Effexor and migraines
Common Questions and Answers about Effexor and migraines
effexor
My previous doctor tried me in Effexor instead of estrogen for extreme menopausal symptoms and migraines because the clinic now refuses to prescribe estrogen to anyone. I had been on low dose (.25 mg) estrogen every other day over 25 years since I had to have a hysterectomy when I was in my 30s. On Effexor I could not even function. I could only work for a few minutes at a time and then would feel exhausted and unable to concentrate so I had to lie down. I cried all the time.
Hi, I have read the leaflet that comes with Effexor and what side effects can happen, and there is no mention of headaches or migraines. I think you are one of the unlucky ones who have had an unusual reaction to this anti-depressant.
How are you doing now? Have you been prescribed another medication? Let me know how you get on.
All the issues I was having were from this drug - not just the weight gain, but the urinary frequency, the fatigue, the digestive problems, the allergy-like symptoms, all of it. Needless to say, I called my doctor and told him I was stopping the Effexor. It took over a month to taper-off of the drug and most of the side effects are gone, but I have still been unable to lose any of the weight. It is so frustrating.
The Effexor has no doubt also helped both my fibromyalgia and migraines. Due to one side effect from the Effexor, I said no. He then suggested Savella.
Lyrica is another med for fibromyagia, but some have problems with it like I did.
Also there are many preventative meds that you take daily to cope with headaches and some of them are anti-depressants. The doctor should have explained that to you.
Disregard, I just got this from my home care nurse: for my hepc
just asked my friend Pharmacist Scott and he said it is fine. He is aware of the labeling and he states since your effexor dose is on the lower end you will be fine.
I meant to also say, I used to suffer from migraines until a doctor told me to try TM, a form of meditation. That was several decades ago, and I've had three migraines since. Migraines are basically a gathering of blood in the blood vessels near the head while the external blood vessels are constricted, pushing all the blood up there. If you can even out the blood flow through meditation, exercise, eating right, or biofeedback, you can beat it without drugs.
ve been experiencing really horrible migraines. They strart in the morning, and last all day, and nothing relives them. I saw my therapist on Friday and she wanted to to start weeing me off by taking 1 as apposed to 2 per day, and starting be on a combination of prozac and "something else". I'm wondering if maybe Effexor XR is too strong for me and maybe just the regular Effexor would be more suitable?
HI Marcio and thanks so much for posting this great question! Feel free to post this question in any other forum related with Neurology or Psychiatry they may be able to help you as well.
First I want to congratulate you first for taking exercise so seriously since it is a great signal for a healthy lifestyle.
Effexor and Effexor SR are approved to treat depression, social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder.
Hi, I am 39 yrs old and had been on effexor for 9 years. My doctor prescribed it to control my frequent ''work/stress'' induced migraines. It worked like magic, I went from having 3-4 migraines a week to none. As the years went by my life situation changed and I started working from home. Feeling like this would be a good time to stop effexor, I lowered my dosage to 37.5 and slowly worked my way down to taking it every 2 days for a couple months before stopping completely.
When I was taking the triptan Axert, and I was on a different antidepressant, Effexor... I once got very sick and my doctor thought it might have been Seretonin Syndrome and changed my triptan to Zomig (Axert only comes in a very high dose). I never had any problems with the Zomig, and I took it while I was on the Effexor for a very long time.
Effexor is notorious for being one of the hardest antidepressants to discontinue. Can you give us some more details? How long were you on it? Did you taper off? What dose were you taking when you stopped? When was your last pill?
If you weren't gradually tapered, you need to contact your doctor and formulate a plan. If it hasn't been a long time since you stopped taking it, the doc may recommend resuming the Effexor, then tapering off slowly.
My doctor said I went through a common Effexor withdrawal, and I did feel better when I took my dose. From then on, I learned to communicate with my pdoc every time I wanted to or decided to go off a med. I guess almost everyone learns that lesson.
Never had it when I was on Lamictal, but that only lasted for a couple of months. However, I do have same kind of vivid nightmares, waking up in extreme anxiety and terror, when the PTSD kicks in.
I was taking 40 mg prozac, 60 mg dexedrine, and taking xanex as needed. I just changed the prozac to 150 mg effexor, because my Insurance co. wouldn't let me continue getting brand name prozac (the generic brand didn't work the same. I had no problem changing over to effexor, no withdrawal effects from prozac. What made you get off the meds? That's wonderful you are no longer depressed. I don't think I will ever get off the anti-depressants.
I just started Paxil too and have only been on it for 2 days and get migraines! A migraine is different from a typical headache it's normally just in one part of your head. I actually had a brain tumor and had it removed 6 months ago. I felt better right after surgery then I do nowZ ridiculous! I was hoping my headaches weren't related and this makes me feel better! They did an MRI 2 1/2 months ago and everything was healing fine. I'm 21 weeks pregnant too.
ve tried Prozac, Zoloft (bad reaction), Effexor (helpful but made my migraines worse). I did a 7 day trial of Cymbalta but it was making me so dizzy that I was sitting in bed crying from the spins.
I'm now on day 5 without it, and for some reason, I'm experiencing withdrawal symptoms: anxiety, brain zaps, feeling dizzy, nausea, intrusive thoughts and depression. Mind you, this anxiety is beyond what I experience. I also feel like I'm not "all there.
It made me feel funny so i never took it and decided to live with the migraines. This August my father passed away and i went in a deep depression. Psychiatrist put me on Fetzima 40 mg wich i was already taking and Seroquel 50 mg. Been on it for about a week and feeling better. Then my neurologist tells me i need to get off Topomax and get on Lamictal. When the depression hit bad the headaches got bad again so i started taking the topomax and side effects vanished.
When I bend to quickly I see stars and get sharp pains in my neck and forehead. I did have a car accident over a year ago in which I broke the drivers clavicle with the back of my head, unsure if this is related. Just had an MRI and I am awaiting the results. The Dr. said if everything was normal she was going to put me on Effexor. I am stressed out but do not think this is the answer. Any suggestions?
these are just different symptoms than before. i was on Effexor which helped and i stopped bc we got pregers and had a baby and exactly 2 mths after she was born is when all this stuff started happening (around Nov '07). these new symptoms just have made things a lot more complicated. Neurologist thinks i have migraines, but honestly i think i am doing a lot of this to myself.
I tried Effexor for only three days when it was given to me to treat migraines and I couldn't tolerate the side effects. Don't remember now what all they were- just that it was intolerable for me. It wasn't given to me for POTS- it was before I was diagnosed with POTS I tried it.
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