per week with increased neuropathy. My doctor insists that it is not possible that Effexor is causin this. What do you think?
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Q: My migraines have gotten worse since being starting Effexor., increasing from one a month to one a week with increased neuropathy. My doctor says Effexor cannot be the cause. What do you think?
Answers (4)
8/12/11 11:40pm
Hi, there. I was just looking into this and found that some doctors have actually prescribed Effexor for migraines, although that's not its intended use. Everyone is different and I don't think anything is impossible in terms of how something affects a person. Do you see anyone about your migraines? It might be worth talking to a neurologist about this to get another opinion, or a pharmacist might even have some idea. Whatever you do, though, don't suddenly stop taking the Effexor because that can cause some very unpleasant reactions.
We aren't medical professionals, but hope this was of some help. Thank you for your question; maybe some others might respond who have had experience with Effexor.
8/19/11 10:43am
So sad,
I'm sorry you're going through this but glad to see you being proactive and asking questions. When it comes to you and your Migraines, YOU are a specialist.
Judy was quite correct that Effexor is sometimes prescribed off-label for Migraine prevention. For some people, it's effects on both serotonin and norepinephrine make it a good choice, but not for everyone. Yes, it IS possible for your Migraines to increase in frequency and / or intensity when taking Effexor. Sometimes, that will level off after a period of a few weeks, but not always.
Please don't be too discouraged if it is the Effexor causing the change in your Migraine patterns. There are now over 100 medications and supplements in use for Migraine prevention. If you're taking Effexor for Migraine prevention, and would like to see a list of medications used for prevention, you can find one in Migraine preventive medications: too many options to give up!
If you're taking Effexor for depression, there are other SNRI antidepressants - Cymbalta and Pristiq, as well as Savella, which is an SNRI, but is FDA approved for Fibromyalgia.
If your Migraines are problematic, and your doctor isn't able to help, it may well be time to consult a Migraine and headache specialist. It’s important to note that neurologists aren’t necessarily Migraine and headache specialists. Take a look at the article Migraine and Headache Specialists - What's So Special? If you need help finding a Migraine specialist, check our listing of Patient Recommended Migraine and Headache Specialists.
Whew! I didn't mean to post such a long answer, but when I saw this, my heart went out to you. I've been dealing with both depression and Migraines for many years, and it's not easy.
Teri Robert
8/19/11 1:21pm
I was placed on Effexor shortly after it was released to help the pain after a minor car accident. I immediately started having headaches (not migraines) more on the top center of my head (kinda where my head was hit). I took it about a month maybe 2 at most when my doctor made a connection that these headaches were no longer from the accident and they weren't migraines. He took me off it immediately, and those headaches stopped. Others have not had a problem.
Good luck
8/25/11 9:12pm
Hi,
I have been on Effexor for 6 years. I have always suffered from headaches and Migraines but the frequency of migraines has been much higher since being on Effexor.
I don't usually listen to the Doctor's responses anymore. If it isn't written down in some scientif paper that it is possible - they ignore it and just say 'no it's not the med's'. The chances are it probably is the Effexor. Although before coming to that conclusion perhaps you should have some scans done and try an elimination diet. I have been able to eliminate many foods/drinks etc that trigger migraines in myself. I try to avoid bright lights and loud environments as they also trigger mine. You should think about tests if they are very very frequent and int he same spot.
Try scans, blood tests, elimination diet, hormone tests etc and then take it from there. It could be that you are simply more stressed or anxious - which also causes migraines. Try relaxing or spending some time outside int he fresh air. A bit of regular exercise has helped decrease my frequency too.
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By So sad— Last Modified: 08/25/11, First Published: 08/11/11
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Judy, thanks for your reply. I'll hang in there.