Tramadol is a narcotic drug whose use has
increased steadily worldwide.
The new research links taking the drug
to around a threefold increased risk of being hospitalized for low blood sugar
(hypoglycemia), according to the study.
In some cases, those low blood sugar episodes
proved fatal, the researchers said.
Tramadol acts differently than other narcotic drugs. It disrupts the
functioning of two chemicals in the body: serotonin and norepinephrine. This is
the aspect of the drug that appears to be related to lowering blood sugar,
Azoulay explained.
Anyone who takes tramadol is at risk for low blood sugar, not only
people with diabetes, who may already be at risk of low blood sugar due to their diabetes treatment, he added.
For the study, published online Dec. 8
in JAMA Internal Medicine,
Azoulay and his colleagues collected data on more than 300,000 patients.
During an average follow-up of five years,
just over 1,100 patients were hospitalized for low blood sugar. More than 110
died from low blood sugar, according to the study.
As with other narcotics, such as oxycodone and hydrocodone addiction is a concern, as is life-threatening overdose. Tramadol can
cause seizures and extreme swings in body temperature, and it behaves
unpredictably due to genetic differences among people, Nelson said.
"Prior to use, physicians and patients should consider the balance
of all of the possible concerns about tramadol along with its relatively mild
beneficial effect at relieving pain,