Drugs of today
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Tramadol hydrochloride is a widely prescribed, centrally acting analgesic marketed in over 90 countries. Before being released in the U. S. in 1995, the drug had been available in Europe for almost two decades. ⋯ Therefore, tramadol may be of particular value in patients with chronic pain who also suffer from depression. This drug has been shown to be beneficial in the treatment of a wide range of acute and chronic pain syndromes, including neuropathic pain. While abuse of tramadol may occur, several large studies have demonstrated that the incidence of abuse is rather low, about one case per 100,000 patients.