When will post-tramal depression ease

[summer_2010]

I've been taking tramal recreationally, started with 100mg at a time and averagely have been on 150mg twice a day. When I noticed there were no effects anymore I started to feel worried because I did not want to take such large amounts. It started 14 months ago when I took 100mg at work (I have very easy access to it.. i work in the healthcare sector and Tramal is usually only 5 steps away), was flying through the rest of the day.. the next day I felt normal and I wanted to get this amazing energetic feeling back so I took 2 Tramal tablets.. and felt great once again. I have been on and off, because I was aware of its addictive nature and never experienced any withdrawals. At times I didn't allow myself to touch it for 3 weeks.. until things changed in December. I took 150mg twice a day and after 2 weeks of continuous taking I noticed the first withdrawals. Feeling like crap, depressed, migraine-like headaches. I decided to stop.. but felt increasingly bad. Over the past 3 weeks i took tramadol only on one day a week.. but the day after I usually feel awful and very depressed and my mood has recently been incredibly down. It is effecting my mood like it never did before. It hasn't been like this over the first 9 months when I took it. I guess the chemistry in my brain is messed up... I wonder how long it takes until the body completely weaned off the tramadol / i.e. when the brain chemistry is 100% back to normal?

[pattifan]

Hi Summer,

I would appeal to you to be very very careful in what you're doing. Self-medication is always a bad idea for us addicts, and if you continue to use hospital stock, one day you WILL be caught and then you're job and your registration will both be gone.

Tramadol, as I'm sure you know is an anti-depressant as well as an opioid, which is why the depression is a withdrawal symptom. Venlafaxine (Effexor) is a very similar drug to Tramadol acting on the same pathways. It messes with your brain, causes sleeplessness and anxiety, and many people find it very hard to get off again.

Between all these meds, your messing with your mind an awful lot. If the depression is a serious problem try St Johns Wort. It can have side effects too, but at least you can stop taking the herb if you get them, and with no ill-effects.

Please talk more about this problem if you want to.

Take care.

[summer_2010]

thanks guys for your replies. I haven't been on this site for a while (long story) Back then I managed to come off the Trams completely on my holidays and felt fine and great and allowed myself to take 100mg every 5 or 6 days after I was completely weaned off (I guess I was lying to myself) and still felt great. After my trip I started taking Tramadol in higher doses than I ever did before (up to 6 tablets twice a day) and with the time I got horrible headaches and even 300mg didn't do anything for me anymore. And there I was again.. I tapered myself down by 50mg every 2 days and have now been Tramal free for 4 days with the same yucky feelings I went through last time. I have free access to all sorts of medications at work so I put myself on Efexor to easy this awful depression. The first night after I stopped the trams I woke up with the worst possible headache I had in my whole life and severe nausea. I was crying of pain and ended up bringing myself back to sleep with Brufen 600,Domperidone 20mg and Zolnod 20mg. It seems every time I come off Tramal I'm in for another but worse round of Tramal for about a month until I come off them again...
I am worried to go to any physician as he might have to report me with the nursing board (I am a general nurse)?

[bolpak]

Welcome to the club!!   Even though Tramadol is A mild opiate it is still addicting and you should try and stop before that little monkey on your back becomes a gorilla!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[gnarly_1]

Hi I wish I could give you a defined time frame of when things will get better but its different for everyone...just know the more time you put in between you and your DOC the better it will get...I would think it shouldn't be to long your use was light and not that long but there are other members here that have experience with tramadol that will probably be able to help you out more ...I do know it has antidepressants in it so your serotonin might be
a bit messed up but the body can heal itself once use has stoped...keep checking back
im sure someone will come along with some helpful advise...good luck and God bless
Gnarly  

[cathy5841]

Hi Summer, I really dont have any experience with tramadol except for what I have learned here.  I am sure someone can offer you some advice though.  Trams have an anti-depressant quality and that may be why they are affecting your moods that way.  Are you off the pills now?  I would suggest you get some exercise, it will help the brain produce endprphins that the pills have been supplying...ALSO, get some afterare lined up...there are many forms of aftercare, so do some research and find what works for you!!!  good luck and keep posting.