4.1. Therapeutic indications

Treatment of moderate to severe pain.

4.2. Posology and method of administration

Posology

Prior to starting treatment with opioids, a discussion should be held with patients to put in place a strategy for ending treatment with tramadol in order to minimise the risk of addiction and drug withdrawal syndrome (see section 4.4).

The dose should be adjusted to the intensity of the pain and the sensitivity of the individual patient. The lowest effective dose for analgesia should generally be selected.

Unless otherwise prescribed, Tramadol drops should be administered as follows:

Adults and adolescents above the age of 12 years:

The usual daily dose is 50 to 100 mg (20 to 40 drops), 3 to 4 times a day. In children from 12 to 14 years, it is recommended to use the lowest dose.

For acute pain an initial dose of 100 mg is usually necessary. In case TRAMADOL Drops is used for acute pain, it should be stressed that its activity is somewhat delayed in comparison to that of other analgesics.

For pain associated with chronic conditions an initial dose of 50 mg is advised. It is recommended, when possible in case of chronic treatment, to slowly increase tramadol dosage to its final recommended dose (with increments every 2 to 3 days) in order to reduce the incidence of adverse events.

Elderly:

A dose adjustment is not usually necessary in elderly patients up to 75 years without clinically manifest hepatic or renal insufficiency. In elderly patients over 75 years elimination may be prolonged. Therefore, if necessary, the dosage interval is to be extended according to the patient's requirements.

Renal insufficiency/dialysis and hepatic impairment:

In patients with renal and/or hepatic insufficiency the elimination of tramadol is delayed. In these patient's prolongation of the dosage intervals should be carefully considered according to the patient's requirements. In cases of severe renal and/or severe hepatic insufficiency Tramadol drops are not recommended.

Paediatric population:

Tramadol drops is not suitable for children below the age of 12 years.

Method of administration the drops should be administered orally and be diluted with water before administration, independent of meals.

Treatment goals and discontinuation

Before initiating treatment with Tramadol oral drops, a treatment strategy including treatment duration and treatment goals, and a plan for end of the treatment, should be agreed together with the patient, in accordance with pain management guidelines. During treatment, there should be frequent contact between the physician and the patient to evaluate the need for continued treatment, consider discontinuation and to adjust dosages if needed. When a patient no longer requires therapy with tramadol, it may be advisable to taper the dose gradually to prevent symptoms of withdrawal. In absence of adequate pain control, the possibility of hyperalgesia, tolerance and progression of underlying disease should be considered (see section 4.4).

4.3. Contraindications

Tramadol drops is contraindicated

- in hypersensitivity to the active substance or any of the excipients listed in section 6.1,

- in acute intoxication with alcohol, hypnotics, analgesics, opioids or other psychotropic medicinal products,

- in patients who are receiving MAO inhibitors or who have taken them within the last 14 days (see section 4.5),

- in patients with epilepsy not adequately controlled by treatment,

- for use in narcotic withdrawal treatment.

4.4. Special warnings and precautions for use

Tramadol drops may only be used with particular caution in opioid-dependent patients, patients with head injury, shock, a reduced level of consciousness of uncertain origin, disorders of the respiratory centre or function, increased intracranial pressure.

In patients sensitive to opiates Tramadol drops should only be used with caution.

Care should be taken when treating patients with respiratory depression, or if concomitant CNS depressant drugs are being administered (see section 4.5), or if the recommended dosage is significantly exceeded (see section 4.9) as the possibility of respiratory depression cannot be excluded in these situations.

Convulsions have been reported in patients receiving tramadol at the recommended dose levels. The risk may be increased when doses of tramadol hydrochloride exceed the recommended upper daily dose limit (400 mg). In addition, tramadol may increase the seizure risk in patients taking other medicinal products that lowers the seizure threshold (see section 4.5). Patients with epilepsy or those susceptible to seizures should only be treated with tramadol if there are compelling circumstances.

Serotonin syndrome

Serotonin syndrome, a potentially life-threatening condition, has been reported in patients receiving tramadol in combination with other serotonergic agents or tramadol alone (see sections 4.5, 4.8 and 4.9).

If concomitant treatment with other serotonergic agents is clinically warranted, careful observation of the patient is advised, particularly during treatment initiation and dose escalations.

Symptoms of serotonin syndrome may include mental status changes, autonomic instability, neuromuscular abnormalities and/or gastrointestinal symptoms.

