• Expert Opin Pharmacother · Aug 2011

    Review

    Extended-release formulations of tramadol in the treatment of chronic pain.

    • Joseph V Pergolizzi, Robert Taylor, and Robert B Raffa.
    • Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA. jpjmd@msn.com
    • Expert Opin Pharmacother. 2011 Aug 1;12(11):1757-68.

    IntroductionTramadol is a centrally acting analgesic available throughout the world. Its dual opioid and non-opioid mechanisms of action, favorable efficacy and safety clinical profiles and non-controlled regulatory status in most markets contribute to its widespread use. A drawback of the immediate-release formulation of tramadol (four-times-a-day dosing) might be addressed by an extended-release formulation. Extended-release formulations also can offer advantages in the management of chronic pain: convenience, reduced pill burden (possibly leading to improved compliance) and the attenuation of peaks and troughs in serum concentration (possibly leading to reduced adverse effects).Areas CoveredThe authors review tramadol's mechanisms of action and the clinical literature regarding the use of tramadol extended-release formulations for the management of conditions involving chronic pain, such as neuropathic pain syndromes, osteoarthritis and cancer pain.Expert OpinionBased on the literature cited, extended-release formulations of tramadol seem to offer a rational and important addition to the analgesic armamentarium. As is true for all such options, the benefits and risks must be assessed for each patient.

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