U.S. report found problem was greatest among women and patients 55 and older
THURSDAY, May 14, 2015 (HealthDay News) — There was a sharp rise in the number of emergency department visits involving tramadol between 2005 and 2011, two new government reports show.
The number of emergency department visits associated with adverse reactions to tramadol rose 145 percent, from 10,901 visits in 2005 to 25,884 visits in 2009. The number of visits increased to 27,421 visits in 2011, the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) reported.
Emergency department visits associated with adverse reactions to tramadol rose 226 percent among males between 2005 (2,484 visits) and 2011 (8,092 visits), but the number of visits by females were much higher, going from 7,604 visits in 2005 to 19,329 visits in 2011. Meanwhile, emergency department visits associated with misuse or abuse of tramadol rose 250 percent. Visits rose 303 percent among males, from 2,333 visits in 2005 to 9,411 visits in 2011. The number of visits by females was higher, rising from 3,922 in 2005 to 12,238 in 2011.
Patients aged 55 and older showed the largest increase in emergency department visits associated with misuse or abuse of tramadol, going from 892 visits in 2005 to 5,181 visits in 2011.
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