Tramadol and Depression: What Users Say (Page 3)

• ell...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• May 2, 2023

For Chronic Pain "85 yr old female with RA and fibromyalgia. I am on tramadol 50 mg × 3 for 19 years. Pain level after 6 hours about level 2. Several times a week need to boost with aspirin to bring inflammation back down. NSAIDs do that. Tramadol works by blocking pain signals from reaching brain pain receptors. RLS will surface if I reduce the dose, otherwise OK. Wal-Mart cut off all scheduled drugs (management decision) and was without for about a month till I was able to switch to another company, noticed old-time depression and suicidal thoughts, really bad, immediately gone when drug resumed. Only other drug for thyroid. Stretching first thing in the morning and then walking for circulation since bone-on-bone knees and then am all A OK."

• Nat...
• August 25, 2021

For Depression "I have been on tramadol for 8 months now for chronic lower back pain. I take between 100-200 mg each day depending on the pain. Some days I don’t have any pain in my back, and so I don’t take any tramadol. The way I feel when I am not taking these tablets is something I have never felt before. Really bad depression, anxiety, and no energy to do anything with my children. I just want to sit down and cry. The drug is amazing for my back pain, but now I feel like I am also taking it for my mental health."

• Liy...
• July 18, 2017

For Pain "I have been taking this pill for 3 years, only 2 pills a day. It doesn't do anything for pain. I take it just to feel normal and do stuff. I just found out I'm 3 weeks pregnant, I'm trying to get off it. Man, it's so hard, feeling no energy, sick, sneezing, every inch in my body hurts, especially my legs, my heart beating crazy, and a mix of pregnancy and withdrawal depression. I wish I never started it. It's a nasty pill, stay away from it."

• nov...
• September 16, 2011

For Pain "I find this to be very, very helpful for pain in my teeth. I am waiting on a lot of dental work, and I was in severe pain from a filling that came out, as well as other problems. I also suffer from panic attacks. This works excellently. I can eat normally till I get my teeth fixed, but was amazed that it cleared up my panic attacks. I used to have bouts of depression, but I seem much better now."

• Mis...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 12, 2021

For Pain "I had ankle surgery on 9/2020. I was given Norco 10/325 for a week after the surgery, which really helped the pain, but after a week, I ran out and had nothing left. I used a combo of Advil and Tylenol, and it did not even touch the pain. I should mention that the surgeon had to shave part of the ankle bone due to a spur, so that area was especially sore. After some back and forth and tears, I got a prescription for Tramadol for a week. I've never taken it before and wasn't sure how it would work. I'm used to Norco, but I was told Tramadol would help my body taper down from opioids, which I was OK with. I HATE this medication. I do not do well with SNRIs like Effexor or Cymbalta, and Tramadol works like an SNRI. It made me moody and depressed. It did, however, help the pain more than Tylenol and Advil, so I will give it that. However, I will let my doctors know that I don't tolerate the side effects well."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 14, 2021

For Restless Legs Syndrome "I first was prescribed for chronic lower back pain but noticed after a week that it stopped my RLS and I slept better. I figured the better sleep helped with my pain too. So it was win-win. I took it for a few months. I noticed after the fact I felt mentally better as well. I do have mild-moderate depression, anxiety, panic attacks, and OCD which were not bothering me while taking it. I took 1 50 mg tab a night. Anyway, I was off them for several years. Then my back flared and I started it again. Second time in my life so I was paying extra attention. A few years ago I was diagnosed with FM and CFS/ME on top of everything else along with IBS/SIBO. Tramadol really helps EVERYTHING for me. I take 1 tab daily as needed for pain. I usually feel better body, mind, and spirit for about 48 hours, but then I feel my pains and depression again. Learning it can and has been used for many conditions other than just acute and chronic pain. I'm going to keep researching because antidepressants have not worked well for me."

• Taw...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 31, 2021

For Depression "Expect increased tolerance and worsened depression and anxiety to the point that now it is much worse than the day I took Tramadol to cope with depression and anxiety. Beware. It's not worth the risk - maybe in extreme situations when you can't get up from bed and have severe depression, but only for a few days to a maximum of 3-4 weeks. Been on it for about 8 months... survived it... somehow."

• Ali...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• May 7, 2019

For Depression "I have had the same experience as so many in here. Took tramadol for pain originally, then found it gave me quality of life and got rid of depression. My problem is getting a doctor to prescribe it."

• Lor...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• March 8, 2021

For Back Pain "Been on Tramadol for 10 years and is the only pain reliever that doesn’t affect me mentally. Quite frankly, the only medication that helps my arthritis in lower back. Best medicine ever taken!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 30, 2021

For Back Pain "It works well and gives me the energy to get up and do things. For me, it eliminates the associated depression which comes from constant pain."