Doctors prescribe tramadol as a pain treatment, most of the time for severe pain. The drug works by binding to opioid receptors in the brain. This, in turn, helps to reduce the intensity of the pain signals the brain feels, decreasing any discomfort the user feels.
Though tramadol can be highly addictive, it is one of the least potent opioid painkillers. As a result, it may not provide the highest level of pain relief for some people.
Doctors typically prescribe it as an extended-release medication. This allows the medication to slowly release into the body over a period of time, providing a small amount of pain relief for hours.