Incidence of first-time idiopathic seizures in users of tramadol.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the risk of idiopathic incident seizures among patients who ever took tramadol.


METHODS
Nested case-control design.


METHODS
General Practice Research Database from November 1996-August 1998.


METHODS
Eleven thousand three hundred eighty-three patients.


METHODS
Comparison of risks of idiopathic incident seizures during exposed and unexposed times among patients who had ever taken tramadol and other analgesics with 90-day follow-up.


RESULTS
Among the 11,383 subjects we identified 21 cases of idiopathic seizures, 10 of which were categorized as definite cases and 11 categorized as possible cases. Three patients were exposed to tramadol alone in the previous 90 days, 10 to opiates, three to both tramadol and opiates, one to other analgesics, and four to no analgesics.


CONCLUSIONS
The risk of idiopathic seizures was similarly elevated in each analgesic exposure category compared with nonusers, suggesting that the risk for patients taking tramadol was not increased compared with other analgesics.
Gasse
C
C
Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacoepidemiology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Germany.
Derby
L
L
Vasilakis-Scaramozza
C
C
Jick
H
H
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012640:Seizures / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology; D014147:Tramadol / Q000009:adverse effects*
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D014147:Tramadol