Tramadol is more dangerous than codeine

Scientists from the University of Barcelona have examined data obtained from 370,000 patients aged 18 and older who were treated with codeine or tramadol from 2007 to 2017. The age of the patients was 52.7 years in the tramadol group and 53.5 years in the codeine group, and the prevalence of oncological diseases was 3.2% and 3.3%, respectively. The most common diagnoses requiring the use of analgesia in both groups were back, shoulder, neck pain and osteoarthritis.

Turned out that tramadol has the highest risk of death, fractures, and cardiovascular events compared to codeine in patients who received both prescription due to orthopedic pain. There was also no difference between the two drugs in the risk of constipation, abuse or dependence on opioids, or sleep disorders.

Source: Medscape