depression from tramadol

[rocko]

Hi I'd like some advice about this as I am in a bit of a difficult situation.

For the past year I have been on tramadol for an illness that is still under investigation (to do with the GI tract but has no diagnosis yet) which causes me great deal of pain to the point of being bedridden and multiple trips to ER via ambulance.

Tramadol gave me a new lease for life when I was prescribed it. It really did make me feel soo much better. I was finally out of bed and able to move around and do things. Unfortunately, my doctor wanted me to come off tramadol to help investigate my GI tract problems further. Upon doing so, I have been in a great deal of pain again, and now that I am past the withdrawal through tapering, all I have left is extremely horrible depression.

I have always been susceptible to depression throughout my life and no doubt my current health condition probably doesn't help but I could somewhat manage from my therapy techniques over the years. However now, the depression from quitting tramadol is the worst I have experienced in my life. Everything feels so dull, foggy and bleak. I have feel little desire to do anything not just because of the amount of pain but because I feel mentally drained from feeling so down. I can't sit and watch a TV show or listen to music without having to turn it off after only a couple of minutes. I can't connect or enjoy anything - it all simply bores me.

I don;t know what the problem is, maybe something tramadol did to my brain? I don't know but all I know is my perception of the world and life is now worse than ever.

I am supposed to be sorting out so many things in my life right now to help myself but I can't do it. I have no motivation or mental energy to do them. I just about have enough energy to come here and write this and that took a huge amount of effort to put sentences together and I feel dumbed down and like I have lost piece of my brain.

I should mention I have been given some codeine to manage the pain but it gives me stomach ache and doesn't really help. It doesn't give me the energy and pain numbing that tramadol gave.

Maybe someone could advise who has been in a similar situation or who can simply relate?

I just need to hear some opinions.



Thanks so much.

 

[weltschmertz]

I gotta similar problem.I was adicted to Tramadol for 10 years. Now i am on Buprenorphine, and still feel depressed and unmotivated+lotta anxiety.

Only thing that helped me is Buprenorphine8mg+Diazepam(valium)10mg/day. I am amazed how benzodiazepines give me energy.
But still something missing.....my shrink says that he will give me some antidepressants and i hope with those i will be superb. If i feel better i wrote you report.
Hang in there man,and i suggest to see a psychiatrist.

 

[theseeker]

What you are experiencing is, essentially, opiate withdrawal. It is a temporary, albeit miserable, condition. Tramadol acts as a mild opiate. I used to abuse tramadol quite a bit some years back. When I stopped taking it, I was extremely depressed. The depression from tramadol is worse than withdrawal from many other opiates I have withdrawn from. However, I found that almost all the depression was gone in like 1.5 weeks.

How long since you took your last tramadol dose?

 

[rocko]

What you are experiencing is, essentially, opiate withdrawal. It is a temporary, albeit miserable, condition. Tramadol acts as a mild opiate. I used to abuse tramadol quite a bit some years back. When I stopped taking it, I was extremely depressed. The depression from tramadol is worse than withdrawal from many other opiates I have withdrawn from. However, I found that almost all the depression was gone in like 1.5 weeks.

How long since you took your last tramadol dose?

I have been off tramadol around a month and a half.

I didn't realise it was common for depression to creep in with opiate withdrawal. But if that is the case, why does Codeine not stop it? I was given Codeine to deal with the pain after Tramadol and not only is it not very good at stopping my pain it doesn't seem to affect me the same way Tramadol did.

I just feel so lethargic and horrible all the time. Right now I feel like my life couldn't be more dull and uninteresting.

 

[brasil]

Tramadol is the opiate that i've tried that have lifted my mood the most! .5g of tramies a day and i was completely drug happy( much more powerfull to my depression than setraline os escitalopran). Once i stopped, i've felt shitty and depressed. but thats how it goes with any drug, isn't it?

 

[rocko]

Tramadol is the opiate that i've tried that have lifted my mood the most! .5g of tramies a day and i was completely drug happy( much more powerfull to my depression than setraline os escitalopran). Once i stopped, i've felt shitty and depressed. but thats how it goes with any drug, isn't it?

I don't know.. hence why I posted this topic.. Especially tramadol not being your typical opiate.. If I knew I was going to be suffering this much afterwards don't you think I would have said no? I had no idea it was going to be like this. It wasn't by choice to go on it to have my mood enhanced or high from taking it, I didn't know it would do that - that was later found accidental not intentional.

Thanks for your helpful post anyway.

 

[brasil]

I don't know.. hence why I posted this topic.. Especially tramadol not being your typical opiate.. If I knew I was going to be suffering this much afterwards don't you think I would have said no? I had no idea it was going to be like this. It wasn't by choice to go on it to have my mood enhanced or high from taking it, I didn't know it would do that - that was later found accidental not intentional.

Thanks for your helpful post anyway.

i feel you bro,
but i don't know what else to say to you, but hang on, it will pass. Tramadol withdrawals ain't the worse of them...
Also codeine should be giving you some help, but it acts very deferent from tramadol in your sistem, a simple google search will show it to you.
Best wishes
stay strong!

