Posted by Ame Sans Vie on January 24, 2004, at 8:04:30
In reply to Re: any other OCD drug other than SSRI?, posted by rianny on January 24, 2004, at 3:06:05
Narcotic painkillers have been shown time and time again to work miracles for OCD'ers. Even when SSRIs or Anafranil are effective in treating OCD, chances are that an opioid drug could further ameliorate symptoms to the point of complete remission. Not to mention the nice antidepressant effect provided by this class of drugs.
While morphine, hydrocodone, oxycodone, hydromorphone, codeine, methadone, propoxyphene, levomethorphan, fentanyl, oxymorphone, dihydrocodeine, meperidine et al have all been shown, in varying degrees, to be quite efficacious in treating OCD (i.e. achieving symptom remission with the very first dose), the problem with these drugs is primarily one of opiophobia on the part of the prescriber -- it takes an M.D. with an open mind to consider such unorthodox approaches to treatment.
But then along came Ultram. :-) It's not currently a federally controlled substance (which means a doctor is much more likely to feel comfortable in prescribing it off-label for a mental disorder), it is (based on my subjective experience) about as potent milligram for milligram as codeine regarding its euphoriant/analgesic/anxiolytic effects, tolerance isn't nearly as common with Ultram as it is with other opioids (and a simple OTC cough suppressant and/or DL-phenylalanine can be taken to prevent tolerance completely in many cases), and the icing on the cake -- Ultram inhibits the reuptake of both serotonin and norepinephrine. Effexor achieves the same thing in the brain and it is now speculated that Ultram is more an "antidepressant in disguise" than anything else (though it is a great painkiller). Not only do Effexor and Ultram share these reuptake inhibition properties, but both activate opiate receptors (Ultram more so than Effexor, though).
If you'd like any additional information, just ask. E-mail me at amesansvie@yahoo.com if you'd like and I can supply you with a ton of clinical information on Ultram's antidepressant/antiobsessive qualities that you could present to your physician.
poster:Ame Sans Vie
thread:304743
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040122/msgs/304929.html