Skip to Content
Looking to save on your medications?  Find out how 

7 Interactions found for:

Ambien and tramadol
Interactions Summary
  • 5 Major
  • 2 Moderate
  • 0 Minor
  • Ambien
  • tramadol

Drug Interactions

Major
Ambien + Tramadol

The following applies to the ingredients: Zolpidem (found in Ambien) and Tramadol

Using narcotic pain or cough medications together with other medications that also cause central nervous system depression can lead to serious side effects including respiratory distress, coma, and even death. Talk to your doctor if you have any questions or concerns. Your doctor may be able to prescribe alternatives that do not interact, or you may need a dose adjustment or more frequent monitoring to safely use both medications. Do not drink alcohol or self-medicate with these medications without your doctor's approval, and do not exceed the doses or frequency and duration of use prescribed by your doctor. Also, because these medications may cause dizziness, drowsiness, difficulty concentrating, and impairment in judgment, reaction speed and motor coordination, you should avoid driving or operating hazardous machinery until you know how they affect you. It is important to tell your doctor about all other medications you use, including vitamins and herbs. Do not stop using any medications without first talking to your doctor.

Drug and Food Interactions

Moderate
Ambien + Food

The following applies to the ingredients: Zolpidem (found in Ambien)

You should avoid the use of alcohol while being treated with zolpidem. Alcohol can increase the nervous system side effects of zolpidem such as dizziness, drowsiness, and difficulty concentrating. Some people may also experience impairment in thinking and judgment. Taking zolpidem with food may delay the onset of sleep. For faster sleep onset, zolpidem should not be taken with or immediately after a meal. This will make it easier for your body to absorb the medication. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions or concerns.

Moderate
Tramadol + Food

The following applies to the ingredients: Tramadol

Alcohol can increase the nervous system side effects of traMADol such as dizziness, drowsiness, and difficulty concentrating. Some people may also experience impairment in thinking and judgment. You should avoid or limit the use of alcohol while being treated with traMADol. Do not use more than the recommended dose of traMADol, and avoid activities requiring mental alertness such as driving or operating hazardous machinery until you know how the medication affects you. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions or concerns.

Drug and Pregnancy Interactions

The following applies to the ingredients: Zolpidem (found in Ambien)

Professional Content

This drug is only recommended for use during pregnancy when there are no alternatives and the benefit outweighs the risk.

AU TGA pregnancy category: B3
US FDA pregnancy category: Not assigned.

Risk summary: The data do not report a clear association between use of this drug and major birth defects.

Comments:
-A syndrome of hypothermia, hypotonia, respiratory depression and difficulty feeding may occur in in infants of mothers administered this drug in the late phase of pregnancy or during childbirth.
-Withdrawal symptoms may occur in neonates whose mothers were taking sedative-hypnotics late in pregnancy.

Cases of severe neonatal respiratory depression have been reported when this drug was used at the end of pregnancy, especially when used with other central nervous system (CNS) depressants. Infants born to mothers who took benzodiazepines or benzodiazepine-like agents chronically during the latter stages of pregnancy may be at risk for developing physical dependence and withdrawal symptoms in the postnatal period. Additionally, neonatal flaccidity also has been reported in infants born to mothers who received sedative/hypnotic drugs during pregnancy.

Animal studies have revealed no evidence of teratogenicity or fertility impairment, but adverse effects including incomplete fetal skeletal ossification and increased embryo-fetal death.

AU TGA pregnancy category B3: Drugs which have been taken by only a limited number of pregnant women and women of childbearing age, without an increase in the frequency of malformation or other direct or indirect harmful effects on the human fetus having been observed. Studies in animals have shown evidence of an increased occurrence of fetal damage, the significance of which is considered uncertain in humans.

US FDA pregnancy category Not Assigned: The US FDA has amended the pregnancy labeling rule for prescription drug products to require labeling that includes a summary of risk, a discussion of the data supporting that summary, and relevant information to help health care providers make prescribing decisions and counsel women about the use of drugs during pregnancy. Pregnancy categories A, B, C, D, and X are being phased out.

