codeine vs tramadol
Side-by-side comparison of codeine and tramadol. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
minor Known Drug Interaction
Examples of these drugs include, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), triptans, 5-HT3 receptor antagonists, drugs that affect the serotonin neurotransmitter system (e.g., mirtazapine, trazodone, tramadol), certain muscle relaxants (i.e., cyclobenzaprine, metaxalone), and monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors (used to treat psychiatric disorders and also others, such as linezolid and intravenous methylene blue) (see PRECAUTIONS; Information for Patients/Caregivers ).
Recommendation: Use caution when taking these together and report any symptoms like sweating, muscle stiffness, or agitation to your healthcare provider.
This medicine contains acetaminophen and codeine. It is used to treat mild to moderate pain when other pain medicines are not strong enough.
Tramadol extended-release is a strong pain medicine. It is used to treat severe, ongoing pain that needs an opioid medicine when other pain medicines don't work well enough.
This medicine is used to manage mild to moderate pain. It is for when an opioid medicine is appropriate. You should only use it if other pain treatments are not working well enough for you.
Tramadol extended-release tablets are used to manage severe, long-lasting pain. This medicine is for pain that requires an opioid and cannot be treated well with other options. It is not for pain that comes and goes.
Codeine works in the brain to change how your body feels and responds to pain. Acetaminophen also helps to relieve pain. Together, they provide pain relief.
Tramadol works in your brain to change how your body feels pain. It binds to opioid receptors and also affects certain chemicals in the brain. This helps to lessen the pain you feel.
- • Feeling drowsy
- • Lightheadedness
- • Dizziness
- • Feeling sleepy
- • Shortness of breath
- • Dizziness
- • Constipation
- • Feeling sick to your stomach
- • Headache
- • Feeling sleepy
- Allergic reaction to the medicine 806
- Feeling sick to your stomach 487
- Feeling unwell 374
- Throwing up 364
- Head pain 356
- Needing the drug to function 7,820
- Taking too much of the drug 3,855
- Throwing up 3,156
- Discomfort 2,880
- Feeling sick to your stomach 2,713
This medicine can be habit-forming, leading to addiction, abuse, and misuse, which can result in overdose and death. Serious, life-threatening breathing problems can occur, especially when starting the medicine or after a dose increase. Accidental ingestion, especially by children, can cause a fatal overdose. Do not give this medicine to children under 12 years old, or to children under 18 after tonsil or adenoid removal, due to the risk of life-threatening breathing problems. This medicine can also harm your liver. Taking this medicine with certain other medicines like benzodiazepines or other CNS depressants can cause serious side effects, including death.
Tramadol extended-release tablets can be habit-forming, leading to addiction, abuse, and misuse, which can result in overdose and death. Taking tramadol with other depressants like alcohol or benzodiazepines can cause very serious side effects, including slowed breathing, coma, and death. Even one dose of tramadol can be fatal, especially in children. Using tramadol for a long time during pregnancy can cause withdrawal symptoms in the newborn.
This medicine can cause withdrawal symptoms in newborns if taken during pregnancy. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if this medicine passes into breast milk.
Tramadol may harm your unborn baby. Breastfeeding is not recommended while taking this medicine, as it can pass into breast milk and harm your baby.
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How to Read This codeine vs tramadol Comparison
codeine is classified in the Opioid Analgesic drug class, while tramadol sits within the Opioid Analgesic class. Because both drugs share the same classification, they are often considered interchangeable in theory, but clinical outcomes rarely track that cleanly. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.
Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, codeine has 2,387 submissions while tramadol has 20,424. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. These two drugs have a known minor interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to these medications both increase the amount of serotonin in your body. having too much serotonin can lead to a serious condition called serotonin syndrome.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.
A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between codeine and tramadol - always consult your physician or pharmacist first.
Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.