tramadol marketed as ultram and as generics is an opioid pain medication used to treat moderate to moderately severe pain when taken as an immediate release oral formulation the onset of pain relief usually occurs within about an hourit has two different mechanisms first it binds to the μ opioid receptorramadol marketed as ultram and as generics is an opioid pain medication used to treat moderate to moderately severe pain when taken as an immediate release oral formulation the onset of pain relief usually occurs within about an hour