< Tramal retard > is not suitable for children below the age of 12 years.

 

Older people

 

A dose adjustment is not usually necessary in patients up to 75 years without clinically manifest hepatic or renal insufficiency. In older people over 75 years elimination may be prolonged. Therefore, if necessary the dosage interval is to be extended according to the patient’s requirements.

 

Patients with renal insufficiency/dialysis and hepatic impairment

 

In patients with renal and/or hepatic insufficiency the elimination of tramadol is delayed. In these patients prolongation of the dosage intervals should be carefully considered according to the patient’s requirements. In cases of severe renal and/or severe hepatic insufficiency < Tramal retard > prolonged-release tablets are not recommended.

 

Method of administration

 

The tablets are to be taken whole, not divided or chewed, with sufficient liquid, independent of meals.

 

< Tramal retard > is contraindicated - in hypersensitivity to the active substance or any of the excipients listed in section 6.1, - in acute intoxication with alcohol, hypnotics, analgesics, opioids or other psychotropic medicinal products, - in patients who are receiving MAO inhibitors or who have taken them within the last 14 days (see section 4.5), - in patients with epilepsy not adequately controlled by treatment, - for use in narcotic withdrawal treatment.

< Tramal retard > may only be used with particular caution in opioid-dependent patients, patients with head injury, shock, a reduced level of consciousness of uncertain origin, disorders of the respiratory center or function, increased intracranial pressure.

 

In patients sensitive to opiates < Tramal retard > should only be used with caution.

 

Care should be taken when treating patients with respiratory depression, or if concomitant CNS depressant drugs are being administered (see section 4.5), or if the recommended dosage is significantly exceeded (see section 4.9) as the possibility of respiratory depression cannot be excluded in these situations.

 

 

Convulsions have been reported in patients receiving tramadol at the recommended dose levels. The risk may be increased when doses of tramadol hydrochloride exceed the recommended upper daily dose limit (400 mg). In addition, tramadol may increase the seizure risk in patients taking other medicinal products that lowers the seizure threshold (see section 4.5). Patients with epilepsy or those susceptible to seizures should only be treated with tramadol if there are compelling circumstances.

 

Tolerance, psychic and physical dependence may develop, especially after long-term use. In patients with a tendency to drug abuse or dependence, treatment with < Tramal retard > should only be carried out for short periods under strict medical supervision.

 

When a patient no longer requires therapy with tramadol, it may be advisable to taper the dose gradually to prevent symptoms of withdrawal.

 

Tramadol is not suitable as a substitute in opioid-dependent patients. Although it is an opioid agonist, tramadol cannot suppress morphine withdrawal symptoms.

 

< Tramal retard > prolonged-release tablets contain lactose. Patients with rare hereditary problems of galactose intolerance, the Lapp lactase deficiency or glucose-galactose malabsorption, should not take this medicinal product.

CYP2D6 metabolism

Tramadol is metabolised by the liver enzyme CYP2D6. If a patient has a deficiency or is completely lacking this enzyme an adequate analgesic effect may not be obtained. Estimates indicate that up to 7% of the Caucasian population may have this deficiency. However, if the patient is an ultra-rapid metaboliser there is a risk of developing side effects of opioid toxicity even at commonly prescribed doses.

General symptoms of opioid toxicity include confusion, somnolence, shallow breathing, small pupils, nausea, vomiting, constipation and lack of appetite. In severe cases this may include symptoms of circulatory and respiratory depression, which may be life threatening and very rarely fatal. Estimates of prevalence of ultra-rapid metabolisers in different populations are summarised below:

Population	Prevalence %
African/Ethiopian	29%
African American	3.4% to 6.5%
Asian	1.2% to 2%
Caucasian	3.6% to 6.5%
Greek	6.0%
Hungarian	1.9%

 

 

Northern European                                                  1% to 2%

 

Post-operative use in children

There have been reports in the published literature that tramadol given post-operatively in children after tonsillectomy and/or adenoidectomy for obstructive sleep apnoea, led to rare, but life threatening adverse events. Extreme caution should be exercised when tramadol is administered to children for post-operative pain relief and should be accompanied by close monitoring for symptoms of opioid toxicity including respiratory depression.

