^Tramadol is a drug that is primarily used an analgesic however it also produces Serotonin and Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibition (SNRI) like several psychiatric medications.
Some examples of other medications that produce SNRI effects are tricyclic anyidepressants (such as Elavil/amitriptyline, Pamelor/nortriptyline, Anafranil/clomipramine) and newer medications such as Cymbalta/duloxetine, Effexor/venlafaxine and Pristiq/desvenlafaxine.
The effects on norepinephrine produces a mild stimulant effect and also likely explains the appetite suppression that it produces for some. Although tramadol is unscheduled in most places, generally doctors are aware of its abuse potential. Tramadol has been used off-label for indications such as OCD, depression/anxiety and even premature ejaculation but given its abuse potential, its very rare that doctors will prescribe this for indications other than pain unless all other safer options have been exhausted.
Replacing dangerous, unregulated illicit substances with regulated, marginally safer ones might be harm reduction but this is not an argument that will persuade most physicians. If your physician is aware of a history of both substance abuse and an eating disorder, this makes it even less likely that she'd be willing to prescribe this.
Lastly, tramadol substantially lowers the seizure threshold so should not be used in any proximity to benzodiazepine discontinuation. The FDA limits the amount of tramadol that can be taken daily to 400mg total (starting doses are 50-100mg) due to seizure risk which would be substantially greater if you're coming off clonazepam.
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) munchies from benzos. On Tramadol I will hardly eat at all. YMMV though..my friend who has suffered from an eating disorder in the past asked me for Klonopin once to calm her down and reduce her appetite (she binges & purges so wanted to get down to a normal appetite). Weird..almost everyone I know gets benzo munchies.
