Archive · 27 Dec 2025
Tramadol's risks may outweigh benefits, study finds
Tramadol is a painkiller often prescribed for chronic pain.
A new study found that it might not be very effective and could cause serious side effects like heart problems.
The study looked at many trials and found that tramadol only slightly reduces pain but increases the risk of harm.
Doctors might need to be more careful when prescribing it.
The study also noted that tramadol can cause common side effects like nausea and dizziness.
Researchers say the harms might be worse than the benefits.
Tramadol's effectiveness in reducing chronic pain is modest and may not be clinically significant.
The drug is associated with an increased risk of serious side effects, including heart disease and chest pain.
Common side effects include nausea, dizziness, constipation, and sleepiness.
Researchers analyzed 19 clinical trials involving 6,506 participants with chronic pain.
The study suggests that the potential harms of tramadol likely outweigh its limited benefits.
- Who
- Researchers analyzing clinical trials on tramadol
- What
- A study finding that tramadol's risks may outweigh its benefits for chronic pain
- When
- Study published in October 2025
- Where
- Published in BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine
- Why
- To assess the efficacy and safety of tramadol in chronic pain management
- Drug Name
- Tramadol
- Type
- Opioid painkiller
- Prescription Status
- Available only by prescription
- Common Side Effects
- Nausea, dizziness, constipation, sleepiness
- Serious Side Effects
- Heart disease, chest pain, heart failure, potential cancer risk
- Study Publication
- BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine, October 2025
- Number of Trials Analyzed
- 19
- Participants
- 6506
