Assessing the Trends of Tramadol Utilization in the Medicare Part D Population in Rhode Island.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the trends in tramadol dispensing among Medicare Part D patients in Rhode Island.

METHODS: An analysis was conducted of the Medicare Part D Provider Utilization and Payment Data Public Use File for the years 2013-2021. Chi squared tests were conducted to assess statistical significance of annual changes in proportions.

RESULTS: Following tramadol becoming a controlled substance in 2014, the number of dispensed tramadol prescriptions and patients with a tramadol prescription decreased every subsequent year through 2021 (prescriptions: 42,157 to 33,026; patients: 12,654 to 9,653). The percentage of opioid prescriptions that were tramadol increased from 16.32% in 2013 to 21.19% in 2020.

CONCLUSION: Tramadol utilization has been decreasing among the Medicare Part D population in Rhode Island while the percentage of opioid dispensings that were tramadol have been increasing. Future studies are needed to assess whether patients utilizing tramadol are at a higher risk for adverse outcomes.