Common side effects of tramadol use and its final outcome in patients referred to the emergency department of Shahid Beheshti Hospital in Qom during 1397-1397

Tramadol is a hydrochloride-structured synthetic narcotic drug with central effects and its intoxication severely involves the nervous system. Since it has recently reported to be one of the most common causes of drug intoxication in Iran, the present study aimed to investigate the frequency of its adverse effects and outcome in patients referred to the emergency department of Shahid Beheshti Hospital in Qom during 2018-2019.

Medical profiles of 180 eligible patients with acute tramadol intoxication were assessed. Demographics data, clinical findings (loss of consciousness; seizures; gastrointestinal, cardiac and respiratory symptoms) and patients’ outcomes (duration of hospitalization, ICU admission and death) were collected. Data analysis was performed by SPSS.22 and significance level were considered to be <0.05.

The most common adverse effect was gastrointestinal complications (37%), followed by seizures (34%), loss of consciousness (33%), cardiac complications (13%) and respiratory depression (7%). Consumption amount was also significantly correlated with gastrointestinal complications, loss of consciousness, duration of hospitalization and ICU admission. P<0.05