Posted by Ame Sans Vie on September 12, 2003, at 9:40:19
For anyone who doesn't know, I treat my depression and obsessive-compulsive personality disorder with Ultram, an opioid painkiller with mild serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibition properties. I like to compare it to a combination of hydrocodone (Vicodin) and a good tricyclic, but without side effects.
Anyhoo, my usual dosing schedule is 150mg AM, 150mg noon, 100mg PM... but today I completely forgot about my first dose. That was an experience I'll *never* forget. Just imagine Paxil withdrawal symptoms (e.g. lack of coordination, malaise, brain zaps, weird and unpleasant tingly, numbing sensation throughout the body) combined with opioid withdrawal symptoms (gooseflesh, nausea, chills, akathisia, sweating, tremors). That had to have been the worst hour and a half of my life. Taking my dose relieved these symptoms 100% within 30 minutes.
At least I now have more reason to believe that Ultram's monoamine activity *does* contribute to its effect -- otherwise, I highly doubt I would have gotten the brain zaps, which are pretty exclusive to withdrawal from serotonergics.
poster:Ame Sans Vie
thread:259342
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030912/msgs/259342.html