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Ultram is a pain reliever, used to treat moderate to severe pain, including pain caused by surgery, cancer, and chronic conditions (such as joint pain). It functions by decreasing the brain's perception of pain and response to pain, while at the same time decreasing the magnitude of the pain signal passed from one nerve to another.

Take by mouth, with or without food, usually every 4-6 hours as needed.

Store at room temp., away from excess heat and moisture (do not keep it in the bathroom). Keep out of the reach of children. Throw away any medication that is outdated or no longer needed.

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember; but if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose instead, and take only the one regularly scheduled. Avoid taking two doses at once or following one another closely.

Side effects from Ultram are uncommon. They include dizziness, drowsiness, headache, blurred vision, vomiting, nausea, and upset stomach. If you experience any of these symptoms and they persist or are bothersome, consult a physicain. The following more serious side effects should make you contact a physicain iimmediately: rapid heartbeat; redness, swelling, and itching of the face; numbness or tingling in the hands and feet; difficulty breathing; changes in urination; or seizures. If you suspect an overdose, seek emergency medical attention. Overdose symptoms may include drowsiness, dizziness, lightheadedness, cold and clammy skin, slowed breathing or heartbeat, deep sleep, loss of consciousness, and seizures.

It is recommended that you do not use Ultram if you are also using cyclobenzaprine, depression medicine, or medicine for other emotional/mood disorders. Tell your physicain if you are using any of these medicines. Dosage adjustment or special supervision might be required if you are using bupropion, narcotic analgesics, or have a history of seizures. Inform your physicain about all drugs you might be using, whether prescription or over-the-counter, especially other pain relievers; carbamazepine (Tegretol); MAO inhibitors [phenelzine (Nardil) or tranylcypromine (Parnate)]; medications for depression; quinidine; sleeping pills; tranquilizers; and vitamins.

Before taking Ultram, tell your physicain and pharmacist if you are allergic to Ultram, codeine, or any other drugs. Tell your physicain of any other medical conditions or allergies you are suffering from. Tell your physicain if you are or might be pregnant and if you are or might start breast-feeding. Tell your physicain if you have or have ever had kidney or liver disease, a history of seizures, or a history of alcohol or drug abuse. If you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the physicain or dentist that you are taking Ultram. Ultram might cause drowsiness: do not perform dangerous actions that require alertness, such as driving a car or operating machinery, until you know how you react to Ultram. Remember that alcohol consumption can add to the drowsiness.

Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceutical, Inc. was formed by the 1993 merger of Ortho Pharmaceutical Corporation and McNeil Pharmaceutical. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, one of the world's largest manufacturers of health care products and provider of various health services. Ortho-McNeil headquarters are located in Raritan, N.J.