Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 700516

Shown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.

 

Ultram/Tramadol as an AD?

Posted by med_empowered on November 5, 2006, at 3:38:11

Does anyone know about this? Apparently, tramadol is chemically related to Effexor, so there's various sorts of re-uptake inhibition going on, along with the whole opiate thing. There are reports of "tramadol addiction" and abuse, but they seem infrequent, so the stuff is still unscheduled. My own guess is that if the reuptake inhibition is anything like Effexor's, alot of the "addiction" could just be explained as a withdrawal syndrome.

ANyway..has anyone tried this? In theory...could it work? It seems like it would help with anxiety, and also that it could boost dopamine a bit, unlike most ADs. Do any shrinks bother with it, or is the interest in opiates limited to Temgesic?

Thanks.

 

Re: Ultram/Tramadol as an AD? » med_empowered

Posted by Phillipa on November 5, 2006, at 10:39:26

In reply to Ultram/Tramadol as an AD?, posted by med_empowered on November 5, 2006, at 3:38:11

I thought no pdocs or GP's even wanted to use these meds for genuine pain? Not it's physical theraphy. As I took percocet l a day and felt much better psychologically but the doc said no it's addicting. Love Phillipa

 

Re: Ultram/Tramadol as an AD?

Posted by linkadge on November 5, 2006, at 12:10:19

In reply to Re: Ultram/Tramadol as an AD? » med_empowered, posted by Phillipa on November 5, 2006, at 10:39:26

I've heard a few people ask the same question. I have a few abstacts, but can't post them. You may know where to find them.

Linkadge

 

Re: Ultram/Tramadol as an AD?

Posted by MidnightBlue on November 5, 2006, at 15:01:30

In reply to Re: Ultram/Tramadol as an AD? » med_empowered, posted by Phillipa on November 5, 2006, at 10:39:26

I was prescribed tramadol for pain and told I could take it for an extended time on a daily basis in a low dose. Unfortunately, it caused horrible hot flashes. It did make me feel better both pain wise and mood wise. My insurance did not want to pay for it though.

 

Re: Ultram/Tramadol as an AD?

Posted by notfred on November 6, 2006, at 21:17:58

In reply to Ultram/Tramadol as an AD?, posted by med_empowered on November 5, 2006, at 3:38:11

It is unique & might be a treatment for some.
Mind taking other AD's with it:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tramadol

There is an increased risk of serotonin syndrome when tramadol is taken in combination with serotonin reuptake inhibitors (e.g. SSRIs), since these agents not only potentiate the effect of 5-HT but also inhibit tramadol's metabolism.

The mode of action of tramadol has yet to be fully elucidated, but it is believed to work through modulation of the GABAergic, noradrenergic and serotonergic systems. The contribution of non-opioid activity is demonstrated by the analgesic effects of tramadol not being fully antagonised by the μ-opioid receptor antagonist naloxone.

Tramadol is marketed as a racemic mixture with a weak affinity for the μ-opioid receptor (approximately 1/6000th that of morphine). The (+)-enantiomer is approximately four times more potent than the (-)-enantiomer in terms of μ-opioid receptor affinity and 5-HT reuptake, whereas the (-)-enantiomer is responsible for noradrenaline reuptake effects (Shipton, 2000). These actions appear to produce a synergistic analgesic effect, with (+)-tramadol exhibiting 10-fold higher analgesic activity than (-)-tramadol (Goeringer et al., 1997).


It is suggested that tramadol could be effective for alleviating symptoms of depression and anxiety because of its action on GABAergic, noradrenergic and serotonergic systems. However, use of the drug for treatment of such disorders by a health professional is unlikely.

Tramadol may also be used to treat hypertension when other treatments have failed.

 

Re: Ultram/Tramadol as an AD? » med_empowered

Posted by Phillipa on November 6, 2006, at 21:43:20

In reply to Ultram/Tramadol as an AD?, posted by med_empowered on November 5, 2006, at 3:38:11

I'd try it if I could get it I hate ad's and percocet made me feel good. Just l pill. Love Phillipa

 

Re: Ultram/Tramadol as an AD? » med_empowered

Posted by pseudoname on November 9, 2006, at 12:51:09

In reply to Ultram/Tramadol as an AD?, posted by med_empowered on November 5, 2006, at 3:38:11

Did this thread disappear for a while? I swear it wasn't there for a while.

I tried Ultram once, thinking that because buprenorphine, another opioid, works for me, Ultram would work even better, but all it did was make me sleepy. Interesting divergence of effects.

 

Re: Ultram/Tramadol as an AD?

Posted by linkadge on November 10, 2006, at 14:21:40

In reply to Re: Ultram/Tramadol as an AD? » med_empowered, posted by pseudoname on November 9, 2006, at 12:51:09

Hey, a babbler babblemailed me and asked me to post the following.

Med_Empowered, please babble mail me if you want the name, this poster asked me not to disclose the name online.

------------------------------------------------

I wanted to let him know that yes, there are people out there who are prescribed
tram for depression (and/or OCD). I'm one of them. I've taken it for 3 years,
prescribed by one of the most prominent psychopharms in my large city. I had to
sell him on the idea, printing out all the sound research I could find, and
prominently displaying some of the big names involved in the research. I think a
university psychopharm is more likely to be open minded enough.

I now take 50 mg. 3 x per day. It helps very much, the most of any of the many
things I've tried. And I have missed many doses and even whole days, and have no
reason to suspect at this time that I'll be one of the people who has a nasty
discontinuation syndrome if I ever stop taking it for good. And I've only
increased the dose once in those 3 years, at the pdoc's request. (If anyone
replies with the standard argument that all will become addicted and have
agonizing withdrawal, I can't allow myself to take the time to beat that dead
horse. And I'm of the opinion that "A rose by any other name is still a rose..."
Call it withdrawal or discontinuation syndrome, it's still a reasonable risk for
many of us to decide to take.)

I believe the main reason that research is apparently no longer being conducted
into tram as a possible AD for wide use, is that it is already available in
generic form and no pharmaceutical company stands to profit enough anymore to
lay out that kind of money. On that note, generic tram is pretty inexpensive.
Especially if your insurance covers it. Mine does, and I don't have coverage for
any psy meds. Costs me $15 per month.

Can't take the time to get into it (and am not good at describing things at
chemical levels anyway), but also wanted Phillipa to know that taking tramadol
for this purpose is not the same at all as taking a true opiate like percocet,
as she mentioned. And the research has shown that chemically it is not the same
action taking place, that improves one's mood. As med_empowered noted, tram is
similar in its action to effexor. Percocet and the like are not. And would be
much riskier in various ways to use long term.


-------------------

 

Re: Ultram/Tramadol as an AD?question

Posted by MidnightBlue on November 10, 2006, at 16:42:16

In reply to Re: Ultram/Tramadol as an AD?, posted by linkadge on November 10, 2006, at 14:21:40

So it there was some response in well being to tramadol then one should consider Effexor?

MB

 

Re: Ultram/Tramadol as an AD? » linkadge

Posted by Phillipa on November 10, 2006, at 19:13:35

In reply to Re: Ultram/Tramadol as an AD?, posted by linkadge on November 10, 2006, at 14:21:40

Thanks Link and thanks to mysterious babbler. So glad you let me know. And if you like since I'm not into the psysics either not smart enough. Maybe babblemail me in English how to get a doc to prescribe it? Love and Thanks again Phillipa


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