If serotonin syndrome is suspected, a dose reduction or discontinuation of therapy should be considered depending on the severity of the symptoms. Withdrawal of the serotonergic drugs usually brings about a rapid improvement

Tolerance and opioid use disorder (abuse and dependence)

Tolerance, physical and psychological dependence, and opioid use disorder (OUD) may develop upon repeated administration of opioids such as Tramadol oral drops. Repeated use of Tramadol oral drops can lead to opioid use disorder (OUD). A higher dose and longer duration of opioid treatment can increase the risk of developing OUD. Abuse or intentional misuse of Tramadol oral drops may result in overdose and/or death. The risk of developing OUD is increased in patients with a personal or a family history (parents or siblings) of substance use disorders (including alcohol use disorder), in current tobacco users or in patients with a personal history of other mental health disorders (e.g. major depression, anxiety and personality disorders).

Before initiating treatment with Tramadol oral drops and during the treatment, treatment goals and a discontinuation plan should be agreed with the patient (see section 4.2). Before and during treatment the patient should also be informed about the risks and signs of OUD. If these signs occur, patients should be advised to contact their physician.

Patients will require monitoring for signs of drug-seeking behaviour (e.g. too early requests for refills). This includes the review of concomitant opioids and psycho-active drugs (like benzodiazepines). For patients with signs and symptoms of OUD, consultation with an addiction specialist should be considered.

Drug withdrawal syndrome

Prior to starting treatment with any opioids, a discussion should be held with patients to put in place a withdrawal strategy for ending treatment with tramadol

Drug withdrawal syndrome may occur upon abrupt cessation of therapy or dose reduction. When a patient no longer requires therapy, it is advisable to taper the dose gradually to minimise symptoms of withdrawal. Tapering from a high dose may take weeks to months.

The opioid drug withdrawal syndrome is characterised by some or all of the following: restlessness, lacrimation, rhinorrhoea, yawning, perspiration, chills, myalgia, mydriasis and palpitations. Other symptoms may also develop including irritability, agitation, anxiety, hyperkinesia, tremor, weakness, insomnia, anorexia, abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, increased blood pressure, increased respiratory rate or heart rate.

If women take this drug during pregnancy, there is a risk that their new born infants will experience neonatal withdrawal syndrome.

Hyperalgesia

Hyperalgesia may be diagnosed if the patient on long-term opioid therapy presents with increased pain. This might be qualitatively and anatomically distinct from pain related to disease progression or to breakthrough pain resulting from development of opioid tolerance. Pain associated with hyperalgesia tends to be more diffuse than the pre-existing pain and less defined in quality. Symptoms of hyperalgesia may resolve with a reduction of opioid dose.

Risk from concomitant use of sedative medicines such as benzodiazepines or related drugs:

Concomitant use of Tramadol oral drops and sedative medicines such as benzodiazepines or related drugs may result in sedation, respiratory depression, coma and death. Because of these risks, concomitant prescribing with these sedative medicines should be reserved for patients for whom alternative treatment options are not possible. If a decision is made to prescribe Tramadol oral drops concomitantly with sedative medicines, the lowest effective dose should be used, and the duration of treatment should be as short as possible.

The patients should be followed closely for signs and symptoms of respiratory depression and sedation. In this respect, it is strongly recommended to inform patients and their caregivers to be aware of these symptoms (see section 4.5).

CYP2D6 metabolism

Tramadol is metabolised by the liver enzyme CYP2D6. If a patient has a deficiency or is completely lacking this enzyme an adequate analgesic effect may not be obtained. Estimates indicate that up to 7% of the Caucasian population may have this deficiency. However, if the patient is an ultra-rapid metaboliser there is a risk of developing side effects of opioid toxicity even at commonly prescribed doses.

General symptoms of opioid toxicity include confusion, somnolence, shallow breathing, small pupils, nausea, vomiting, constipation and lack of appetite. In severe cases this may include symptoms of circulatory and respiratory depression, which may be life threatening and very rarely fatal. Estimates of prevalence of ultra-rapid metabolisers in different populations are summarised below:

Population

Prevalence %

African/Ethiopian

29%

African American

3.4% to 6.5%

Asian

1.2% to 2%

Caucasian

3.6% to 6.5%

Greek

6.0%

Hungarian

1.9%

Northern European

1% to 2%

Post-operative use in children

There have been reports in the published literature that tramadol given post-operatively in children after tonsillectomy and/or adenoidectomy for obstructive sleep apnoea, led to rare, but life threatening adverse events. Extreme caution should be exercised when tramadol is administered to children for post-operative pain relief and should be accompanied by close monitoring for symptoms of opioid toxicity including respiratory depression.

Children with compromised respiratory function

Tramadol is not recommended for use in children in whom respiratory function might be compromised including neuromuscular disorders, severe cardiac or respiratory conditions, upper respiratory or lung infections, multiple trauma or extensive surgical procedures. These factors may worsen symptoms of opioid toxicity.

This medicine contains less than 1 mmol sodium (23 mg) per dose, that is to say essentially 'sodium-free'.

