At some point in time, everyone suffers from pain. This pain can be of any intensity ranging from mildly moderate to severe. Several diseases or disorders are known to cause pain. For example, individuals can feel it if they have arthritis or are suffering from chronic disease. Luckily, there are a number of pain management drugs available for such patients.
The two most common drugs used to treat mild, moderate, and severe pain are Tramadol and Etodolac. In today’s time, these medications are getting attention from doctors and other healthcare experts. Let us now learn about these two drugs and explore how they are different from each other. This blog is a deep parallel analysis of Etodolac vs Tramadol.
What is Etodolac?
A common medication drug that is used to relieve pain and inflammation in patients is Etodolac. It works by reducing hormones that are responsible for triggering pain and inflammation. Etodolac is a Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drug that was patented in 1971. For medical use in the USA, this drug got approval in the year 1991.
Etodolac is generally prescribed by healthcare experts to their patients and is not to be taken without their recommendation. The two common forms in which this medicine is available are oral tablets and capsules. Healthcare professionals or doctors generally decide how and when to give Etodalac since it may be potent in many cases.
What is Tramadol?
Another effective medication drug that is used to treat pain in patients is Tramadol. If other pain-alleviating drugs are not giving positive results, this medicine is used by healthcare professionals. A synthetic opioid, Tramadol, works on the spine and brain to minimize the feeling of pain. This medication is available in the form of oral capsules, liquids, and tablets.
Tramadol is a Schedule IV drug. This indicates that individuals can be addicted to it. Tramadol is not approved by the FDA for use in some types of treatments. Hence, doctors remain cautious when administering this opioid-based drug to their patients.
Uses of Tramadol and Etodolac:
Both these drugs have common and different uses. In this section, we will learn about these uses.
Tramadol:
- Use of Tramadol as a pain reliever:
A primary use of Tramadol is to alleviate pain occurring in patients. During the treatment of severe pain, doctors may recommend the use of this medicine. No one should take this medicine without a healthcare prescription.
- Osteoarthritis Treatment:
Healthcare professionals may choose to use Tramadol on patients suffering from Osteoarthritis, a condition in which individuals experience inflammation or pain in the joints and other parts of their body.
- For Reducing Chronic Pain:
Chronic pain is different and more severe than other types of pain. It is a pain that can last for a longer duration and is related to a disease or disorder. Doctors may choose to use Tramadol for chronic pain treatment.
- Cancer Pain:
Cancer is painful. So, in order to provide some relief, doctors may choose to prescribe Tramadol to their patients. Healthcare professionals could also choose to use it with other medicines.
- Pediatric Sickle Cell Disease:
Doctors may choose to use this medication when offering treatment to patients suffering from Pediatric Sickle Cell Disease. It generally acts as a pain reliever for such patients.
Etodolac:
- Used as Pain Reliever:
Etodolac is a medicine that can be used to treat mild or moderate pain. For severe pain, it may or may not be used. The decision to use it on patients is generally made by their doctors only.
- Osteoarthritis Treatment with Etodolac:
It can be used by healthcare professionals when providing the treatment of Osteoarthritis to their patients. The dosage of Etodolac prescribed by doctors depends on the health condition of their patients.
- Rheumatoid Arthritis:
Rheumatoid Arthritis is a type of arthritis in which individuals may feel stiffness or swelling in their joints. Etodolac is known to provide some relief during the treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis.
- To Treat After Surgery Pain:
Individuals generally experience pain after successfully completing their surgeries. Doctors may choose to use this pain reliever on them so that they feel more comfortable.
Comparing Tramadol with Etodolac:
In this section, we will compare Etodolac and Tramadol based on several parameters.
- Drug Class:
Both these drugs differ in terms of their categories. Tramadol is a pain-alleviating drug that comes in the category of synthetic-opioid drugs. On the other hand, Etodolac is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug.
- Interaction With Other Drugs:
Tramadol is known to interact with more drugs. There are around 655 drugs that can interact with this pain-relieving medicine. On the other hand, approximately 355 drugs are known to interact with Etodolac.
- Dosage Quantity:
The dosage quantity of both these medication drugs varies. Generally, around 9 tablets of Etodolac are recommended by doctors to their patients. Doctors can choose to prescribe 20 tablets of Tramadol to them. These dosages depend on the type of treatment, the patient is undergoing.
- Half-Life:
Half-life is a crucial parameter when comparing medicines. The half-life of Tramadol is less than that of Etodolac. Etodolac has a half-life of around 6.7 hours. However, the half-life of Tramadol is 5.2 hours.
- Treating Pain:
Etodolac is commonly used to treat the pain that can occur in patients suffering from different types of arthritis. Tramadol is a medicine that is used to treat pain related to nerves.
Dosages of Etodolac and Tramadol:
The dosages of these medicines are available in different amounts. Let’s start the discussion.
Etodolac Dosage Suitable For Patient:
The strength of the Etodolac dosage can range from 200 mg to 600 mg. When offering long-term treatment to adults suffering from Osteoarthritis, doctors usually give them an oral dose of 600 mg per day. The maximum dosage should not exceed 1000 mg per day. Once every day, an oral-extended release of this medication between 400 mg to 1000 mg is administered by healthcare professionals.
Suitable Tramadol Dosage:
The available strengths of Tramadol are 5 mg, 50 mg, 100 mg, 150 mg, 200 mg, 300 mg, and 37.5/325 mg. In these strengths, the dosages may be given to patients by their doctors within 24 hours. After examining the health condition of an individual, doctors decide on one of these dosages. They may also change dosage strengths. The maximum dosage of Tramadol should not exceed 400 mg per day.
Side Effects of Etodolac and Tramadol:
Etodolac and Tramadol can have their side effects. Here is a list of side effects of these medicines.
Tramadol Side Effects:
- Constipation
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Itching
- Headache
- Pain in stomach
- Drowsiness
- Dizziness
- Constipation
- Sighing
- Noisy breathing
- Weak pulse
- Seizures
- Low Cortisol levels
Sife Effects of Etodolac:
- Belching
- Blurred vision
- Cloudy urine
- Pain in chest
- Pale skin
- Runny nose
- Diarrhea
- Dizziness
- Constipation
- Loss of appetite
- Agitation
- Confusion
- Depression
- Hives
- Sleepiness
- Seizures
If someone is experiencing any of these symptoms, he or she must report it immediately to a doctor. Otherwise, health complications could get worse.
Summary:
Etodolac and Tramadol are two medicines that treat and alleviate pain. In this blog, we have also learned how they are different from each other. Both these medicines are only available through prescription. Do not take them without any healthcare professional’s suggestion. They may or may not advise the long-term use of these medicines.
The generic versions of Etodolac and Tramadol are available at low prices. Alcohol and other drinks must be avoided when taking these medication drugs. If individuals are taking other medicines, they should speak about them to their healthcare professionals because Tramadol and Etodolac can negatively react with those medicines.
Read More:
What pain medication can I take with gabapentin?
What Is The Best Medication For Nerve Pain?