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Yao JS, Kibu OD, Asahngwa C, Ngo NV, Ngwa W, Jasmin HM, Gobina RM, Foretia DA. A scoping review on the availability and utilization of essential opioid analgesics in Sub-Saharan Africa. Am J Surg 2023; 226:409-421. [PMID: 37024407 DOI: 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2023.03.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Revised: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/28/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Management of acute, post-operative, and chronic pain requires access to and availability of opioids. While often oversupplied in high-income countries, significant shortages exist in low- and middle-income countries. We conducted a scoping review on availability and usage of opioids in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). METHODS The five-stage approach of Arksey and O'Malley (2005) was used. MEDLINE via PubMed, EMBASE, and SCOPUS were search and results categorized into themes: 1) Local/regional availability and supply, 2) Consumption patterns, 3) Legislation and policy, 4) Costs and financing, 5) Knowledge and cultural beliefs, and 6) Education and training. RESULTS 6923 studies were identified from which 69 (1%) met inclusion criteria. Five key findings were: 1) Significant shortages exist, especially in rural areas, 2) Non-opioid analgesics commonly used as first-line acute pain management, 3) Barriers to market entry and bureaucratic processes prevent local production, 4) Significant knowledge gaps/myths exist amongst healthcare practitioners on opioid use, and 5) Continuous education and short courses will be critical. CONCLUSIONS Major challenges significantly limit availability and utilization of essential opioids in SSA. Reforms needed to upscale training and education, increase uptake by professionals, and increase market entry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jane S Yao
- College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Odette D Kibu
- Division of Health Policy and Research, Nkafu Policy Institute, Yaoundé, Cameroon; Department of Public Health, University of Buea, Cameroon; Faculty of Health Science, University of Buea, Cameroon
| | - Constantine Asahngwa
- Division of Health Policy and Research, Nkafu Policy Institute, Yaoundé, Cameroon; Department of Anthropology, University of Yaoundé 1, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Ngo V Ngo
- Division of Health Policy and Research, Nkafu Policy Institute, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Wilfred Ngwa
- Division of Health Policy and Research, Nkafu Policy Institute, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Hilary M Jasmin
- Health Science Library, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Ronald M Gobina
- Division of Health Policy and Research, Nkafu Policy Institute, Yaoundé, Cameroon; Health Science Library, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA; Buea Regional Hospital, Buea, Cameroon
| | - Denis A Foretia
- Division of Health Policy and Research, Nkafu Policy Institute, Yaoundé, Cameroon; Center for Multicultural and Global Health, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA; Global Surgery Institute, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA; Department of Surgery, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA.
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Aregay A, O'Connor M, Stow J, Ayers N, Lee S. Perceptions of Barriers to Using Opioid Analgesics: A Mixed Methods Study. Palliat Med Rep 2023; 4:249-256. [PMID: 37771937 PMCID: PMC10523405 DOI: 10.1089/pmr.2023.0021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Availability and accessibility of opioids are a worldwide problem. In low-resource settings, such as Ethiopia, access to opioids is either limited or nonexistent and legally restricted in health care settings. This study aimed to identify barriers for the availability and accessibility of opioids in Ethiopian rural and regional health care settings. Methods A mixed-method case study design was used. A total of 220 nurses from primary, secondary, and tertiary health care settings were invited to participate in a survey of knowledge and practice. For the qualitative interview, 38 participants were recruited from educational facilities, health services, and the community across a region. Results Barriers in availability and accessibility of opioid analgesics were expressing pain considered as a sign of weakness, lack of knowledge, side effect concerns about prescribing morphine, only doctors being authorized to prescribe morphine, lack of foreign currency to import morphine ingredients, and inequity in accessing morphine in hospitals and none in rural health care settings. Conclusion The findings of this study indicate that opioids, particularly morphine, were not consistently available and accessible to all patients in need. Health professionals lacked knowledge about opioids. Strengthening the existing pain-free initiatives and improving the type, dose, and supply of morphine could help reduce needless suffering and enhance access to essential pain medicines for those in need.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atsede Aregay
- Department of Health and Nursing Sciences, University of Agder, Kristiansand, Norway
- School of Nursing, Mekelle University, Tigray, Ethiopia
| | - Margaret O'Connor
