Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs calls for tighter controls on tramadol

Source: BBC Health News Area: News Tighter controls should be put on the painkiller tramadol according to the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD), the UK's official drugs advisers. The ACMD said it was concerned about an increase in the number of deaths related to misusing the psychoactive drug.   In a letter to the Home Secretary and Health Secretary, the ACMD has called for tramadol to be made a Class C drug, with penalties of up to two years in prison for possession and 14 years for supply. The ACMD stated that the number of deaths related to the drug was 154 in 2011-up from 87 in 2009 and 83 in 2008. The deaths were mostly linked to misuse.   Overdosing can cause rapid heart beat, high blood pressure, vomiting and seizures. It can also cause too much serotonin to be released in the brain, which can be fatal.   A Home Office spokesperson said: "We are grateful for the recommendations made by the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs regarding tramadol and will respond ...
Source: NeLM - News - Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: news