Tramadol is a medication classified as an opioid analgesic, used primarily to manage moderate to moderately severe pain. Unlike traditional opioids such as morphine or oxycodone, tramadol also has additional mechanisms of action beyond opioid receptor activation. It inhibits the reuptake of serotonin and norepinephrine, which are neurotransmitters involved in the perception of pain.

Tramadol is commonly prescribed for various types of pain, including postoperative pain, musculoskeletal pain, and neuropathic pain.