- School of Nursing and Midwifery, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Palliative Care, Melbourne City Mission Palliative Care, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Jill Stow
- Department of Perioperative Medicine, St Vincent's Private Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Nicola Ayers
- School of Nursing, BPP University, London, United Kingdom
| | - Susan Lee
- School of Nursing and Midwifery, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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Ooms GI, van Oirschot J, de Kant D, van den Ham HA, Mantel-Teeuwisse AK, Reed T. Barriers to accessing internationally controlled essential medicines in sub-saharan Africa: A scoping review. THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DRUG POLICY 2023; 118:104078. [PMID: 37276779 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2023.104078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Revised: 05/14/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Access to internationally controlled essential medicines (ICEMs), medicines that are listed on both the World Health Organization's Essential Medicines List and one of three international drug control conventions, remains problematic in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Previous reviews have focused only on specific ICEMs or ICEM-related healthcare fields, but none have focused on all ICEMs as a distinct class. This scoping review therefore aims to identify the barriers to accessing ICEMs across all relevant healthcare fields in SSA. METHODS A scoping review was conducted across indexing platforms Embase, PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science of studies published between January 1 2012 and February 1 2022. Articles were eligible if they mentioned barriers to accessing ICEMs and/or ICEM-related healthcare fields, if studies were conducted in SSA, or included data on an SSA country within a multi-country study. The review was guided by the Access to Medicines from a Health System Perspective framework. RESULTS The search identified 5519 articles, of which 97 met the inclusion criteria. Many barriers to access were reported and were common across the ICEMs drug class. Main barriers were: at the individual level, the lack of knowledge about ICEMs; at the health service delivery level, low availability, stockouts, affordability, long distances to health facilities, insufficient infrastructure to store and distribute ICEMs, and lack of ICEM knowledge and training among healthcare workers; at the health sector level, lack of prioritisation of ICEM-related healthcare fields by governments and subsequent insufficient budget allocation. Cross-cutting, governance-related barriers pertained to lack of proper quantification systems, cumbersome procurement processes, and strict national laws controlling ICEMs, leading to overly restrictive prescription practices. CONCLUSION This review showed that there are a multitude of barriers to accessing ICEMs in SSA across all health system levels. Many of the barriers identified are applicable to all ICEMs, highlighting the importance of tackling barriers for this entire class of drugs together.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaby I Ooms
- Utrecht WHO Collaborating Centre for Pharmaceutical Policy and Regulation, Division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Clinical Pharmacology, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences (UIPS), Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Health Action International, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
| | | | | | - Hendrika A van den Ham
- Utrecht WHO Collaborating Centre for Pharmaceutical Policy and Regulation, Division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Clinical Pharmacology, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences (UIPS), Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Aukje K Mantel-Teeuwisse
- Utrecht WHO Collaborating Centre for Pharmaceutical Policy and Regulation, Division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Clinical Pharmacology, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences (UIPS), Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Tim Reed
- Health Action International, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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Frau S, Kananga AM, Kingolo JN, Kanyunyu GM, Zongwe AKH, Tshilengi AN, Ravinetto R. Training on adequate use of opioid analgesics in West and Central Africa: a neglected step on the way to access to essential medicines? J Pharm Policy Pract 2021; 14:104. [PMID: 34886905 PMCID: PMC8655326 DOI: 10.1186/s40545-021-00388-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Accepted: 12/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Alleviating acute and chronic pain is a moral imperative for health professionals and health systems, and it requires adequate access to and use of essential opioid analgesics. However, this is still a neglected issue in global health, with striking inequalities in opioids availability between high and low- and middle-income countries. Countries most affected by lack of access are those with a fragile political situation and weak regulatory and healthcare systems. The main threats to accessibility, availability and affordability are situated at different levels: legislation and policy, financing, knowledge and