Posted by brynb on August 26, 2012, at 11:10:04
In reply to Re: Selegiline-good for depression and anti-aging?, posted by Beckett on August 24, 2012, at 11:13:07
> Hi B,
>
> My pdoc adhered strictly to the two week washout from emsam to tramadol. No one I spoke to would mix an MAOI with tramadol. I don't know what type of depression I have. It involves a slowing down--lots of physical symptoms, so I guess I responded well to the stimulation emsam provided which seems gentler somehow to me than say Effexor.
>
> Tramadol as a psyciatric med seems understudied or somehow neglected. It might be helpful to a few people with somatic symptoms as an add-on. Or in other instances?Hi Beckett,
Thanks for your response. I think Tramadol has a slightly stimulating effect for me, which is also more gentle than traditional NRIs.
I think it's very unfortunate that many pdocs are so rigid in their approach to depression, and often don't or won't think out of the box in terms of meds.
I started taking Tramadol for somatic pain in my arms and legs and was surprised when I started to feel better mentally, too.
Recently, my pdoc wanted me to go off Tramadol to see how I do without it (he also doesn't want me to be "dependent" on it). In an effort to be compliant and respectful of his experiment, I did, and for the past 2 weeks have only taken it as a prn. The last few days I found myself slipping again, becoming depressed and irritable and sleeping round the clock. (My family was pretty quick to point this change out, too.) When I get like this, I often lose the insight and self-awareness I usually have, but realized this morning it's in the absence of Tramadol. I'm ready and armed with this info for my pdoc when I see him next week! Apparently, it was more effective than I realized, and as much as I'd love to be on the most minimum amount of meds as possible, I'm afraid that's not an option right now...
-bryn
poster:brynb
thread:1023975
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20120818/msgs/1024246.html