Authority restricts OTC Tramadol usage

Addis Ababa, November 1, 2022 (FBC) – The Ethiopian Food and Drug Authority (EFDA) has announced that it will strictly control the Tramadol drug consumption.

In its latest statement regarding the use of the opioid pain medication, the Authority announced that it has received comments about youths using it as a pain reliever without the prescription of a health professional.

According to the Authority, this opioid pain medication has been one of the over-the-counter (OTC) medicines so far.

Considering Tramadol’s addictive nature, various activities have been carried out to remove it from the list of over-the-counter medicines, EFDA confirmed.

Hence, taking the seriousness of the situation into account, the Authority announced that it is set to implement a strict control over this OTC medicine.

Since Tramadol is a basic medicine for the health sector, EFDA stated that it should be ordered with a special prescription by health professionals.

According to EFDA, the prescription will be controlled by the Authority.

It is said that drug retail firms and health institutions are obliged to submit regular reports on the utilization of the drug.

The Authority also announced that it will take legal action against those who sell, distribute and use the drug improperly.