References

  1. "Product Information. Ambien (zolpidem)." sanofi-aventis PROD (2001):
  2. "Product Information. Ambien CR (zolpidem)." Sanofi-Synthelabo Inc (2005):
  3. Cerner Multum, Inc. "UK Summary of Product Characteristics." O 0
  4. Cerner Multum, Inc. "Australian Product Information." O 0
  5. "Product Information. Edluar (zolpidem)." Meda Pharmaceuticals (2009):
  6. TGA. Therapeutic Goods Administration. Australian Drug Evaluation Committee "Prescribing medicines in pregnancy: an Australian categorisation of risk of drug use in pregnancy. http://www.tga.gov.au/docs/html/medpreg.htm" (2010):
  7. "Product Information. Intermezzo (zolpidem)." Purdue Pharma LP (2011):
  8. "Product Information. Zolpimist (zolpidem)." Magna Pharmaceuticals Inc (2017):

The following applies to the ingredients: Tramadol

Professional Content

Use is not recommended

AU TGA pregnancy category: C
US FDA pregnancy category: Not Assigned

Risk Summary: There is insufficient data in humans to inform a drug-associated risk for major birth defects and miscarriage; prolonged use of opioids during pregnancy for medical or nonmedical purposes can result in physical dependence in the neonate and neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome shortly after birth.

Comments:
-This drug is not recommended for obstetrical preoperative medication or for post-delivery analgesia in nursing mothers because its safety in infants and newborns has not been studied.

This drug has been shown to cross the placental barrier, with an umbilical vein to maternal vein serum concentration ratio of 0.83. Animal studies have shown at very high doses, this drug has an effect on organ development, bone growth, and mortality rate. Prolonged maternal use of opioid analgesics during pregnancy may result in respiratory depression and physical dependence in the neonate and neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome shortly after birth. There have been postmarketing reports of neonatal seizures, neonatal withdrawal syndrome, fetal death, and still births. There are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women.

Chronic use of opioids may cause reduced fertility; it is unknown whether these effects are reversible.

AU TGA pregnancy category C: Drugs which, owing to their pharmacological effects, have caused or may be suspected of causing, harmful effects on the human fetus or neonate without causing malformations. These effects may be reversible. Accompanying texts should be consulted for further details.

US FDA pregnancy category Not Assigned: The US FDA has amended the pregnancy labeling rule for prescription drug products to require labeling that includes a summary of risk, a discussion of the data supporting that summary, and relevant information to help health care providers make prescribing decisions and counsel women about the use of drugs during pregnancy. Pregnancy categories A, B, C, D, and X are being phased out.

References

  1. "Product Information. Ultram (tramadol)." McNeil Pharmaceutical PROD (2001):
  2. Cerner Multum, Inc. "UK Summary of Product Characteristics." O 0
  3. Cerner Multum, Inc. "Australian Product Information." O 0
  4. "Product Information. Ultram ER (tramadol)." PriCara Pharmaceuticals (2015):

Drug and Breastfeeding Interactions

The following applies to the ingredients: Zolpidem (found in Ambien)

Professional Content

Use is not recommended and a decision should be made to discontinue breastfeeding or discontinue the drug, taking into account the importance of the drug to the mother.

Excreted into human milk: Yes

Comments:
-Some experts state that this drug should be used with caution.
-Due to the low levels of this drug in breastmilk and its short half-life, amounts ingested by nursing infants are small and would not be expected to cause any adverse effects in these infants.
-The American Academy of Pediatrics considers this drug to be compatible with breastfeeding.
-Some experts recommend monitoring breastfed infants for hypotonia, respiratory depression, and sedation.

After a single, 20 mg oral dose was administered to 5 nursing mothers (who were 3 to 4 days postpartum), breastmilk collected at 3 hours contained between 0.004% to 0.019% of the maternal dosage; the drug was undetectable (drug levels less than 0.5 mcg/L) in the breastmilk 13 to 16 hours after the dose was given.

In animal models, administration of this drug during the latter part of pregnancy and throughout lactation produced decreased offspring growth and survival at all but the lowest dose tested.

