Related Experiment Videos
Tramadol exposures reported to statewide poison control system
Kathy A Marquardt1, Judith A Alsop, Timothy E Albertson
1California Poison Control System, Sacramento Division, University of California Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, CA 95817-2201, USA. kmarquardt@calpoison.org
The Annals of Pharmacotherapy
|May 5, 2005
Summary
Tramadol overdose can cause central nervous system depression, nausea, vomiting, tachycardia, and seizures, particularly in males and with chronic use. Most symptoms resolve within 24 hours, with naloxone showing effectiveness for CNS depression.
Area of Science:
- Toxicology
- Pharmacology
- Emergency Medicine
Background:
- Tramadol is an analgesic with known seizure risk upon overdose.
- Understanding tramadol's toxic effects is crucial for clinical management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the toxic effects and clinical outcomes of tramadol exposure.
- To identify factors associated with adverse events, particularly seizures.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective chart review of tramadol exposures reported to poison control centers over 2.5 years.
- Analysis of 190 cases with sufficient data, excluding co-ingestants and unknown outcomes.
- Logistic regression to identify predictors of seizures.
Main Results:
- Central nervous system (CNS) depression (27.4%), nausea/vomiting (21.1%), tachycardia (17.4%), and seizures (13.7%) were common symptoms.
- The lowest tramadol dose associated with seizures was 200 mg, with 84.6% of seizures occurring within 6 hours of ingestion.
- Seizures were associated with male gender, chronic use, suicide attempts, and tachycardia.
Conclusions:
- Tramadol overdose commonly leads to CNS depression, nausea/vomiting, tachycardia, and seizures.
- Symptoms typically resolve within 24 hours.
- Accidental pediatric ingestions were generally well-tolerated, causing sedation.