When Nothing Works

[depressedgal]

I've taken MANY anti-depressants over the years with very little effect other than bad side effects. Took opiates (prescription pain killers) for a short period last year and I was blown away at the effect it had on not only pain, but depression and anxiety. Never felt better. Docs don't/can't prescribe these meds for mood disorders which I find very frustrating as they are truly the only meds that help me. Anyone else had this experience? There must be a way they can be used in low doses on a tightly monitored schedule. Takes discipline but it must be an option. Anyone doing this successfully?

[organic-veg]

I am currently on anti-depressants and I have found they have helped but at the moment the stress of my life is coming through. They arent a magic pill thats for sure. I was prescribed oxycodone and tramadol after my last baby for pain. I found not only did they help for the pain but I felt great while on them(at different times). I did notice quite a strongish withdrawal feeling from the oxycodone and I only took 20 doses of 5mg over a month. I seem to miss the euphoric happy no pain feeling I got when on the oxycodone. Now though after a few days without them I feel much clearer and better. My feeling is to stay away as Im not an addictive person and I could see these could cause an issue. The tramadol was ok, I liked those as I did not feel out of it or say crazy things(lol). Also, I did not get such a strong pull when I finished them. I did not mind. So...I think if you need to go for something that makes you happy for a while I would choose tramadol over oxycodone. I understand how you feel when its all so horrid. If nothing else works, dont feel bad about taking some but only for a little while...dont get addicted. And keep shopping for anti-ds that work. I am on lexapro and edronax and find the combo is helping but only just...All the best, C.

[Every1is=]

I have a lot of very strong arguments for prescribing opiates for depression, especially in people who experience pain AND depression. It does not matter which causes what in this case. I am 100% sure there will come a time that it will be an acceptable solution to some profound issues. I know for a fact that it already is being used for those reasons and prescribed by some to some whom have proven that they can control themselves and DO NOT have addictive tendencies.

There is one very simple reason for tramadol to be used against accute depression (the need to lift it instantly) and that is that it will shoot your serotonin levels through the roof instantly. Like another drug which I will not name here but is very well known for that effect. This is also the reason it is not prescribed very easily. Although it is considered a "weak" opiate, compared to methadone, oxycodone, morphine etc., the relatively short-lived feel good is the reason people tend to keep taking it, you can function very well still mostly, but... wel... I need not say more I guess.

For oxycodone I have no good words to say when it comes to lifting depression even though it acts on the same neurotransmitters, albeit not the serotonin so much. Because of it being an opiate it can deliver a high, just as any other drug, but not in way that tramadol does.

By "short lived" I mean: the same dosage will keep you "happy" for 3 times maybe. Then you'll need more to feel good. That is why it is dangerous to prescribe as an antidepressant of course. Let alone the withdrawel you might have to cope with, thus multiple reasons why you might derail.

On the other hand: MOST if not ALL anti-depressants will kick you down even harder during the first weeks you use them, about six in most cases. This is the time your brain needs to adjust even though the drug starts working immediately. So... for heavy duty depressed people, tramadol COULD have a benefit if used under very tight supervision. The risk of serotonin poisoning is enhanced then, and since it is not very well understood and full of taboo's, not much research has been done yet on that department. I am in the process of asking one of the worlds leading geneticists to look into this aspect of the medication, genes and brain, and am pretty sure some research will be done since I feel it must be possible to harnass the instantly noticable serotonine enhancing effects of tramadol WITHOUT the strong addictive properties of the rest of the chemical that makes it so addictive. As a side note on that, "addictive" is a relative term and a bad use in this context, since a lot of people who really need it and have a disorder, will need antidepressants for the rest of their life. They become dependant on them the same way one does to opiates.