 

[theseeker]

Tramadol also has an antidepressant property to it along with the opiate property. So you're getting the double whammy of opiate w/d plus SNRI w/d. You say you've been susceptible to depression. Maybe the w/d has kicked off a depressive phase for you?

Also- codeine has only rarely lifted my mood. More often than not it makes me feel really weird. Furthermore- I have chronic depression and opiate use has always exacerbated it. Codeine would surely not be helping me in this regard. With you having chronic pain- the solution to your problems is beyond most advice you can get on an internet forum. Have you told your doc about all this?

 

[brasil]

Tramadol also has an antidepressant property to it along with the opiate property. So you're getting the double whammy of opiate w/d plus SNRI w/d. You say you've been susceptible to depression. Maybe the w/d has kicked off a depressive phase for you?

Also- codeine has only rarely lifted my mood. More often than not it makes me feel really weird. Furthermore- I have chronic depression and opiate use has always exacerbated it. Codeine would surely not be helping me in this regard. With you having chronic pain- the solution to your problems is beyond most advice you can get on an internet forum. Have you told your doc about all this?

I think just like you do!

 

[Orangutangpsychopa]

Hi I'd like some advice about this as I am in a bit of a difficult situation.

For the past year I have been on tramadol for an illness that is still under investigation (to do with the GI tract but has no diagnosis yet) which causes me great deal of pain to the point of being bedridden and multiple trips to ER via ambulance.

Tramadol gave me a new lease for life when I was prescribed it. It really did make me feel soo much better. I was finally out of bed and able to move around and do things. Unfortunately, my doctor wanted me to come off tramadol to help investigate my GI tract problems further. Upon doing so, I have been in a great deal of pain again, and now that I am past the withdrawal through tapering, all I have left is extremely horrible depression.

I have always been susceptible to depression throughout my life and no doubt my current health condition probably doesn't help but I could somewhat manage from my therapy techniques over the years. However now, the depression from quitting tramadol is the worst I have experienced in my life. Everything feels so dull, foggy and bleak. I have feel little desire to do anything not just because of the amount of pain but because I feel mentally drained from feeling so down. I can't sit and watch a TV show or listen to music without having to turn it off after only a couple of minutes. I can't connect or enjoy anything - it all simply bores me.

I don;t know what the problem is, maybe something tramadol did to my brain? I don't know but all I know is my perception of the world and life is now worse than ever.

I am supposed to be sorting out so many things in my life right now to help myself but I can't do it. I have no motivation or mental energy to do them. I just about have enough energy to come here and write this and that took a huge amount of effort to put sentences together and I feel dumbed down and like I have lost piece of my brain.

I should mention I have been given some codeine to manage the pain but it gives me stomach ache and doesn't really help. It doesn't give me the energy and pain numbing that tramadol gave.

Maybe someone could advise who has been in a similar situation or who can simply relate?

I just need to hear some opinions.



Thanks so much.

Be damn careful with tramadol, it's half opiate agonist and SSRI, keeping drunk keeps the brain zaps away, 2 weeks of benzos, maybe Valium to get rid off. Some genius developed so it's harmless as antidepressant and / but opiate agonits. Can't OD easily but serious to brains if some-one quits too fast. Have tried but seen them who wants to get rid off, on the 2/3 it's more valium, just to say.

 

[zachxbass]

I've had similar experiences with tramadol. Seems as if your situation is alot worse then mine was but i can still relate. Just hang in there. After so long on tramadol your mind probably isn't used to being clean. For me the mental part of withdrawal always lasts alot longer than the physical. The fact that you went from tolerable pain (due to the tramadol), to intolerable won't help either. Just being in chronic pain can make you pretty depressed. Don't know if your stomach can handle it or not, but a little kratom would probably make you feel better as it works kinda similar to tramadol. Be careful though as it can be mildly addictive to and might just make your problems last longer, although not as bad. It doesn't bother my stomach at all, but the taste isn't great. Not as bad as people say though IMO. well good luck, hope you feel better soon. and definately talk to your doctor about the depression and why you are having it.

 

[rocko]

Thanks for all the replies.

I have recently been given an antidepressant to take for my depression and that immediately elminated a lot of what was caused by tramadol withdrawal but the problem with the antdepressant is that it stopped Codeine working properly at preventing my pain. I went back to my doc and asked him if there was any interactions going on causing this and he looked into it and was surprised to find there is - which was to do with the inhibitition of CYP2D6 and the way Codeine is broken down in the system.

So unfortunately I am now off the antidepressant while my doc tries to figure out if there is one I can with Codeine that won't interfere or if any are suitable at all. He seems to think it won't be easy finding one with little interaction and one that may make my GI problems worse. So in preperation that I might not be able to find a suitable antidepressant, I don't know what to do. The doc I have been seeing isn't a regular doctor he is only used for prescribing medecine for mental health issues so I can't really ask him what I should do about my pain management.

