Grünenthal GmbH, the German pharmaceutical company who developed the drug, originally marketed Tramadol under the brand name Tramal. The formula, which is a synthetic analogue of codeine, has since been cross licensed to other companies in other countries and as such is known by several other names including Ultram in the U.S. It is available in an intravenous solution or in tablet form, typically marketed as a hydrochloride salt (Tramadol hydrochloride).

Prescribed as an analgesic (pain killer) as are most prescription opioids, Tramadol is only around 1/10 as powerful as morphine. The drug does, however, have SSRI (s elective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) properties as well, making it a possible treatment for mild depression. Unfortunately, one drawback of SSRI’s is that massive doses (i.e. beyond recommended prescription levels) can lead to seizure and death.

The rapper Ol’ Dirty Bastard died from a combined overdose of Tramadol and Cocaine in 2004. Tramadol is addictive and gets you really strung out, too, as I can personally attest to; in larger doses it produces a twitchy, paranoid state with mild hallucinatory properties, or at least it did for me. I remember being in a cheap hotel in Lop Bori (a city about 150km north of Bangkok), and spying a single cockroach walking up the wall of my room. Soon, I was seeing cockroaches everywhere out of the corners of my eyes (although I don’t think they were really there) and was consumed by an uneasy and slightly nauseous feeling. I remember when I finally kicked the shit some days later it was not a very enjoyable couple of days for me. I also remember my girlfriend turning into a total fiend and refusing to share her half of the pills with me when mine ran out. I’d have to give this drug a big thumbs down, unless you’re really bored.