Researchers from the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences in Bangalore, India, have developed a method to detect tramadol abuse using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Tramadol, a synthetic opioid widely prescribed for moderate-to-severe pain, is often considered less risky than traditional opioids due to its unique pharmacological properties. However, its unregulated status in many countries, particularly in Southeast Asia, has led to widespread abuse. This study, published in Cureus, offers new hope in identifying and managing cases of tramadol misuse.
The research highlights a significant public health challenge: with over 20 million opioid users in India and 2.5 million of them using pharmaceutical opioids, effective detection methods are critical. Tramadol abuse is particularly difficult to monitor because approximately 30% of the drug is excreted unchanged in urine, requiring precise analytical techniques to confirm misuse.
The team introduced a robust GC-MS method combined with solid-phase extraction (SPE) for preparing urine samples. Their approach proved to be highly sensitive, with a detection limit of 20 ng/mL and quantification as low as 50 ng/mL. A comprehensive analysis of 747 urine samples revealed that 15% exceeded the established cutoff for tramadol presence, with concentrations ranging from 100 ng/mL to an astonishing 22,149 ng/mL. The study demonstrated exceptional precision and reliability, with recoveries exceeding 92% and minimal interference from other substances.
This method represents a significant advancement over previous techniques. Unlike older liquid-liquid extraction methods, which often suffered from poor recovery and contamination issues, the GC-MS approach paired with SPE ensures quick analysis, simplicity, and high accuracy. Moreover, the method's ability to detect a wide range of tramadol concentrations underscores its utility in clinical and forensic settings.
Despite its success, the study acknowledges limitations, including the exclusion of tramadol metabolites with longer half-lives, which could provide additional insights into prolonged abuse.
For more details, refer to the original study: Sharma P, Rao V, Shukla L, et al. "A Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry Method to Determine Tramadol Abuse Using Urine Samples." Cureus, 2024. DOI: 10.7759/cureus.75424.
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