Drug dependence and abuse potential of tramadol.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the drug dependence and abuse liability of tramadol.


METHODS
Subjects of opiate addicts with history of tramadol abuse were 219. Physical dependence of tramadol was assessed using opiate withdrawal scale (OWS), psychic dependence was assessed by association test of Addiction Research Center Inventory-Chinese Version (ARCI-CV); the degrees of craving experienced for tramadol was self-reported on visual analogue scale (VAS).


RESULTS
The scores of OWS of tramadol were 0.05-1.07; 3 scores on scales in particular being used the identify euphoric effects--MBG, sedative effects--PCAG, and psychotomimetic effects--LSD of ARCI were 7.3, 6.1, and 3.4, respectively (F = 38.1, P < 0.01); 57.1% of tramadol abuse subjects had craving for tramadol (chi 2 = 75.86, P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Tramadol produced high abuse potential among opiate addicts.
Liu
Z M
ZM
National Institute on Drug Dependence, Beijing, China. zhiminliu@nidd.ac.cn
Zhou
W H
WH
Lian
Z
Z
Mu
Y
Y
Ren
Z H
ZH
Cao
J Q
JQ
Cai
Z J
ZJ
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders; D015813:Substance Abuse Detection; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014147:Tramadol / Q000009:adverse effects*
D014147:Tramadol