Posted by spoc on April 8, 2004, at 10:10:04
Hi,
I got some tramadol "off the books" last year after having read of its possible use for depression. I only took it a few times a month on really low and/or irritable days, at about 100 to 200 mg. per day, then stopped to try Ritalin prescribed by a pdoc who didn't work out for me (my jury is still out on the Ritalin; that's another story. And yes, tried SSRIs, etc.). I am now on no meds and between any kind of treatment, but had studied up and decided anyway that tramadol used more consistently was what I'd want to try next. Weighed the controversy and my history of never overusing any "tempting" meds or wanting to; and decided I agree that tolerance/withdrawal is tolerance/withdrawal, so what's the real difference.
Anyway, I planned to attempt to still just use it occasionally, but not quite as cautiously, maybe a few times a week. Mainly to get over the worst hump, and then if it didn't seem feasible to continue with, if necessary using prozac to get off it with fewer discontinuation symptoms.
So for the last three days I have taken about 100 mg/day, 50 mgs. at a time, leaving latitude to start low and go higher if necessary. What I am wondering about is the fact that I notice I get somewhat of a headache when a dose is wearing off. I don't recall if that happened when I was only taking it on random days in a month. I saw that someone who is allergic to codeine may not be able to take tramadol, and I indeed have a strong sensitivity to codeine, that may have followed this same pattern: when it was prescribed for pain in the past, I had been able to take it for quite awhile before it ever gave me headaches. But now it would every single time -- horrific ones.
SO! I'm wondering which is more likely: that what happened to me with codeine will eventually happen with tramadol; OR, if the headaches might just be a s/e like those experienced when beginning any psy drug (which tramadol does seem to be viewed as by some). I mean, if it has similar actions and withdrawal to those of Effexor, surely getting to a "steady state" could also have some bumps. Anyone have an opinion on that? Thing is, I need to decide now whether to get more and don't want to waste the money.
A second question would be, does anyone know if tramadol would actually need to be taken *every day* to have a consistent AD effect, or would taking it just a few times a week as I plan to also be feasible?
Thanks for any insight anyone can give on this, I really appreciate it! : )
poster:spoc
thread:334061
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040407/msgs/334061.html