 

Children with compromised respiratory function

Tramadol is not recommended for use in children in whom respiratory function might be compromised including neuromuscular disorders, severe cardiac or respiratory conditions, upper respiratory or lung infections, multiple trauma or extensive surgical procedures. These factors may worsen symptoms of opioid toxicity.

< Tramal retard > should not be combined with MAO inhibitors (see section 4.3).

 

In patients treated with MAO inhibitors in the 14 days prior to the use of the opioid pethidine, life- threatening interactions on the central nervous system, respiratory and cardiovascular function have been observed. The same interactions with MAO inhibitors cannot be ruled out during treatment with

< Tramal retard >.

 

Concomitant administration of < Tramal retard > with other centrally depressant medicinal products including alcohol may potentiate the CNS effects (see section 4.8).

 

The results of pharmacokinetic studies have so far shown that on the concomitant or previous administration of cimetidine (enzyme inhibitor) clinically relevant interactions are unlikely to occur. Simultaneous or previous administration of carbamazepine (enzyme inducer) may reduce the analgesic effect and shorten the duration of action.

 

Tramadol can induce convulsions and increase the potential for selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), tricyclic antidepressants, antipsychotics and other seizure threshold-lowering medicinal products (such as bupropion, mirtazapine, tetrahydrocannabinol) to cause convulsions.

 

Concomitant therapeutic use of tramadol and serotonergic drugs such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), MAO inhibitors (see section 4.3), tricyclic antidepressants and mirtazapine may cause serotonin toxicity. Serotonin syndrome is likely when one of the following is observed:

·               Spontaneous clonus

·               Inducible or ocular clonus with agitation or diaphoresis

·               Tremor and hyperreflexia

·               Hypertonia and body temperature >38°C and inducible or ocular clonus.

Withdrawal of the serotonergic drugs usually brings about a rapid improvement. Treatment depends on the type and severity of the symptoms.

 

Caution should be exercised during concomitant treatment with tramadol and coumarin derivatives (e.g. warfarin) due to reports of increased INR with major bleeding and ecchymoses in some patients.

 

 

Other active substances known to inhibit CYP3A4, such as ketoconazole and erythromycin, might inhibit the metabolism of tramadol (N-demethylation) probably also the metabolism of the active O- demethylated metabolite. The clinical importance of such an interaction has not been studied (see section 4.8).

 

In a limited number of studies the pre- or postoperative application of the antiemetic 5-HT3 antagonist ondansetron increased the requirement of tramadol in patients with postoperative pain.

 

Pregnancy

 

Animal studies with tramadol revealed at very high doses effects on organ development, ossification and neonatal mortality. Teratogenic effects were not observed. Tramadol crosses the placenta. There is inadequate evidence available on the safety of tramadol in human pregnancy. Therefore

< Tramal retard > should not be used in pregnant women.

Tramadol - administered before or during birth - does not affect uterine contractility. In neonates it may induce changes in the respiratory rate which are usually not clinically relevant. Chronic use during pregnancy may lead to neonatal withdrawal symptoms.

 

Breast-feeding

 

Approximately 0.1% of the maternal dose of tramadol is excreted in breast milk. In the immediate

post-partum period, for maternal oral daily dosage up to 400 mg, this corresponds to a mean amount of tramadol ingested by breast-fed infants of 3% of the maternal weight-adjusted dosage. For this reason tramadol should not be used during lactation or alternatively, breast-feeding should be discontinued during treatment with tramadol. Discontinuation of breast-feeding is generally not necessary following a single dose of tramadol.

 

Fertility

 

Post marketing surveillance does not suggest an effect of tramadol on fertility. Animal studies did not show an effect of tramadol on fertility.

Even when taken according to instructions, < Tramal retard > may cause effects such as somnolence and dizziness and therefore may impair the reactions of drivers and machine operators. This applies particularly in conjunction with alcohol and other psychotropic substances.

 

The most commonly reported adverse reactions are nausea and dizziness, both occurring in more than 10 % of patients.

 

The frequencies are defined as follows: Very common:                                             ≥1/10

Common:                             ≥1/100 to <1/10

Uncommon:                         ≥1/1000 to <1/100

Rare:                                    ≥1/10 000 to <1/1000

Very rare:                            <1/10 000

Not known:                          frequency cannot be estimated from the available data

 

Immune system disorders

Rare: allergic reactions (e.g. dyspnoea, bronchospasm, wheezing, angioneurotic oedema) and anaphylaxis

 

Cardiac disorders

Uncommon: cardiovascular regulation (palpitation, tachycardia). These adverse reactions may occur especially on intravenous administration and in patients who are physically stressed.

