Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 18, 2026
High-throughput Fluorometric Measurement of Potential Soil Extracellular Enzyme Activities
Published on: November 15, 2013
[Not Available]
Delphine Abadie1, Geneviève Durrieu1, Anne Roussin1
1Laboratoire de Pharmacologie Médicale et Clinique, Centre Midi-Pyrénées de Pharmacovigilance, de Pharmacoépidémiologie et d'Informations sur le Médicament, et Centre Midi-Pyrénées d'Évaluation et d'Information sur la Pharmacodépendance-Addictovigilance, Université de Toulouse, Faculté de Médecine, Centre hospitalier universitaire, Toulouse, France.
Tramadol, a pain medication, can cause serious adverse drug reactions (SADRs) beyond typical opioid effects. This study identified seizures, hypoglycemia, and hyponatremia as key tramadol-related SADRs.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacovigilance
- Clinical Pharmacology
- Drug Safety
Context:
- Tramadol is a widely used step 2 analgesic for moderate to severe pain.
- Following dextropropoxyphene withdrawal, French authorities initiated a national pharmacovigilance study on tramadol.
- The study period spanned from August 1, 2010, to July 31, 2011.
Purpose:
- To analyze Serious Adverse Drug Reactions (SADRs) associated with tramadol.
- To identify both known and previously undocumented tramadol-induced SADRs.
- To inform healthcare professionals about the full spectrum of tramadol's adverse effects.
Summary:
- A total of 355 SADRs were reported for tramadol (296 to French PharmacoVigilance Centres and 59 to pharmaceutical companies).
- Tramadol was associated with opioid-related and serotoninergic SADRs, including seizures and serotoninergic syndromes.
- The study identified less common or "unlabelled" SADRs such as hyponatremia, hypoglycemia, peripheral edema, and pancreatitis.
Impact:
- Highlights the potential for tramadol to induce serious adverse drug reactions beyond its known opioid and serotoninergic effects.
- Emphasizes the importance of recognizing less common adverse drug reactions like hypoglycemia and hyponatremia.
- Provides crucial data for updating drug safety profiles and clinical guidelines regarding tramadol use.
