Can You Take Tylenol With Tramadol?

Answer

Tylenol (acetaminophen) can safely be taken with tramadol as there is no known drug interaction between them. In fact, acetaminophen and tramadol are available in combination in a single product, Ultracet (tramadol; acetaminophen).

The Combination May Be More Effective Than Either Drug Alone

Several studies have concluded that the combination of tramadol and acetaminophen can provide more effective pain relief than either drug can on their own.

One such study reported that the combination's benefits include their different mechanisms of action, onset of action and duration of action:

Tramadol/acetaminophen combination is a new preparation that is effective in acute or chronic moderate-to-moderately severe pain. It benefits from the complementary actions of the constituent analgesics, having the rapid onset of acetaminophen and the sustained effect of tramadol.

Another study reported better pain relief (i.e. supra-analgesic effects) when both drugs are used together compared to either drug alone:

Our study provides first results on interactions of tramadol and acetaminophen on experimental pain and hyperalgesia in humans. Pharmacodynamic modeling combined with the isobolographic technique showed supra-additive effects of the combination of acetaminophen and tramadol concerning both, analgesia and antihyperalgesia. The results might act as a rationale for combining both analgesics.

How Do Tramadol And Tylenol Work?

Tylenol is an analgesic (i.e., pain-reliever) and antipyretic (i.e., fever reducer). It works by changing how we sense pain. Specifically, it increases the pain threshold by inhibiting cyclooxygenase enzymes.

Tramadol works via several different mechanisms. Namely, it is an opioid agonist and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor.

These differing mechanisms of action are thought to be complementary for treating several different types of pain, which is likely why studies have shown that they work well in combination with one another.

You can find out more information on these drugs on drug detail pages:

• Acetaminophen
• Tramadol

Additional Information

Although I talk about acetaminophen and tramadol being available as a single pill, it makes sense in your case to have them as separate drugs.

Tramadol is an opioid and should only be taken if necessary to help control your pain. If you get effective relief in most situation from Tylenol alone, it makes sense to continue taking that primarily for your pain, and only add tramadol on when needed.

So, yes, you can take Tylenol first, and if you need additional pain relief, tramadol is safe to add on.

Final Words

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