Bladder dysfunction during the use of tramadol

The Netherlands Pharmacovigilance Foundation LAREB received five case repor ts concerning transient impairment of micturition or urinary retention, sus pected to be induced by tramadol. In all patients three women and two men - the symptoms occurred in temporal association with the use of tramadol and promptly recovered after stopping of the drug. Tramadol was taken orally i n doses within the recommended therapeutic range (150 mg or less daily). Di sturbance of micturition is not mentioned as a side-effect in the summary o f product characteristics of Tramal(R) 50 and 100. Tramadol is an opioid ag onist, however, and morphine is known to increase the tonus of the bladder sphincter and to cause urinary retention. Copyright (C) 1999 John Wiley & S ons. Ltd.