{"id":630109,"date":"2024-10-15T17:48:12","date_gmt":"2024-10-15T21:48:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=630109"},"modified":"2025-09-18T14:08:16","modified_gmt":"2025-09-18T18:08:16","slug":"tramadol-for-headache","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/tramadol-for-headache\/","title":{"rendered":"Can I take tramadol for headache?"},"content":{"rendered":"

There are many different <\/span>types of headaches<\/span><\/a>, and treatments are available to treat and potentially prevent them. <\/span>Treatments may include<\/span> over-the-counter<\/span> (OTC) drugs, such as <\/span>Advil<\/span><\/a> (ibuprofen), or prescription medications, such as <\/span>Imitrex<\/span><\/a> (<\/span>sumatriptan<\/span>).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In some cases, especially severe ones, people may wonder if <\/span>opioid<\/span> medications<\/span><\/a>, such as <\/span>tramadol<\/span>, are a good option for headaches. <\/span>Tramadol<\/span><\/a>\u2013which is commonly referred to by its brand name <\/span>Ultram<\/span>\u2013is a generic <\/span>opioid<\/span> medication that\u2019s <\/span>approved by the Food and Drug Administration (<\/span>FDA<\/span>)<\/span> for moderate-to-<\/span>severe pain<\/span> that\u2019s unmanaged by alternative treatments. It\u2019s classified as a Schedule IV <\/span>controlled substance<\/span><\/a> due to its potential for misuse, abuse, and addiction. While <\/span>tramadol<\/span> is an effective <\/span>treatment option<\/span> for <\/span>pain management<\/span>, <\/span>opioids<\/span> are generally regarded as a <\/span>last resort treatment<\/span> for headaches.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Will <\/span>tramadol<\/span> help with a headache?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Opioids<\/span>, such as <\/span>tramadol<\/span>, are <\/span>moderately effective<\/span> for headache treatment. However<\/span>,<\/span> they aren\u2019t considered first-line treatments and should be reserved for refractory, or difficult-to-treat, migraines. Even in cases of refractory migraine, <\/span>opioids<\/span> should be used sparingly due to their risks of <\/span>medication overuse headache<\/span> (MOH)<\/span><\/a>—or rebound headache—and abuse. They also have no utility in headache prevention. <\/span><\/p>\n

According to the <\/span>American <\/span>Headache Society<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>opioids<\/span> are considered a last resort, and routine use of <\/span>opioids<\/span> can often cause more frequent and severe headaches. Regular use can also lead to <\/span>opioid<\/span> dependency, which requires a complicated detoxification process that may, in turn, worsen headache symptoms.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

How does <\/span>tramadol<\/span> work for headaches?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Tramadol<\/span> is an <\/span>opioid<\/span> agonist<\/span> that relieves pain<\/span> by binding to <\/span>opioid<\/span> receptors<\/span><\/a> in the central nervous system (CNS). This reduces the amount of pain you feel. <\/span>Tramadol<\/span> is unique from other <\/span>opioids<\/span> because it also increases<\/span> norepinephrine<\/span><\/a> and<\/span> serotonin<\/span><\/a> levels in the brain, which are chemicals involved with pain perception.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As an <\/span>opioid<\/span>, <\/span>tramadol<\/span> is considered a <\/span>nonspecific headache medication<\/span><\/a> because it works for many types of pain, not just headaches. Other examples of nonspecific migraine drugs are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and butalbital-containing medications. Migraine-specific medications, such as <\/span>triptans<\/span> and ergotamine-containing drugs, are typically <\/span>recommended<\/span><\/a> for people with moderate to severe headache-related disability. <\/span>Healthcare<\/span> providers usually prescribe simple, nonspecific analgesics, such as Tylenol (<\/span>acetaminophen<\/span>) and NSAIDs, as <\/span>first-choice treatments<\/span><\/a> for mild to moderate <\/span>migraine attacks<\/span>, while <\/span>triptans<\/span> are <\/span>first-line treatments<\/span><\/a> for moderate to severe migraines.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

RELATED: Toradol vs. tramadol<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

How long does it take for <\/span>tramadol<\/span> to work for headaches?<\/span><\/h2>\n

According to its <\/span>prescribing<\/span> information, <\/span>tramadol<\/span> relieves pain within one hour of being taken, and its effects peak after about two to three hours. Although it’s not commonly prescribed for headaches, you can expect <\/span>tramadol<\/span> to relieve headaches within a similar timeframe.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Tramadol<\/span> dosage for headaches<\/span><\/h2>\n

Due to its risk of overdose, <\/span>healthcare<\/span> professionals typically prescribe <\/span>tramadol<\/span> at the lowest effective dose for the shortest time needed. If needed, they will increase the dosage slowly every few days until it provides adequate <\/span>pain relief<\/span>. The typical starting dosage for general pain is 50 to 100 mg, as needed once every 4 to 6 hours, and the maximum dosage is 400 mg per day. <\/span>Tramadol<\/span> may be taken with or without food.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In a<\/span> randomized, <\/span>placebo-controlled trial<\/span><\/a> of over 300 participants<\/span>, researchers studied the effect of a combination <\/span>pain medication<\/span> containing <\/span>tramadol<\/span> and <\/span>acetaminophen<\/span> on the management of <\/span>acute migraine pain<\/span>. They found that participants who took a total daily dose of 75 mg of <\/span>tramadol<\/span> and 650 mg of <\/span>acetaminophen<\/span> experienced reduced pain, light sensitivity, and sound sensitivity related to <\/span>migraine headaches<\/span> in comparison to those who took a placebo (sugar pill). <\/span>While these researchers evaluated the effects of a combination medication containing <\/span>tramadol\/acetaminophen<\/span>, it\u2019s helpful to note the total dose of <\/span>tramadol<\/span> found to provide headache relief was 75 mg per day.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Tramadol<\/span> interactions and <\/span>side effects<\/span><\/h2>\n

Like many other prescription medications, <\/span>tramadol<\/span> can <\/span>interact with other drugs<\/span><\/a>. These interactions can increase the risk of <\/span>side effects<\/span> or make <\/span>tramadol<\/span> less effective. Here are some of the common <\/span>tramadol<\/span> drug interactions.\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n