[Tramadol-induced hypoglycemia in a diabetic patient]

Hypoglycemic effects of tramadol analgesia in hospitalized patients: a case-control study

BACKGROUND

In outpatient populations, hypoglycemia has been associated with tramadol. We sought to determine the magnitude of risk for hypoglycemia associated with tramadol use in hospitalized patients.

METHODS

During a 2-year period of observation, adult inpatients who received ≥1 dose of tramadol were identified and their medical records were reviewed. Patients were included if they had blood or plasma glucose (BG) concentrations measured on at least two occasions within five days after the initial administration of tramadol. A contemporary comparator group of hospitalized oxycodone recipients was similarly reviewed.

RESULTS

Tramadol was administered to 2927 patients who met inclusion criteria. Among these, hypoglycemia (BG ≤70 mg/dL) was documented in 22 (46.8%) of 47 patients with type 1 diabetes, 113 (16.8%) of 673 patients with type 2 diabetes, and 103 (4.7%) of 2207 patients who did not have a diabetes mellitus diagnosis. In those without a diabetes diagnosis, the causality association between hypoglycemia and tramadol use was probable in 77 patients (3.5%). By comparison, hypoglycemia was documented in 8 (1.1%) of 716 matched oxycodone recipients without diabetes (p = 0.002). As compared with tramadol recipients who did not develop low BG concentrations, those who experienced tramadol-related hypoglycemia were relatively young (mean age 52.0 versus 59.8 years; p = 0.027) and predominantly female (74.0% versus 59.8%; p = 0.012).

CONCLUSIONS

Tramadol use was causally associated with hypoglycemia in hospitalized patients. The proportion of patients without diabetes who developed hypoglycemia was higher among those who received tramadol than among those who received oxycodone.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Colorado Multiple Institutional Review Board Protocol № 15-2215. Registered/approved 8 December 2015.

Tramadol and hypoglycaemia: comparison with other step 2 analgesic drugs

AIMS

The risk of hypoglycaemia with tramadol (TRM) is not well described. Our aim was to analyze spontaneous reports of hypoglycaemia registered in the French Pharmacovigilance database and to compare these data with two other step-2 analgesic drugs.

METHODS

Cases of hypoglycaemia associated with TRM, dextropropoxyphene (DXP) and codeine (COD) recorded between 1997 and November 2010 in the French pharmacovigilance database were compared.

RESULTS

Seventy-two cases of hypoglycaemia associated with DXP and 43 with TRM were retained for evaluation (the single case reported with COD was not further considered). Most patients were elderly people with no significant difference in age between DXP- and TRM-treated patients (71.2 ± 21 vs. 69.4 ± 22.5 years). Hypoglycaemia occurred after a median of 4 and 5 days with DXP and TRM treatment, respectively. The mean lowest serum glucose concentration was 2.1 ± 0.9 mmol l(-1) in the DXP group compared with 2.5 ± 1 mmol l(-1) in the TRM group (P = 0.072). At least, one risk factor of hypoglycaemia was found in most patients, with no significant difference between groups (58.3% in the DXP group and 58.1% in the TRM group). In particular, 31.9% patients from the DXP group had diabetes compared with 41.8 % from the TRM group (P = 0.28) and 18% of DXP patients had renal insufficiency compared with 16.3% of TRM patients (P = 0.8).

CONCLUSIONS

Our study confirms that TRM is associated with the occurrence of hypoglycaemia in elderly or predisposed patients, with characteristics similar to those previously reported with DXP.

["Serious" adverse drug reactions with tramadol: a 2010-2011 pharmacovigilance survey in France]

OBJECTIVE

Tramadol is a weak opioid used as a step 2 analgesic, approved in France for moderate to severe pain. After dextropropoxyphene withdrawal, a national pharmacovigilance follow-up of tramadol was decided by the French Drug Agency.

METHODS

All Serious Adverse Drug Reactions (SADR) notified with tramadol to the French PharmacoVigilance Centres (CRPV) and pharmaceutical companies between August 1(st), 2010 and July 31(th), 2011 were analyzed.

RESULTS

During the study period, 296 cases of SADR were notified to CRPV and 59 to pharmaceutical companies. Apart from opiate-related SADR, tramadol induced serotoninergic SADR, including seizures or serotoninergic syndromes. Several « unlabelled » SADR were also identified: some of them, like hyponatremia or hypoglycemia, are poorly known by health professionals. Other were never published: peripheral edema or pancreatitis.

CONCLUSION

This study shows that besides well-known opioid or serotoninergic ADR, tramadol can also induce 2 other relatively unknown ADR: hypoglycemia and hyponatremia.

[Severe hypoglycemia induced by tramadol: two new cases of an unlisted side effect]

INTRODUCTION

Tramadol is a weak opioid analgesic used as a step two analgesic, approved in France for the treatment of moderate to severe pain in adult patients. The most common side effects are gastrointestinal and neurologic. Hypoglycaemia is an almost unknown side effect.

CASE REPORTS

We report two patients who presented with severe hypoglycaemia related to oral administration of tramadol in non diabetic patients. The underlying mechanisms of hypoglycaemia induced by tramadol are unclear. The only weak opioid analgesic drug reported to cause hypoglycaemia is propoxyphene, which has been widely used in France. The recent withdrawal of dextropropoxyphene in France might increase the prescriptions of tramadol and healthcare professionals should be aware of the risk of hypoglycaemia.

CONCLUSION

The risk of hypoglycaemia should be added to the summary of product characteristics of tramadol.