[Tramadol-induced hypoglycemia. 2 cases].
BACKGROUND
Tramadol has been approved in France since 1994 for the treatment of moderate to severe pain. The most commonly reported adverse effects involve the central nervous system and gastrointestinal tract. To our knowledge, hypoglycemia has not previously been reported.


METHODS
We report 2 cases of hypoglycemia related to tramadol, one in a nondiabetic 88-year-old woman, and the other in a diabetic 8-year-old girl. Hypoglycemia resolved after tramadol discontinuation.


CONCLUSIONS
The French Pharmacovigilance (Adverse Drug Reports) database includes several cases of hypoglycemia in patients receiving tramadol. Reports from the literature of dextropropoxyphene-induced hypoglycemia and a pharmacological study of tramadol in rats suggest that the micro opioid receptor is the principal target involved in this hypoglycemic mechanism.
Grandvuillemin
Aurélie
A
Centre Régional de Pharmacovigilance, Pôle des Pathologies Lourdes et Vigilances, Dijon. aurelie.grandvuillemin@chu-dijon.fr
Jolimoy
Geneviève
G
Authier
François
F
Dautriche
Anne
A
Duhoux
Fabienne
F
Sgro
Catherine
C
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002648:Child; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007003:Hypoglycemia / Q000139:chemically induced*; D013997:Time Factors; D014147:Tramadol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D014147:Tramadol