Published on: April 30, 2018

Tramadol has been brought under Schedule H1 of the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945. It is the same list that has buprenorphine. It also has other drugs like Alprazolam, Zolpidem (which are in the NDPS Act).

The peculiar problem with Buprenorphine tablets is the condition imposed by the Drugs Controller General of India that it should only be available in select deaddiction centres. If a similar condition is imposed on Tramadol (like only select hospitals or pain centres), its availability can become a huge problem.

Even otherwise, bringing Tramadol under the NDPS Act is likely to have a chilling effect on its medical use.