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Mental Health (Expert Forum)
ultram for depression
Answered by
Roger Gould, M.D. - Mental Health, Wellness
Questions posted in the Mental Health forum are being answered by Dr. Roger L. Gould, author of the Mastering Stress and Depression program and affiliated with the UCLA. Department of Psychiatry. Topics covered include anger, attention deficit disorder (ADD), bipolar disorder, dementia, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), learning disabilities, memory, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), panic, personality disorders, phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), schizophrenia, stress, transitions, and work problems.
ultram for depression
by molayne, Jul 15, 2001 12:00AM
i have treatment resistant depression. my doctor and i have been through just about every medication i have heard of. recently he mentioned trying ultram. has anyone heard of this pain medication for depression. i really need something to really help but i really don't see how this one added to the regimine will be of benefit. i am on parnate, amitrypiline, cytomel, lithobid, klonipin, and i think thats all. this has helped some but i'm still having mostly very bad days and having a hard time coping. we tried ect in the beginning but it's benefits were short lived. he has also mentioned trying again but i really don't know if i want to go there again. if i thought it was going to be more helpful i would definately consider it. do you see any benefit from a second round of ect? thanks molayne
Doctor's Answer
by Roger Gould, M.D., Jul 19, 2001 12:00AM
, Jul 19, 2001 12:00AM
This has not been used for depression and could have quite unpredictable effects on all the other medicaitons you are taking.
Moylane,
I have been on Ultram and noticed immediately upon taking it the first time a mood elevating effect. That is why it is somewhat addictive. Klonopin is good too but that is more to fight anxiety that depression. I take both and love them both!
wildcat
moylane,
I just noticed when re-reading your message that you mentioned ect. I read it can and has been proven to cause brain damage. They have done exaustive studies and it causes more harm than good. It is simply giving you a seizure.
I have a seizure disorder caused by brain damage, wwhich was caused by my first set of seizures when I detoxed off of alcohol and went through seizures and DT's. You may want to drop some of those other drugs you mentioned as they may not mix well either. I like Klonopin, Ultram and Codiene. I feel like a new person.
It is hard to find a doc to give codiene at a fairly heavy dose for very long however because of the addictiveness. I always say, better to be an addict than to be dead from depression leading to suicide. And I don't go for suffering year after year. I did that most of my life and now I learned I don't have to anymore. If they want me to struggle I will simply move on to the next lifetime. I can function at a high level of all three of those drugs combined and work great and with complete logic and articulation. When I am depressed I am irrational, illogical and unfunctional. So I hope these self righteous doctors listen up for a change and do the patients some good instead of preaching that old puritanical style ****. Thanks for listening. Hope you are feeling better and find the right mix for yourself. Keep trying, but stay away from the SHAKEDOWN/BREAKDOWN ROOM!!!!
wildcat