Emergency Medicine PharmD - May 4, 2015 - By Matthew DeLaney
..."Tramadol has been marketed as a novel analgesic that offers pain relief comparable to opioids without the associated risks of abuse or dependency. As its use has increased, there is emerging data to suggest that tramadol is not a medication that should be routinely used in the emergency department. From questionable efficacy, risk of dependency/abuse, to a somewhat unique risk of complications, there are three major reasons why providers should be careful when using tramadol...
Conclusion
Despite its widespread use, there are significant issues that providers should consider before using tramadol. In terms of efficacy tramadol has not been shown to consistently outperform other available analgesics. In addition, tramadol has a set of potential side effects that make it a less than ideal first line analgesics. Finally tramadol does not appear to be a “safe opioid” as there seem to be significant potential for abuse, dependency, and withdrawal."