Tramadol โฃOffers Limited โฃPain Relief, Carries Significant Risks, Study Finds
New research published in tehโ BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine suggests the commonly โprescribed painkiller tramadol provides only modest relief for chronic pain and is linked to โฃa heightened risk of serious side effects, particularly heart problems. The findings challenge the perception of tramadol as a safer option to other opioid painkillers.
Researchers from Denmark analyzed data from 19 clinical trials encompassing 6,506 participants experiencing various โforms of chronic pain, including nerve pain, osteoarthritis, chronic low back pain, andโ fibromyalgia. The average participant age was 58. โฃThe analysis compared tramadol use โto placeboโฃ treatments.
While tramadol demonstrated a slight analgesic effect, researchers found it to be โขlimited. More concerningly,eight of โthe studies reported an increased incidence of serious side effects among thoseโ taking tramadol. The drug doubled the risk of cardiovascular issues, including chest pain, coronary artery narrowingโข or blockage, and heart failure. Milder side effects, such as nausea, dizziness, intestinal blockage, and drowsiness, were also more โฃfrequently reported.
The study authors suggest the perceived benefits ofโ tramadol may be inflated due to the placebo effect, meaning the actual pain-relieving properties could be even smaller than observed. Conversely, they believe patients may underestimate the potential for adverse effects, potentially due to healthcare โproviders characterizing them as less severeโ than those associated with stronger opioids.
The researchโข highlights a growing concern regarding opioidโ use globally. Approximately 60 million people worldwide struggle with opioid addiction, and in 2019, nearly 600,000 โpeople died from drug use, โขwith roughly 80% of those deaths linked to opioids. Specifically, in the United States, opioid overdose deaths surged fromโ nearly 50,000 in 2019 toโข over 80,000 in 2022. โค
Given theseโค trends and the study’sโ findings, the researchers strongly recommend minimizing the use of tramadol and other opioids whenever possible. The increasing prescription rates of tramadol, often based on the belief itโข is less addictive and carries fewer risks than otherโข opioids, are now being questioned in light of this new evidence.
