Will Tramadol help a toothache?
By
Dr Milena Locci de Oliveira (PhD)
Author bio
Dr Milena Locci de Oliveira is a Pharmacist and Doctor of Philosophy in Sciences from the University of São Paulo (USP). She has experience in microbiology, analytical toxicology, and clinical pharmacokinetics. She writes and reviews content on these topics.
Dr Milena’s Highlights:
-PhD in Sciences, University of São Paulo, Brazil, 2019.
-University College London (UCL) – Semester of remote collaboration in the areas of Pharmacometrics and Population Pharmacokinetics, 2018.
-Bachelor in Biochemical Pharmacy, University of São Paulo, Brazil, 2013.
“Science can be translated, and it is essential that everyone has access to quality information to make informed decisions” – Dr Milena Oliveira, PhD.
Professional Experience:
With a decade-long career as a researcher, Dr Milena has amassed extensive experience in conducting research projects in microbiology, analytical toxicology, and clinical pharmacokinetics.
Her expertise also extends to the preparation of technical and scientific reports, literature reviews, data analysis, and scientific communication, both oral and written.
Dr Milena has served as a Clinical Pharmacist, providing expert supervision and guidance to teams during the challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in the ICUs of two reference hospitals for patient hospitalization.
In her most recent role, Dr Milena worked on the implementation of the deliberatives of the São Paulo State Government Pharmaceutical Assistance Coordination. These decisions were aimed at ensuring medication access within the Unified Health System.
A widely multidisciplinary background enabled Dr Milena to become a professional capable of integrating scientific knowledge into private initiatives, education, and healthcare, delivering consistent services in patient safety and population health.
Professional Memberships & Affiliations:
Dr Milena Oliveira is a member of the Regional Council of Pharmacy of the State of São Paulo, Brazil.
Education:
-PhD in Sciences, University of São Paulo, Brazil, 2019.
-University College London (UCL) – Semester of remote collaboration, 2018.
-Bachelor in Biochemical Pharmacy, University of São Paulo, Brazil, 2013.
Relevant Published Work & Citations:
Oliveira ML de, Rocha A, Nardotto GHB, Pippa LF, Simões BP, Lanchote VL. Analysis of daunorubicin and its metabolite daunorubicinol in plasma and urine with application in the evaluation of total, renal and metabolic formation clearances in patients with acute myeloid leukemia. Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis. Nov 2020. 191:113-124.
Abstracts. CPT: Pharmacometrics & Systems Pharmacology. 2020 Nov; 9 (S1).
Pippa LF, Oliveira ML de, Rocha A, de Andrade JM, Lanchote VL. Total, renal and hepatic clearances of doxorubicin and formation clearance of doxorubicinol in patients with breast cancer: Estimation of doxorubicin hepatic extraction ratio. Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis. 2020 Jun 5; 185:113-231.
Godoy ALPC, De Jesus C, De Oliveira ML, Rocha A, Pereira MPM, Larangeira DF, Lanchote VL, Barrouin-Melo SM. Determination of Allopurinol and Oxypurinol in Dogs Plasma by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography with an Ultraviolet Detector: Application for Pharmacokinetic Studies. J Chromatogr Sep Tech. 2017; 8 (4).
Clímaco EC, Oliveira ML de, Pitondo-Silva A, Oliveira MG, Medeiros M, Lincopan N, et al. Clonal complexes 104, 109 and 113 playing a major role in the dissemination of OXA-carbapenemase-producing Acinetobacter baumannii in Southeast Brazil. Infection, Genetics and Evolution. 2013 Oct;19:127–33.
Conference Papers:
Oliveira, M. L.; NARDOTTO, G. H. B.; PIPPA, L. F.; ROCHA, A.; SIMOES, B. P.; LANCHOTE, V. L. . Daunorubicin metabolism and urinary excretion in patients with acute myeloid leukemia. In: 84th Annual Meeting of the German Society for Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology (DGPT) and the 20th Annual Meeting of the Association of the Clinical Pharmacology Germany (VKliPha), 2018, Göttingen. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg’s Arch Pharmacol, 2018. v. 391. p. S76-S76.
Oliveira, M. L.; NARDOTTO, G. H. B. ; ROCHA, A. ; SIMOES, B. P. ; LANCHOTE, V. L. . The low contribution of urinary excretion in the elimination of daunorubicin and its metabolite daunorubicinol in patients with acute myeloid leukemia. In: 49th Brazilian Congress of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics., 2017, Ribeirão Preto. Livro de Resumos, 2017. p. 64-64.
Oliveira, M. L.; PIPPA, L. F. ; ROCHA, A. ; SIMOES, B. P. ; LANCHOTE, V. L. . Quantification of daunorubicin and its metabolite daunorubicinol in human plasma by LC-MS/MS. In: I International Meeting of Environmental Health and Toxicology (IMEHTOX), 2016, Ribeirão Preto. Livro de Resumos, 2016.
Oliveira, M. L.; Clímaco, E.C. ; OLIVEIRA, M. G. ; Lincopan, N. ; Darini A.L.C. . PFGE typing of Carbapenem-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii isolated from different University Hospitals. In: V International Postgraduate and Research Symposium, 2012.
