Comparing the frequency tramadol abuse in seizure and non-seizure complaint patients referred to neurology emergency department of a university affiliated hospital

Due to its similar opioid effects, tramadol is commonly abused worldwide. One of the notable side effects of tramadol is seizure. The present study compares the frequency of tramadol abuse among seizure and non-seizure (other reasons) patients referring to the Neurology Emergency Ward of Ali Ibn Abi Talib Hospital, a referral center affiliated to Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Iran.

This cross-sectional study reviewed 141 patients referring to the emergency ward of a referral hospital. The data were collected by clinical examination, face-to-face interviews, and a structured self-questionnaire for each client. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, non-parametric chi-square, and independent T-test.

In this cross-sectional study, 82 male (58.2%) and 59 female subjects (41.8%) were included. The results revealed the average age of patients being 30.16 ± 9.12. The incidence of tramadol abuse was approximately 36.8% in the total population study. Twenty-five and half percent of the subjects were referred to the neurology emergency ward for seizure while 16.3% of the subjects were referred to other wards for non-seizure complaints. In this study, we no relationship was found between the duration of consumption and the concurrent use of other medications; however, there was a statistically significant correlation between the dose of tramadol and the incidence of seizure.

The result of the present study illustrated a significant incidence of seizure in men with tramadol abuse and a direct correlation with medication dose.