THE tramadol is the most prescribed opioid analgesic in France. While this medication helps combat pain, it also poses a risk of addiction and dependence. As the Medicines Agency (ANSM) explains, “for several years, an increase in reports of abuse and dependence with tramadol has been observed, particularly in the context of misuse”. An observation which had already made them take measures in 2020, in limiting the duration of tramadol prescription to 12 weeks.
However, to further strengthen these measures, the ANSM announced in a communicated published on April 11, 2024, having asked laboratories that market tramadol-based medications to make boxes of 10 or 15 tablets or capsules available, suitable for short-term treatments.
Tramadol: misuse that exposes you to serious side effects
It is essential not to exceed either the dose or the prescribed treatment duration, indicates the reference site for health products Vidal on its sheet dedicated to tramadol. Indeed, according to several surveys carried out by the addictovigilance network (CEIP-A), this opioid is the “first analgesic implicated in deaths linked to taking painkillers, in front of the morphinebut also the 2nd painkiller most frequently found on falsified prescriptions presented in pharmacies, behind codeine”. This is why the ANSM asked manufacturers to market tramadol boxes of 10 and 15 and not just 30 tablets or capsules.
A measure which aims to “reduce the risk of prolonged use when this is not necessary, and therefore abuse and dependence, and to limit the possibilities of family storage and therefore risks for relatives who do not need it”, as Philippe Vella, medical director of the ANSM explains to Parisian. The National Medicines Agency nevertheless specifies that larger packages, suitable for longer-term treatments, remain available.
ANSM recommendations to health professionals and patients
Healthcare professionals are advised to remain vigilant when prescribing or dispensing medications containing tramadol. According to the ANSM, it is preferable to prescribe tramadol for as short a period as possible, that is to say between 3 and 14 days in the event of acute pain. However, in the management of chronic pain, it is advisable to reassess the treatment every 3 to 6 months. In addition, to avoid a withdrawal syndrome, regardless of the duration of treatment, the ANSM indicates that the dosage must be gradually reduced (sometimes over several months in the case of chronic treatment) until it is stopped. .
For their part, patients are asked to respect the dose and number of doses indicated on the prescription, as well as the interval between doses and the duration of treatment. Likewise, if the pain is not sufficiently or quickly relieved by treatment, it is best to consult your doctor again. The ANSM also emphasizes thatyou should not suddenly stop your treatment because this can lead to withdrawal-related symptoms such as nervousness, anxiety or a feeling of withdrawal.
Sources:
- Tramadol: fewer tablets in boxes for better use – ANSM – April 10, 2024
- TRAMADOL: a measure to limit misuse in France – ANSM – October 27, 2020
- Tramadol Biogaran – Vidal
- Tramadol: still “far too many” misuses, reduced boxes now available – Le Parisien