Does tramadol cause constipation?
Yes, tramadol can cause constipation and is one of the most common side effects with this drug. In studies, constipation was reported in up to 46% of patients. In some cases it may be severe. Call your healthcare provider if you have any tramadol symptoms that worry you.
Constipation is a well-known and expected side effect of opioid use. It should be addressed quickly to prevent further complications. Longer-term treatment has been shown to increase the frequency of constipation.
Use extra caution in older patients and monitor more closely. In studies, constipation resulted in discontinuation of treatment in 10% of those over 75 years of age.
The use of other drug therapies that lead to constipation, such as anticholinergic drugs, can worsen the constipating effect of tramadol. If you are not sure if you are taking other medicines that may worsen constipation, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
To learn more: Which drugs cause opioid-induced constipation?
Tramadol (Ultram) is commonly associated with other stomach (gastrointestinal) side effects such as:
- nausea (16% to 40%)
- vomiting (5% to 17%)
- dry mouth (5% to 13%)
- heartburn (1% to 13%)
Tramadol side effects (in more detail)
Related questions
- Can you take tramadol with acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or aspirin?
- How much tramadol should I give my dog?
- How long does tramadol withdrawal last?
Bottom Line
- Tramadol can cause constipation in up to 46% of patients. Stomach side effects in general are common with tramadol.
- Constipation is a well-known side effect of opioid pain treatment, and it should be addressed quickly to prevent further complications.
- Call your doctor if you have constipation with opioid treatment. Ongoing constipation can lead to serious side effects.
This is not all the information you need to know about tramadol for safe and effective use. Review the full tramadol information here, and discuss this information and any questions with your doctor or other health care provider.
References
- Tramadol side effects. Drugs.com. Accessed May 7, 2024 at https://www.drugs.com/sfx/tramadol-side-effects.html
- Tramadol [product information]. DailyMed / National Library of Medicine. Watson Laboratories. Accessed May 7, 2024 at https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/lookup.cfm?setid=ae7c54b1-b440-4cca-97e8-e5b825413d32#
Read next
Is tramadol stronger than codeine?
Both tramadol and codeine are prescription opioid painkillers, and they seem to be equally effective in terms of pain relief. There is no evidence that tramadol is any stronger than codeine at relieving pain. Continue reading
How long does it take for tramadol to start working?
Tramadol generally starts to relieve pain within an hour in its fast-acting forms, which are used for short-term pain management. With slow-release or extended-release (ER) forms, the drug may take longer to start because it’s gradually released over 12 or 24 hours, but pain relief lasts longer. Continue reading
How long does tramadol stay in your system?
Tramadol is eliminated from your system within roughly 2 days of taking the drug, but this does not mean that it can no longer be detected by certain drug tests. Continue reading
Related medical questions
- Can you take ibuprofen 800 mg with tramadol 50 mg?
- Which drugs cause opioid-induced constipation?
- Is tramadol an anti-inflammatory or muscle relaxant?
- Does tramadol raise or lower blood pressure?
- Does tramadol make you sleepy?
- What are the bad side effects of tramadol?
- Is tramadol an opioid?
- How do genetics affect tramadol?
- Is tramadol a controlled substance / narcotic opioid?
- Which painkiller should you use?
- Can I drink alcohol with tramadol?
- Is tramadol an opioid based drug?
- Can I become addicted to tramadol?
- Is Toradol related to tramadol?
- Can I take tramadol with sertraline?
Drug information
- Tramadol Information for Consumers
- Tramadol prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side Effects of Tramadol (detailed)
- Tramadol user reviews (1,871)
Related support groups
- Tramadol (495 questions, 2,701 members)
- Pain (2,268 questions, 11,928 members)
- Constipation (223 questions, 605 members)