Does tramadol contain wheat or gluten as an excipient?

We cross-check each tramadol product label against four data sources: DailyMed (FDA Structured Product Labels), the European Medicines Agency centrally-authorised medicines database, the Plogsted curated gluten-free drug list, and the 2024 Mangione et al. pediatric pharmacy NDC analysis. Inactive ingredients are scanned against a 146-entry red-flag dictionary covering wheat, barley, rye, malt, source-ambiguous starches, and FDA gluten-free attestation phrases. Mostly yes — but worth a quick call to the manufacturer for some generics. Of 18 product labels we checked, 7 are clean, 1 are confirmed gluten-free by the maker, and 10 contain an inactive ingredient (typically a source-ambiguous starch) whose botanical origin isn't fully disclosed. None contained confirmed gluten.

Can different manufacturers' generic versions of tramadol have different gluten status?

Yes. Generics in the United States must use the same active ingredient as the brand, but they are not required to use the same inactive ingredients. Two generics of tramadol from different manufacturers can use entirely different starch sources, binders, and fillers. A pharmacy may also switch which manufacturer it dispenses between fills without notifying you. Each manufacturer-specific entry below corresponds to a separately-filed product label.

DailyMed checked live · reference data updated May 17, 2026 · 18 product labels screened

Is tramadol gluten-free?

Looks mostly clean — worth verifying with the maker. Mostly yes — but worth a quick call to the manufacturer for some generics. Of 18 product labels we checked, 7 are clean, 1 are confirmed gluten-free by the maker, and 10 contain an inactive ingredient (typically a source-ambiguous starch) whose botanical origin isn't fully disclosed. None contained confirmed gluten.

Drug context

About tramadol

Tramadol is a centrally-acting opioid analgesic for moderate pain, sold under brand names including Ultram.

Why this matters

Different manufacturers, different ingredients

Generics of tramadol use the same active ingredient, but they aren't required to use the same inactive ingredients. Your pharmacy may switch which manufacturer they dispense between fills, sometimes without telling you. The list below shows each manufacturer's product label as a separate entry, because that's the granularity that actually matters when you're celiac.

The labels

The 18 we checked

01

Mylan manufacturer-attested gluten-free

Plogsted list · Tramadol 50 mg tablet [Mylan] · label dated 2019-04-23

Manufacturer confirmed gluten-free (Plogsted 2019-04-23)
View source label →
02

St. Mary's Medical Park Pharmacy worth a call to confirm

US label (DailyMed) · TRAMADOL HYDROCHLORIDE TABLET [ST. MARY'S MEDICAL PARK PHARMACY] · label dated Jun 29, 2026

Worth a call to the maker: SODIUM STARCH GLYCOLATE TYPE A

Inactive ingredients HYPROMELLOSE 2910 (3 MPA.S) · HYPROMELLOSE 2910 (6 MPA.S) · LACTOSE MONOHYDRATE · MAGNESIUM STEARATE · MICROCRYSTALLINE CELLULOSE 102 · POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL 400 · POLYSORBATE 80 · SILICON DIOXIDE · SODIUM STARCH GLYCOLATE TYPE A · STARCH, CORN · TITANIUM DIOXIDE
View source label →
03

Advanced Rx of Tennessee, LLC worth a call to confirm

US label (DailyMed) · TRAMADOL HYDROCHLORIDE TABLET [ADVANCED RX OF TENNESSEE, LLC] · label dated Jun 29, 2026

Worth a call to the maker: SODIUM STARCH GLYCOLATE TYPE A

Inactive ingredients HYPROMELLOSE 2910 (3 MPA.S) · HYPROMELLOSE 2910 (6 MPA.S) · LACTOSE MONOHYDRATE · MAGNESIUM STEARATE · MICROCRYSTALLINE CELLULOSE 102 · POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL 400 · POLYSORBATE 80 · SILICON DIOXIDE · SODIUM STARCH GLYCOLATE TYPE A · STARCH, CORN · TITANIUM DIOXIDE
View source label →
04

Rising Pharma Holdings, Inc. worth a call to confirm

US label (DailyMed) · TRAMADOL HYDROCHLORIDE TABLET [RISING PHARMA HOLDINGS, INC.] · label dated Apr 15, 2026

Worth a call to the maker: SODIUM STARCH GLYCOLATE TYPE A

Inactive ingredients HYPROMELLOSE 2910 (3 MPA.S) · HYPROMELLOSE 2910 (6 MPA.S) · LACTOSE MONOHYDRATE · MAGNESIUM STEARATE · MICROCRYSTALLINE CELLULOSE 102 · POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL 400 · POLYSORBATE 80 · SILICON DIOXIDE · SODIUM STARCH GLYCOLATE TYPE A · STARCH, CORN · TITANIUM DIOXIDE
View source label →
05

Accord worth a call to confirm

Plogsted list · Tramadol 50 mg tablet [Accord] · label dated 2019-04-23
View source label →
06

Actavis worth a call to confirm

Plogsted list · Tramadol 50 mg tablet [Actavis] · label dated 2019-04-23
View source label →
07

Alphapharm worth a call to confirm

Plogsted list · Tramadol 50 mg tablet [Alphapharm] · label dated 2019-04-23
View source label →
08

Amneal worth a call to confirm

Plogsted list · Tramadol 50 mg tablet [Amneal] · label dated 2019-04-23
View source label →
09

Apotex worth a call to confirm

Plogsted list · Tramadol 50 mg tablet [Apotex] · label dated 2019-04-23
View source label →
10

Cadila worth a call to confirm

Plogsted list · Tramadol 50 mg tablet [Cadila] · label dated 2019-04-23
View source label →
11

