Zaldiar: What Is It and What's Is For?

Zaldiar® is a powerful analgesic with two different active ingredients, which have different ways of acting in the body to relieve pain. Read all about the composition in this article.

Pain is one of the main symptoms that people seek specialized medical attention for. Its treatment will depend on its intensity and its etiology. For this reason, the need has arisen to create various compounds to relieve this condition, one of them being Zaldiar ®.

Zaldiar ® is the trade name of a drug that mixes two different active ingredients: paracetamol and tramadol. Both are compounds with great analgesic power, which is why the drug is used to treat pain with moderate and severe intensity, especially in the postoperative period.

It comes in a single presentation of tablets for oral administration with a dosage of 325 milligrams of paracetamol and 37.4 milligrams of tramadol. Studies show that the mixture of both greatly improves the symptoms, as they complement each other.

What is paracetamol?

Before talking about the trademark in question, it’s important to know a little about its active ingredients. In this sense, paracetamol is a medicine with an analgesic and antipyretic effect.

It’s prescribed to treat moderate pain and to reduce fever. Although it’s usually taken orally, it also comes in formats for intravenous and rectal administration.

Paracetamol exerts its action in the brain, inhibiting cyclooxygenases, specifically COX-3. Cyclooxygenases are enzymes responsible for the synthesis of prostaglandins and thromboxanes, the intercellular communicators that mediate fever, pain, and inflammation.

The final effect of this reaction is an increase in the pain threshold, which is considerably reduced. It should be noted that this compound doesn’t act peripherally, so it doesn’t have anti-inflammatory properties.

What is tramadol?

The other active ingredient in Zaldiar ® is tramadol, which is a drug with analgesic properties belonging to the opiate family. It’s administered orally and is on the second step of the analgesic ladder of the World Health Organization (WHO), which is why it is indicated for the treatment of severe pain.

Opioids don’t decrease pain per se, but rather act on the central and peripheral nervous system, altering the perception of the symptom. The exact mechanism of action of tramadol is unknown, however it’s known that the drug binds to mu-opioid receptors in the central nervous system.

In addition, it’s able to inhibit the reuptake of norepinephrine and serotonin in the peripheral nervous system, thus altering the transmission of pain signals.

How to take Zaldiar ®?

The intake of this medicine must be carried out under strict medical prescription and following the instructions of the specialist. Its consumption isn’t recommended in children under 12 years of age and the dosage will be adjusted according to the patient’s requirements.

Under no circumstances should more than 8 tablets of the compound be ingested per day, as severe adverse reactions may occur. On the other hand, the recommended minimum interval between each shot is 6 hours.

According to the drug’s information leaflet, the recommended initial dose is 2 tablets per day, which must be swallowed whole with sufficient liquid. Efforts should be made to ingest as few tablets as possible and the hours established by the specialist must be respected.

Adverse reactions of Zaldiar ®

As with all marketed drugs, Zaldiar ® is capable of generating adverse effects in some people. They’re not usually severe and don’t interrupt the performance of daily activities. If this occurs, a doctor should be consulted immediately. Among the most frequent side effects are the following:

• Dizziness and nausea
• Drowsiness
• Vomiting
• Gastrointestinal disorders
• Headaches
• Increased sweating
• Altered state of consciousness

On the other hand, this compound can also cause dependence and tolerance due to the opioid effects of tramadol. For this reason, the doses administered are low and it’s of vital importance to have an adequate medical follow-up.

Warnings and contraindications

The use of this drug will be totally contraindicated in those people who have had allergic reactions to any of its components. Furthermore, it isn’t recommended in patients with severe kidney or liver diseases.

Zaldiar ® can interact with other opioids or with drugs used to treat Alzheimer’s disease, so they shouldn’t be consumed simultaneously. Finally, its use isn’t recommended in people who suffer from uncontrolled epilepsy.

On the other hand, there are situations that the doctor should be aware of before recommending the administration of Zaldiar ®. In this sense, patients should inform the specialist in case of having any of the following conditions:

• Existing kidney or liver disease
• Consumption of any other drug
• Severe respiratory diseases, such as asthma or bronchitis
• If you suffer from epilepsy or have suffered a head injury
• Prior dependence on any analgesic

The doctor should also be consulted to tell you if activities such as driving can be carried out during treatment, due to the drowsiness that the drug can cause. If a woman becomes pregnant while using the medicine, she should notify the specialist before taking the next dose, since the active ingredients can affect the baby.

Zaldiar ®: an effective treatment for pain

Zaldiar ® is a drug that has two active principles that exert their function in the body in a different way, which is why it’s recommended for the treatment of severe pain. This combination has shown its effectiveness in reducing dental and postoperative pain.

It’s important not to abuse the consumption of this drug, as it can create tolerance and dependency, thus losing its analgesic effect. Any doubt or symptom that arises should be consulted with the specialist to avoid serious consequences.