Key result
Tramadol, a centrally acting analgesic with serotonergic properties, is likely to contribute to the development of serotonin syndrome in the perioperative period.
Highlights the risk of serotonin syndrome associated with tramadol use in the perioperative period.
To the Editor Altman and Jahangiri1 describe an important complication associated with certain psychiatric as well as other serotonergic medications used in the perioperative period. However, in addition to the various drugs mentioned by the authors, an important drug also implicated in this setting is tramadol. It is a centrally acting analgesic frequently used for treating moderate to severe postoperative pain, especially in third world countries. Tramadol, a weak agonist at the μ-opioid receptor, also has a non-opioid mechanism of action that includes release of serotonin and inhibition of reuptake of norepinephrine and is therefore likely to contribute to the development of serotonin syndrome.2
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Gombar et al. (2010) conducted a letter in Serotonin Syndrome. Tramadol was evaluated. Tramadol, a centrally acting analgesic with serotonergic properties, is likely to contribute to the development of serotonin syndrome in the perioperative period.
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