PERJOPERATIVE USE OF NEW' ANAL6£SIC DRU6 Tramadol

Abstract

Tramadol is a centrally acting analgesic which possesses opioid agonist properties and activities monoaminergic spinal inhibition of pain. It may be administered orally, rectaly, intravenously or intramuscularly. In patients with moderate to severe postoperative pain, intravenous on intramuscular tramadol has generally proved to be of equivalent potency to pethidine. Intravenous tramadol 50 to 150 mg was equevalent in analgesic efficacy to morphine 5 to 15mg in patients with moderate pain following surgery; however, when administered epidurally tramadol was one - thirtieth as potent as morphine. 5-anuulolhas demonstrated efficacy in a few studies in the short term treatment of chronic pain of various origins.tramadolis well tolerated in short term use with dizziness, nausea, sedation, dry mouth and sweating being the principal adverse effects. Respiratory depression has been observed in only a few patients after tramadol infusion anaesthesia. When used for pain relief during childbirth, intravenously administered J.anuulol did not cause respiratory depression in neonates. The tolerance and dependense potentials of tramadol during treatment for up to 6 months appears to be low, although the possibility of dependence with long term use cannot be intirely excluded. Thus, evidence to date of the analgesic effectiveness of tramadol combined with a low respiratory depressant effect and low dependence potential in short term use, suggestes that the drug may become a useful alternative to the opioid analgesic currently available for the treatment of patients with moderately severe acute or chronic pain.