Caraco worth a call to confirm

Plogsted list · Tramadol 50 mg tablet [Caraco] · label dated 2019-04-23
View source label →
12

St. Mary's Medical Park Pharmacy nothing flagged on the label

US label (DailyMed) · TRAMADOL HYDROCHLORIDE AND ACETAMINOPHEN TABLET, FILM COATED [ST. MARY'S MEDICAL PARK P… · label dated Jul 01, 2026

Inactive ingredients FERRIC OXIDE YELLOW · HYPROMELLOSE 2910 (3 MPA.S) · HYPROMELLOSE 2910 (6 MPA.S) · MAGNESIUM STEARATE · MICROCRYSTALLINE CELLULOSE · POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL 400 · POLYSORBATE 80 · SODIUM STARCH GLYCOLATE TYPE A POTATO · STARCH, CORN · TITANIUM DIOXIDE
View source label →
13

Coupler LLC nothing flagged on the label

US label (DailyMed) · TRAMADOL HYDROCHLORIDE TABLET, COATED [COUPLER LLC] · label dated Jun 23, 2026

Inactive ingredients CELLULOSE, MICROCRYSTALLINE · HYPROMELLOSES · LACTOSE MONOHYDRATE · MAGNESIUM STEARATE · POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL, UNSPECIFIED · POLYSORBATE 80 · SODIUM STARCH GLYCOLATE TYPE A POTATO · STARCH, CORN · TITANIUM DIOXIDE
View source label →
14

Strides Pharma Science Limited nothing flagged on the label

US label (DailyMed) · TRAMADOL HYDROCHLORIDE TABLET [STRIDES PHARMA SCIENCE LIMITED] · label dated Jun 02, 2026

Inactive ingredients HYPROMELLOSE 2910 (6 MPA.S) · LACTOSE MONOHYDRATE · MICROCRYSTALLINE CELLULOSE 101 · Magnesium Stearate · POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL 1000 · POLYSORBATE 80 · SODIUM STARCH GLYCOLATE TYPE A POTATO · STARCH, CORN · TITANIUM DIOXIDE
View source label →
15

Amneal Pharmaceuticals NY LLC nothing flagged on the label

US label (DailyMed) · TRAMADOL HYDROCHLORIDE TABLET, COATED [AMNEAL PHARMACEUTICALS NY LLC] · label dated May 21, 2026

Inactive ingredients CELLULOSE, MICROCRYSTALLINE · HYPROMELLOSES · LACTOSE MONOHYDRATE · MAGNESIUM STEARATE · POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL, UNSPECIFIED · POLYSORBATE 80 · SODIUM STARCH GLYCOLATE TYPE A POTATO · STARCH, CORN · TITANIUM DIOXIDE
View source label →
16

Amneal Pharmaceuticals of New York LLC nothing flagged on the label

US label (DailyMed) · TRAMADOL HYDROCHLORIDE AND ACETAMINOPHEN TABLET [AMNEAL PHARMACEUTICALS OF NEW YORK LLC] · label dated May 15, 2026

Inactive ingredients CARNAUBA WAX · CELLULOSE, MICROCRYSTALLINE · CROSPOVIDONE (12 MPA.S AT 5%) · FERRIC OXIDE RED · FERRIC OXIDE YELLOW · FERROSOFERRIC OXIDE · POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL, UNSPECIFIED · POLYVINYL ALCOHOL, UNSPECIFIED · POVIDONE · SODIUM STARCH GLYCOLATE TYPE A POTATO · STARCH, CORN · STEARIC ACID · TALC · TITANIUM DIOXIDE
View source label →
17

ST. MARY'S MEDICAL PARK PHARMACY nothing flagged on the label

US label (DailyMed) · TRAMADOL HYDROCHLORIDE TABLET, FILM COATED [ST. MARY'S MEDICAL PARK PHARMACY] · label dated May 04, 2026

Inactive ingredients CARNAUBA WAX · HYPROMELLOSE 2910 (6 MPA.S) · LACTOSE MONOHYDRATE · MAGNESIUM STEARATE · MICROCRYSTALLINE CELLULOSE · POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL 400 · POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL 6000 · POLYSORBATE 80 · POVIDONE K25 · SODIUM STARCH GLYCOLATE TYPE A POTATO · STARCH, CORN · TITANIUM DIOXIDE
View source label →
18

Unichem Pharmaceuticals (USA), Inc. nothing flagged on the label

US label (DailyMed) · TRAMADOL HYDROCHLORIDE TABLET, FILM COATED [UNICHEM PHARMACEUTICALS (USA), INC.] · label dated Apr 13, 2026

Inactive ingredients CROSCARMELLOSE SODIUM · FERRIC OXIDE YELLOW · HYPROMELLOSE 2910 (6 MPA.S) · LACTOSE MONOHYDRATE · MAGNESIUM STEARATE · MICROCRYSTALLINE CELLULOSE · POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL 400 · SILICON DIOXIDE · TITANIUM DIOXIDE
View source label →

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Background

What “gluten in a medication” actually means

Gluten enters drugs through their excipients — the inactive ingredients used to bind, coat, fill, or stabilize the dose. The main concern is wheat starch as a filler. Source-ambiguous starches (plain “starch”, pregelatinized starch, sodium starch glycolate, modified starch) get flagged for verification because their botanical origin isn't always disclosed on the label.

The 2024 Mangione et al. pediatric NDC analysis (689 NDCs across the top 100 pediatric medications) found 1.5% contained gluten outright; another 25.7% couldn't be confirmed either way. Liquid and oral-suspension formulations carry disproportionate risk because wheat starch is a common thickener. Full methodology →

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