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can tramadol be used as antidepressant?

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Posted 6/14/2008 2:50 PM (GMT 0)
I was reading on the internet about tramadol.  Does anyone know if it has been used as an anti-depressant at all?
Posted 6/14/2008 3:00 PM (GMT 0)
No it is a pain medication. My daughter took this medication for a longtime for her Fibromyalgia pain. And used a different medication for the depression associated with her Fibro. I know some folks on the board do use it for their Crohns pain. I personally can't take it as it upsets my stomach.
Posted 6/14/2008 3:05 PM (GMT 0)
yeah..i use it for joint pain associated with the crohn's. i had just read somewhere that it has been thought to help depression but it isn't prescribed for it. it does make me sick sometimes too....but it works better than tylenol.
Posted 6/14/2008 3:20 PM (GMT 0)
Do you by any chance see a Rheumatologist? I just really started seeing my Rheumy about 1 year ago, and she has helped me to figure out somethings already. I believe we all should have one on board along with our GI's and family doctors. To help us deal with this joint pain. Gi's are notorious for not prescribing pain meds other than things for our cramps such as Levsin or Bentyl etc. I would suggest maybe seeing your family doc for a different pain med and if he won't prescribe something to help with your pain, then ask for a referral to a pain mgmt doc. I think thats the direction I am heading as my pain is starting to get out of control and my tummy is in remission. I take Percocet for my pain.

Good luck Chrissy.
Posted 6/14/2008 5:57 PM (GMT 0)
Tramadol has been shown to be an effective norepinephrine and serotonin uptake blocker. Blockage of norepinephrine and serotonin uptakes is a common feature of many of the antidepressants that are used. There have been some clinical tests on tramadol as an antidepressant but I have not heard of anyone prescribing it off label for that purpose.

I have been taking tramadol daily for over 4 years now. It works great with my neurontin to control my neuropathy pain.
Posted 6/15/2008 2:23 AM (GMT 0)
... and you shouldn't use Tramadol with certain (all? I'm not sure) anti-depressant medications. I didn't quite understand the medical terminology when the doctor told me why, but it sounded as if the combination could fry your brain. V scary.
Posted 6/15/2008 3:42 AM (GMT 0)
cymbalta is used for depression in crohns works really good--Tramadol is mainly for pain..hope you feel better soon..
Posted 6/15/2008 4:19 AM (GMT 0)
I take tramadol for Fibro pain and Lexapro for the depression. Hmmmm, maybe I've already fried my brain and it's not Fibro Fog! Actually I think my brain was fried years ago before any of my diagnosis:). These things happen when flying at warp speed all the time you know! :)
Posted 6/15/2008 8:55 PM (GMT 0)
It's strange, but when I take tramadol it causes severe depression, almost a panic attack. I mentioned this once before in another post, and others said they had no such reaction. I've tried it a few times - same result. I don't take it anymore - the panic it induces is just awful. When I had those panic attacks, the only solution was to take a sleeping pill (Ambien) which had a calming effect and allowed me to sleep.
Posted 3/21/2012 11:12 AM (GMT 0)
Chrissy27. Tramadol is a pain medicine. I have taken it for about a year. After the first pill I noticed my depression and high anxiety levels were almost gone. I was given it by dr for RA pain. When I began feeling better I asked if it was an antidepressant too. I had been on all of them over the years with no success and had been off them for 2 years when I got the Tramadol. The difference in me is unbelievable. My boss noticed, my husband, my kids, from the first pill. no waiting 3 months to see if it worked. so no Tramadol is not an antidepressant, but it did for me what every one of them I tried didn't.

I still get it from the RA doctor. I take 50mg twice a day. Some doctors say it is addictive, some say it is not. I told them I don't care if it's addicting because my life is sooooooo much better with it. It does not make me high, but it does allow me to concentrate, gives me enough energy to get through and calms my brain enough to allow me 5 to 6 hours of sleep a night. I thank God and my RA doctor every day for this medication. So I say if it helps and the dr will let you have it, take it for as long as you are allowed.
Posted 3/21/2012 11:39 AM (GMT 0)
Tramadol WAS used as a anti-depressant(at high doses) but isn't now because doctors realized it didn't really help with depression, it just seemed to make them more mellowed out and tired. I was prescribed it so I can get a hod of my pain before it starts A LOT of crohnies use it so don't think your doctor thinks your depressed. The same goes for Noritriptyline & Amitriptyline(though those antidepressants are used to help with migraines & sleep).

Tramadol is also used to treat bedwetting. I've learned this from about 5 different doctors from 3 different states & it used to work wonders for my pain. Now it's kind of wearing off. I may need to up the dose.
Posted 3/22/2012 5:36 AM (GMT 0)
keepingfaith- At first I thought you were pulling a joke in regards to the tramadol wearing off and bedwetting. Then I realized you were talking in regards to your pain! Haha oh dear!
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