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Abstract
The treatment of chronic pain is an important function of physicians. In the United
States, available drug treatments for chronic pain currently include simple analgesics
such as acetaminophen, salicylates and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs,
traditional opioid drugs, and adjuvant agents (eg, antidepressants, anticonvulsants).
Typically, the choice of a drug is made by balancing the indications for treatment,
the clinical efficacy of the drug, and its toxicity. An understanding of the mechanism
of action of these drugs helps to establish their role in therapy. Tramadol is an
effective analgesic that works through a combined mechanism of weak mu receptor binding
and the inhibition of serotonin and nonrepinephrine reuptake. Tramadol has a favorable
adverse-effect profile and therefore is likely to have an important role in the management
of chronic pain syndromes.
Keywords
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© 1997 Published by Elsevier Inc.
