Research: tramadol’s effectiveness in chronic pain is questionable

By: Trademagazin Date: 2025. 10. 08. 10:24

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A recent Danish study published in the journal BMJ Evidence Based Medicine suggests that the widely used drug tramadol has limited effectiveness in treating chronic pain, while the risk of side effects may outweigh the benefits. Experts from Rigshospitalet in Copenhagen analyzed health data from more than 6,500 patients from 19 clinical trials.

According to the results, tramadol only had a mild analgesic effect, which did not bring any significant improvement in the patients’ condition. However, the drug doubled the incidence of side effects compared to placebo – including heart disease, chest pain, heart failure, nausea, dizziness, constipation and drowsiness.

The researchers warn that the use of tramadol and other similar opioid-type painkillers should be limited as much as possible, especially for long-term conditions such as arthritis or back pain.

Tramadol is one of the most commonly prescribed opioids in both the UK and the US, with more than 16 million prescriptions written each year. However, experts are increasingly urging doctors not to prescribe it to new patients and to gradually reduce the dosage of those already taking it.

Around 60 million people worldwide suffer from opioid addiction, with the number of deaths linked to such drugs reaching 600,000 each year, researchers warn