Tramadol's Impact on Appetite and Eating with Crohn's Disease

Hi. I have Crohn's disease and ileostomy/BCIR.

I noticed that I can eat normally only when I am on tramadol (small dose). I stopped it in March, and since then I lost 11 kgs. I don't get hungry, I drink less water, and if I try to increase the quantity of food, I might throw up.

If I take it, I can eat 3 meals and snacks too.
I don't have a dependency issue, no withdrawal symptoms; on the contrary, I have less energy when I take it, and I get migraines. Is that normal? Because doctors don't seem to know the relation and if something else can help.

Hi!

What is the original reason you were prescribed the Tramadol?

Pain medications like Tramadol, oxycodone, and Vicodin will cause migraines to rebound. My neurology team does not like to have patients on the medications in that class for that reason. It may help the headache or migraine pain for a few hours, but then it will/can come back worse.

I still have Crohn's disease that is not 100% controlled with a fistula. Rheumatoid arthritis too. Now I can handle the pain without the pain meds, but I eat and drink much less. I get migraines because of tramadol; I don't take it because of them.

So, when you're not feeling pain, you are able to eat well?

Pain is there most of the time. When it is less or tolerable, I still eat less.

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Instead of eating three big meals, try eating 5 to 6 small meals a day. See if you can manage that. Snack-sized meals.

Has your doctor ever mentioned an appetite stimulant? There are a lot of options… one I'm thinking of, I'm not sure if it's legal where you are located.

The other idea I have is an opioid antagonist. It can block pain receptors. I can send you some information if you'd like.

He mentioned an antidepressant that can stimulate appetite, but I didn't want to take an antidepressant. Ok, please send me more info. Thank you.

Never had any problems with Tramadol; actually, it worked well, but then my blood pressure went low, and I stopped it. A change in BP is one of its effects. Dubai is a lovely place; I've been there many times. Truly cosmopolitan. Nearly every country is represented there, including many British and Americans. Hopefully, you will find a way around that problem—lower dosage, maybe. Best wishes.

When I needed to improve my appetite as a result of chemo, I found a product that had a small amount of Delta 9, which is natural, unlike Delta 8, which is synthesized. Not sure if you can get something like that where you are. The product I took was hemp-derived.

My dad, near the end of his life, tried a prescribed appetite stimulant. Although his doctor said these don't work all that well, it didn't help my dad's appetite. But probably more because his cancer was so evasive in his body.

I was taking Tramadol because I fell and fractured a rib. My doctor wouldn't prescribe anymore after 3 weeks. While I was on it, I couldn't eat and felt nauseous and only wanted saltines and gingerale. My Crohns isn't active. I only had it in large intestine which was removed.

UC Crohns dehydrated me gave me piles of kidney stones, bilateral.  Osteoporosis. too.  Post op, on 40 mg of Oxy a day.   Stones were VERY painful.  100 mg Tramadol helped me off it.  If my pain is bothering me now, I take only 25-50 mgs.  Never affected my appetite, I had none.  Tryied CBD oil, meh!  Good old pot worked & got back to my good weight & them some.

I take tramadol for abdominal pain, and when my colitis acts up, it barely works. I've never noticed any difference with my eating habits; it just made me tired, and if I didn't go to sleep right away, it backfires and keeps me up all night. I zone out and have bad brain fog the next day. About the low appetite I have, that is because of my CKD issues, but most of it has gotten better since I've gone on sodium bicarbonate treatment. Regarding the vomiting issues, I'm wondering if you've developed digestive issues. I have to take enzymes (Zenpep is what I take; I think the other one doesn't work as well for me, but that's what they give you in the hospital is Creon. I'm not sure of the spelling, but it has to be RX, not the over-the-counter ones); otherwise, my food won't stay down. Hope you find a solution and don't have to go on TPN. I was on that for 2 years, and it's a bit much to get used to, but sometimes you have to do what you have to do. Good luck 🫂