Clímaco, E.C. ; SILVA, A. P. ; Oliveira, M. L. ; OLIVEIRA, M. G. ; Lincopan, N. ; Darini A.L.C. Relação clonal entre linhagens de Acinetobacter baumannii produtoras de carbapenemases da família OXA em quatro hospitais no Brasil. In: XXI Latin American Congress of Microbiology, 2012, Santos. XXI Latin American Congress of Microbiology, 2012.
Oliveira, M. L.; Clímaco, E.C. ; OLIVEIRA, M. G. ; Darini A.L.C. . Dissemintion of OXA carbapenemases genes in carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii in University Hospital of Juiz de Fora, MG. In: 8th CIFARP – International Congress of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2011, Ribeirão Preto.
Clímaco, E.C. ; Oliveira, M. L. ; OLIVEIRA, M. G. ; Darini A.L.C. . Avaliação do sequenciamento parcial do gene rpoB e de seus flanqueadores para identificação de espécies de Acinetobacter na rotina laroratorial. In: 2° International Symposium on Clinical Microbiology, 2010, Florianópolis.
You can view some of Dr Milena’s work below and links to her professional profile.
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dra-milena-locci-de-oliveira-28986042/?locale=en_US
ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Milena-Oliveira-6
Escavador: https://www.escavador.com/sobre/5394254/milena-locci-de-oliveira
Lattes: https://buscatextual.cnpq.br/buscatextual/busca.do
Scopus: https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=57199779361
Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?view_op=list_works&hl=pt-BR&user=1YUBDIQAAAAJ
Will Tramadol help a toothache?
Tramadol may or may not help your toothache. It is not the painkiller of choice for the management of toothache. Ibuprofen and Naproxen are most commonly used for toothaches.
However, Tramadol can be used for toothache when combined with Paracetamol. The combination is known to provide better pain relief than either of these meds provides when used alone.
However, this combination should only be used if prescribed by your dentist and is usually common in cases when NSAIDs can not be used. This is because Tramadol is not typically used for dental pain.
It’s an Opioid analgesic that works by binding to opioid receptors in the brain and spinal cord, which helps to decrease the perception of pain (1,2). In addition to its effects on pain, Tramadol also affects certain neurotransmitters in the brain, such as serotonin and norepinephrine (3).
This dual mechanism of action allows Tramadol to provide both pain relief and a potential mood-enhancing effect. Tramadol is typically prescribed by healthcare professionals for various conditions, such as post-surgical pain, chronic pain, and pain associated with certain medical conditions.
It’s important to note that Tramadol is a potent medication and should be used under the guidance of a healthcare professional. It may have potential side effects and can also be habit-forming if not used as directed (4).
What medications treat a toothache?
When it comes to treating a toothache, there are several over-the-counter and prescription medications that can help provide relief. Here are some common medications used to alleviate toothache pain: (5)
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs): Medications such as Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and Naproxen (Aleve) can help reduce inflammation and relieve pain associated with toothache.
- Acetaminophen (Tylenol): This pain reliever can help reduce toothache pain. It is important to follow the recommended dosage and avoid exceeding the maximum daily limit to prevent any potential liver damage.
- Topical numbing gels: Over-the-counter oral gels containing Benzocaine or Lidocaine can provide temporary relief by numbing the area around the painful tooth. These gels are typically applied directly to the affected area.
- Prescription-strength painkillers: In some cases, if the toothache is severe, your dentist or healthcare provider may prescribe stronger pain medications, such as opioids or stronger NSAIDs, for short-term use.
Final words
To sum up, Tramadol is not the right choice of painkiller for managing any type of dental pain and there are plenty of OTC options for you to try.
However, it is important to note that toothaches can be a symptom of a bigger problem, like tooth infection, abscessed tooth, tooth decay, chipped tooth, or something else. That exact problem needs to be addressed if you want to get rid of your tooth pain for good.
Painkillers will just numb it for a few hours but do not treat the actual condition. Make sure you reach out to your dentist for a proper diagnosis.
Was this helpful?
References
1.-
Subedi M, Bajaj S, Kumar MS, Yc M. An overview of tramadol and its usage in pain management and future perspective. Biomed Pharmacother. 2019 Mar;111:443-451. doi: 10.1016/j.biopha.2018.12.085. Epub 2018 Dec 27. PMID: 30594783. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30594783/
2.-
Lehmann KA. Tramadol for the management of acute pain. Drugs. 1994;47 Suppl 1:19-32. doi: 10.2165/00003495-199400471-00005. PMID: 7517822. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7517822/
3.-
Bloms-Funke P, Dremencov E, Cremers TI, Tzschentke TM. Tramadol increases extracellular levels of serotonin and noradrenaline as measured by in vivo microdialysis in the ventral hippocampus of freely-moving rats. Neurosci Lett. 2011 Mar 3;490(3):191-5. doi: 10.1016/j.neulet.2010.12.049. Epub 2010 Dec 31. PMID: 21195741. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21195741/
4.-
Preston KL, Jasinski DR, Testa M. Abuse potential and pharmacological comparison of tramadol and morphine. Drug Alcohol Depend. 1991 Jan;27(1):7-17. doi: 10.1016/0376-8716(91)90081-9. PMID: 2029860. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2029860/
5.-
Koh SWC, Li CF, Loh JSP, Wong ML, Loh VWK. Managing tooth pain in general practice. Singapore Med J. 2019 May;60(5):224-228. doi: 10.11622/smedj.2019044. PMID: 31187144; PMCID: PMC6535452. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6535452/
