THIS common painkiller taken by millions is ‘not very effective’ AND ‘doubles the risk of heart disease’: Study finds

A recent study has found that a widely used painkiller, tramadol, provides only modest relief for chronic pain, so little that its benefit is questionable, and is linked with double the risk of heart-related problems, including chest pain, coronary artery disease, and heart failure. Researchers reviewed 19 randomized trials involving over 6,500 people suffering various chronic pain conditions (like osteoarthritis, neuropathy, back pain, fibromyalgia) and observed that while tramadol reduced pain a bit, the effect was below what would be considered clinically meaningful; in contrast, the rate of serious cardiac events was significantly higher among tramadol users. The authors caution that tramadol’s risks may outweigh its limited benefits, especially when used long term, urging doctors and patients to weigh the decision carefully and consider safer alternatives.
*This news was published by Times of India on October 8, 2025.*

 

 

 

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