depression, but tramadol seems to elevate my mood

[scully07]

I previously posted this on the depression forum, but another member suggested I post it here. 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]

Going to try going cold turkey tomorrow. We'll see what happens.

[Rediscovering]

Also one more thing. Your body will become used to it and inevitably will need more. I started in the same boat of 2 a day. Then through 5 yrs. had to take up 15 a day to get the same effect. By then the downsides were much worse. Like many others it switched on me. I became antisocial, depressed, agoraphobic. Migraines, vertigo, bad bad constipation, moody, brain zaps, started getting scary facial ticks and many more negative side effects.

I was like u in the beginning. Only taking two a day. Felt ontop of the world. Before I knew it months would pass and I needed to keep popping more and more. I am a very health conscious person. I am also a nurse. Thought I was above letting tramadol become a problem. Nope. Please please find another way sweetheart or I feel pretty confident 5 yrs. from now u might be in my position. Don't think it can't happen to you!!! I thought it never would happen to me.

[Rediscovering]

Tramadol has been running my life for 5 yrs. I thought it was great to begin with too. However it has become a horrible prison. I am currently working very very hard to get off of it. Please don't make the same mistake lovely one. It has been a very rough road. After some time it caused more depression and anxiety for me. By then I was physically and mentally addicted and I became much worse through the years. I highly suggest at. Johns wart or Kava Kava. I wish someone could have warned me 5 yrs. ago. Tramadol is a very powerful and scary drug. Don't let yourself fall into the trap. It can ruin your life and its not worth it whatsoever. Good luck.

[YesLife4Me]

Personally, I think you are dependant on it.  I was prescribed it to take one or two per day.   I got to that point where you are now, then I wanted more eventually because one or two wasn't doing the job.   Your body is screaming for it because it has become dependant on it to deal with pain and the rush of energy it gives you.   This drug is harder to kick than opiates because of both the rush and the mood lift.   You are feeling wore out in the mornings because it has depleted in your system so it's begging for more.   What concerns me is that you love the way it makes you feel and you are scared of running out.   I remember feeling like super mom at one time...then the pills took over my life.   Instead of going cold turkey, try lowering your dose to once per day or 1/2 twice a day until you level off, then go down again.   It will help ease your discomfort.   And please flush the left over percs so they don't tempt you when you do run out.   Desperation can cause us to try anything and that could start a new problem for you.   I prefer Norco, but will take percs or oxy if that is all I have.   And I started out with Trams.    

[scully07]

I'm on my 7th straight day of 100mg of tramadol per day. It's not a lot, but I still don't want to take it everyday. The pain has been terrible since returning to the gym & the temperature has been in the teens this week so that always makes the pains worse. I hate this feeling I have when I wake up the day after. I feel exhausted even after 7 hours of sleep. I notice I feel much more awake during the day when I don't take it the night before. Perhaps I'm waiting too late in the day to take it? Not sure. I love the way I feel after I take it. I feel like I'm the person, the mom I want to be or am supposed to be. My personality is more outgoing & social. I can get the things done that need to be done. I still don't know if it's the opiate or the serotonin that makes me feel like that. I think it must be the serotonin since I've never had this feeling when taking any other opiates.

[Sober07]

Come on girly you can do it!!!! My doc actually refused to give me tramadol after I left the hospital for pain management (but she had no problem prescribing me hundreds of Vicodin) because she said people who take it for long periods of time were prone to suicide and depression.

[scully07]

I'm feeling much better yesterday & today at the end of day 4 without. I still can't seem to get myself motivated though. This was supposed to be my 1st week back to the gym & I failed. I'm going to force myself to go tomorrow, but I'm worried I'll be in pain after & have to take some. I used to be so good at controlling this. I had a rule where I only took them on a weekend if needed & only 2 per day. I did follow this rule last weekend, but I was itching to take them all week. The funny thing is I have a bottle of percocet left from a while back & I have no desire whatsoever to take them so I think it is definitely the serotonin I'm craving.

[killerzoey]

Scully, You're in a bit of an awkward place, in my opinion. Believe it or not, the amount you're taking is enough to cause withdrawal in some people, I've read. So it could be that what you're experiencing is two-fold: Tramadol helps you feel better when you take it, and when you don't take it, you feel worse than you normally would, because of the possible withdrawal you're going through, even on a mini-level. Tramadol is an awful trap. I'm trying to get off it and it's terrible. I would definitely go talk to a doctor about the possibility that you're having some depression, and (separately) evaluate if you really need something as strong as an opioid to deal with your pain. Doctors often don't realize the can of worms they're opening up when they prescribe Tramadol. They seem to think of it as one step above Advil. They often don't know how horrid it is to get off. Just my $0.02 worth, from a year down the Tramadol road :(  Good luck.

[scully07]

I'm also getting worried because my bottle is running low & I have no refills left.

[scully07]

Well I broke down & took 100mg on Sunday for some pain I got after cleaning the house so I'm on day 2 without. I felt like crap when I woke up on Sunday and all day after til about 30 min after I took them. Right now, I feel a serious lack of energy & motivation, but otherwise feeling ok. I do want to take them just to have some energy, but do not feel like I need to.

[scully07]

Thanks for the replies. I never take more than the prescibed dose of tramadol & never more than 100mg twice per day. I try to keep it at once per day & only when absolutely necessary because it sometimes keeps me from sleeping. I do however look forward to taking it. I was seriously considering a psychiatrist, but we're thinking about having another baby & didn't want to go til we decided for sure since I wouldn't be able to take any meds while pregnant or breastfeeding. I didn't take the tramadol of course when I was pregnant the 1st time & I don't recall having any depression during that time either.

[Teresa1717]

Hi there! tramadol is a Synthetic opiate and also has an antidepressant componant to it So thats why it elevates your mood! So You should NOT take any antidepressants with it or St. Johns Wort because the combination can cause seizures.  IMO You should stop taking the Tramadol all together though. This is a nasty drug to kick and causes more problems than its worth.

Whatever you decidee you need to talk to your Dr. If you decide to stop Trams, you should do that with the help of your Dr as well.

[Pat1956100]

Yes I agree.  Talk to a doctor about your depression and tell him how the Tramadol is making you feel.
It would be better to get something other than Tramadol for your depression.
Do you find yourself taking more Tramadol than what is prescribed?  It is addictive and can lead to a lot of problems so it's a good idea to stop this before that happens.
Let us know what the doctor says.

[BarbRTR]

See a psych. St johns wort may or may not have what you think in it. You need monitered.
But tramadol for your mood means future trouble.

Don't be embarrassed to tell Dr your depressed. He's heard it and most of the time, there to help you. Call Monday! It will get better!