Misc SSRI antidepressants and Tramadol.

[mydrugbuddy]

This combination is known to increase the risk of seizures and Serotonin Syndrome. Some studies suggest that Tramadol acts as a SSRI while others say it acts as a serotonin releaser. Either way the risk of SS is increased when combining with SSRI antidepressants. I dont know how big the risk is though, maybe just slight. I have heard about people taking large doses of both with no problems. But theres also loads of reports about people having these dangerous reactions on this combination.

Has anyone here taken both ? Were they OK ?

I am thinking of stopping my SSRIs for a few days so that they will mostly be eliminated from my blood and brain etc. That should greatly reduce the risks. I think. (I know your meant to taper off SSRIs but I am on a low dose, and have missed a couple of days a number of times already with no adverse effects)

Thanks in advance to anyone who can help !

 

[Doug2113]

Don't come off your SSRI so that you can take a non-recreational opioid...tramadol isn't worth it...you'll feel so weird coming off your meds you won't even enjoy it...

 

[easy as]

Stay on the SSRI's for sure. Tramadol does little for many and if you are one of the lucky few than I would keep it in the counter to dose when you are happy. Opiates and SSRI's do not affect me. However don't waste a high for a stabilization. That always comes first.

 

[Pjkt2501]

Short version: Tramadol sucks.

Long version: wait, there isn't one. Tram just sucks. I was taking up to 350mg/day (spaced out properly for better metabolisation of o-desmethyl-tramadol), and received nada for analgesia - nevermind recreation - compared to even 7.5mg of hydrocodone (which would be probably 40-50mg of Codeine maybe? could be wrong, I don't use codeine / it's not terribly available to me).

 

[TheLostBoys]

Tramadol does suck for most.......my one friend takes it for pain & she gets super happy on it, she says who needs anti-depressants when you have Tramadol. I guess but for pain or recreation, I rather have codeine or hydrocodone.

 

[Doug2113]

hydrocodone is 6x as potent as codeine...hence VI (Roman Numeral 6)-codin...

 

[Jabberwocky]

I highly disagree with what has been said here. I love tramadol. in fact, it has always done more for me than the ssri (lexpapro, first at 10mg then at 20mg for three years) I used to be on.

I have taken low, non-recreational doses of tramadol on lexapro, but I would always try to take only one or the other in one day. I have friend who have taken both low doses of SSRIs (prozac/zoloft) and lowish doses of tramadol for years without problems. eventually they ran into problems, suffering from serotonin symptom like effects.

so yea, in the interest of harm reduction I suggest the following:
-Don't just come off your SSRI to get on Tramadol
-If you want, sure, go ahead and experiment with Tramadol, but do not take your SSRI at the same time/within the same day
-Do not experiment with Tramadol every day until you're used to it and have decided you don't want to be on your SSRI any more (this is your choice)
-On the days you do not take Tramadol (at least every other day) remember to continue taking you SSRI

Let us know how you're doing OP. What don't you like about your SSRI/why are you interested in tramadol and possibly getting off your SSRI?

As this thread highlights, people generally either LOVE or HATE tramadol...

 

[Doug2113]

well I can vouch for me, pj, and lost boys that it's no bueno for our pain problems as I know all three of us are chronic pain patients lol...

 

[Jabberwocky]

Oh, for sure. I take it mainly for recreational purposes. Don't really suffer from chronic pain anymore, thank god. I do know some people with nerve pain issues who have found relief in tramadol, but I know, I know, I think the majority of people do not find tramadol enjoyable...

still, ime it seems like the reaction is pretty evenly split, 50-50 for and against tramadol...

 

[Doug2113]

I don't like it...it makes me dependent not only on an opioid, but on an SNRI as well (and it's no where near what I would consider to be strong enough for my pain)...Don't get me wrong, I'll take what I can get...anything is better than 2 tylenol + 4 Ibuprofen + 4 Aspirin + 2 Aleve.......

I've been on this shit for over a year now and my docs still won't even give me a fucking T3/4 Rx...

 

[mydrugbuddy]

Thanks to everyone who replied with their advice and opinions.

Let us know how you're doing OP. What don't you like about your SSRI/why are you interested in tramadol and possibly getting off your SSRI?

The only thing i dont like about my SSRI is that it prevents/makes it more risky to take or experience the full effects from certain types of recreational drugs. I only plan to stop the SSRI for a couple of days or so. Ive done that many times with no issues.

