The world’s most prescribed opioid for pain has been shown to provide limited relief benefits while increasing the risk of fatal cardiovascular events.
Research published in BMJ Journals states that Tramadol, the world’s most popular opioid painkiller, with more than 16 million prescriptions written in the US alone by 2023, has been prescribed for decades as a treatment for moderate to severe chronic pain.
Doctors rely on it because of the long-standing clinical belief that it is less likely to cause addiction than other opioids such as oxycodone and fentanyl.
But researchers in Denmark conducted an analysis of past clinical trials and concluded that the drug not only provides clinically insignificant pain relief, but also increases the overall chance of a serious side effect by more than double.
The analysis included 19 studies involving more than 6,500 people taking tramadol or a placebo.
The side effects, in addition to an increased risk of chest pain, coronary artery disease (CAD) and congestive heart failure, also include nausea, dizziness and constipation.
The researchers said: “Tramadol may have a small effect on reducing chronic pain (low certainty of evidence), while likely increasing the risk of both serious… and non-serious side effects.”
“The potential harm associated with using tramadol for pain management likely outweighs its limited benefits,” she added.
Tramadol can be given in a hospital or outpatient setting so that someone can take it at home, but as with any opiate, tramadol carries some risk of addiction.
Amid the opioid crisis, doctors are finding it challenging to identify an opioid that is completely safe for pain relief. They are caught between significant pressure to curb prescriptions and the obligation to address real patient suffering.