Rare: bradycardia

 

Investigations

Rare: increase in blood pressure

 

Vascular disorders

Uncommon: cardiovascular regulation (postural hypotension or cardiovascular collapse). These adverse reactions may occur especially on intravenous administration and in patients who are physically stressed.

 

Nervous system disorders

Very common: dizziness Common: headache, somnolence

Rare: paraesthesia, tremor, convulsions, muscle contractions involuntary, coordination abnormal, syncope, speech disorders.

Convulsion occurred mainly after administration of high doses of tramadol or after concomitant treatment with medicinal products which can lower the seizure threshold (see section 4.4 and 4.5).

 

Metabolism and nutrition disorders

Rare: changes in appetite Not known: hypoglycaemia

 

Psychiatric disorders

Rare: hallucination, confusional state, sleep disturbance, delirium, anxiety and nightmares. Psychic adverse reactions may occur following administration of < Tramal retard > which vary individually in intensity and nature (depending on personality and duration of treatment). These include changes in mood (usually euphoric mood, occasionally dysphoria), changes in activity (usually suppression, occasionally increase) and changes in cognitive and sensorial capacity (e.g. decision behaviour, perception disorders). Drug dependence may occur. Symptoms of drug withdrawal syndrome, similar to those occurring during opiate withdrawal, may occur as follows: agitation, anxiety, nervousness, insomnia, hyperkinesia, tremor and gastrointestinal symptoms. Other symptoms that have very rarely been seen with tramadol discontinuation include: panic attacks, severe anxiety, hallucination, paraesthesias, tinnitus and unusual CNS symptoms (i.e. confusional state, delusions, depersonalization, derealization, paranoia).

 

Eye disorders

Rare: miosis, vision blurred, mydriasis

 

Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders

Rare: respiratory depression, dyspnoea.

If the recommended doses are considerably exceeded and other centrally depressant substances are administered concomitantly (see section 4.5), respiratory depression may occur.

Worsening of asthma has been reported, though a causal relationship has not been established.

 

Gastrointestinal disorders

Very common: nausea

Common: constipation, dry mouth, vomiting

Uncommon: retching, gastrointestinal discomfort (a feeling of pressure in the stomach, bloating), diarrhoea

 

Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders

Common: hyperhidrosis

Uncommon: dermal reactions (e.g. pruritus, rash, urticaria)

 

Musculoskeletal disorders

Rare: motorial weakness

 

Hepatobiliary disorders

In a few isolated cases hepatic enzyme increased has been reported in a temporal connection with the therapeutic use of tramadol.

Renal and urinary disorders

Rare: micturition disorder (dysuria and urinary retention)

 

General disorders

Common: fatigue

Reporting of suspected adverse reactions

Reporting suspected adverse reactions after authorisation of the medicinal product is important. It allows continued monitoring of the benefit/risk balance of the medicinal product. Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions via <[to be completed nationally]>.

 

Symptoms

 

In principle, on intoxication with tramadol symptoms similar to those of other centrally acting analgesics (opioids) are to be expected. These include in particular miosis, vomiting, cardiovascular collapse, consciousness disorders up to coma, convulsions and respiratory depression up to respiratory arrest.

 

Treatment

 

The general emergency measures apply. Keep open the respiratory tract (aspiration!), maintain respiration and circulation depending on the symptoms.

 

The antidote for respiratory depression is naloxone. In animal experiments naloxone had no effect on convulsions. In such cases diazepam should be given intravenously.

 

In case of intoxication with oral formulations, gastrointestinal decontamination with activated charcoal or by gastric lavage is only recommended within 2 hours after tramadol intake. Gastrointestinal decontamination at a later time point may be useful in case of intoxication with exceptionally large quantities or prolonged-release formulations.

 

Tramadol is minimally eliminated from the serum by haemodialysis or haemofiltration. Therefore treatment of acute intoxication with < Tramal retard > with haemodialysis or haemofiltration alone is not suitable for detoxification.

