The majority of adults can use this drug without any precautions. There are dosage restrictions depending on age and various medical conditions but, of all the painkillers, Tramadol causes the fewest side effects and, unlike the opiates, is not addictive.

How does Tramadol work? What chemical processes are involved so we can feel less pain and move around more freely? What makes Tramadol so effective? Learn now …

Every drug has advantages and disadvantages. Do we take too many painkillers like Tramadol? What are the alternatives to Tramadol? Learn now

The overall problem

As a nation, America takes more drugs per head of population than any other country. Unfortunately, a significant proportion of this consumption is unjustified. The marketers working for the pharmaceutical industry have convinced the average American that almost every medical problem can be solved by taking a pill. So America has a high number of people who are now dependent on drugs and not receiving effective treatment for their medical problems.

The European approach

The Europeans have a more active regulatory system that monitors the behavior of doctors and the effectiveness of the treatments. The public purse cannot be used to pay for treatments unless there is good evidence the treatment works well. This forces citizens to take a decision. They are free to buy private medical insurance that will pay for any treatment a physician is willing to supply. But is this worth the cost? Most people decide they prefer their doctors only to use treatments proved effective.

What is the problem with painkillers?

The drugs used to treat minor and moderate pain are free from serious side effects. But almost all the drugs available to treat more serious levels of pain are addictive. So long as you restrict yourself to the non-addictive or less addictive drugs, the situation is controllable. This is difficult because of the problem of tolerance. When you first take a drug, the chemicals surprise your body and the drug is effective. But if you take the drug for too long, your body grows used to it and the level of effectiveness drops. The choice is therefore dangerous. If you decide to increase the dosage or you switch to a more powerful drug, you are starting down the slippery slope to dependence. The European approach is pain management.

What is pain management?

This is a team effort to change your mindset and adjust your home and workplace behavior to reduce the amount of pain. So physical therapists combine with counselors and cognitive behavioral therapists to train body and mind to cope without relying on drugs at all, or only using drugs when the level of pain reaches a critical threshold. The aim is to give you a good quality of life without risking dependence. Unfortunately, American hospitals do not find it profitable to train people to manage without treatment. So long as America remains for-profit, pain management is going to be rare.