What is Ultracet?

Ultracet is a medication prescribed to patients to help manage moderate to severely moderate pain. This medication is classified as a combination medication because it contains both tramadol and acetaminophen. These two substances work together to reduce the patient’s pain and fever.

Patients beginning treatment with Ultracet may notice certain side effects. The more common side effects of Ultracet, which do not require immediate medical attention, include nausea, vomiting, constipation, lightheadedness, dizziness, drowsiness, and sweating. These common Ultracet side effects should go away as the body adjusts to the medication. If they do not go away or seem to get worse, promptly notify your doctor or pharmacist.

Serious side effects of Ultracet, which should be immediately reported to your doctor, include mood changes, agitation, hallucinations, severe stomach or abdominal pain, difficulty urinating, and signs of your adrenal glands not working well such as loss of appetite, unusual tiredness, and weight loss.

Patients should seek medical attention as soon as possible if they experience severe Ultracet side effects such as fast or irregular heartbeat, severe dizziness, fainting, seizures, and signs of an allergic reaction such as rashes, itching or swelling, and trouble breathing.

How Long Does Ultracet Stay in Your System?

On average, Ultracet may remain in a patient’s system up to 24 hours after it was last used. However, this timeline varies among patients as everyone’s body processes medications differently.

Ultracet Prescription Facts

Prescription opioids have unfortunately become widely misused drugs in the United States. Ultracet falls into this category because it contains tramadol, an opioid. Listed below are statistics on opioid misuse in the United States according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. For each unintentional overdose death related to an opioid medication:

  • 9 more people are admitted for opioid addiction.
  • 35 people are admitted to the ER.
  • 161 people report opioid dependence or misuse.
  • 461 others report active, non-medical opioid use.

Ultracet Regulations

Ultracet is a prescription medication and should not be taken without your doctor’s consent. In addition, you should never distribute Ultracet to people without a prescription as this would be breaking the law.

Most Commonly Abused Drugs Containing Ultracet

The most commonly misused drugs that contain Ultracet is the medication itself and its generic form, Tramadol-Acetaminophen. Remember, you should never take Ultracet or its generic form without a prescription as doing so is against the law.

How Ultracet Affects the Brain and Body

Ultracet affects the brain and body in two different ways because of its status as a combination medication containing both Tramadol and Acetaminophen. Tramadol reduces pain by changing the way the brain interprets pain and therefore how the body feels it. Acetaminophen is also a pain-reliever and reduces fever in the body.

Half-Life of Ultracet

On average, the half-life of Ultracet is about 7 to 9 hours. However, this timeline may be shortened or lengthened due to physiological factors unique to the individual that will be discussed in the next section.

Factors That Influence How Long Ultracet Stays in Your System

There are many factors that influence how long Ultracet and other medications will stay in your system. These factors include your age, metabolism, genetics, organ function, other medications you may take, physical or mental health conditions, how much Ultracet you normally take, and your Ultracet usage frequency.

How Long Does Ultracet Stay in Your Urine, Hair, and Blood?

Some rough estimates as to how long Ultracet can be found in one’s hair, urine, and blood:

  • Urine: Ultracet may be found in one’s urine sample up to 1 to 2 days after the last dose.
  • Hair: Hair follicles can contain traces of Ultracet up to 90 days after the last dose.
  • Blood: Ultracet may be found in one’s blood samples up to 1 to 2 days after the last dose.

If you or someone you know is suffering from Ultracet addiction or another form of substance use disorder, seek professional help as soon as possible.

Medical Disclaimer

The Recovery Village aims to improve the quality of life for people struggling with substance use or mental health disorder with fact-based content about the nature of behavioral health conditions, treatment options and their related outcomes. We publish material that is researched, cited, edited and reviewed by licensed medical professionals. The information we provide is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers.