Posted by katalina on April 5, 2004, at 8:57:50
In reply to Does Ultram work for Social anxiety?, posted by TheOutsider on April 2, 2004, at 17:22:04
I just discontinued using Ultram for 2 months on a daily basis due to a herniated disk. While I didn't really "need" to take it for 2 months, I had it and was certainly going to enjoy it. I have always had a penchant for opiates and effect it has on my mood (improving it of course).
I also take Adderall XR (between 30 - 50 mgs. per day) and Klonopin 1.5 per day. I discontinued Lexapro a few months ago and seem to be doing o.k. without an SSRI (before that took prozac, effexor and then prozac again and lexapro). I am amazed at how well I was doing without the SSRI, as I've always suffered from mild dysthmyia (negative attitude and thinking the world sucks in general that I can never seem to shake, mild OCD traits/thoughts).
Anyway, the Ultram made me feel mellow and normal and just all over good. Fortunately(?) my doctor would only give me two months worth without a referral to a pain doctor since he wasn't comfortable having any of his patients on this long term. I have been off it for a week and have had flu like symptoms and basically feel awful. I only took 100 - 200 mgs. per day for two months and even skipped a couple days in between. I was surprised to suffer withdrawals. I'm hoping my "normal" state of mind returns soon. Even the Adderall, which usually lifts me out of any funk, is not working nearly as strongly as it was. I have had terrible insomnia (which I never have thanks to Klonopin) and body aches that are just untouchable even with high doses of Ibuprofen.
I guess my response is yes, ultram does work for SA and as a mood enhancer, but it probably isn't a good solution if you can't take it long term. I don't know much about tolerance issues and how soon before you need more to feel as good, but I'm guessing like most opiates, it's just a temporary road to nowhere.
Good luck in finding the magic bullet!
Katie
poster:katalina
thread:331860
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040402/msgs/332814.html