Posted by brynb on August 1, 2012, at 17:59:58
hi all,
while reading an earlier post, i realized that some synthetic opioids (like tramadol or methadone) are nmda antagonists (as is ketamine). i'm currently on 25mg of tramadol (initially started on 100mg), and my pdoc wants me to wean off of it over the next week or so just to see how i do without it. the weaning process has been painless thus far, but i'm getting nervous about being off of it completely as it was THE med that pulled me out of my last (horrific) depressive episode. (i'm also taking lexapro and lithium.)
he seems (reluctantly) open to giving it to me again if need be, but is very partial to subutex (which i've taken with good results, too) as he is an addiction specialist (i had substance abuse issues in the past) in addition to being a mood disorder specialist.
so, does anyone know if subutex, like tramadol, is an nmda antagonist? i though it might be in that it's a synthetic opioid and it worked for my depression in the past.
also, if my mood responds so positively to tramadol, what might that suggest regarding nmda antagonists and my biochemistry? or, are the positive responses to tramadol and subutex related to mu receptors/kappa receptors.
i don't understand enough about the science behind this to connect the dots, so any feedback at all is appreciated. (i want to be armed and ready with info next time i see my pdoc!)
thanks!
poster:brynb
thread:1022575
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20120718/msgs/1022575.html