A comparison of the analgesic efficacy of Tramadol Contramid OAD versus placebo in patients with pain due to osteoarthritis.

One thousand twenty-eight (1,028) patients with pain due to osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee were enrolled in this multicenter, randomized, double-blind, parallel study designed to assess the analgesic efficacy and safety of Tramadol Contramid OAD compared to placebo. An open-label phase was followed by a double-blind phase, in which a total of 646 patients were randomized to double-blind treatment with placebo or Tramadol Contramid OAD. Patients were titrated to their optimal dose (200mg or 300 mg), which was maintained for 12 weeks. An absolute mean reduction of 3.0+/-2.1 on a Pain Intensity Numerical Rating Scale (PI-NRS) was noted in the Tramadol Contramid OAD treatment group. The difference between active and placebo groups regarding this absolute mean reduction was statistically significant (P<0.001) throughout the study. The responder analysis demonstrated that a significantly greater percentage of patients in the active treatment arm achieved a reduction of >or=1 and >or=2 points on the PI-NRS score by the end of the study (P=0.035). A significantly greater percentage of respondents in the Tramadol Contramid OAD group indicated improvement on both the Patient and Physician Global Impressions of Change (P=0.0002). Both the 200mg and 300 mg doses contributed to the overall superiority of Tramadol Contramid OAD. The most frequent adverse events were consistent with the known side effects of tramadol and were generally mild to moderate in intensity. These results confirm that Tramadol Contramid OAD given once daily is an efficacious and safe treatment for pain due to OA.

Efficacy and safety of 12 weeks of osteoarthritic pain therapy with once-daily tramadol (Tramadol Contramid OAD).

This placebo-controlled study examined the analgesic efficacy, safety, and clinical benefit of Tramadol Contramid OAD, a once-daily formulation with both immediate- and extended-release components. Five hundred and fifty-two patients with moderate to severe pain due to osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee were randomized into this multicenter, double-blind, parallel arm study. After randomization to Tramadol Contramid OAD 100, 200, or 300 mg, or to placebo, patients' dose was titrated to the fixed randomized dose and maintained for 12 weeks. Efficacy was evaluated with the Patients' Global Rating of Pain Relief (median ratings at maintenance visits), and the Western Ontario and McMaster University (WOMAC) Pain and Physical Function subscales (percent difference, baseline to end of study) as coprimary endpoints. A responder analysis was conducted (percentage of patients who achieved a 30 percent improvement on their baseline WOMAC pain score). The difference from placebo on the median Patient Global Rating of Pain Relief at the four maintenance visits was statistically significant (200 and 300 mg: p < or = 0.001). Treatment was rated effective or very effective by 75 percent and 80 percent of patients randomized to Tramadol Contramid OAD 200 mg and 300 mg, respectively. There was a 46 percent (300-mg dose; p = 0.016) and 43 percent (200-mg dose; p = 0.05) improvement on the WOMAC pain score (baseline to the end of the study) with Tramadol Contramid OAD compared with 32percent for placebo. The responder analysis demonstrated a statistically significant difference in the percentage of patients who achieved a 30 percent improvement in their baseline WOMAC pain score for both Tramadol Contramid OAD 200 mg (65 percent; p = 0.0095) and 300 mg (65 percent; p = 0.0104) compared with placebo (50 percent). The type and incidence of adverse events were typical of tramadol (nausea, dizziness/vertigo, vomiting, somnolence, and constipation) and the intensity was mild to moderate in 87percent of patients who experienced them regardless of dose. This study shows the efficacy and safety of Tramadol Contramid OAD 200 mg and 300 mg in patients with moderate or severe pain of the knee due to OA.