Comparative Pharmacology
Head-to-head clinical analysis: ULTRAM versus VICOPRIN.
Peer-Reviewed Evidence
Head-to-head clinical analysis: ULTRAM versus VICOPRIN.
ULTRAM vs VICOPRIN
Comparing the clinical profiles, pharmacokinetic behaviors, and safety indices of these two therapeutic agents.
Tramadol is a centrally acting synthetic opioid analgesic that binds to μ-opioid receptors and inhibits norepinephrine and serotonin reuptake.
VICOPRIN (hydrocodone/acetaminophen) combines a mu-opioid receptor agonist (hydrocodone) that inhibits ascending pain pathways and alters pain perception, with an analgesic and antipyretic (acetaminophen) that inhibits cyclooxygenase (COX) and central prostaglandin synthesis.
50-100 mg orally every 4-6 hours as needed for pain; maximum 400 mg/day (for extended-release: 100 mg once daily, titrated up to 300 mg once daily).
1 to 2 tablets (each containing 7.5 mg hydrocodone bitartrate and 200 mg ibuprofen) orally every 4 to 6 hours as needed for pain; maximum 5 tablets per day.
None Documented
None Documented
Tramadol: ~6 hours; M1 metabolite (O-desmethyltramadol): ~7 hours; prolonged in renal/hepatic impairment
Hydrocodone: 3.8-6.0 hours in adults; acetaminophen: 2.0-4.0 hours. Clinically, Vicoprofen (hydrocodone/ibuprofen) has an effective half-life of ~4-6 hours for hydrocodone; ibuprofen half-life is 2-4 hours.
Renal: ~90% (tramadol and metabolites; conjugated metabolites are major), Fecal: ~10%
Renal excretion of metabolites (hydrocodone: ~60% as conjugates; acetaminophen: ~85-90% as glucuronide and sulfate conjugates). Biliary/fecal elimination accounts for <5%.
Category C
Category C
Opioid Analgesic
Opioid Analgesic