 

 

Pharmacotherapeutic group: other opioids; ATC code: N 02 AX02

 

Tramadol is a centrally-acting opioid analgesic. It is a non-selective pure agonist at µ, δ and κ opioid receptors with a higher affinity for the µ receptor. Other mechanisms which contribute to its analgesic effect are inhibition of neuronal re-uptake of noradrenaline and enhancement of serotonin release.

 

Tramadol has an antitussive effect. In contrast to morphine, analgesic doses of tramadol over a wide range have no respiratory-depressant effect. Also gastrointestinal motility is less affected. Effects on the cardiovascular system tend to be slight. The potency of tramadol is reported to be 1/10 (one tenth) to 1/6 (one sixth) that of morphine.

 

Paediatric population

 

Effects of enteral and parenteral administration of tramadol have been investigated in clinical trials involving more than 2000 paediatric patients ranging in age from neonate to 17 years of age. The indications for pain treatment studied in those trials included pain after surgery (mainly abdominal), after surgical tooth extractions, due to fractures, burns and traumas as well as other painful conditions likely to require analgesic treatment for at least 7 days.

 

At single doses of up to 2 mg/kg or multiple doses of up to 8 mg/kg per day (to a maximum of 400 mg per day) efficacy of tramadol was found to be superior to placebo, and superior or equal to paracetamol, nalbuphine, pethidine or low dose morphine. The conducted trials confirmed the efficacy of tramadol. The safety profile of tramadol was similar in adult and paediatric patients older than 1 year (see section 4.2).

More than 90% of < Tramal retard > is absorbed after oral administration. The mean absolute bioavailability is approximately 70 %, irrespective of the concomitant intake of food. The difference between absorbed and non-metabolised available tramadol is probably due to the low first-pass effect. The first-pass effect after oral administration is a maximum of 30 %.

 

Tramadol has a high tissue affinity (Vd,ß = 203 ± 40 l). It has a plasma protein binding of about 20 %.

 

After administration of < Tramal retard > 100 mg the peak plasma concentration

Cmax = 141 ± 40 ng/ml is reached after 4.9 h; after administration of < Tramal retard > 200 mg Cmax 260 ± 62 ng/ml is reached after 4.8 hours.

 

Tramadol passes the blood-brain and placental barriers. Very small amounts of the substance and its O-desmethyl derivative are found in the breast-milk (0.1 % and 0.02 % respectively of the applied dose).

 

Elimination half-life t1/2,ß is approximately 6 h, irrespective of the mode of administration. In patients above 75 years of age it may be prolonged by a factor of approximately 1.4.

 

In humans tramadol is mainly metabolised by means of N- and O-demethylation and conjugation of the O-demethylation products with glucuronic acid. Only O-desmethyltramadol is pharmacologically active. There are considerable interindividual quantitative differences between the other metabolites. So far, eleven metabolites have been found in the urine. Animal experiments have shown that O- desmethyltramadol is more potent than the parent substance by the factor 2 - 4. Its half-life t1/2,ß (6 healthy volunteers) is 7.9 h (range 5.4 - 9.6 h) and is approximately that of tramadol.

 

The inhibition of one or both types of the isoenzymes CYP3A4 and CYP2D6 involved in the biotransformation of tramadol may affect the plasma concentration of tramadol or its active metabolite.

 

Tramadol and its metabolites are almost completely excreted via the kidneys. Cumulative urinary excretion is 90 % of the total radioactivity of the administered dose. In case of impaired hepatic or renal function the half-life may be slightly prolonged. In patients with cirrhosis of the liver, elimination half-lives of 13.3 ± 4.9 h (tramadol) and 18.5 ± 9.4 h (O-desmethyltramadol), in an extreme case 22.3 h and 36 h respectively, have been determined. In patients with renal insufficiency (creatinine clearance < 5 ml/min) the values were 11 ± 3.2 h and 16.9 ± 3 h, in an extreme case 19.5 h and 43.2 h respectively.

 

Tramadol has a linear pharmacokinetic profile within the therapeutic dosage range.

 

The relationship between serum concentrations and the analgesic effect is dose-dependent, but varies considerably in isolated cases. A serum concentration of 100 – 300 ng/ml is usually effective.

 

Paediatric population

 

The pharmacokinetics of tramadol and O-desmethyltramadol after single-dose and multiple-dose oral administration to subjects aged 1 year to 16 years were found to be generally similar to those in adults when adjusting for dose by body weight, but with a higher between-subject variability in children aged 8 years and below.

 

In children below 1 year of age, the pharmacokinetics of tramadol and O-desmethyltramadol have been investigated, but have not been fully characterized. Information from studies including this age group indicates that the formation rate of O-desmethyltramadol via CYP2D6 increases continuously in neonates, and adult levels of CYP2D6 activity are assumed to be reached at about 1 year of age. In addition, immature glucuronidation systems and immature renal function may result in slow elimination and accumulation of O-desmethyltramadol in children under 1 year of age.

On repeated oral and parenteral administration of tramadol for 6 - 26 weeks in rats and dogs and oral administration for 12 months in dogs haematological, clinico-chemical and histological investigations showed no evidence of any substance-related changes. Central nervous manifestations only occurred after high doses considerably above the therapeutic range: restlessness, salivation, convulsions, and reduced weight gain. Rats and dogs tolerated oral doses of 20 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg body weight respectively, and dogs rectal doses of 20 mg/kg body weight without any reactions.

 

In rats tramadol dosages from 50 mg/kg/day upwards caused toxic effects in dams and raised neonate mortality. In the offspring retardation occurred in the form of ossification disorders and delayed vaginal and eye opening. Male and female fertility was not affected. In rabbits there were toxic effects in dams from 125 mg/kg upwards and skeletal anomalies in the offspring.

 

In some in-vitro test systems there was evidence of mutagenic effects. In-vivo studies showed no such effects. According to knowledge gained so far, tramadol can be classified as non-mutagenic.

 

Studies on the tumorigenic potential of tramadol hydrochloride have been carried out in rats and mice. The study in rats showed no evidence of any substance-related increase in the incidence of tumours. In

 

the study in mice there was an increased incidence of liver cell adenomas in male animals (a dose- dependent, non-significant increase from 15 mg/kg upwards) and an increase in pulmonary tumours in females of all dosage groups (significant, but not dose-dependent).

< Tramal retard > 50 mg, prolonged-release tablets Tablet core:

-  microcrystalline cellulose

-  hypromellose 100 000 mPa·s

-  magnesium stearate

-  colloidal anhydrous silica.

Film coating:

-  hypromellose 6 mPa·s

-  lactose monohydrate

-  macrogol 6000

-  propylene glycol

-  talc

-  titanium dioxide (E 171)

-  yellow iron oxide (E 172)

 

< Tramal retard > 100 mg, prolonged-release tablets Tablet core:

-  microcrystalline cellulose

-  hypromellose 100 000 mPa·s

-  magnesium stearate

-  colloidal anhydrous silica Film coating:

-  hypromellose 6 mPa·s

-  lactose monohydrate

-  macrogol 6000

-  propylene glycol

-  talc

-  titanium dioxide (E 171)

 

< Tramal retard > 150 mg, prolonged-release tablets Tablet core:

-  microcrystalline cellulose

-  hypromellose 100 000 mPa·s

-  magnesium stearate

-  colloidal anhydrous silica Film coating:

-  hypromellose 6 mPa·s

-  lactose monohydrate

-  macrogol 6000

-  propylene glycol

-  talc

-  titanium dioxide (E 171)

-  quinoline yellow lake (E 104)

-  red iron oxide (E 172)

 

< Tramal retard > 200 mg, prolonged-release tablets Tablet core:

 

-  microcrystalline cellulose

-  hypromellose 100 000 mPa·s

-  magnesium stearate

-  colloidal anhydrous silica Film coating:

-  hypromellose 6 mPa·s

-  lactose monohydrate

-  macrogol 6000

-  propylene glycol

-  talc

-  titanium dioxide (E 171)

-  quinoline yellow lake (E 104)

-  red iron oxide (E 172)

-  brown iron oxide (E 172)

Not applicable.

4 years

Do not store above 30°C.

Aluminium/Polypropylene or Aluminium/PVC/PVDC foil blisters.

Pack sizes of 10, 20, 30, 50, 60, 100, 150 (10x15) prolonged-release tablets. Not all pack sizes may be marketed

No special requirements for disposal.

Any unused medicinal product or waste material should be disposed of in accordance with local requirements.