Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 528008

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elavil and tramadol

Posted by tmalicia on July 15, 2005, at 11:28:09


I suffer from mild depression and currently take 25 mg. of Elavil, though for migraines. Because the cost of abortive migraine meds is very high even with my insurance, I'm looking into other options, including Tramadol -- which I also read can be helpful with depression.

I've seen warnings about Tramadol's interaction with Elavil, but it seems as if it's geared toward those with epilepsy. I'm otherwise healthy, and not taking any other drugs besides birth control and supplements (vitamins, fish oil, DMAE). Would it be a big risk to take an occasional Tramadol while on Elavil?

Thank you...

 

Re: elavil and tramadol » tmalicia

Posted by ed_uk on July 15, 2005, at 14:44:17

In reply to elavil and tramadol, posted by tmalicia on July 15, 2005, at 11:28:09

Perhaps a higher dose of amitriptyline would relieve your depression.

~Ed

 

Re: elavil and tramadol

Posted by Jakeman on July 15, 2005, at 21:35:36

In reply to elavil and tramadol, posted by tmalicia on July 15, 2005, at 11:28:09

>
> I suffer from mild depression and currently take 25 mg. of Elavil, though for migraines. Because the cost of abortive migraine meds is very high even with my insurance, I'm looking into other options, including Tramadol -- which I also read can be helpful with depression.
>
> I've seen warnings about Tramadol's interaction with Elavil, but it seems as if it's geared toward those with epilepsy. I'm otherwise healthy, and not taking any other drugs besides birth control and supplements (vitamins, fish oil, DMAE). Would it be a big risk to take an occasional Tramadol while on Elavil?
>
> Thank you...

tmalicia - Ed

I don't know the answer to your question...I typically take 25 mg of Elavil in the evening to help with sleep. I have some Tramadol that I take on occasion because it will pull me out of a depressed state pretty quickly for a period of time. I try not to take them concurrently.

I'm not sure what to make of the drug. People argue as to whether or not it's an opioid. I first took it for back pain then discovered its anti-depressant effects. I would be interested in hearing more about your experience with Tramadol.

warm regards ~Jake

 

Re: elavil and tramadol

Posted by tmalicia on July 15, 2005, at 23:16:41

In reply to Re: elavil and tramadol, posted by Jakeman on July 15, 2005, at 21:35:36


Jake, thanks for telling me about your experience. It definitely makes me feel better about trying it. I should be getting the Tramadol over the weekend and will let you know what happens.

Sounds like the effect is similar to T3s, which I used to take occasionally for headaches -- but I admit the mood boost it gave me was also nice. Tramadol's potential for addiction is supposed to be less than opiods, and I read that some people were prescribed it as a daily antidepressant -- but I don't think I'm going to take that chance unless my headaches get severe again!

Take care, Tricia

 

Re: elavil and tramadol

Posted by Jakeman on July 15, 2005, at 23:24:16

In reply to Re: elavil and tramadol, posted by tmalicia on July 15, 2005, at 23:16:41

>
> Jake, thanks for telling me about your experience. It definitely makes me feel better about trying it. I should be getting the Tramadol over the weekend and will let you know what happens.
>
> Sounds like the effect is similar to T3s, which I used to take occasionally for headaches -- but I admit the mood boost it gave me was also nice. Tramadol's potential for addiction is supposed to be less than opiods, and I read that some people were prescribed it as a daily antidepressant -- but I don't think I'm going to take that chance unless my headaches get severe again!
>
> Take care, Tricia

Tricia,

What are T3's? Maybe Tramadol can be used regularly as an antidepressant.. I don't know. I never felt any kind of "high".. no more so than the SSRI's.

Jake

 

Re: elavil and tramadol

Posted by tmalicia on July 15, 2005, at 23:36:39

In reply to Re: elavil and tramadol, posted by Jakeman on July 15, 2005, at 23:24:16


Tylenol 3s, which contain 30 mg. of codeine. (And let me take this opportunity to spell "opioid" correctly -- knew it looked wrong the first time!) I'm actually now reading some people's accounts of taking Tramadol daily for its antidepressant properties. A lot of them seem to like it, though some admit that they need higher doses after a while.

It would be great if it worked, because SSRIs make me too tired and Effexor, though it's helped me before, scares me because of the awful withdrawal. I'm game to try Wellbutrin but am hesitating starting up with a psychiatrist again, mostly for financial reasons but also because I'm not sure I want to be on a daily med -- the Effexor, for example, took care of my irritability and crying jags, but I can't say I ever looked forward to anything or felt really happy while on it, either. So since I'm more of a walking wounded type, it would be perfect if I can just take Tramadol on the days that are especially dark.

Oh anyway, I'm rambling. Tricia

> Tricia,
>
> What are T3's? Maybe Tramadol can be used regularly as an antidepressant.. I don't know. I never felt any kind of "high".. no more so than the SSRI's.
>
> Jake

 

Re: elavil and tramadol

Posted by Jakeman on July 15, 2005, at 23:54:14

In reply to Re: elavil and tramadol, posted by tmalicia on July 15, 2005, at 23:36:39

So since I'm more of a walking wounded type, it would be perfect if I can just take Tramadol on the days that are especially dark.
>

We may be on a similar path. I was taking Wellbutrin until 3 weeks ago. I haven't crashed yet.. Perhaps Tramadol can be used daily or on a as needed basis for depression. The negative reports seem to come from cases in which people have gone up to high doses for months or years.

~Jake

 

Re: elavil and tramadol

Posted by med_empowered on July 16, 2005, at 3:29:57

In reply to Re: elavil and tramadol, posted by Jakeman on July 15, 2005, at 23:54:14

hey! From what I understand, Tramadol is still an unscheduled med. There have been some cases of abuse, but the med has been pretty well studied; right after it was marketed as Ultram, the company that made it formed a special unit specifically to study an reports of addiction, withdrawal, overdose, etc. Early on, there were some reports of addiction/withdrawal, but that kind of died down; it seems that, for the VAST majority of Ultram users, "addiction" (long-term use characterized by contantly escalating dosages and undesirable activity to obtain the drug--doctor shopping, prescription forgery, black market purchase of tramadol, etc.) isn't a problem, even when its used on a regular basis. And...think about it: Ultram/Ultracet (tramadol+acetaminophen) remains unscheduled; commonly used psychiatric drugs such as benzodiazepenes (schedule IV), stimulants (most schedule II) and the like have a demonstrated history of causing addiction and abuse in some people. If Ultram were terribly addictive, the FDA would have rescheduled it already, especially after it went generic (at that point, the patent-company would have given up all resistance to re-scheduling, since they had a diminished interest in the drug financially).


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