Introduction: tramadol hydrochloride is a weak opioid agonist that acts by preventing the reuptake of neurotransmitters such as serotonin and noradrenaline in the descending inhibitory neurons of the nervous system, thus modulating the perception of painful stimuli. After its introduction on the market, it was marketed as an effective analgesic, underestimating the risk of its use and abuse.
Objectives: to characterize the association between tramadol consumption and disorders caused by its abuse.
Method: to develop the research protocol and later prepare the systematic review, a search was carried out in PubMed, Google Scholar, TripDataBase, Elsevier, Brieflads ResearchGate, SciELO, selecting articles that provide information based on scientific literature that demonstrates the problems of tramadol consumption and abuse in studies carried out on different populations.
Results: the 7 publications (2004-2023) of selected studies report the relationship between tramadol consumption and its abuse and addiction in the populations selected in the research.
Conclusion: greater public awareness and development of health strategies that observe trends in tramadol consumption and the risks in cases of abuse and drug dependence are necessary