Patients with rare hereditary problems of fructose intolerance, glucose-galactose malabsorption or sucrase-isomaltase insufficiency should not take this medicine.

4.5. Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction

Tramadol drops should not be combined with MAO inhibitors (see section 4.3).

In patients treated with MAO inhibitors in the 14 days prior to the use of the opioid pethidine, life-threatening interactions on the central nervous system, respiratory and cardiovascular function have been observed. The same interactions with MAO inhibitors cannot be ruled out during treatment with Tramadol drops. Concomitant administration of Tramadol drops with other centrally depressant medicinal products including alcohol may potentiate the CNS effects (see section 4.8). The concomitant use of Tramulief SR prolonged-release tablets with gabapentinoids (gabapentin and pregabalin) may result in respiratory depression, hypotension, profound sedation, coma or death.

The results of pharmacokinetic studies have so far shown that on the concomitant or previous administration of cimetidine (enzyme inhibitor) clinically relevant interactions are unlikely to occur. Simultaneous or previous administration of carbamazepine (enzyme inducer) may reduce the analgesic effect and shorten the duration of action.

The combination with mixed agonist/antagonists (e.g. buprenorphine, nalbuphine, pentazocine) and tramadol is not advisable, because the analgesic effect of a pure agonist like tramadol may be theoretically reduced in such circumstances.

Tramadol can induce convulsions and increase the potential for selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), tricyclic antidepressants, anti-psychotics and other seizure threshold-lowering medicinal products (such as bupropion, mirtazapine, tetrahydrocannabinol) to cause convulsions.

Concomitant therapeutic use of tramadol and serotonergic drugs, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), MAO inhibitors (see section 4.3), tricyclic antidepressants and mirtazapine may cause serotonin syndrome, a potentially life-threatening condition (see sections 4.4 and 4.8).

Caution should be exercised during concomitant treatment with tramadol and coumarin derivatives (e.g. warfarin) due to reports of increased INR with major bleeding and ecchymoses in some patients. Other active substances known to inhibit CYP3A4, such as ketoconazole and erythromycin, might inhibit the metabolism of tramadol (N-demethylation) probably also the metabolism of the active O-demethylated metabolite. The clinical importance of such an interaction has not been studied (see section 4.8).

In a limited number of studies the pre- or postoperative application of the antiemetic 5-HT3 antagonist ondansetron increased the requirement of tramadol in patients with postoperative pain.

Sedative medicines such as benzodiazepines or related drugs:

The concomitant use of opioids with sedative medicines such as benzodiazepines or related drugs increases the risk of sedation, respiratory depression, coma and death because of additive CNS depressant effect. The dose and duration of concomitant use should be limited (see section 4.4).

4.6. Fertility, pregnancy and lactation

Pregnancy

Animal studies with tramadol revealed at very high doses effects on organ development, ossification and neonatal mortality. Teratogenic effects were not observed. Tramadol crosses the placenta. There is inadequate evidence available on the safety of tramadol in human pregnancy. Therefore, Tramadol drops should not be used in pregnant women.

Tramadol - administered before or during birth - does not affect uterine contractility. Regular use during pregnancy may cause drug dependence in the foetus, leading to withdrawal symptoms in the neonate. If opioid use is required for a prolonged period in a pregnant woman, advise the patient of the risk of neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome and ensure that appropriate treatment will be available. Administration during labour may depress respiration in the neonate and an antidote for the child should be readily available.

Breast-feeding

Approximately 0.1% of the maternal dose of tramadol is excreted in breast milk. In the immediate post-partum period, for maternal oral daily dosage up to 400 mg, this corresponds to a mean amount of tramadol ingested by breast-fed infants of 3% of the maternal weight-adjusted dosage.

Administration to nursing women is not recommended as tramadol may be secreted in breast milk and may cause respiratory depression in the infant. Discontinuation of breast-feeding is generally not necessary following a single dose of tramadol.

4.7. Effects on ability to drive and use machines

Even when taken according to instructions, Tramadol drops may cause effects such as somnolence and dizziness and therefore may impair the reactions of drivers and machine operators. This applies particularly in conjunction with alcohol and other psychotropic substances.

This medicine can impair cognitive function and can affect a patient's ability to drive safely. This class of medicine is in the list of drugs included in regulations under 5a of the Road Traffic Act 1988. When prescribing this medicine, patients should be told:

• The medicine is likely to affect your ability to drive

• Do not drive until you know how the medicine affects you

• It is an offence to drive while under the influence of this medicine

• However, you would not be committing an offence (called 'statutory defence') if:

o The medicine has been prescribed to treat a medical or dental problem and

o You have taken it according to the instructions given by the prescriber and in the information provided with the medicine and

o It was not affecting your ability to drive safely

4.8. Undesirable effects

The most commonly reported adverse reactions are nausea and dizziness, both occurring in more than 10 % of patients.

