I was wondering if anyone had any experience switching from Ultram (Tramadol) and/or Hydrcodone for pain/depressive symptoms. I have been on Ultram for approximately 9 years now, switching to Ultram ER for the past year (affect lasts longer).

I am 40. I first took Ultram for non-specific head pain (that seemed to get bad as soon as I awoke from sleeping). It gave me energy, took away my head pain, and lifted my mood - big time (for over 7 years). The Ultram ER didn't seem to be working as well for the past 6 months, so I began to combine this with Hydro, with good results - until about 2 weeks ago. I seem to be in some sort of funk. Went to doctor 1 week ago with non-specific dizziness/disorientation and very fatigued. Blood tests come back normal. He claims I have classic symptoms of depression. (I'm thinking, if this IS depression, I have never, ever been depressed in my life before; because my head, mood, thinking is horrible, my joints/muscles ache, I have extreme lethargy, and I'm not sleeping the way I should be.)

Anyway, has anyone had success switching to another pain medication similar to the way Ultram works? Tried numerous anti-depressant medications over the years, but every single one was way, way, way too strong for my body to handle, even at the lowest possible dose.