Magic pill for depression? Anybody ever try Tramadol?

[Cleansing]

So Tramadol ... Anybody use it for depression?
Tramadol is a quasi-narcotic analgesic used in the treatment of moderate to severe pain. Some say it's addictive, others say it aint. some people claim it boosts their mood, others say it has no affect on their mood. I've only used Tramadol a few times, and it most definitely boosted my mood. But I'm not sure if it was the antidepressant affects, or some kind of a high that made me feel better. If I were to use Tramadol for depression, would I stick to the prescribed dosage, or go overboard? I couldn't stick to my Valium as prescribed (so I stopped taking that).

It has been suggested that tramadol could be effective for alleviating symptoms of depression and anxiety or some such similar to its; [7] and/or specially used for treat-alleviate unique types of depressions and fobics, because of its action on the noradrenergic and serotonergic systems, and is for this the involvement of which appears to play a part in its ability to alleviate the perception of pain. ...[so (as) it means (also) "mind-pain"]...[8

-- Wikipedia.

Here's another tidbit that's pretty interesting

so I looked up tramadol for depression and found that it is indeed recognized as having anti-depressant qualities, not because of the opiate element but for its effect on serotonin, and more importantly its effect on noradrenalin. Tramadol has a weak effect on serotonin uptake but a strong effect on noradrenalin something the SSRIs don’t have. I deduced from this that it might be a noradrenalin deficiency in my case as opposed to serotonin. And a noradrenalin specific medicine might be the answer to my depression. Noradrenalin Reuptake Inhibitors (NNRIs) are apparently under used in the treatment of depression as they are relatively new medicines. Reboxetine (Edronax) being one of them is banned in the USA, but nobody can find out why. However there must be others that do the same job which the US has granted a licence for.

It's interesting that I'm thinking of this stuff now because there's been a lot of Tramadol threads in the substance abuse forums. I know it can be a problem. but I wonder, if taken at the right dose, and kept at that dose, if it can be the thing to really lift me out of this depression.

At the same time, I have a friend who was smoking weed and mixing it with tramadol. He was very depressed, and it was his way of coping. A month later, he was back on painkillers, and then heroin. He died two months after starting thee Tramadol. The disease progressed, and pretty quickly.


Then part of me wants to forget this medication stuff. Stop relying on the pills to lift me up. I mean, I'm on 5 psych meds. And I can't really tell if they work. I relapsed a few weeks ago, and finally stopped using July 29, so if the meds were working, I fukked them up for now. My mind needs to adjust to them again. It's just that when I take my meds, I want to feel better. I take my morning dose, don't feel anything. Take my evening dose, don't feel anything. I know they aren't suppossed to work like that, they aren't street drugs, but i was just hoping from more from these meds.


I continue to excercise, and eat well, and for now, try to stay clean, because I think in the long run, those things might be my true saving grace.

[Faerie]

Have no advice for you buddy but think it's great that you realised you had a problem with the valium and got off of it, good on you.

Seek a good doctor's advice.

Also, I'm in Australia and take Edronax, it works well for me, I wonder why it was banned in the US?

[joedris]

Originally Posted by Cleansing

I've only used Tramadol a few times, and it most definitely boosted my mood. But I'm not sure if it was the antidepressant affects, or some kind of a high that made me feel better.

It's interesting that I'm thinking of this stuff now because there's been a lot of Tramadol threads in the substance abuse forums. I know it can be a problem. but I wonder, if taken at the right dose, and kept at that dose, if it can be the thing to really lift me out of this depression.

I take my morning dose, don't feel anything. Take my evening dose, don't feel anything. I know they aren't suppossed to work like that, they aren't street drugs, but i was just hoping from more from these meds.

You're describing a high that you've experienced taking a non-narcotic pain med. Then you ask if it can be a problem if taken "at the right dose", as your psych meds don't make you feel anything.

Okay. To begin with, you're taking a pain med when you don't have pain. You're taking it for the effect it gives you and that, my friend, is not a good idea. Tramadol is being studied as we speak to determine if it has any addictive qualities, and initial reports say that it does. And there is no "right dose" for a medication being used outside the scope for which it was approved by the FDA. The FDA has approved Tramadol for treatment of pain and only pain

You're obviously disappointed that your psych meds have no effect on your mood. Most of them won't. They're prescribed to treat underlying psychological problems and as such the effectiveness of such medications is measured not in how good they make you feel, but in how well they stop you from feeling bad.

So my advice here is to stop seeking a substitute high, especially from a non-formulary drug. You'll just trading one addiction for another.

[barb dwyer]

I got prescribed Tramadol because the 'practitioner' who was seeing me at the time refused to believe that my lethargy and physical pain was anything other than depression from recovering from alcoholism.

I would nearly DIE before she finally ran the right test - a full - panel thyroid.
I was fatally high in TSH.

Tramadol -
when someone was prescribed it who didn't need it -

made me a raving lunatic.

So, I'm not what you'd call ... a fan.

[Cleansing]

Originally Posted by joedris

So my advice here is to stop seeking a substitute high, especially from a non-formulary drug. You'll just trading one addiction for another.

It's probably on my mind because Im only 5 days clean, and I'm looking for ways to get that good feeling without it being considered using. I guess it's just the obssession with feeling good. Or you can call it an obssession with gwtting high (but truthfully, most highs don't feel all so good). This obssesion has me scheming up things. But oh well, I'm committed to trying my best to stay sober today, I just thought it was interesting some of the things I've read about antidepressants.

I mean, are there meds found in other countries that are more effective than what we're given in the US?

[BloodnbonE]

i remember an old mate bringing some round to try get a high off. just made it hard for me to sleep and irritable. didnt seem to do anything for my depression though although at the time i wasnt overly depressed

[totfit]

Why would an alcoholic/addict be interested in a narcotic/analgesic with anti-depressant properties? Well, that's obvious. There are plenty of anti-depressants that are very effective that are non-narcotic. In fact rarely is a narcotic used for depression, especially since they have depressant qualities. Any Psychiatrist or Doctor that would prescribe them for an addict would be irresponsible when there are proven much better non-narcotic ones much more widely used.

[tigers13]

Tramadol did nothing for my depression. I took Effexor for quite some time, and even tho it did nothing for my depression, the side effects from coming off of it lasted for weeks. It was terrible.

[pinpoint]

Using a substance to bring about a certain positive psychological and/or physical response is addiction. Just because it's considered by most not to be addictive, or it isn't hard, or it's low on the DEA's schedules doesn't mean it's safe. Here's some drugs to try- excercise, nutrition, this site, friends and family, a good book...etc. I'm new to being clean too but we both know that you're still looking to escape from your boredom or yourself. You know better.

[Bamboozle]

Originally Posted by pinpoint

Here's some drugs to try- excercise, nutrition, this site, friends and family, a good book...etc.

I disagree.

My meds aren't doing quite the trick they were before, but when they were working I did not have suicidal thoughts.

Now the suicidal thoughts are back. All the exercise, nutrition, SR, friends/family in the world is not enough to change a chemical imbalance. People who have depression/bipolar/etc. need to be on meds. I know that when the meds aren't working rational thought goes completely out the window and all I want to do is die/kill myself. That's not healthy.

[tigers13]

You're so right bamboozle...you definitely need to be on meds. I hope they can find the right med, or combo of meds to help you. If you're having suicidal thoughts...please get help immediately.

[pinpoint]

Sorry, i meant abusing drugs to get high- not because you specifically need them for chemical imbalances proven by dr.s

[Morning Glory]

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