| Drug Interactions:

Tramadol 

St. John's Wort, SAMe (S-Adenosylmethionine), and 5-HTP - Possible Dangerous Interactions

Trade Names
  • Ultram

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Tramadol is a unique non-narcotic and non-anti-inflammatory analgesic medication used for the treatment of moderate pain. It has many effects in the body, including some that relate to endorphins and others that involve serotonin.

 

 

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St. John's Wort, 5-HTP (5-Hydroxytryptophan), SAMe (S-Adenosylmethionine)

Possible Dangerous Interactions

There are two case reports that possibly implicate tramadol in serotonin syndrome.^1,2  This syndrome is caused by excessive levels of serotonin, which bring about various dangerous side effects.

Since St. John's wort and 5-HTP might increase serotonin levels, and SAMe (S-adenosylmethionine) has reportedly caused serotonin syndrome, combining any of them with tramadol could be risky.

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References [ + ]

1. Mason BJ and Blackburn KH. Possible serotonin syndrome associated with tramadol and sertraline coadministration. Ann Pharmacother 31: 175–177, 1997.

2. Hernandez AF, et al. Fatal moclobemide overdose or death caused by serotonin syndrome? J Forensic Sci 40: 128–130, 1995.

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Last reviewed September 2009 by EBSCO CAM Review Board
Last Updated: 09/01/2009

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