cultural behavior, erroneous beliefs, and training and education. Among these threats, the lack of (adequate) training and education seems to be a cross-cutting issue. Exploring the current body of knowledge about training and educational activities related to use of opioid analgesics and palliative care, is helpful to understand gaps and to delineate priorities for setting up adequate interventions. When applied to West and Central Africa, this exercise reveals that there is little information (easily) available in the public domain. The African Palliative Care Association (APCA) appears to be the leading provider of capacity building activities in this region for key stakeholders, including national authorities, healthcare professionals and the general population; it is also very active in publishing and communicating about these issues. However, apart from APCA, there is little information on training programs’ contents and long-term outcomes. Furthermore, trainings rarely target important stakeholders such as lawmakers, regulators, supply officers and the lay public (i.e., patients, caregivers, community leaders and members of the society as a whole). Hence, it is urgent to fill the existing gaps in training and educational activities to improve access to essential opioid analgesics in West and Central Africa, involving different stakeholders at the national and regional level. Furthermore, such experiences should be published and made publicly available to allow for mutual learning and further upscale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serena Frau
- Master in Tropical Medicine and Global Health, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.,Master in Tropical Medicine and Global Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | | | - Jackie Ndona Kingolo
- Plateforme Hospitalière de la République Démocratique Congo, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo
| | | | | | | | - Raffaella Ravinetto
- Department of Public Health, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium.
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Moreland PJ, Rosa WE, Uwimana P, Male MA, Sego R, Nankundwa E, Byiringiro S, Nsereko E, Uwiringiyimana E, Nyiringango G, Baker H, Ntizimira CR. Palliative and End-of-Life Care Self-perceived Educational Needs of Physicians and Nurses in Rwanda. J Hosp Palliat Nurs 2021; 23:557-563. [PMID: 34369422 PMCID: PMC8717681 DOI: 10.1097/njh.0000000000000794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Palliative care access is an urgent and ethical imperative to effectively manage the increasing burden of serious health-related suffering worldwide. Understanding the palliative care educational needs of health care professionals is critical to support evidence-based clinical practice in Rwanda and other low- and middle-income countries. A cross-sectional study was conducted at 5 hospitals in Kigali, Rwanda, to assess the palliative/end-of-life educational needs of nurses and physicians. The End-of-Life Professional Caregiver Survey and a demographic form were used to collect data. Descriptive analyses and independent t tests were conducted. A total of 420 health care professionals participated in the study (response rate, 72%). Participants perceived their knowledge and skills in providing palliative/end-of-life care as low. Those who received palliative/end-of-life care training in the past 5 years, third- and fourth-year residents, and health care providers with 5 years of experience or more had significantly higher (P ≤ .05) mean scores on the End-of-Life Professional Caregiver Survey. Nurses scored higher than physicians in the patient- and family-centered communication (P = .049) and cultural and ethical values (P = .037) subscales. Pain management was identified as an educational need by 77% of participants. Our survey suggests the need for increased governmental investments in palliative/end-of-life care education among nurses and physicians in Rwanda.
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Ly M, Kone FT, Samake K, Ly R, Dao F, Toure M, Kamate B, Bah S. [Treatment of cancer pain in Mali: Experience of the mother-child medical oncology service of the CHU in Bamako]. Bull Cancer 2021; 108:1112-1119. [PMID: 34688484 DOI: 10.1016/j.bulcan.2021.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2021] [Revised: 07/27/2021] [Accepted: 08/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Two hundred patients were refereed for advanced cancer to the oncology department of Luxembourg Hospital in Bamako. All these patients reported intense pain (88 %) which was only treated before admission by OMS level 1 analgesics. It clearly shows that cancer pain is undertreated in Malian peripheral sanitary structures. After evaluation of the pain by analog visual and verbal scales patients, the appropriate analgesic drugs such as morphine (OMS level 3) were given. A control of the pain was obtained in all the patients (100 %) with a dramatic improvement in quality of life. This study emphasizes the need for a pain control program at the Malian state level with a basic education of care givers, hospital-centric networks and access to morphine and opioids at the different levels involved in cancer management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madani Ly
- Mère-Enfant le Luxembourg BP.E4194 - Hamdallaye près du lycée Prosper Kamara, Service d'oncologie médicale, Bamako, Mali.
