Tramadol (versus unexposed)

Exposed non-exposed, cohort studies

Study Country
Study period
Study design
Data source Exposure definition Non-exposure definition Exposition period Sample size
(exposed/unexposed) Or (case / control)
Remarks Risk of bias
Bowie
2022
Canada
2013 - 2018
population based cohort retrospective
Administrative health data of the single-payer health care system in Ontario, Canada Parent–infant pairs exposed to tramadol during at least the first trimester of pregnancy. (This is a subgroup of exposure among the whole exposed group considered in the study). unexposed (general population or NOS)
Parent–infant pairs not exposed to any opioid analgesic during pregnancy period.
at least 1st trimester 781 / 587676 Estimated date of confinement rather than delivery date to prevent overselection of preterm births and, thus, anomalies. Excluded multiple fetuses and pregnant people with opioid use disorder or opioid overdose within 2 years before delivery.
Records of prescribed prenatal opioid analgesics in the Narcotic Monitoring System (NMS) database. Records information on controlled drug prescriptions issued to Ontario residents.
Ferrer
2025
France
2004 - 2020
retrospective cohort (claims database)
The EFEMERIS (Évaluation chez la Femme Enceinte des MÉdicaments et de leurs RISques) database, Haute-Garonne, France. Pregnant women who had a prescription and a dispensation for tramadol at least once during pregnancy (between the date of the last menstrual period and the date of the pregnancy outcome) without a prescription and dispensation of codeine. unexposed (general population or NOS)
Pregnant women who had no prescription and dispensation for tramadol or codeine during pregnancy (between the date of the last menstrual period and the date of the pregnancy outcome)..
at least 1st trimester, during pregnancy (anytime or not specified) 1602 / 158426
Data on reimbursed medications prescribed and dispensed to patients, as well as the dates of conception and pregnancy outcome, were obtained from the French health insurance system.
Gouraud
2010
France
1984
prospective cohort
13 French pharmacovigilance centers Pregnancies exposed to tramadol during organogenesis (4 to 12 weeks after LMP). unexposed (general population or NOS)
Pregnancies exposed to agents known to be non teratogenic (paracetamol, amoxicillin, homeopathic drugs, hair dying…) or not exposed to any drug during organogenesis.
1st trimester 151 / 973 Additional details provided by authors. Gouraud, A. Fundam. Clin. Pharmacol. 2010 is the same abstract. Patients concomitantly exposed to more than one level II opioid during organogenesis were excluded from the study.
The first contact to the pharmacovigilance center took place before week 22 after the last menstrual period then contacted by mail or phone after the expected date of delivery.
Källén
2015
Sweden
1997 - 2013
population based cohort retrospective
The Swedish Medical Birth Register Infants born to women who had reported use of tramadol in early pregnancy. unexposed (general population or NOS)
Infants born to women who did not reported use of tramadol in early pregnancy.
early pregnancy 1776 / 1797678
Interviews made by midwives at the first antenatal care visit of the pregnant woman, in most cases during weeks 10–12.
Sørensen
2022
Denmark
1997 - 2016
population based cohort retrospective
The Danish National Patient Register and the Danish Medical Birth Register,the Danish, National Prescription Register, the Income Statistics Register, the Danish Education Register and the Danish Civil Registration System. Pregnant women with redemption of at least one prescription of tramadol within the first trimester of pregnancy (for major malformations) or within the first 22 weeks of pregnancy (for spontaneous abortions). unexposed (general population or NOS)
Pregnant women without exposure to tramadol (no redemption of a tramadol prescription during the specific exposure period).
1st trimester, early pregnancy 7310 / 1643339 Analyses on major congenital malformations were based on pregnancies resulting in a live birth.
Gathered from the Danish National Prescription Register.

Case-control studies

Study Country
Study period
Study design
Data source Case Control Exposition Exposition period Sample size
(exposed/unexposed) Or (case / control)
Remarks Risk of bias

Risk of bias: : NA;   : low;   : moderate;   : serious;   : critical;   : unclear;  

Empty. There are no case-control studies available for this drug.

master protocol