depression, but tramadol seems to elevate mood

[scully07]

I do not feel myself. I manage to get things done, but i feel like the day to day necessities are just too much to handle, laundry, cleaning, pretty much anything outside of going to work. I have no energy & will sleep as long as my husband lets me on the weekends. I feel like im depriving my child of a fun mommy to play with. I feel terrible because i have nothing to be depressed about. I have a good husband, child, family, a job, house, etc. I also think I had undiagnosed post partum depression which i never let anyone know about because i was ashamed. I did eventually feel better. I just have no motivation. I didnt even realize i could be depressed until i started taking a drug called tramadol for pain. I used it a few times a week & noticed i felt much better with more energy and less mood swings. Come to find out this drug actually increases seratonin levels which would explain my elevated mood. Now I'm wondering if I should try St. John's wort or see a psychiatrist for an antidepressant. Any ideas?

[scully07]

Got it, thanks!

[Bubulous]

Oh hon, you put it in the wrong forum.  Go to the link below and post it where you will find more support from the people that have lived it and are living it now.

http://www.medhelp.org/forums/Addiction-Substance-Abuse/show/77?controller=forums&action=show&id=77&camp=msc

[Bubulous]

You get through it the best you can.  I don't expect anybody to be superman.  Don't put worry and stress on top of it, it's not an overnight thing.  I of course will pray for you and hope that you can do it but what I'm saying is there is no judgement here.  Whether you fail tomorrow or not,no big deal.  Just keep coming back here for support and we will help you through this.

[scully07]

I took your suggestion & re-posted this on the addiction forum. I broke down & took 100mg of tramadol around 3pm with some ibuprofen after a long walk which caused my knee to swell. I'm still having the stomach issues so I guess that wasn't due to withdrawal. My mood is much improved though & I have a bit more energy tonight. My knee however is still swollen & hurting. I think I'll take another ibuprofen & get some sleep. I'm not sure what I'm going to do tomorrow since usually after swelling the pain in my knee lasts for a few days. I'm starting to think you may be right though. I have a lot to do tomorrow around the house & not sure how I'm going to get around without the tramadol, but I'm going to try my best not to take it.

[scully07]

Yup I will update when I can. Thanks.

[Bubulous]

I understand that you had the depression before.  That is why  started taking pain pills.  I am bipolar and of course I have dealt with depression since I was 14.  At first the pain pills helped but they turn on you pretty quick.  Other symptoms of w/d are restless leg syndrome, little to know sleep and so on.  As you go for 2 days, 3 days, 4 days, notice if you start having other w/d symptoms.  Depression is one of the worst side effects it usually comes after the physical w/ds.  The main point is if you can't stay off of them by the time you reach day 7, then you may have a problem.  Let me know as you go through the days how you feel and I can give advise on what to do to help.  I hope I am wrong.

[scully07]

Thanks for replying. I want to clarify, I did feel this depression several months before I was even prescribed tramadol. I am wondering though if I'm having withdrawl symptoms. It's hard to tell because I do have an illness that's been passing through the family which includes a head cold with diarrhea which happened to set in on my 1st day going without tramadol. Other than the diarrhea & depression I don't have any other symptoms that may be considered withdrawl.

[Bubulous]

Hello and welcome to the forum,

No, don't take St. John's wart right now, it will do you no good.  I'm sorry to say that you are sliding down a slippery slope.  The tramadol does raise serotonin levels but it also causes depression.  You may have gotten more energy high but the disconnection you feel with your family is likely do to the tramodol.  You are well on your way to addiction.  I know that may be hard to imagine, but please believe me this drug is going to be the worst thing you have ever taken.  Post this on the addiction forum.  You may have PPD, I don't know I am not a doctor.  Please take what I say seriously and keep me updated so I can see the signs of addiction before it gets too late, and I PROMISE it will.
Don't take offense I just have not seen anybody in this stage of the addiction in a while.  It is not too late to catch this thing before it consumes you and takes everything you have.  If you don't feel comfortable posting on the addiction forum or don't believe that you could ever be an addict type tramodol into the search medhelp at  the top right of your screen and read up on some of the stories of addicts like myself.  That should scare you enough to start changing your opinion of this drug.

I will SO be praying for you, come back and let me know it you want me to help you learn more.