| | - Fatoumata Toumani Kone
- Mère-Enfant le Luxembourg BP.E4194 - Hamdallaye près du lycée Prosper Kamara, Service d'oncologie médicale, Bamako, Mali; Pharmacie hospitalière du CHU du Point G, BP 333, Bamako, Mali
| | - Kalifala Samake
- Mère-Enfant le Luxembourg BP.E4194 - Hamdallaye près du lycée Prosper Kamara, Service d'oncologie médicale, Bamako, Mali
| | - Ramata Ly
- Mère-Enfant le Luxembourg BP.E4194 - Hamdallaye près du lycée Prosper Kamara, Service d'oncologie médicale, Bamako, Mali
| | - Fatoumata Dao
- Pharmacie hospitalière du CHU du Point G, BP 333, Bamako, Mali
| | - Mohamed Toure
- Pharmacie hospitalière du CHU du Point G, BP 333, Bamako, Mali
| | - Bakarou Kamate
- Service d'anatomie pathologique du CHU du Point G, BP 333, Bamako, Mali
| | - Sekou Bah
- Pharmacie hospitalière du CHU du Point G, BP 333, Bamako, Mali
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León MX, Sánchez-Cárdenas MA, Rodríguez-Campos LF, Moyano J, López Velasco A, Gamboa Garay O, Buitrago L, De Lima L. Availability and accessibility of opioids for pain and palliative care in Colombia: a survey study. COLOMBIAN JOURNAL OF ANESTHESIOLOGY 2021. [DOI: 10.5554/22562087.e1011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Access to essential medicines, including opioids, is a component of the right to health.
Objective: To identify barriers to opioid availability and accessibility for pain and palliative care.
Methods: Online survey with Colombian prescribers. Availability barriers were analyzed for each facility (distribution and/or dispensing). Accessibility barriers were analyzed by type. Descriptive analyses were conducted using relative frequencies. Significance within categories and regions was measured using Fisher's exact test.
Results: Out of 1,208 prescribers invited, 806 (66.7%) completed the survey. Availability: 76.43% reported barriers. The most cited barrier was “Pharmacies authorized by health insurance companies”, where opioids are frequently unavailable. Accessibility: 74.6% reported barriers. Most frequently cited was “Difficulty securing payment authorization for medication from health insurance companies”. Significant differences were observed in terms of regions and “Cost” (p=0.02). Lack of coordination among procuring and distributing agencies affects availability. Limited awareness and bureaucratic procedures affect accessibility.
Conclusions: There are barriers to opioid availability and access in Colombia, related to the existing structure for guaranteeing equitable supply. From the perspective of healthcare providers, problems related to pharmacy availability, prescription and cost of medicines hinder pain treatment.
