Zaldiar ® is the trademark of a medication that contains two active ingredients: tramadol and paracetamol. These two substances have analgesic effects, so Zaldiar ® is indicated above all for treating symptomatic pain of moderate to intense intensity whenever the doctor believes that the combination of tramadol and paracetamol is necessary. According to the conventional scientific literature, the dose of paracetamol is 325 milligrams, and that of tramadol is 37.5 milligrams.
This medicine is approved for adults and children over 12 years of age. Due to the presence of tramadol inside, it is known that it can cause physical and psychological dependence, as well as tolerance, so it is essential to adhere to the guidelines set by the doctor.
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What is Zaldiar ® used for?
This drug has a significant analgesic effect. Reviewing the individual effects of paracetamol and tramadol is essential to understand how it works and its particularities.
Functions of paracetamol
Paracetamol or acetaminophen is an analgesic and antipyretic medication. Still, since it does not have anti-inflammatory properties, it is not usually included in the group of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
Due to these properties, it is indicated for treating mild to moderate pain and febrile states. It is usually consumed orally but is available for rectal and intravenous administration.
To achieve these effects, as stated in an Integral Medicine article, paracetamol inhibits a COX enzyme variant only found in the brain: COX-3. It is for this reason that this medicine does not have anti-inflammatory effects. However, the mechanism of action of this drug is not known for sure.
COX enzymes synthesize thromboxanes and prostaglandins, substances responsible for fever and pain. Therefore, by being inhibited, these pathological processes improve.
tramadol functions
Tramadol is another pain reliever medication belonging to the opioid or opiate family. Consequently, it affects the condition, both where the lesion is and in the central and peripheral nervous system. To achieve this, tramadol affects the transmission and intensity of the pain signal.
This substance is also mainly administered orally. It is included in the second step of the analgesic ladder of the World Health Organization (WHO), while paracetamol is in the first. This scale is widely used by healthcare personnel as a guide for pain management.
Other essential aspects of Zaldiar ®
Despite its positive effects on health, it is also essential to consider that this drug can cause unwanted events in the form of adverse reactions or drug interactions.
Adverse reactions
Adverse effects are all those unwanted and unintentional events that occur in an expected way in treating a drug. In this sense, among the unfavorable reactions that have developed more frequently and that have been collected in clinical trials, we can mention the following:
- Flatulence.
- Nausea and vomiting.
- Dry mouth.
- Headache or headaches.
- Gastrointestinal problems, such as constipation or diarrhea.
Zaldiar ® can cause dependence and tolerance due to the effects of tramadol since it is an opioid drug. These effects can develop despite following the doses prescribed by the doctor.
For this reason, patients prescribed this analgesic medication must be regularly monitored to avoid a loss of pharmacological efficacy. In addition, people who have already abused drugs or suffered from another dependency picture should be cautious.
To avoid health complications, it is recommended that when the patient has to stop taking Zaldiar ®, they do so gradually since abrupt interruption of this type of drug can trigger withdrawal syndrome.
drug interactions
It is known that this drug can interact with others that are being consumed constantly and about chronic conditions. Such is the case with monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors used for depression (such as rasagiline, tranylcypromine, and moclobemide), carbamazepine, warfarin, and metoclopramide.
What should be kept in mind about Zaldiar ®?
Zaldiar ® is a medication composed of two analgesic active principles that present different mechanisms of action. One is paracetamol, which initially inhibits a COX enzyme; another is tramadol, a drug from the family of opiate analgesics.
Due to its effects, Zaldiar ® is widely used to combat pain episodes. However, this drug cannot be abused since it can cause dependence and tolerance, so the doses must be reviewed periodically.
You can consult your doctor about any questions about this drug and discuss any new symptoms you have since starting treatment. In the same way, it is advisable to read the information that agencies, such as the AEMPS (Spanish Agency for Medicines and Health Products), have to say about the different medicines that go on the market.