Abstract
The analgesic efficacy and side effects of oral tramadol were studied on 456 patients with various acute and chronic painful diseases. Their pain intensities were 3 or more on a verbal rating scale of 5. Patients initially received 0.5-2.0 mg/kg/day of tramadol, and the doses were titrated according to their pain. The efficacy and side effects were evaluated 2 to 84 days after administration. The tramadol doses ranged from 20 to 450 mg/day. The pain intensity became less than 2 on VRS in 50% of the patients (the overall efficacy of tramadol was 50%). It was effective in patients with herpetic pain and post-herpetic neuralgia, and less effective in those with complex regional pain syndrome, vascular disease, and cancer pain. The side effects included nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and constipation and occurred in 2-12% of patients. Because tramadol was effective in nociceptive and neuropathic pain, it may be recommended for a variety of pain disorders.