The person I need to get a script off for pain management is unavailable to me at the moment as I am in the process of being referred to another doctor for another opinion of my GI tract problems. I just don't know what to do while I wait. Take Codeine which barely does anything or go back to Tramadol which I still have boxes of - but the problem is all my hard work coming off will be undone.

 

[Draigan]

so he took u off tramadol but has u on codeine?? wtf? And ur in tramadol wd but ur on codeine? Seriously dude that doesnt make any sense!!

Keep taking the codeine, not the tramadol man!! How much codeine are u taking? Tramadol is fun and all, but seriously I would rather come off morphine than tramadol. Not kidding. Doctors never tell u that shit.

 

[Colmes]

Hi I'd like some advice about this as I am in a bit of a difficult situation.

For the past year I have been on tramadol for an illness that is still under investigation (to do with the GI tract but has no diagnosis yet) which causes me great deal of pain to the point of being bedridden and multiple trips to ER via ambulance.

Tramadol gave me a new lease for life when I was prescribed it. It really did make me feel soo much better. I was finally out of bed and able to move around and do things. Unfortunately, my doctor wanted me to come off tramadol to help investigate my GI tract problems further. Upon doing so, I have been in a great deal of pain again, and now that I am past the withdrawal through tapering, all I have left is extremely horrible depression.

I have always been susceptible to depression throughout my life and no doubt my current health condition probably doesn't help but I could somewhat manage from my therapy techniques over the years. However now, the depression from quitting tramadol is the worst I have experienced in my life. Everything feels so dull, foggy and bleak. I have feel little desire to do anything not just because of the amount of pain but because I feel mentally drained from feeling so down. I can't sit and watch a TV show or listen to music without having to turn it off after only a couple of minutes. I can't connect or enjoy anything - it all simply bores me.

I don;t know what the problem is, maybe something tramadol did to my brain? I don't know but all I know is my perception of the world and life is now worse than ever.

I am supposed to be sorting out so many things in my life right now to help myself but I can't do it. I have no motivation or mental energy to do them. I just about have enough energy to come here and write this and that took a huge amount of effort to put sentences together and I feel dumbed down and like I have lost piece of my brain.

I should mention I have been given some codeine to manage the pain but it gives me stomach ache and doesn't really help. It doesn't give me the energy and pain numbing that tramadol gave.

Maybe someone could advise who has been in a similar situation or who can simply relate?

I just need to hear some opinions.



Thanks so much.

Hey man, I used tramadol, prescribed, to stay away from opiates and as an anti depressant at 150mg a day. eventually i was at about 400mg a day. It gave me great energy but i knew it was not good for me, not to mention going through my script 2 weeks early...it made me go through some pretty shitty withdrawal. I quit cold turkey, not by choice, but because I could not take it responsibly. After 2 weeks my mind feels normal again.

I cannot speak to your condition for which you had it prescribed but it gets better. You just simply need to stop. I would certainly taper if I were you; I always taper when coming off something. This was an exception due to my impulsiveness.

And yes, tramadol dumbs you down. It clouds your judgment and changes your personality. Sometimes it is "for the better"; but in the back of your head you always know it is not the right thing to be doing (if not being used for pain). Tramadol has SNRI properties as i'm sure you know; so coming off of it is much much easier with the aid of an anti-depressant, prescribed by your doctor. You will also avoid any "brain shocks". Your GI will even out...your energy will come back....and tramadol will lose it's grasp on you. I've only been clean from it over 2 weeks and I have gotten over it; minus the typical PAWS you would expect to experience.

The first 5 days you feel like you will never be the same, but trust me, you're not alone, and it gets better. Goodluck.

 

[Colmes]

Thanks for all the replies.

I have recently been given an antidepressant to take for my depression and that immediately elminated a lot of what was caused by tramadol withdrawal but the problem with the antdepressant is that it stopped Codeine working properly at preventing my pain. I went back to my doc and asked him if there was any interactions going on causing this and he looked into it and was surprised to find there is - which was to do with the inhibitition of CYP2D6 and the way Codeine is broken down in the system.

So unfortunately I am now off the antidepressant while my doc tries to figure out if there is one I can with Codeine that won't interfere or if any are suitable at all. He seems to think it won't be easy finding one with little interaction and one that may make my GI problems worse. So in preperation that I might not be able to find a suitable antidepressant, I don't know what to do. The doc I have been seeing isn't a regular doctor he is only used for prescribing medecine for mental health issues so I can't really ask him what I should do about my pain management.

The person I need to get a script off for pain management is unavailable to me at the moment as I am in the process of being referred to another doctor for another opinion of my GI tract problems. I just don't know what to do while I wait. Take Codeine which barely does anything or go back to Tramadol which I still have boxes of - but the problem is all my hard work coming off will be undone.

Ahhh I see you got the anti depressant, did not read that I knew it would help as it helped me.

You can be in tramadol w/d while taking codeine. While it would help a lot, the tramadol has SNRI effects that codeine simply does not have. It would be like cessation from an antidepressant. For pain they are similar, but chemically speaking. Tramadol is pharmacologically most similar to effexor . They are very very similar structurally, except effexor has absolutely no effect on your opioid receptor.