Treat pain effectively with Tramadol

Of all of the concerns expressed by pet owners who come to my clinic, the most frequent is that they don’t want their pets to be in pain.
The desire among pet owners to eliminate pain in their pets often seems even greater than their concern for their own pain. It seems we accept the reality that we will all experience physical pain now and then, and that as we age we may have to accept some degree of chronic pain, but as pet owners we are adamant about eliminating pain from the lives of our dogs and cats.
As in human beings, the most common cause of chronic pain in dogs and cats is from joint disease or arthritis. Of more concern is pain that results from cancer. But the manner in which pain is exhibited by dogs and cats can be very different from the manner in which pain presents itself in humans. We can only treat pain effectively if we can recognize it.
Pain due to joint disease may be exhibited as lameness as it is in you and me, but a much more common sign of pain is what we call “exercise intolerance.” Dogs with arthritis, particularly those with arthritis of several joints, usually are not able to exercise to the degree they could in the past. Often they cannot go as far on a regular walk and may turn around early to go home or simply lie down when they have had enough. Cats with arthritis often are less active around the house. They may stop jumping up on furniture and spend more time lying down. Families with small children should be warned that dogs or cats that develop pain can become protective of their site of pain and may bite or scratch. Other common signs of pain in pets are depression and decreased appetite. These signs may be associated with almost any source of pain.
Fortunately for our pets, the management of pain has improved dramatically in the last 10 years. When I first joined the faculty of a veterinary school in California, we were very limited on the medications we could prescribe for home management of pain in pets. Aspirin was the most common medication we used, and while it is very effective in treating pain in dogs, the dosages require to achieve adequate pain relief often cause serious stomach irritation and ulcers. Since then a classification of drugs called NSAIDs has become widely available. NSAID stands for non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, and it includes such drugs as Rimadyl, Deramaxx, Metacam and others. These drugs work in a way that is similar to aspirin but with a much lower chance of stomach upset. However, these drugs have a small potential to cause liver or kidney disease. That is why their use should always be regulated by a veterinarian and why many doctors recommend regular blood tests (about every 6 months) if a pet is on one of these medications on a regular basis. These medications have dramatically improved the quality of life of dogs and cats with chronic pain and are safe in the vast majority of animals. There is no one best brand, and any medication may help or have side effects in any pet.
Nutritional supplements have become very popular in the treatment of joint pain in dogs and cats, but there are a few things that are very important for pet owners to understand regarding these products.
First, the evidence regarding their effectiveness remains controversial, and while I recommend nutritional supplements for my patients with arthritis, it is important that owners understand that they will not work in all cases.
Second, nutritional supplements are not regulated by the government, and some studies have shown that some products falsely list the actual content of the product. So, the buyer must beware and look to independent sources such as your veterinarian, Consumer Reports or consumerlabs.com to determine the quality of a product.
For more acute pain, veterinarians have recently been prescribing a drug called Tramadol. This is a synthetic opiate that can be very effective in the treatment of more severe pain. Another drug for acute pain is a fentanyl patch. Fentanyl is an opiate that can be absorbed through the skin; however, the patches last for only about three days and owners must be very careful with these patches around small children.
Finally, there are numerous alternative therapies that may aid in the treatment of pain in our pets. There is evidence that acupuncture can significantly aid in pain management, particularly in the treatment of arthritis.
The most basic goal of veterinary medicine is the restoration of quality of life and function for our patients. We are fortunate to be in a time when we have so many methods of treating pain in our pets.

is easy to purchase Tramadol online

It is easy to purchase prescription drugs and controlled substances through spam messages via the Internet, two Canadian researchers found.
In fact, one-third of all spam messages advertise health products such as drugs and natural health products, said study authors Peter Gernburd and Alejandro Jadad at the Centre for Global eHealth Innovation, University of Toronto.
The researchers studied e-mail messages sent to three accounts over a one month period and found the three accounts received 4,153 spam messages and found 73 percent of the health-related spam came from the United States, 16 percent from China and 5 percent from the Democratic Republic of Congo, reported the journal PLoS Medicine.
The researchers said they successfully purchased sedatives purported to be Valium and Xanax, an opiate pain killer Tramadol, a drug for erectile dysfunction and an anti-obesity drug, as well as several mixtures of natural health products to promote weight reduction or improvement of male sexual function.
"As the number of people who turn to the Internet looking for health or lifestyle problems increases, merchants will rise to the occasion, matching the demand," the authors said in a statement. "As this study has shown, current regulatory, legal and geographic boundaries are unable to contain the flow of products across the world."

