Posted by ConfuzyQ on June 20, 2005, at 13:42:42
Hi! I ask the following in reference to my two-plus years of taking very small amounts of tramadol, just to keep myself minimally pasted together (at least for the most important part of my day) when not in any kind of treatment. I use it for mild depression and something kind of between ADD/OCD, and it does help. I have verified through stopping it for a day or two now and then that I'm not in a range where I feel what could really be called withdrawals.
But I wonder other things about stopping it, as they relate to the meds-go-round of trials I am now starting with a new pdoc. I just had a baaaaad trial of the first thing tried, and while that could perfectly well just be the way the stuff effects me, I want to make sure the tram wasn't *likely* to have been involved. I see the pdoc again soon and would be so grateful for insight into this in advance of that.
1. Could routinely taking 25 to 75 mg. a day of tramadol (nothing else), then stopping it the day before beginning a new drug trial (of any type), reasonably be expected to affect the trial? When I've stopped it before, it hasn't been a big deal, I just don't feel as okay as I do with it (kind of restless, not as level or content, whatever hits me emotionally will hit me worse and for longer. It looks like that would continue, which is how I know it helps).
2. If stopping it could have an effect on any/many trials (meaning mainly a negative one), how many day(s) in advance of starting a new solo trial of something should I stop taking it to account for that?
3. ("Optional") Aside from actual *bad* responses to a trial, do you think my "I feel better _with_ it" factor is likely to make me think most things aren't working well enough, even at such a small dose? (I know that isn't all that was going on the last time though, no way.) Maybe that would vary from person to person. I do think I can be pretty objective. And I need to feel and function better than I do now, or I wouldn't have been taking for granted all this time that I still need more help.
Bottom line, I am probably going to have to try several single meds to begin with, with my pdoc having me wait at least two weeks in between any that don't seem to help. And I would rather take the tramadol again during that time so that... I can feel better than I do without it, which I could really use. I would much rather not go with "better safe than sorry" unless it's near conclusive that some or all of the above will ruin my chances of finding the right "approved" thing...
I posted something similar to this on Meds days ago and didn't get a response, and figured it may actually make more sense here. Thanks so much for any comments!!
poster:ConfuzyQ
thread:516034
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/wdrawl/20050611/msgs/516034.html