Tramadol

Tramadol has been studied in 7 papers since 2016: 4 observational studies in people, 1 in animals, 2 reviews; 1 in the past year. The newest story, Oct 27, 2026: “Tramadol linked to lower death and fracture risks than some opioids”.

Intervention

7 papers study it6 more mention it7 findingsUpdated Oct 27, 2026

PubChem ChEBI MeSH

1 new paper in 30 daysSee all 13

“Tramadol use was identified as a risk factor for hip fracture (adjusted hazard ratio (aHR): 1.41; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.09-1.82; p = 0.008)”

Tramadol May Increase Risk of Hip Fracture in Older Adults with Post-Traumatic OsteoarthritisJournal of personalized medicine2023doi:10.3390/jpm13040580

1 of its findings points the other way.

C, W, M, H: cells, worms or flies, mice, humans. Dark: independent labs found the same change there. Light: one lab or one study. Outline: nothing yet.

Labs are independent when their papers share no last author and no institution.

Against: findings that point the other way from most findings on the same outcome.

About aging: trials about aging, of every trial that tests the drug for any use.

No results posted: trials that ended over a year ago with no results on ClinicalTrials.gov and no paper reporting them.

Company ties: findings with an author at a company, or from a paper whose competing-interests statement declares ties to one.

4 independent labs in 3 countries
1 finding against
9 trials, none about aging, 4 with no results posted

Funders: National Health Insurance Service and 1 more
1 of 7 findings with company ties

Humans4
Animals1

What did studies of Tramadol find?

Studies of Tramadol measured 2 outcomes; the most studied are vascular dementia (1 study) and hip fracture (1).

Vascular dementia

no changein humans1

1 study

Tramadol was not clearly linked with vascular dementia in humans (musculoskeletal pain).
“The results showed a similar pattern for Alzheimer's disease and were robust across subgroup and sensitivity analyses, but not for vascular dementia.”
Humansmusculoskeletal pain
Tramadol use and incident dementia in older adults with musculoskeletal pain: a population-based retrospective cohort study
Scientific reportsOct 11, 2024

What is Tramadol linked with?

Studies link Tramadol with 5 measures, most often fractures (1 study), mortality (1) and Alzheimer's disease (1).

Fractures

no changein humans1HR 1.1

1 study

Tramadol is associated with fractures in humans (Osteoarthritis; tramadol initiation compared with codeine initiation) (HR 1.10, 95% CI 0.96-1.25).
“Fracture risk was comparable to codeine (HR 1.10, 95% CI 0.96-1.25)”
HumansOsteoarthritis; tramadol initiation compared with codeine initiation
Tramadol linked to lower death and fracture risks than some opioids
Arthritis & rheumatology (Hoboken, N.J.)Oct 27, 2026

Who is developing Tramadol?

1 company: Johnson & Johnson Taiwan.

Companies: Johnson & Johnson TaiwanPhase 4ankylosing spondylitis, pain

Trial sponsors

Johnson & Johnson Taiwan
Company2 trialsPhase 488 people
Astellas Pharma
Company1 trialPhase 4122 people
Pfizer
Company1 trialPhase 460 people
Janssen Pharmaceutical
Company2 trialsPhase 3547 people
Daewon Pharmaceutical
Company1 trialPhase 130 people

Latest

2 papers in 12 months

Arthritis & RheumatologyOct 27

Tramadol linked to lower death and fracture risks than some opioids

For tramadol, death hazard ratios—comparisons of rates over time—were 0.93 versus codeine, 0.81 versus hydrocodone and 0.40 versus oxycodone.For tramadol, death hazard ratios—comparisons of rates over time—were 0.93 versus codeine, 0.81 versus hydrocodone and 0.40 versus oxycodone.

Cohort · 1,057,635 peopleFractures