Summary: Pain is one of the most frequent symptoms in patients diagnosed with cancer and non–cancer chronic diseases. In 1986 World Health Organization (WHO) elaborated pharmacology pain management according to 3 step analgesic ladder.
Treatment of mild to moderate pain intensity – numerical rating scale (NRS) 4–6 usually requires administration of analgesics of step 2 (the so called „weak” opioids): tramadol, dihydrocodeine, codeine or low doses of step 3 opioid analgesics.
Tramadol due to unique mechanism of analgesic action, efficacy and multiple formulations available including oral (immediate–release drops and capsules and prolonged–release tablets and capsules) and parenteral (ampoules for subcutaneous, intravenous and intrathecal routes of administration) preparations is the most commonly used step 2 opioid of the WHO analgesic ladder and the only drug from the aforementioned group available in formulations designed for parenteral administration.
In this article basic data regarding pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, dosing, adverse effects and drug interactions were discussed.