Tramadol is primarily used to relieve moderate to moderately severe pain. It is prescribed for pain after surgery, severe pain that requires opioid treatment, and when other pain medicines are not effective or cannot be tolerated. Extended-release forms of tramadol are used for chronic ongoing pain that requires around-the-clock treatment

. It works as a centrally acting opioid agonist and also inhibits the reuptake of serotonin and norepinephrine, which helps modulate pain perception in the brain and nervous system

. Tramadol is considered a lower-risk opioid option for moderate to severe pain and is used both for acute pain (such as postoperative pain) and some chronic pain conditions

. In summary, tramadol is used for:

• Moderate to moderately severe acute pain (e.g., post-surgical pain)
• Severe pain requiring opioid treatment when other medications are ineffective or not tolerated
• Chronic pain requiring long-term opioid treatment (using extended-release formulations)

It is not typically recommended for mild pain or for long-term use unless other treatments have failed

. Tramadol should only be used under prescription and medical supervision due to risks of dependence, withdrawal, and side effects