Background & Aims: Since acute tramadol poisoning is related to several clinical complications. The aim of this study was to evaluate the epidemiologic, demographic and renal function indices in acute tramadol intoxicated patients.

Materials & Methods: In this retrospective descriptive study, all patients admitted to Taleghani hospital of Urmia, Iran, were evaluated during a one-year period. Patients’ demographic data and the results of laboratory tests were imported to computer and analyzed.

Results: From 254 tramadol intoxicated patients, 219 (86.2%) were male and 35 (13.8%) female. The patients’ mean age was 23.29 (SD = 7.04) years. Most patients were single (69.3%). The ingested tramadol doses were known in 162 cases with average of 1837.35 mg (SD = 2347.36). Three patients (1.2%) had hyperkalemia, Based on laboratory and clinical findings, renal dysfunction and acute renal failure were detected in 29 and 6 patients, respectively. Four patients with acute renal failure recovered by treatment, one patient underwent hemodialysis and one patient expired despite of medical cares.

Conclusion: Acute renal failure and hyperkalemia are side effects of tramadol intoxication that should be considered in diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of these patients. Our study may be a beginning for further investigations for renal complications of tramadol toxicity.

SOURCE: URMIA MED J 2015: 25(12): 1066 ISSN: 1027-3727