Tramadol Facts and Statistics

Table of Contents

Tramadol is an opioid pain reliever available in several brands, including Ultram (brand name) and Ultracet (brand name). The most popular and widely recognized are Ultram and Ultracet. In acute and chronic situations, Tramadol, or Ultram, is prescribed for moderate pain, including osteoporosis and neuropathy. In addition, the drug is approved to treat cancer pain for less than three months.

Tramadol has a lower clinical value than other opiates but is considered safe because it poses a lower risk for tolerance, abuse, and dependence. In addition, Tramadol has about one-tenth the pain-relieving qualities of morphine.

Tramadol is different from other opiates in two ways:

1. Tramadol, a synthetic drug, is not found in nature. Man manufactures it. It is a natural opiate, unlike morphine or codeine, derived from opium poppies. This drug also differs from semi-synthetic drugs such as hydromorphone, oxycodone, and hydrocodone.

2. Tramadol is a drug that has a unique dual-action benefit. Tramadol acts as an opiate to reduce pain perception, but it also increases the availability of two neurotransmitter chemicals in the brain, serotonin, and norepinephrine. Serotonin controls sleep, mood, and concentration.

Tramadol: A Brief History

Tramadol, compared to other medications and drugs, is relatively new. Tramadol was developed in 1962 by a German company specializing in treating pain. The drug was tested in Germany for 15 years before it was approved. Finally, it was brought to the market abroad in 1977 under Tramal. The drug was a huge success for the company.

Tramadol, a pain reliever, is prescribed by doctors worldwide. However, the drug was only available in the U.S. from 1995. The medication is now quite popular in America.

The graph above shows that prescriptions have increased rapidly between 2008 and 2012. In those five years, the number of drugs for this substance increased by 14 million. Although not included in the graph for 2013, 2013 saw a further increase of almost 44 million prescriptions, just in the U.S.

Tramadol is different from other opiates in two ways:

 Click the image to view the entire infographic.

1. Tramadol, a synthetic drug, is not found in nature. Man manufactures it. It is a natural opiate, unlike morphine or codeine, derived from opium poppies. This drug also differs from semi-synthetic drugs such as hydromorphone, oxycodone, and hydrocodone.

2. Tramadol is a drug that has a unique dual-action benefit. Tramadol acts as an opiate to reduce pain perception, but it also increases the availability of two neurotransmitter chemicals in the brain, serotonin, and norepinephrine. Serotonin controls sleep, mood, and concentration.

Tramadol: A Brief History

Tramadol, compared to other medications and drugs, is relatively new. Tramadol was developed in 1962 by a German company specializing in treating pain. The drug was tested in Germany for 15 years before it was approved. Finally, it was brought to the market abroad in 1977 under Tramal. The drug was a huge success for the company.

Tramadol, a pain reliever, is prescribed by doctors worldwide. However, the drug was only available in the U.S. from 1995. The medication is now quite popular in America.

The graph above shows that prescriptions have increased rapidly between 2008 and 2012. In those five years, the number of drugs for this substance increased by 14 million. Although not included in the graph for 2013, 2013 saw a further increase of almost 44 million prescriptions, just in the U.S.

Who is Abusing Tramadol?

Tramadol addiction is a growing issue in the U.S. as well as around the globe. The drug has similar effects to other opiates, including:

• Feelings of euphoria.
• Feeling detached or numb from the body.
• Feeling tired and heavy.
• Feeling calm and relaxed.

According to the World Health Organization, abuse rates are low. However, take into consideration the following:

• Tramadol abuse was rare in the U.S. during the first few years of its availability (1995-1998). Only 1 to 3 cases out of 100,000 were reported.
• Tramadol abuse was rare during the 1999-2000 period. Only 1 out of 100,000 people abused it.
• Tramadol abuse was consistently low in 2004.

Researchers found that tramadol abusers share a similarity. About 95% of people who abuse Tramadol have previously used other substances. Addicts may be more likely to harm Tramadol.

The abuse of opiates in the U.S. has become a significant issue. The bar graphs on this page provide information about the abuse of pain relievers in general.

The overall rate of tramadol abuse is decreasing from 2012 to 2013 with:

• The non-medical usage of life is reduced by approximately 1.5 million.
• In the past year, non-medical use was reduced by around 1.4 million.
• The number of non-medical prescriptions decreased by 340,000 last month.

Tramadol abuse is a small part of the total pain reliever market. In 2014, the Drug Enforcement Administration reported that in the U.S., 3.2 million adults over 12 years old used Tramadol non-medically in their lifetime. About 10% of the pain reliever market is Tramadol.

The abuse of pain relievers prescribed to teenagers appears to follow the same trend as in the U.S. Take a look at the graph below for more information.

Tramadol is not tracked by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, which tracks non-medical drug and alcohol use among high school students in America. Tramadol is not monitored individually but is followed along with other substances under the category "narcotics, other than heroin."

• The lifetime usage rate has dropped from 13% to 5%.
• Last year, 1% of the population used it - down from 8,7% in 2011.
• Last month, 2% of the population used it - down from 3,6% in 2011.

The decline appears to have been steady and consistent.

Tramadol market

Tramadol is still popular despite its increasing prescriptions. Tramadol is sold on the streets for between $23 and $55 for 60 tablets.

Tramadol prescriptions have increased, while abuse has decreased over time. Trends provide insight into the abuse of a substance or the market. Internet searches reveal that:

• Tramadol has been a popular search term since 2005.
• Tramadol searches are at an all-time peak following a slight decline and recovery since its peak in August 2014.
• Oklahoma, Alabama, and Louisiana are the states with the most interest.
• Tramadol searches in the U.S. were common until 2012. Since then, investigations have been concentrated geographically, from Texas to Florida.

Ultram is the most searched-for drug in addition to Tramadol. Look at the following trends for Ultram, which is Tramadol's brand name.

• Ultram searches have also risen steadily since 2005 and peaked in August 2014.
• The trend projections indicate that it will continue to climb higher beyond 2015.
• Ultram is equally popular in the same regions as Tramadol, with Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Alabama being the most interesting.
• San Antonio, Dallas, and Atlanta are cities with concentrated activity.

Tramadol, the law and its use

Tramadol is legal if taken as prescribed. However, there are some changes in its status.

Arkansas began reclassifying Tramadol as a Schedule III substance in 2007. Kentucky made the exact change in 2008.

Tramadol was only classified as a Schedule IV drug nationally by the Drug Enforcement Administration in 2014. Schedule IV means:

• The drug is used for a medically essential purpose.
• The risk of abuse is low compared to other medications on Schedule III.
• The monitoring and restriction of prescriptions and refills.

Tramadol: How dangerous is it?

Tramadol used to be viewed as a substance with a low potential for abuse, dependency, and addiction. However, recent research has changed the way people view the drug.

Refer to the following data on emergency rooms, treatment facilities, and suicide attempts that involve Tramadol.

The information shows that since 1995 Tramadol was approved for non-medical purposes in the U.S., the rate of E.R. visits resulting from this use has increased by 30 times.

During six years between the mid-2000s and late 2000s, the number of E.R. visits for tramadol reactions increased by 400%.

The graphs above show that Tramadol treatment facility admissions have steadily increased since 2005. Although the total number may seem low, the trend is too constant to ignore.

Since 2004, the number of suicide attempts reported to emergency rooms involving Tramadol has increased.

Tramadol is less likely to be abused than other drugs, but the dangers can still increase because some users do not understand the harm of taking it for non-medical reasons.