References

  1. "Product Information. Ambien (zolpidem)." sanofi-aventis PROD (2001):
  2. "Product Information. Ambien CR (zolpidem)." Sanofi-Synthelabo Inc (2005):
  3. Cerner Multum, Inc. "UK Summary of Product Characteristics." O 0
  4. Cerner Multum, Inc. "Australian Product Information." O 0
  5. "Product Information. Edluar (zolpidem)." Meda Pharmaceuticals (2009):
  6. TGA. Therapeutic Goods Administration. Australian Drug Evaluation Committee "Prescribing medicines in pregnancy: an Australian categorisation of risk of drug use in pregnancy. http://www.tga.gov.au/docs/html/medpreg.htm" (2010):
  7. "Product Information. Intermezzo (zolpidem)." Purdue Pharma LP (2011):
  8. United States National Library of Medicine "Toxnet. Toxicology Data Network. http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/sis/htmlgen?LACT" (2013):
  9. Briggs GG, Freeman RK. "Drugs in Pregnancy and Lactation." Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer Health (2015):
  10. "Product Information. Zolpimist (zolpidem)." Magna Pharmaceuticals Inc (2017):

The following applies to the ingredients: Tramadol

Professional Content

Use is not recommended

Excreted into human milk: Yes

Comments:
-The US FDA recommends against the use of tramadol during breastfeeding due to risks of serious adverse reactions in breastfed infants; this drug is not recommended for obstetrical preoperative medication or for post-delivery analgesia in nursing mothers because its safety in infants and newborns has not been studied.
-If infants are exposed through breastmilk, they should be monitored for excess sedation and respiratory depression.

Serious adverse reactions in breastfed infants may include excess sleepiness, difficulty breastfeeding, or serious breathing problems that could result in death. Newborns have limited capacity to metabolize the active 0-desmethyltramadol.

A study in 75 mothers reported an average milk concentration of 748 mcg/L; this translates to an average infant dose of 112 mcg/kg and a maternal weight-adjusted dose of 2.24% and 0.64% for the drug and its metabolite, respectively. Reanalysis of the data using a population pharmacokinetic model showed a maternal weight adjusted dose of 2.2% for extensive metabolizers and 2.6% for poor metabolizers. The amount of drug present in breast milk represents a maximum of 2.6% of the proposed IV newborn dose. This drug can increase prolactin levels; however, the prolactin level in a mother with established lactation may not affect her ability to breastfeed.

References

  1. "Product Information. Ultram (tramadol)." McNeil Pharmaceutical PROD (2001):
  2. Cerner Multum, Inc. "UK Summary of Product Characteristics." O 0
  3. Cerner Multum, Inc. "Australian Product Information." O 0
  4. United States National Library of Medicine "Toxnet. Toxicology Data Network. http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/sis/htmlgen?LACT" (2013):
  5. "Product Information. Ultram ER (tramadol)." PriCara Pharmaceuticals (2015):
  6. US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) "FDA Drug Safety Communication: FDA restricts use of prescription codeine pain and cough medicines and tramadol pain medicines in children; recommends against use in breastfeeding women. https://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/ucm549679.htm" (2017):

Therapeutic Duplication Warnings

No warnings were found for your selected drugs.

Therapeutic duplication warnings are only returned when drugs within the same group exceed the recommended therapeutic duplication maximum.

Switch to: Professional Interactions

Drug Interaction Classification

These classifications are only a guideline. The relevance of a particular drug interaction to a specific individual is difficult to determine. Always consult your healthcare provider before starting or stopping any medication.

Major Highly clinically significant. Avoid combinations; the risk of the interaction outweighs the benefit.
Moderate Moderately clinically significant. Usually avoid combinations; use it only under special circumstances.
Minor Minimally clinically significant. Minimize risk; assess risk and consider an alternative drug, take steps to circumvent the interaction risk and/or institute a monitoring plan.
Unknown No interaction information available.

Disclaimer: This content should not be considered complete and should not be used in place of a call or visit to a healthcare professional. Use of this content is subject to our terms of use & medical disclaimer.