Tramadol is an opioid pain medication used when non-opioid medications aren't working well enough to control pain. Compared to other opioids, tramadol might have a lower risk of misuse and dependency. What is tramadol, and what is it used for? Tramadol is a synthetic (man-made) pain reliever (analgesic). Researchers and doctors do not know the exact mechanism of action of tramadol, but it is similar to morphine. Tramadol is an opioid agonist that may be used to treat moderate to moderately severe chronic pain in adults, when other pain treatments such as non-opioid pain medicines do not treat your pain well enough, or you cannot tolerate them. Tramadol, sold under the brand name Tramal among others, [19][1] is an opioid pain medication and a serotonin–norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) used to treat moderate to severe pain. [15][19] When taken by mouth in an immediate-release formulation, the onset of pain relief usually begins within an hour. [15] Tramadol belongs to the group of medicines called opioid analgesics. It acts in the central nervous system (CNS) to relieve pain. When tramadol is used for a long time, it may become habit-forming, causing mental or physical dependence. Tramadol is legally a controlled opioid, but its unique mechanism comes with distinct risks like seizures and serotonin syndrome that set it apart from other narcotics. Tramadol is a synthetic (man-made) opioid that requires metabolism in the body to become active. Once inside the body, it binds to mu opioid receptors in the brain and spinal cord to relieve pain, in a similar way to how morphine works, although tramadol is 10 times weaker than morphine. To control medium to severe pain, there is no better option than taking tramadol. Being an opioid agonist, it works on the opioid receptors in the brain & body. When other painkillers do not relieve, tramadol dosage works well. To control pain, it works on the central nervous system. Tramadol is a synthetic opioid analgesic that was first approved for medical use in the 1990s. It is commonly prescribed for conditions such as post-surgical pain, osteoarthritis, and fibromyalgia. Tramadol is a nontraditional centrally acting analgesic with a dual mechanism of action. It is a weak opioid and also a reuptake inhibitor for serotonin and norepinephrine.