The reason I'm interested in Tramadol is because it metabolises into o-dt. I loved o-dt and miss it now i cant get any more. Also Tramadol seems to be relatively easy to obtain.

 

[Doug2113]

heh...it took an MRI for me to get mine......

and a steroid/nerve shot in the spine before hand...

and doctors treating me poorly because they thought I was solely out to get drugs and didn't believe me about my chronic back pain...

 

[Jabberwocky]

Yea, doctors can be real cock suckers... I have a friend with the needles from seven different rigs embedded in both his arms, that how far gone he is, and the surgeons refuse to operate just because he's an opioid/heroin addict and that sort of thing is so stigmatized/demonized in our culture. fucked up.

anyways, sounds like you know what/how to do it OP. just take a day or two off your ssri and you'll be fine using tramadol. I used to do this at doses of up to 400mg (and once, although I don't reccommend it way above that) and suffer NO problems whatsoever. No a days I find tramadol gives me a stomach ache if I use it every day, but my circumstances have changed since back them...

 

[TheLostBoys]

I don't like it...it makes me dependent not only on an opioid, but on an SNRI as well (and it's no where near what I would consider to be strong enough for my pain)...Don't get me wrong, I'll take what I can get...anything is better than 2 tylenol + 4 Ibuprofen + 4 Aspirin + 2 Aleve.......

I've been on this shit for over a year now and my docs still won't even give me a fucking T3/4 Rx...

Doug, would you rather have T-3 over Tramadol?

 

[TheLostBoys]

heh...it took an MRI for me to get mine......

and a steroid/nerve shot in the spine before hand...

and doctors treating me poorly because they thought I was solely out to get drugs and didn't believe me about my chronic back pain...

Same here.......although my regular doctor looked at my back the first time & said, looks like you have scoliosis. Took xrays but didnt show much then I kept going back complaining & finally got an MRI & showed bulging discs.

You gotta go out & prove to the doctors you're really hurting or else they play stupid games. Doctors are scared because of the DEA to give out meds.

 

[Doug2113]

I'm not sure...I know I'd take a T4 over it...but if they were going to Rx a T4, they'd probably just Rx norcos instead...i dunno though...some docs like to Rx the pro-drugs...

I've asked for something stronger and I get the response "The next step up is hydrocodone, and you're too young for that."

I think I'm going to ask why I can't get something stronger next time, and if they say that, I'll respond with, "I'm too young to be in this much pain. You can pee test me, you can count my pills, whatever, but I NEED something stronger...

 

[Doug2113]

I think I might also ask for them to petition my insurance for pregabalin because of failed drug gabapentin...

 

[Snake_Eyes]

I don't like it...it makes me dependent not only on an opioid, but on an SNRI as well (and it's no where near what I would consider to be strong enough for my pain)...Don't get me wrong, I'll take what I can get...anything is better than 2 tylenol + 4 Ibuprofen + 4 Aspirin + 2 Aleve.......

I've been on this shit for over a year now and my docs still won't even give me a fucking T3/4 Rx...

I feel your pain.

I alternate daily between 600-1800mg ibuprofen, 500-2000mg Tylenol and 250-750mg aspirin and I can't get my doctor to prescribe me ANYTHING not even non narcotic pain relievers. The asshole just told me to go to physical therapy and left the room.

Hell I went through cancer in 2005 and it took 8 appointments of me complaining of daily abdominal pain before he even ordered x-rays/ultrasound of my abdomen. After they came back normal he wrote it off as IBS and gave me dicyclomine which did help but cost me $2000 just to get $15 meds that aren't even a controlled drug.

 

[Doug2113]

Hopefully my pain will be better managed in a couple months...I plan on getting 7 diagnostics (CT-brain, X-rays of my c-, t-, and l-spine, and MRI's of my c-, t-, and l-spine) around mid april. I really need MRI's of my legs too, but I'm already asking so much of my parents just for this-thankfully, I'm insured and the deductible is EXTREMELY low...

 

[Alex000]

I wouldn't come off SSRI's hastily so you can use tramadol. It CAN be a good opioid, however, it is not for everyone. Personally, I do like it, but as many have stated a lot don't. Being off your SSRI's for a few days does not guarantee that there still won't be a significant amount of SSRI left in your system that your interact negatively with the tramadol and still increase your risk for SS or seizures, esp. if your SSRI has a long half-life. Also, as mentioned SSRI wd's will take away from the tramadol experience. This just doesn't sound safe or good to me in any regard.