Chronic pain is one of the most invisibilized health conditions and, at the same time, one of those that has the greatest impact on people's quality of life. It often does not have a single or easily identifiable cause and ends up affecting not only physical well-being, but also emotional state, social relationships, and the ability to carry out daily activities. Despite this, even today there is a certain tendency to normalize it or address it partially.

Tramadol is a powerful analgesic that is prescribed for the treatment of moderate to severe acute and chronic pain, and its use has increased a lot in recent yearsIn fact, in Catalonia, this opioid considered weak It is one of the twenty most consumed medications. Experts believe that one of the reasons behind this increase is the low perception of risk among citizens, who generally believe that it has fewer side effects and is safer and less addictive than other opioids. To clear up any doubts, a team of researchers from Denmark has reviewed the scientific literature published to date to narrow down its effectiveness and has concluded that it is not very effective in relieving chronic pain. In fact, they maintain that the risks outweigh the benefits in patients suffering from fibromyalgia or osteoarthritis, increasing the risk of serious adverse effects, such as developing cardiovascular disease.

Female sex hormones are responsible for protecting women against drug and opioid abuse in cases of chronic pain, according to a study conducted in mice at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. The study found that male rats self-administer larger amounts of opioids, specifically fentanyl, than female rats in cases of chronic pain, a finding that opens the door to new pain treatments using estrogen.