According to the State Pathologist for Northern Ireland, Professor Jack Crane, who raised the alarm, Tramadol is ‘claiming more lives than any other drug’ and should be upgraded to the Class A category. Tramadol is currently classified as a Class C drug – among the least harmful.
Although, Tramadol, an opioid pain medication, is used to treat moderate to moderately severe pain, Crane warned that they could be deadly when mixed with other medication or alcohol. Serious side effects may include seizures, increased risk of serotonin syndrome, decreased alertness, and drug addiction while common side effects include constipation, itchiness and nausea, among others. A change in dosage may be recommended in those with kidney or liver problems.
It is not recommended in those who are at risk of suicide.
While not recommended in women who are breastfeeding, Tramadol’s use in pregnancy is generally avoided as it may cause some reversible withdrawal effects in the newborn.
A small prospective study in France found that, while there was an increased risk of miscarriages, there were no major malformations reported in the newborn.
Its use during lactation is also generally advised against but a small trial found that infants breastfed by mothers taking Tramadol were exposed to about 2.88 per cent of the dose the mothers were taking.
There was no evidence of this dose having a harmful effect on the newborn.
The pathologist said although, they are taken by thousands of people each day to rid them of pain, Tramadol can be deadly when mixed with other medication or alcohol. But experts said the painkiller doesn’t cause any harm so long as it is taken correctly.
However, Crane said : ‘I don’t think that people realise how potentially risky taking Tramadol is'.
Even though the use of Tramadol is not as widespread in sub-Saharan Africa, including Nigeria, compared to its competitions like Panadol and Paracetamol, There is fear that these other pain killers could as well be deadly. But, there is no confirmation for these.
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