A Widely-Used Painkiller May Harm Your Heart

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Dr. Howard Smith Reports

Howard G. Smith MD, AM

4968 episodes

3 days ago

Howard G. Smith MD, AM has been reporting health and wellness news for more than 35 years on radio and via podcasts. Harvard Medical School, MD; Harvard University, AM, Immunology; former Medical Editor, WBZ-AM, Boston. Website: http://www.drhowardsmith.com Email: drhowardsmith.reports@gmail.com

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A Widely-Used Painkiller May Harm Your Heart

Dr. Howard Smith Reports

1 minute 27 seconds

1 week ago

A Widely-Used Painkiller May Harm Your Heart

Vidcast: https://www.instagram.com/p/DTG1ZG6D_ja/

Tramadol is an opioid often prescribed for chronic pain and restless legs. Now, a comprehensive Danish review, published in the BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine journal, shows that tramadol carries a significant risk of heart-related problems including coronary artery disease with chest pain and eventual heart failure.

The review analyzed 19 clinical trials that studied 6,506 participants with chronic neuropathic, osteoarthritic, low back, and fibromyalgic pain. The data demonstrates that tramadol doubles the risk of cardiovascular damage compared with placebo therapy. Worse still, tramadol fails to have a consistent, significant effect on perceived chronic pain.

The bottom line. If you are taking tramadol for chronic pain, you should discuss with your medical team a shift to a non-opioid. At the same time, know that chronic pain is best controlled by not only analgesics but also non-medicinal therapy including physical therapy, exercise, and counseling.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251225080723.htm

https://ebm.bmj.com/content/early/2025/09/26/bmjebm-2025-114101

#tramadol #pain #heartattack #heartfailure