Study questions the effectiveness and safety of the drug in treating pain, especially chronic pain. The risk of serious adverse effects practically doubles compared to placebo and an increase in cancers has been recorded.
A new scientific review, in The BMJ Evidence Based Medicine, raises serious doubts about the effectiveness of tramadolan opioid analgesic widely prescribed for the relief of chronic pain.
The study, conducted by a team from Rigs Hospital, in Denmark, concludes that its potential risks may outweigh the benefits therapeutics.
According to the agency, the research was based on an analysis and meta-analysis of 19 clinical trials carried out until 2025, involving 6,506 participants with different types of chronic pain, including osteoarthritis, low back pain, neuropathy and fibromyalgia. The average age of patients was 58 years, and treatments lasted between two and 16 weeks, with follow-up of up to 15 weeks.
The results show that although tramadol provides some relief, the observed effect is small and insufficient to be considered clinically relevant. In contrast, the risk of serious adverse effects practically doubles compared to placebo. Among the problems recorded, cardiac events such as chest pain, coronary disease and congestive heart failure.
Additionally, the study identified a possible link between tramadol use and increased risk of certain types of canceralthough the authors emphasize that the observation period was too short to draw definitive conclusions. Mild side effects have also been recorded — nausea, dizziness, constipation and drowsiness — with a frequency significantly higher than that observed in the control group.
The Danish team therefore argues that the use of the drug should be reduced to the essential minimum.
