Tramadol in the elderly: beware of side effects

Pain is the most common reason for consultation in the elderly. As older people age, they are more prone to pain.

And to relieve them, doctors may prescribe opioids, including Tramadol. But what are its main side effects?

Tramadol is an analgesic that should be taken with caution

Tramadol is an analgesic that belongs to the opioid family. It works on specific acute and chronic pain.

Tramadol is used by 6 million French patients. And it’s mostly safe to use… if you take it with caution. for what

Indeed, Tramadol causes many side effects such as: Nausea, Dizziness, Vomit, Sweat, headache, A lethargy… etc

But in some cases, its long-term use can cause Hallucination, mental confusion, difficulties behavior, blurred vision, Difficulty urinating, Allergic reaction, Bradycardia, High blood pressure. And Overdose can lead to death.

Risks of tramadol in the elderly

Tramadol is mainly excreted by the liver, so dose adjustment is necessary, especially in the elderly.

Indeed, the metabolism of drugs becomes longer with age.

So they stay in the body longer, which explains why side effects are more frequent.

Dr. A study conducted by Raoul Daust on 70,000 elderly patients found The Tramadol was responsible for visual disturbances and muscle loss with significant consequences on balance. The results of the study were published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ) in April 2018.

Tramadol is more dangerous than morphine

But that is not all. Tramadol, the most commonly used opioid in France, causes cardiac arrhythmias and hypoglycemia. This drug is more dangerous than morphine, as it is involved in fatal overdose.