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Kuguyo O, Misi FD, Chibonda S, Matimba A, Nhachi C, Tsikai N. Pain management strategies among cervical cancer patients in Zimbabwe. Pain Manag 2021; 11:715-729. [PMID: 34008417 DOI: 10.2217/pmt-2020-0108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Aim: To describe pain management regulations, prevalence of pain and pain management practices in a Zimbabwean setting. Materials & methods: A multi-methods approach was used, consisting of: policy and guideline review; review of 410 cervical cancer patient records for pain symptoms and pain management data; and semistructured interviews with oncology healthcare practitioners. Results: We found a lack of policies that are specific for cervical cancer pain management. Although prevalence of pain was 68% (n = 278), only 42% of the patient records indicated pain drugs had been prescribed. Barriers to pain management included inadequate use of pain assessment tools, inaccessibility of key drugs and limited capacity. Conclusion: Cancer pain management in Zimbabwe can be improved by tailoring assessment protocols, improving drug accessibility and strengthening healthcare systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oppah Kuguyo
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, College of Health Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, Box A178, Avondale, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Frances Desales Misi
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, College of Health Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, Box A178, Avondale, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Shirley Chibonda
- Department of Oncology, College of Health Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, Box A178, Avondale, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Alice Matimba
- Advanced Courses & Scientific Conferences, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Charles Nhachi
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, College of Health Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, Box A178, Avondale, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Nomsa Tsikai
- Department of Oncology, College of Health Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, Box A178, Avondale, Harare, Zimbabwe
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Maiga Y, Sangho O, Konipo F, Diallo S, Coulibaly SDP, Sangare M, Péréon Y, Giumelli B, Sanou M, Coulibaly A, Diallo S, Daou M, Traoré Z, Albakaye M, Traoré HA, Guinto CO, Ouologem M, Kuate-Tegueu C, Bouhassira D, Cowan R, Nizard J. Neuropathic pain in Mali: The current situation, comprehensive hypothesis, which therapeutic strategy for Africa? eNeurologicalSci 2021; 22:100312. [PMID: 33537467 PMCID: PMC7841313 DOI: 10.1016/j.ensci.2021.100312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2020] [Revised: 12/23/2020] [Accepted: 12/31/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION According to the taxonomy of the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP 2011), neuropathic pain (NeuP) is defined as "pain caused by a lesion or disease of the somatosensory nervous system". NeuP is currently well-defined clinically, despite a high degree of etiological variation, and it has become a significant public health problem. This work aimed to study the situation regarding NeuP in current practice in Mali, as well as to analyze the therapeutic environment of the patients. METHODOLOGY This was a retrospective and cross-sectional study, carried out in two phases: (1) compilation of the files of patients according to the ICD-11, over a period of 24 months (2) a second prospective phase regarding the Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAP) of general practitioners and neurologists in regard to NeuP. The focus of the first phase of the study was the files of the patients who had undergone a consultation at the Gabriel Touré UHC. The second phase of the study focused on the general practitioners (Community Health Centers (comHC) of Bamako) and neurologists (Malian or not). RESULTS Over the period of the study, 7840 patients were seen in consultation in the Department of Neurology, of whom 903 for NeuP, thus amounting to a NeuP frequency of 11.5%. Women accounted for 58.9% (532/903), with a sex ratio of 1.4. Using a comparative normal law, the difference in frequency was statistically significant between males and females (p < 10-7) and between two age groups (p 〈10-3). The 49-58 years of age group was represented the most. Diabetic NeuP (21%), lumbar radiculopathies (14%), HIV/AIDS NeuP (13%), and post-stroke NeuP (11%) were the most represented. The survey among the carers revealed: a need for training, a low level of compliance with the therapeutic guidelines, and the use of traditional medicine by the patients. DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION This work confirms that NeuP is encountered frequently in current practice, and its optimal management will involve specific training of carers and improvement of access to the medications recommended in this indication. In light of this issue, we revisit the debate regarding the concept of essential medications and the relevance of taking into account effective medications for the treatment of NeuP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youssoufa Maiga
