Ultram for depression?

[beebers76]

I have been on Ultram for 5 months now for depression... OCD/High anxiety... Nonetheless, researched Ultram for about a month before I took the plunge...  I will say that this medication has been a godsend for me...  I know, from what I have read, people tend to have a love/hate relationship with Ultram.  However, I feel one must realize that Ultram SHOULD NOT BE SCHEDULED AS A PAIN RELIEVER!!  It is an anti-depressant/anti-anxiety med.  The WITHDRAWALS people have form this drug aren't because of the opiate effects of it, but because of it's effect on brain chemistry.  This drug should NEVER be RX's for pain.  The thing is people pop them for pain and before they know it they are taking 400mg a day or more and they are screwing up their brain chemistry and they go through HELL to come off.  I went into this MARRIAGE with Ultram with the attitude of I'm going to take 200 mg everyday, nothing more, and nothing less... just like you would any anti-depressant.  It doesn't make me feel HIGH.  YES it does give you a happy feeling, it takes the edge off of anxiety and it has very low side effects. I know from what I have read on various sites, that this drug does effect everyone differently.  It seems like the people it is very beneficial for are those who use the same amount of it everyday, and don't chase the HIGH.  It has opiate effects to it, but it is not like other opiates because of it's effect on brain chemistry...  I find the brainy part of the drug very stimulating as it makes a person like myself who has been dealing with anxiety and depression for years feel NORMAL... Not HIGH, just  normal and young again.  I don't feel the need to take naps during the day... I handle all situations like a mature adult and think it through clearly, and I all attribute this to my friend, Tramadol.  Who knows how long this will add to making my life better, but I thank god for it everyday.  My advice is that if you take the Tramadol PLUNGE that you go into it with a gameplan.  Realize that it is an anti depressant and not a pain killer, and treat it like such.  200mg once a day around 9am is what works for me...   I NEVER go higher than that.  The moment I take the 400mg per-day plunge is the day I know 400mg per-day is the new target dose for me, and I'm not ready for that, nor do I feel I need that.   Key is NOT to chase a HIGH with this drug.  Don't get GREEDY.  Realize that if it is working and making your life better that MORE might actually ruin your marriage with Tramadol and turn it into one big ulgy divorce.

[Hensley258]

Your not the only one finding Ultram or it's sister drug Tramadol very benificial for your cronic depression. I actually found a doctor that agreed to start me on Ultram (off lable) for my treatment resistant depression.

This experiment (only in my case) did not go very well because the Ultram, while it helped with my depression, made my anxiety worse. I found this agitation in my anxiety to be at it's worst on Ultram after the dosage wore off, but also had bad anxiety when it was "in effect."

I am supprised that Ultram did not agitate your anxiety too.

No question that Ultram and Tramadol have some wonderful anti-depressant qualities and action to them as they do effect mood receptors in the brain.

The only problem with taking Ultram long term for depression is that you WILL without a doubt slowly build a resistance to it's effects. This means more and more, then more. next thing you know you can get addicted to the drug and the withdrawls are VERY physical in nature. Cold sweats, shivers, nausia, worsining depression.

In the end I don't blame you for taking what works. I too would risk addiction not to suffer from the daily torment that is my depressive condition.

Just don't take that Ultram with any antidepressant type drugs or you could risk Serotonin syndrome.

That's good you found something that works. I personnaly think that more research needs to be done regarding the antidepressant effects of both Ultram and Tramadol.

The actual science behind why they may work for some people when traditional AD's do not is thought to be Ultrams effects of the endorphines in the brain that traditional antidepressants do not address. People that suffer from Endorphine deficiency syndrome which can cause depression, find drugs like Ultram very effective when nothing else will work.

I wished it would have worked for me, and it did except the damn anxiety that it produced.