An Overview of Adverse Drug Reactions of Tramadol in AMC

김지현°, 김승란, 유용만a, 신혜영, 곽혜선b, 송영천

서울아산병원 약제팀, 의료정보팀a, 이화여자대학교 약학대학b

 Tramadol is the first drug of choice for moderate-to-severe pain. However, its use is in doubt due to its rising side-effect profile. The aims of the study were to assess the prevalence and to evaluate characteristics of adverse drug reactions(ADRs) of tramadol at Asan Medical Center. The study population of the retrospective study was comprised of 15,153 patients who were administered tramadol between 1 January 2008 and 31 December 2008. We selected and analyzed all cases in which tramadol was reported as the cause of ADRs. There were 263 patients with tramadol-induced ADRs describing 353 reactions reported to AMC. Anaphylactoid reactions 3.68%, dyspnea 4.25%, vomiting 44.48%. nausea 20.68%, abdominal pain 0.28%, palpitations 0.57%, hypotension 0.57%, fever 3.12%, dizziness 13.03%, paresthesia 0.28%, diaphoresis 7.37%, depression 0.57%, sedation 0.28%, headaches 0.57%, seizures 0.28% were reported. Risk factors were female, age under 35, and combined use with SSRI(p<0.05). In conclusion, the use of tramadol should not be trivialized. It is important that clinicians are aware of the potential ADRs and that patients report should ADRs develop.