Tramadol Hydrochloride is a top pain-relieving medicine that is used in moderate to severe pain situations. However, there are lots of cases registered of misusing medicine in some states of India, it is a medication that can lead to addiction and other health issues. To curb the misuse of the drug the Central Drugs Standard Organization (CDSCO) in India listed Tramadol Under the Narcotics Act in 2018.
Tramadol is a medication that works by changing how the body senses pain. It is a commonly prescribed drug for the management of moderate to severe pain.
Important dates:
The Implementation date of Notification will be 120 days after 26.04.2018 Its Gazzete Publication date. The details of Tramadol narcotics notification can be seen on the Department of Revenue’s official website.
Department of Revenue (Govt of India) declares Tramadol Hydrochloride as a Narcotics drug for the future. The Punjab govt and many other agencies are trying to declare Tramadol Hydrochloride covered in Narcotics. They want to do action in NDPS to act against the suppliers and retailers who sell Tramadol preparations for misuse in youngsters. At last Central Govt. accept their suggestion and declared Tramadol Hydrochloride as a Narcotics drug On 26.04.2018, the date of application will be after 120 days from the date of notification. See the original letter for references.
Narcotics Laws for Misuse of Tramadol
Tramadol has been added to the list of controlled substances in the Narcotics Act which means it is now regulated under the NDPS law in India. As per the Department of Revenue India, the misuse and illegal sale and purchase of Tramadol can lead to severe penalties like imprisonment for up to 10 years, additionally/ or a fine of up to rupees 1 lakh. The regulatory framework for this drug under the NDPS Act is the same as for other controlled substances.
Important Links:
S.O 1761 (E) and S.O 1762 (E) both dated 26.04.2018 – notifying tramadol under the NDPS act
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Classification of Tramadol Hydrochloride as a molecule
Tramadol Hydrochloride is classified as a Narcotic drug in many countries including India. It is a synthetic opioid medicine. Tramadol works by binding to opioid receptors in the human brain and spinal cord the body which can relieve pain by producing a sense of euphoria in the human body.
Tramadol has been classified as a Schedule IV controlled substance under the Controlled Substances Act in the United States. It is considered a lower potential for abuse and dependence than other strong narcotics drugs like morphine, Fentanyl, and Buprenorphine. However, it can still have the risk of addiction and overdose.
Prescription of Tramadol
Every registered medical practitioner or Health professional has to follow strict guidelines to avoid the risk of misuse and abuse while prescribing this medicine.
Those patients who have been prescribed Tramadol are monitored closely for any possibilities of addiction, overdose, etc.
This medication is not suitable for every patient because it can interact with many other drugs and some health conditions. It is highly advisable for patients to consult their health professional before consuming it.
Some common side effects of Tramadol Hydrochloride
It is a narcotic drug in nature have a high potential to create multiple health issues if not taken under the guidance of a Health professional. Some common side effects are as below:
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Constipation
- Drowsiness
- Seizures
- Difficulty in breathing
- Allergic reactions.
In many countries, it is not classified as a Narcotics or controlled substance. It is available without a prescription, however, it is not treated as common medicine, and it can still make you addicted or abuse.
Importance of Tramadol as a medicine
Tramadol hydrochloride is the most powerful and controversial medicine that is very effective in treating moderate to severe pain in the body. However, it is known for some misuse and drug abuse. In India, it is covered in Schedule H1 drugs and also in controlled substances under NDPS law since 2018.
Impact on Population
The inclusion of Tramadol under the NDPS law has a positive impact on the general population in the country. It helped the enforcement agencies to reduce the misuse and illegal business of the drug. Further, innocent healthcare professionals are now easily monitor and prescribe Tramadol by ensuring that it is used only for the right reason.
Benefits of Adding Tramadol to Narcotics List
There are many benefits of listing Tramadol as a Narcotics drug:
- Now it has improved monitoring
- Better control on misuse of tramadol
- Enhanced safety measures.
- Reduced the availability of medications that reduce further addiction in the young population
Disadvantages
- The increased regulation has minimized access for genuine users.
- Not availability of the same pain management drug makes life hard for patients in severe pain.
- Price hike for the medicine due to listing in control medicines.
Conclusion
The Notification by Narcotics Department on Tramadol is an important step toward minimizing the misuse of medication. The inclusion of tramadol in the controlled molecule list has several benefits. Now the drug is monitored by a powerful enforcement agency NCB which has great infrastructure to curb the misuse of the drug. However, limited access to real needy patients makes them unhappy.
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References:
- The Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO)
- Official Website of Revenue Department of India
- eGazette: [https://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/2018/185016.pdf]