Once a person has finished taking tramadol or hydrocodone, they should dispose of any leftover pills properly. A person should swallow the pill whole and avoid breaking or crushing it.īreaking or crushing pills can cause too much of the medication to enter the body at once, leading to a dangerous overdose. Hydrocodone and tramadol usually come in the form of a pill. They will generally only recommend hydrocodone if someone has severe pain that they cannot manage with tramadol or other weaker opioids.

However, this medication does not work for all types of cough.Īs tramadol is less potent, doctors may prescribe it for slightly milder pain. People with specific types of coughs, such as those resulting from lung cancer, may use hydrocodone for cough relief. People may take tramadol or hydrocodone following surgery, after a serious accident, or for health conditions that cause severe pain.Ī prescription is necessary for both drugs and, due to the risks of misuse and overdose, people should only take them for short periods at the lowest possible dose. Who should take tramadol and hydrocodone?