- Department of Neurology, Gabriel Touré Teaching Hospital, Bamako, Mali
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Technical Sciences and Technologies, Bamako, Mali
- Laboratoire de Thérapeutique (EA3826), Faculté de Médecine de Nantes, Nantes, France
| | - Oumar Sangho
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Technical Sciences and Technologies, Bamako, Mali
| | - Fatoumata Konipo
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Technical Sciences and Technologies, Bamako, Mali
| | - Seybou Diallo
- Department of Neurology, Gabriel Touré Teaching Hospital, Bamako, Mali
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Technical Sciences and Technologies, Bamako, Mali
| | | | - Modibo Sangare
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Technical Sciences and Technologies, Bamako, Mali
| | - Yann Péréon
- Laboratoire d'Explorations Fonctionnelles, Centre de Référence Maladies Neuromusculaires Atlantique-Occitanie-Caraïbes, Hôtel-Dieu, CHU de Nantes, France
| | | | - Martin Sanou
- Faculté de Chirurgie Dentaire, Université de Nantes, France
| | - Awa Coulibaly
- Department of Neurology, Gabriel Touré Teaching Hospital, Bamako, Mali
| | - Salimata Diallo
- Department of Neurology, Gabriel Touré Teaching Hospital, Bamako, Mali
| | - Mariam Daou
- Department of Neurology, Gabriel Touré Teaching Hospital, Bamako, Mali
| | | | - Mohamed Albakaye
- Department of Neurology, Gabriel Touré Teaching Hospital, Bamako, Mali
| | - Hamar A. Traoré
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Technical Sciences and Technologies, Bamako, Mali
| | - Cheick Oumar Guinto
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Technical Sciences and Technologies, Bamako, Mali
| | | | - Callixte Kuate-Tegueu
- Département de Médecine Interne et Spécialités, FMSB, Université de Yaoundé 1, Cameroon
| | - Didier Bouhassira
- INSERM E-332, Centre d'Evaluation et de Traitement de la Douleur, Ambroise Paré Hospital, 9, avenue Charles de Gaulle, 92 100 Boulogne-Billancourt, France
| | - Robert Cowan
- Department of Neurology, Stanford University, California, USA
| | - Julien Nizard
- Laboratoire de Thérapeutique (EA3826), Faculté de Médecine de Nantes, Nantes, France
- Centre Fédératif Douleur Soins Palliatifs et Support, Laboratoire de Thérapeutique, CHU Nantes, Nantes, France
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Dunn KE, Bergeria CL, Huhn AS, Strain EC. A Systematic Review of Laboratory Evidence for the Abuse Potential of Tramadol in Humans. Front Psychiatry 2019; 10:704. [PMID: 31616329 PMCID: PMC6775208 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2019] [Accepted: 09/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Tramadol is an opioid-analgesic that has shown epidemiological evidence of abuse. This review evaluates the evidence for tramadol abuse potential in humans. Methods: A systematic literature search for human abuse liability examinations of tramadol was conducted in September 2018 and yielded 13 total studies. Studies were all within-subject, double-blind, placebo-controlled human laboratory comparisons of tramadol to opioid comparators. Results are organized based upon the route of tramadol administration (oral, parenteral) and the participant population (persons with and without current opioid physical dependence). Outcomes were categorized into self-report ratings of positive and negative effects, observer-ratings of effects, time course of effects, likelihood tramadol was identified as an opioid, and tramadol self-administration. Results: Results indicated the relative abuse potential of tramadol was lower than the opioids to which it was compared. Tramadol produced highest positive effect ratings when administered orally to persons with no opioid physical dependence. Relative to other opioids, it produced substantial negative ratings, generally demonstrated a slower onset of effects, and was less likely to be identified by participants as an opioid, though it did produce a higher rate of self-administration relative to other opioids in the one study reporting that outcome. Results suggest that the abuse potential of tramadol is highest when it is administered orally to non-dependent individuals, and that it likely decreases as the dose increased and when it was administered parentally or to persons with opioid physical dependence. Conclusion: Taken together, individuals may be less likely than with other opioids to escalate tramadol doses, transition from oral to parenteral routes of administration, or continue using tramadol once opioid physical dependence develops. In that way, the human abuse potential of tramadol appears to be different from and lower than other opioid analgesic medications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly E Dunn
- Behavioral Pharmacology Research Unit, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Cecilia L Bergeria
- Behavioral Pharmacology Research Unit, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Andrew S Huhn
- Behavioral Pharmacology Research Unit, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Eric C Strain
- Behavioral Pharmacology Research Unit, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
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