Tramadol research

Persistent, chronic pain among full-time U.S. workers has risen dramatically in the past 10 years, with workers in chronic pain choosing to go to their jobs rather than call in sick. In fact, a recent survey found that chronic pain was more common in the workplace in 2006 than it was in 1996, leading to a growing trend of presenteeism — a negative impact on work despite being physically present at the job. The survey findings are from a 2006 national survey on “Pain in the Workplace” sponsored by PriCara(TM), Unit of Ortho-McNeil. Inc., and conducted in partnership with the National Pain Foundation (NPF). The survey was an update to a 1996 poll on the subject. “Chronic pain appears to be increasing in prevalence among U.S. workers as Americans age and lead more sedentary lifestyles,” said Rollin Gallagher, M.D., M.P.H., editor-in-chief of the NPF , a founding and current member of the Board of the NPF and clinical professor and director, Center for Pain Medicine, Research and Policy, University of Pennsylvania. “This survey indicates that employees with chronic pain must become their own advocates, understand theimpact of their chronic pain and collaborate with their health care professional to identify appropriate treatment options.” “Patients are looking for ways to manage their pain, and there are treatments that can help, such as diet and exercise, physical therapy, acupuncture and a variety of over-the-counter and prescription medications,” said Charles Argoff, M.D., assistant professor of neurology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, N.Y. “For adult patients with chronic pain who require around-the-clock treatment of their pain for an extended period of time, extendedrelease pain medicines such as prescription ULTRAM(R) ER (tramadol HCl) extended-release tablets,taken once daily, have been shown to relieve moderate to moderately severe chronic pain.” The methodologies for the 1996 and 2006 surveys were identical and allow for valid comparisons to be made between the two surveys. The National Pain Foundation does not endorse or recommend any specific treatment, procedure, or product.
About Tramadol Important Safety Information Tramadol is used to manage moderate to moderately severe chronic pain in adults who need to be treated around the clock for their pain for an extended period of time. Do not take Tramadol if you have had an allergic reaction to tramadol, codeine, or other opioids in the past. Tramadol tablets must be swallowed whole. Do not chew, crush or split the tablet before swallowing. This can lead to overdose and possible serious injury including death. Use of alcohol should be avoided when taking Tramadol. Do not change your dose or stop taking Tramadol without talking with your doctor first. Talk with your doctor about all the medications you are taking. These may include antidepressants,tranquilizers, hypnotics or other opioid pain medicines. Tramadol may impair your ability to perform potentially hazardous tasks, such as driving a car or operating machinery. Seizures have been reported in people taking tramadol, the medicinein Tramadol. The risk of seizures is increased with doses of tramadol above the recommended range. Use of tramadol increases the risk of seizures in people taking antidepressants, other opioids, or other drugs that can cause seizures. Risk of convulsions may also increase in people with epilepsy or a history of seizures. Tramadol, like other opioids, can be abused or cause dependence. People who are suicidal or have a history of drug addiction should not take Tramadol. Do not take more than the recommended dose of Tramadol. Taking more than the recommended dose of Tramadol, alone or in combination with alcohol or medications such as tranquilizers, hypnotics or other opioids, can cause respiratory depression, seizures, overdose and possibly death. Tell your doctor about all your medical conditions and if you are pregnant, think you might be pregnant or are trying to become pregnant. The most common side effects reported with Tramadol were dizziness, nausea, constipation, headache, and drowsiness.

Labopharm Inc. says an additional Phase 3 clinical trial may be needed to satisfy U.S. Food and Drug Administration in an approval application for its once-daily painkiller tramadol.

The company said a recent meeting with the agency "was productive" and the statistical analysis needed for approval "has been clearly delineated."

Ortho-McNeil, Inc. has announced that it settled its patent litigation against Par Pharmaceutical Companies, Inc. and its subsidiaries, Par Pharmaceutical, Inc., and Kali Laboratories, Inc., generic drug manufacturers, regarding their infringement of the Ortho-McNeil patent for Tramadol.

A doctor gave Tramadol during the party

Dr Graeme Wilson, of Chorlton, Manchester, was giving Tramadol to guests at a party at his home.
The General Medical Council (GMC) heard how he told one woman they would make her "mellow". Another guest became ill and was taken to hospital.
The doctor was found guilty of impairment by reason of misconduct at a hearing in Manchester. Dr Wilson asked a woman at the dinner party if she "did drugs".
A judgment read by the panel chairman said: "You told her that you were a doctor and you then took a foil strip from what appeared to be your doctor's bag.
"She reported feeling very floaty but tired and lost track of time.
"She also stated that her balance was so bad that she had to crawl up the stairs to the toilet.
"This case involves one isolated event in which the Panel found that you recklessly persuaded your two dinner guests to take Tramadol.
"The Panel found that, in doing so, you abused the position of trust which is placed in you as a doctor and breached fundamental principles of Good Medical Practice.
"Your misconduct has, therefore, damaged public confidence in the medical profession."