Millions of French people take this medication, its effectiveness is called into question in relation to the proven risks.
Ineffective and dangerous, it’s the complete opposite of what we want when we take a medication… However, this is the worrying conclusion of a study on a widely prescribed treatment for pain. More than 5 million French patients take it, according to Health Insurance.
Danish researchers have carried out the first synthesis of studies “on the use of tramadol for all types of chronic pain and including an in-depth study of adverse effects”. Their results, published in the British Medical Journalcall into question its effectiveness, and warn of the risk of serious adverse effects. The authors of the study indeed report “limited analgesic benefits and an increased risk of harm”.
Concerning its effectiveness, the researchers estimate that this drug can only “slightly reduce pain levels”, but “below the threshold of significant difference” compared to a placebo. However, it is a painkiller that is supposed to be very effective, and it is also reserved for the treatment of moderate to severe pain.
The study also showed that tramadol can increase the risk of adverse effects, including some serious ones such as heart problems (coronary heart disease, heart failure, etc.). This risk of adverse effects is twice as high as with placebos. Faced with these results, the researchers therefore believe that “the potential risks associated with the use of tramadol for pain management probably outweigh its limited benefits. The use of tramadol for chronic pain should be reconsidered, favoring safer alternatives.”
A CNNDr Janus Jakobsen, lead author of the study, advised “patients to consult their doctor to determine the most appropriate treatment for their condition.” This study is far from being the first alert on tramadol. Many measures have been taken in France to reduce the risks of misuse and addiction, such as a maximum prescription duration of 3 months and a secure prescription…
But this opioid remains risky. It is even the painkiller most involved in deaths linked to analgesics, ahead of morphine and codeine. For all these reasons, it should only be prescribed as second intention, and after alternatives have been studied. Despite everything, tramadol is “the most consumed opioid analgesic in France” according to Health Insurance.
