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Tramadol
I take Tramadol to deal with the pain of a spine condition. When I take it, I'm in the best mood, I love life, I'm happy, and nothing offends me. The second the pills start wearing off I'm a miserable grump and I bitch at everyone. Why would a pain medication give me such crazy mood swings? Anyone else have this problem?
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Even though Tramadol is not one of the strongest pain killers there is, it's just because whenever you're on pain killers and whether you're taking them for real pain or just to be taking them...it makes you feel amazing of course. It gives you that feeling of being in an euphoric state. Therfor to get rid of the pain.
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First, I want you to know that I'm speculating, and not a doctor. I'm familiar with Tramadol and chronic pain. I'm just giving you the facts as I know them. I am, like everyone else here, not a doctor (yet). I suggest, if you have any concerns about your medication, that you contact your doctor and ask him/her about the mood swings. In the meantime, here are some of my thoughts:
Adviceman could be correct - it might not be the medication that's causing the mood swings, but the pain, or lack thereof. I have a pain problem, and I was given total relief from it for about five minutes at one point, and when the pain came back, I was totally miserable, and hated everything.
However, it makes sense that you'd feel great on Tramadol. It takes the edge off the pain by working on serotonin. As far as I know (and have researched), Tramadol is unlike other painkillers in the sense that instead of raising your pain threshold (so that you feel pain with less intensity), it makes you feel better. I think Tramadol is also MAJORLY off-label for depression because it makes you feel good.
You might consider talking to your doctor about feeling miserable when you're off the Tramadol. Chronic pain of any kind is difficult to deal with - you might consider counseling and possibly a psychiatrist to help cope with what you're feeling mentally as well as physically. Physical problems can take a major toll on the mind, and vise versa, as Adviceman said.
But I do have to enforce that psychiatric medication is NOT an answer. It can help you deal with the problems at hand, but you'll still need to seek counseling to find a way to cope.
I really think it's a combination of the Tramadol feel-good side effect and the pain wearing off that makes you feel so great. When the pain comes back, chances are you're gonna feel kinda crappy. If the mood changes are too much for you, you might talk to your doctor about a different pain medication.
Hope this helped you out a little - I can give you more info on the Tramadol if you like. Just let me know =)
Siren
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I find that I am a great deal older than most of the advisers on this site, so my advice will be somewhat different from what you have received and may continue to receive from others.
As someone who also suffers from Chronic Pain, it may not be the medication causing your mood swings. What I have found in dealing with my Chronic Pain is pain causes depression and depression causes pain. It is somewhat of a vicious circle but one that can be treated successfully.
I would suggest you talk with your doctor about your mood swings. If you are suffering from a form of depression your doctor will have to change your medication as Tramadol is not recommended with antidepressants.
The fact that you have a form of depression does not mean you are crazy. What is most likely happening is your body is not producing enough of a hormone your body needs to help you cope with your Chronic Pain. The Hormone is Serotonin, there is a very good article on WebMd on Serotonin should you care to read it.
My suggestion is for you to make an appointment to see your doctor, I believe the problem you are having can be corrected with an adjustment to your medication.
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