The frequencies are defined as follows:

Very common:

≥1/10

Common:

≥1/100, <1/10

Uncommon:

≥1/1000, <1/100

Rare:

≥1/10 000, <1/1000

Very rare:

<1/10 000

Not known:

cannot be estimated from the available data

A tabulated list of undesirable effects is outlined below:

System Organ Class

Frequency

Adverse reactions

Immune system disorders

Uncommon

Toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), Stevens-Johnson-syndrome (SJS) cross reactivity with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, allergic reaction

Metabolism and nutrition disorders

Not known

Hypoglycemia, hyponatremia

Psychiatric disorders

Rare

Not known

Delirium, hallucinations, confusion, sleep disturbance, anxiety, nightmares, changes in mood (elation, occasionally dysphoria), changes in activity (suppression, decision behaviour, perception disorders), suicidal ideation.

Drug dependence (section 4.4)

Nervous system disorders

Very common

Common

Dizziness

Headache, drowsiness, somnolence

Rare

Not known

Changes in appetite, paraesthesia, tremor, respiratory depression, involuntary muscle contractions, abnormal coordination, syncope, hypertonia, dysgeusia, respiratory depression, epileptiform convulsions

Serotonin syndrome, Speech disorders

Eye disorders

Rare

Miosis, blurred vision

Not known

Mydriasis

Cardiovascular disorders

Uncommon

Palpitation, tachycardia, postural hypotension or cardiovascular collapse

Rare

Bradycardia, increase in blood pressure

Respiratory disorders

Rare

Dyspnoea, worsening of asthma.

Gastrointestinal disorders:

Very common

Common

Uncommon

Nausea

Constipation, dry mouth, vomiting, dyspepsia, abdominal pain

Anorexia, retching, gastrointestinal irritation (a feeling of pressure in the stomach, bloating), diarrhoea

Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders

Common

Uncommon

Sweating

Dermal reactions (Pruritus, rash, urticaria)

Musculo-skeletal disorders:

Rare

Motorial weakness

Renal and urinary disorders

Rare

Micturition disorders (difficulty in passing urine, dysuria and urinary retention)

Hepatobiliary disorders

Very rare

Elevated liver enzymes

Reproductive system and breast disorders:

Common

Menopausal symptoms

Rare

Menstrual disorders

General disorders and administration site conditions

Common

Fatigue, asthenia, malaise

Uncommon

Drug withdrawal syndrome

Rare

Weight loss, allergic reactions (e.g. dyspnoea, bronchospasm, wheezing, angioneurotic oedema), anaphylaxis.

Very rare

Panic attacks, severe anxiety, hallucinations, paraesthesia's, tinnitus CNS symptoms (confusion, delusions, depersonalization, derealization, paranoia)

Drug dependence

Repeated use of Tramadol oral drops can lead to drug dependence, even at therapeutic doses. The risk of drug dependence may vary depending on a patient's individual risk factors, dosage, and duration of opioid treatment (see section 4.4).

Reporting of suspected adverse reactions

Reporting suspected adverse reactions after authorisation of the medicinal product is important. It allows continued monitoring of the benefit/risk balance of the medicinal product. Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions via Yellow Card Scheme at: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store.

4.9. Overdose

Symptoms:

In principle, on intoxication with tramadol drops symptoms similar to those of other centrally acting analgesics (opioids) are to be expected. These include in particular miosis, vomiting, cardiovascular collapse, consciousness disorders up to coma, convulsions and respiratory depression up to respiratory arrest.

Patients should be informed of the signs and symptoms of overdose and to ensure that family and friends are also aware of these signs and to seek immediate medical help if they occur.

Serotonin syndrome has also been reported.

Management

The general emergency measures apply. Keep open the respiratory tract (aspiration!), maintain respiration and circulation depending on the symptoms.

The antidote for respiratory depression is naloxone. In animal experiments naloxone had no effect on convulsions. In such cases diazepam should be given intravenously.

In case of intoxication with oral formulations, gastrointestinal decontamination with activated charcoal or by gastric lavage is only recommended within 2 hours after tramadol intake. Gastrointestinal decontamination at a later time point may be useful in case of intoxication with exceptionally large quantities or prolonged-release formulations.

Tramadol is minimally eliminated from the serum by haemodialysis or hemofiltration. Therefore treatment of acute intoxication with Tramadol drops with haemodialysis or hemofiltration alone is not suitable for detoxification.

There have been a small number of reports of false positive phencyclidine assay associated with tramadol overdose.