Hi. medications are one of the listed reasons for getting pancreatitis. yet a list is hard to come by. I am looking into this for a friend as well. The pancreas deals with digestive juices and insulin. Have a look at your medications to see if they may have gastrointestinal effects. I can tell you that Tramadol does affect the production of enzymes in the intestine. i Forget which one at the moment. I was accidentally overdosed on one of the components of Tramadol (ultram) and have had severe intestinal problems as a result. So I would look to that as a possibility. I had the same adverse side effects you describe. My loss of appetite has never recovered - no matter how long I go without eating there is no hunger or physical effects of hunger (great for dieting but would not wish it on anyone). I recommend talking to your pharmacist about the Tramdol and take that information to see the doctor as soon as possible about the side effects. Also with Pancreatis you should eat many small non-fatty/ high carbo meals instead of one large one.

Let us know what happens okay. good luck.

Could he have possibly injured his pancreas when he fell? I'm not sure that a medication could do that much damage to an organ after just 3 weeks.

The pancreas is a gland in the body that I don't think could be injured just by falling - absent other significant injuries. I checked and found a long list of medicines and toxins that are listed as possible causes. Most are heartburn meds like tagamet, many are enzyme effectors, also targets of heartburn medications.

Here is a List: 3TC (Lamivudine), ACTH (Lamivudine), Acthar, Aldesleukin (Interleukin 2), Asparaginase (cytotoxic drug), Ausran, Azathioprine (Imuran), Calcifediol, Calcijex, Calcitriol, Calderol, Chlorothiazide, Cimehexal, Cimetidine (Tagamet), Corticotropin, EES, Elspar, Eryacne, Erythrocin, Furosemide, H.P. Acthar Gel, Hexal Ranitic, Hivid, Leunase, Magicul, Proleukin, Rani 2, Ranihexal, Ranitidine, Ranoxyl, Rocaltrol, Sigmetadine, Sulphasalazine, Tagamet, Tenofovir, Valproic acid, Viread, Vitamin D Analog, Zalcitabine, Zeffix.

Tramadol Was used vs Morphine in a study to treat severe chronic pancreatitis pain in 1999.
Yet has a relatively high incidence of nausea and vomiting of which the husband complains (nausea - hopefully not vomiting).

Tramadol is a serotonin re-uptake inhibitor. Many current 'Designer drugs' (made since 1995) use the blocking of serotonin to control pain. This pain relieving effect was discovered by accident in studies to find an anti seizure medication. Blocking serotonin re-uptake is also the preferential mechanism to treating depression and other mental disorders. To avoid his current symptoms he may ask his doctor to change his medication. However if his med levels are high the withdrawal may have to be managed as well.

In addition through a rather tortuous path flexeril (cyclobenzaprine hydrochloride) effects the fluid secretions of the pancreas (One is Somatostatin which effects blood flow to heart, pancreas and stomach). May cause nausia by this action and by taking these drugs at the time of a blood test - it may erroneously show Pancreatitis. It may be beneficial to ask your doctor to retest you using other methods.


I am sure the doctor knows what he is doing (it is common to prescribe both these medications) But be aware of the possible side-effects. Here is the warning I found when both drugs are used:

cyclobenzaprine ⇔ tramadol
Major Drug Interaction
Applies to: Flexeril (cyclobenzaprine) and tramadol
MONITOR CLOSELY: The risk of seizures may be increased during coadministration of tramadol with any substance that can reduce the seizure threshold, such as other selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. May have additive effects when combined with Flexeril (cyclobenzaprine). May also exhibit CNS and/or respiratory-depressant effects, which may be enhanced during their concomitant use with tramadol.