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Tramadol

Medication opioid analgesic pain & fever
Aka: Tramal, Ultram
Brands seen in Singapore: Acugesic, Mabron, Tramadol Stada, Tradol, Tracidol
Not medical advice. Check with your doctor or pharmacist before you start, stop or change the timing of anything you take.
How to use
What it’s for
Moderate to severe pain, per the SG and NHS labels
When to take
Standard forms 3–4 times a day; slow-release 1–2 times
Take with
A glass of water · alcohol adds to the sleepiness (NHS)
Pros & cons
Pros
  • NHS: usually starts to relieve pain in 30 to 60 minutes
  • NHS: safe with paracetamol, ibuprofen or aspirin
  • Many forms — tablets, capsules, drops, slow-release
Cons
  • NHS: 'it's possible to become addicted to tramadol'
  • Sleepy, dizzy or 'spaced out' in >1 in 100 people (NHS)
  • Prescription-only in SG — all 13 registered products
Sources
  1. HSA Register of Therapeutic Products (open data, data.gov.sg d_767279312753558cbf19d48344577084) — datastore_search API, 5,511 rows · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “ACUGESIC CAPSULE 50 mg [SIN08953P] … TRAMADOL HCl … Prescription Only … MABRON CAPSULE 50 mg … TRAMADOL 50 STADA CAPSULE 50 mg … TRADOL INJECTION 50 mg/ml … TRACIDOL INJECTION 50mg/ml … ULTRACET TABLET … Prescription Only”
  2. MOH National Drug Formulary — ACUGESIC CAPSULE 50 MG [SIN08953P] (HSA-registered SG product record, updated 28 July 2026) · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “TRAMADOL HCL - 50 MG … PRESCRIPTION ONLY MEDICINES … INDICATION: Severe acute and chronic pain … In general, the daily dose should not exceed 400 mg Tramadol HCl (equivalent to 8 TRAMADOL capsules/tablets). In impaired renal or hepatic function it may be necessary to adjust the dose … CONTRAINDICATIONS: Acute intoxication with alcohol, hypnotics, analgesics or other CNS-acting drugs … In patients who are receiving MAO inhibitors or who have taken them within the last 14 days … In patients with epilepsy not adequately controlled by treatment”
  3. NHS — About tramadol (reviewed 4 February 2026) · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “Tramadol is a strong painkiller from a group of medicines called opioids, or narcotics. It's used to treat moderate to severe pain … Tramadol is available only on prescription … usually starts working to relieve your pain in 30 to 60 minutes … It's possible to become addicted to tramadol … It's best not to drink alcohol with tramadol”
  4. NHS — How and when to take tramadol (reviewed 4 February 2026) · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “standard tablets and capsules – usually 3 to 4 times a day … slow-release tablets and capsules – usually once or twice a day … Dosage varies from person to person. Your doctor will decide the right dose for you … Swallow each tramadol tablet or capsule whole with a glass of water … If you have been taking tramadol for more than a few weeks, do not stop taking it without speaking to your doctor first”
  5. NHS — Who can and cannot take tramadol (reviewed 4 February 2026) · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “have a condition which causes seizures or fits … have a head injury … have an addiction to alcohol, strong painkillers or recreational drugs … have breathing difficulties … have kidney or liver problems … are pregnant, breastfeeding, or trying to get pregnant”
  6. NHS — Side effects of tramadol (reviewed 4 February 2026) · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “These common side effects of tramadol happen to more than 1 in 100 people … Feeling sleepy, tired, dizzy or 'spaced out' … Feeling or being sick … Constipation … Dry mouth … Sweating … Serious side effects happen in less than 1 in 100 people … have a seizure or fit … have breathing difficulties or short shallow breathing”
  7. NHS — Taking tramadol with other medicines and herbal supplements (reviewed 4 February 2026) · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “Do not take medicines called monoamine oxidase inhibitors or MAOIs with tramadol … The combination can cause serious side effects such as anxiety, confusion and hallucinations … It's safe to take tramadol with paracetamol, ibuprofen or aspirin … Do not take medicines that contain codeine with tramadol because you are more likely to get side effects”
  8. NHS — Common questions about tramadol · read 2026-08-29
    what it says
    “Drinking alcohol while you’re taking tramadol can make you feel more sleepy or increase the risk of serious side effects.”
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Updated 2026-08-29. Every line above traces to a numbered source. Kozen-X is not a medical device and does not give medical advice. It lists what published sources have written down — nothing more. A pair not listed is unrecorded, not cleared. Before you start, stop or re-time anything, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.