Tramadol is a prescription medication used primarily to treat moderate to moderately severe pain. It is classified as an opioid analgesic, although its mechanism of action differs from traditional opioids in some ways. Tramadol binds to opioid receptors in the brain and spinal cord, similar to other opioids, to reduce the perception of pain. Tramadol also inhibits the reuptake of serotonin and norepinephrine in the brain, which helps to enhance its pain-relieving effects.