Abstract
BackgroundTramadol dependence represents a major medical and legal hazardous phenomenon in the last decade. It is a synthetic opiate analgesic which exerts its therapeutic effect by its action on μ opioid receptors. It has a weak dependence ability. The present study investigated the effect of duration of dependence and daily dose of tramadol on cognitive performance. Cognitive functions were assessed using the following: the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) test, Brief Visuospatial Memory Test–Revised (BVMT-R), Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Third Edition (WAIS-III), the P300 (ERP), and conventional electroencephalogram.ResultsThere was a non-significant negative correlation between the daily dose of tramadol and cognitive performance as regards IQ, Mini-Mental State Examination, MoCA score, P300 reaction time (μs), and deterioration index (r = − 0.08, P = 0.689; r = − 0.02, P = 0.896; r = − 0.11, P = 0.554; r = − 0.11, P = 0.581, r = − 0.17; P = 0.368, respectively). Additionally, the results showed non-significant negative correlation between the duration of dependence and the cognitive performance (r = − 0.19, P = 0.325; r = − 0.15, P = 0.424; r = − 0.30, P = 0.108; r = − 0.02, P = 0.909; r = − 0.02, P = 0.937, respectively).ConclusionDaily dose and duration of tramadol dependence have a negative but non-significant effect on cognitive performance.
Highlights
Tramadol dependence represents a major medical and legal hazardous phenomenon in the last decade
The effect of the daily dose of tramadol on cognitive performance There was no significant difference in the mean scores of cognitive functions between patients receiving more than 1000 mg per day and those receiving less than 1000 mg: Intelligence quotation (IQ) (P = 0.635), Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) (P = 0.097), Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) (P = 0.445), discrimination index (P = 0.365), response bias
Few works studied the cognitive profile of tramadol dependence; many studies were done regarding the cognitive profile of other substances of abuse the opioids and cannabis
Summary
Tramadol dependence represents a major medical and legal hazardous phenomenon in the last decade It is a synthetic opiate analgesic which exerts its therapeutic effect by its action on μ opioid receptors. Tramadol is a synthetic opioid analgesic first introduced in 1977 by the German pharmaceutical company Grunenthal as a pain killer that exhibits its analgesic effect through acting on μ opioid receptors by its R- and Ssterereoisomers [1]. It is as effective as codeine in pain relief and has only one tenth the analgesic effect of morphine on parenteral usage [2]. Hypothesis Prolonged or heavy abuse of tramadol as a partial opioid agonist acting mainly on μ receptors can produce more deterioration in cognitive functions.
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