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Painkiller tramadol may only have slight effect on chronic pain -...
Research suggests that tramadol, a prescription opioid painkiller, provides only minimal relief for chronic pain, with potential side effects possibly outweighing its benefits.
- Tramadol, known by brand names such as Maxitram and Zydol, is an opioid analgesic that may have a marginal effect on chronic pain management.
- Recent studies indicate that tramadol's benefits are limited, particularly for conditions like osteoarthritis, raising concerns about its efficacy compared to placebo treatments.
- Patients using tramadol may experience significant side effects, including risks associated with cardiovascular disease, prompting a reevaluation of its prescription in evidence-based medicine.
Why It Matters
This research challenges the long-held belief in tramadol's effectiveness for chronic pain, highlighting the need for more scrutinized pain management strategies and potentially impacting prescribing practices across healthcare systems.