Tramadol for depression?

[Tramadolmaybe]

I’m just wondering if anyone has used tramadol for depression or anxiety?
I’m fully aware it’s an addictive opiate based painkiller.
I’ve been taking it for severe pain for a number of weeks and I’ve had an unexpected side effect. My long term depression and anxiety has really lifted.
I’ve tried countless antidepressants over the years and nothing has had a huge impact.
To try and prove a point I came off it last week and, ignoring the increase in pain, my mood plummeted. I’m back on it now and I’m feeling better again. Not cured or even back to normal (whatever that is) but I can function.
Has anyone else found this? Or even use it as an off label use for depression?

Tramadol was actually researched with a view to using it as an antidepressant. It is a risky one to be on long term though.

Good luck getting any. There is a major draught on the streets atm and GPs are loath to prescribe because of the risk of abuse or them being sold on

I find it makes me super happy too. Much better than any anti depressant. I think in America it can be used off label for this purpose. I’ve looked into it quite a bit.

Not used in UK for this though.

I’ve been on traumadol for five years ☹️
It certainly helped with my mood ( lifted it ) in the beginning and it still helps now.
But I get awful mood swings and withdrawal symptoms start to kick in if I am late with a dose.
It’s changed my life as it’s permitted me to manage my pain- it doesn’t go but I can ( mostly) get about most days but it disturbs my sleep patterns and I am hopelessly addicted to it.

I had to go cold turkey as I needed a procedure and I got a cancellation with 24 hrs notice. I was like a junkie coming off smack. I was hot then cold, i had cold sweats, I felt so sick, i was shivering and I ached all over , awful restless legs, headache, needed eye shades on, blocked nose.........then my hubby reminded me. I WAS a junkie com8ng off smack. Just my smack was clean and collected from Boots rather then a deal done in some public loo,.
Tramadol is a great pain killer and mood lifter- but if you take it long term then remember to come off it slowly.

I didn’t realise that’s what it was first researched as!

I can possibly still get them for pain, for now. I’ve had them prescribed 3 times in a row so far. I had no idea there was a shortage. I can obviously see the potential to abuse them though (although I wouldn’t).

Interesting it helps you too! I’m going to have to mention the benefit I’ve found when I go back next. I really hope my gp is open to me continuing, with me fully accepting the potential for becoming addicted.

That’s really helpful @yorkshireyummymummy (crossed posts as I’m a slow typer).
That’s exactly it though, I’m starting to function. I still have pain and my mood is far from good but I’m ok pretty much. I can function like this.
I really am aware I could get addicted. I will see what my gp says but she’s seen my mood over the last decade and I don’t think she can ignore how I am. I hope.

The withdrawal does sound awful though.

Yorkshiremummy Yes it does make me feel like a junkie also very hard to stop. Big no from me. I'm on sertaline but take tramadol nearly every week. I do take them when in pain but there not perscribed for me, they make me feel better for me they are addictive. I do take them and i don't need them but I feel great when i take them but the next day i have terrible moods, very irritable and just a nightmare to be around.

Please don’t do this OP. You are at the gate of a serious addiction. What do your family think?

Op they were selling for 20 quid for 100 a few months ago.

Currently selling for 20 quid for ten.

That should tell you something about how addictive they are. I wouldn’t touch them with a barge pole unless I had to.

It’s good to hear both sides. I wouldn’t asking if I didn’t have doubts.
I’m a single mum so not partner to talk it over with and I don’t see most of my family. The member I do see is aware I’m on it for pain (as I’m not drinking atm - they say not to drink with them) but I generally hide my depression and don’t see anyone when I’m really bad.
The one friend I’ve spoken too said something along the lines of whatever works.

Jesus, ! twenty quid for ten!!
I get 228 every four weeks........that’s £220 per month.....unreal.

Not that I would ever sell it. I just can’t believe the price.

How on earth do you know this EvieBones???

£20 for 10?
The thing is, it’s the only drug I’ve tried that’s actually helped to this level.
Morphine is the only drug that’s helped with pain more but that gave me very odd dreams and I wasn’t on it long enough to have an impact on my mood.

I’ve stopped drinking ( pretty much) since going on them.
I drank too much - bottle of wine with DH two/three times a week and then I would drink another two/three bottles over the weekend.

I have the occasional drink now - probably drink less than 25 units a year now. So my liver will feel good!!

I also have oramorph and slow release morphine tablets.
I’m worth mugging for my pill box!

For me, it's the best antidepressant. I never abused it, or struggled to come off it.
I had a breakdown. New GP tried everything- most were ineffective. Told GP about Tramadol 'off label'. They had never heard of it for depression, and ignored me.
For some of us, it's brilliant.

They messed me up with Amitriptyline and added Venlafaxine. This tipped me totally over the edge.

Then took me off both and gave me Duloxetine. Side effects were horrible, but I tolerate it now. Still not OK - but better.

I'd be happier on Tramadol twice a day, but they don't really care enough to let me prove it.

@yorkshireyummymummy so do you still have the occasional drink whilst on tramadol? And morphine?
Yes you are worth mugging! Feel free to send me your address

@pretengtobe yes exactly. I’ve had many antidepressants and they all come with their whole list of side effects, including suicudal thoughts with some, you question their use.

Tramadolmaybe
Yes, I do have the odd drink.
I sometimes have a glass of champagne or a small red wine and a couple of times in the summer I had a chilled amontillado or an amaretto- but never more than one.
Remember, I have been on tramadol for a long time and do have a certain tolerance to it.
I try to ensure my little drink falls in between two doses.
But like I say, my drinking days seem to be over.

Pretendingtobe
That’s awful . Try a new GP. Research what you can regarding tramadol being used as an anti depressant and print off any relevant info - take this to docs with you.
Ask them for 14 tablets ( I’m assuming you mean one tablet twice a day) . And if they won’t just go and see another GP.
They definatly do help with mood.

That’s good to know. I rarely drink these days but don’t want to be completely tee total. Thank you.
My tablets run out this week so I’ll see what my gp says. Wish me luck!

I meant to ask, Can you drive on tramadol?

Venlafaxine is the closest related antidepressant.

But I wouldn't recommend taking either as they are both horribly addictive.

No! No! No! Addiction is a huge problem and saying you won't abuse them is all well and good but that's not how addiction works. There is a very good reason they don't use tramadol for depression. You will need to increase the dose to keep the same effect and you will become very addicted and start to crave the next dose. Don't do it, OP!

I take 4 tramadol a day for pain never had any side effects

Much the same way that addicts use Heroin to numb their feelings, opiate withdrawal is not pretty and you may need increasingly higher doses to get the same result.

tramadolmaybe
Yes I drive on it. But I didn’t when I first started taking it.

I’m torn with this drug.
I hate the fact that I’m addicted to it, I know when I come off it then it’s going to take me about 6-12 months to drop the dose to zero. I know this because I have done it.
But I know that without it my pain would be so horrific I wouldn’t have a life - I would just exist.

Stuck between a rock and a hard place sadly.