Not sure if he is overdosing and what should i do

Dear Ask The Doctor: My 49 year old friend is taking tramadol/ acet for back pain..suppose to tkae 1*2 tabs 3 X a day...he takes 4-5 in the morning and 4-5 in after noon and up to 5-6 at night with gin or beer. is this overdosing and what i should be looking for if it is.

Dear Lori: First of all, he should be taking only the prescribed number of pills per dose; secondly, he should not be taking these pills with alcohol because the interaction between these two is very dangerous. He needs to be re-evaluated by his PCP and adjust the dosage or type of medication to manage the pain.