A new study shows that tramadol, one of the most commonly prescribed opioids for chronic pain, may not be as effective as many believe. Researchers reviewed 19 clinical trials with more than 6,500 adults and found that tramadol provided very little pain relief. On a standard 0 to 10 pain scale, scores improved by less than one point, a difference too small to matter for most patients.
The study, published in BMJ Evidence Based Medicine, also found that people taking tramadol faced double the risk of serious side effects, including chest pain and heart failure. Milder problems such as nausea, dizziness, and fatigue were also frequent. Experts say that despite its reputation as a safer opioid, tramadol’s limited benefits do not outweigh the risks.
Researchers are urging doctors to reconsider tramadol’s role in managing chronic pain. They say safer non-opioid treatments may offer better relief without the same dangers. The findings add to growing concern that tramadol’s “safe” label is misleading and that millions of people may be using a drug that provides little help while increasing the risk of harm.
SOURCE: