Tramadol is a medication that is commonly used to relieve moderate to moderately severe pain. It belongs to a class of drugs known as opioid analgesics. Tramadol works by binding to opioid receptors in the brain, which helps to decrease the sensation of pain. In addition to its pain-relieving properties, tramadol also has the potential to affect certain neurotransmitters in the brain, such as serotonin and norepinephrine. This can contribute to its overall analgesic effect.