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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
[email protected]Shown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by hothead on June 29, 2001, at 13:06:44
my dose is 150mg daily for severe and frequent migraine. Any experience out there with this? I've only noticed that it is prescribed for depression or anxiety. Have no history of anxiety or depression just severe migraine attacks.
Posted by SalArmy4me on June 29, 2001, at 13:32:37
In reply to Migraines Effexor XR, posted by hothead on June 29, 2001, at 13:06:44
Aldeman, L. C., Aldeman, J. U., et al. (2000). Venlafaxine extended release (XR) for the prophylaxis of migraine and tension-type headache: A retrospective study in a clinical setting. Headache, 40(7), 572:
"MIGRAINE AND TENSION HEADACHES CAN BE PREVENTED BY VENLAFAXINE. Extended-release venlafaxine (Effexor), an antidepressant, reduces the frequency of migraine and chronic, tension-type headaches. It works as well as tricyclic antidepressants such as amitriptyline, but without the side effects. Patients whose headaches had been resistant to other treatments had a reduction in the mean frequency of headaches; tension-type headaches fell from 24 a month to 15.2, and migraines fell from 16.1 to 11.1."
Posted by hothead on June 29, 2001, at 13:52:22
In reply to Migraines Effexor XR, posted by hothead on June 29, 2001, at 13:06:44
> my dose is 150mg daily for severe and frequent migraine. Any experience out there with this? I've only noticed that it is prescribed for depression or anxiety. Have no history of anxiety or depression just severe migraine attacks.
Thanks for the quick follow up. Although I've had some relief with this, my migraines still occur at least 8-10 times a month. Neither The med I take for migraine attack (max-alt) as well as effexor come in generic form so both are extremely expensive. Any suggestions?
Posted by SalArmy4me on June 29, 2001, at 15:09:25
In reply to Re: Migraines Effexor XR, posted by hothead on June 29, 2001, at 13:52:22
Buy the Maxalt at a wholesale place like Costco.
> > my dose is 150mg daily for severe and frequent migraine. Any experience out there with this? I've only noticed that it is prescribed for depression or anxiety. Have no history of anxiety or depression just severe migraine attacks.
>
> Thanks for the quick follow up. Although I've had some relief with this, my migraines still occur at least 8-10 times a month. Neither The med I take for migraine attack (max-alt) as well as effexor come in generic form so both are extremely expensive. Any suggestions?
Posted by medlib on June 29, 2001, at 20:04:03
In reply to Re: Migraines Effexor XR, posted by hothead on June 29, 2001, at 13:52:22
Hothead--
A variety of different types of drugs are prescribed for migraine prophylaxis and/or treatment. Can we assume that you've tried them all? Basic old ergotamine tartrate works well for me, but there are AEDs such as Depakote, antihypertensives such as beta blockers or calcium channel blockers, as well as the triptan family (Maxalt) you're taking.
The URL below is to a study published in the journal "Headache" last summer on the use of EffexorXR for migraines:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=10940096&dopt=AbstractIf EffexorXR is not available on your medical plan, your doc can petition the plan to have it included (although your plan may not approve it for "off-label" use). If you have no health insurance, you may qualify for free meds from the manufacturer. Your doc must request the form from the company, complete it (you must sign) and return it. This process can get "hung up" at any point and may take up to 3 months. More info is available at:
http://www.needymeds.comWell wishes from a fellow migraine sufferer---medlib
Posted by Zo on July 1, 2001, at 1:49:35
In reply to Re: Migraines Effexor XR » hothead, posted by medlib on June 29, 2001, at 20:04:03
My migraines never slowed down on Effexor alone. Adding Neurontin at night helped. But there's still absolutely nothing like an Imitrex or two. . . .Does Imitrex not help you?
Migraines kind of feed off each other too; once they start to get controlled, they seem to occur less frequently. . .which means, you'd likely need less Imitrex over time.
Good luck!
Zo
Posted by hothead on July 12, 2001, at 10:20:44
In reply to Re: Migraines Effexor XR, posted by Zo on July 1, 2001, at 1:49:35
> My migraines never slowed down on Effexor alone. Adding Neurontin at night helped. But there's still absolutely nothing like an Imitrex or two. . . .Does Imitrex not help you?
>
> Migraines kind of feed off each other too; once they start to get controlled, they seem to occur less frequently. . .which means, you'd likely need less Imitrex over time.
>
> Good luck!
> ZoNo luck for me with Imitrex. Max-Alt usually works real well for me but I'm finding that even on a preventative med I'm taking approx 10 max-alt per month. I also have many less severe headaches in between as well. How many imitrex do you take in a month? Should I be concerned about that?
Posted by hothead on July 12, 2001, at 10:27:37
In reply to Re: Migraines Effexor XR » hothead, posted by medlib on June 29, 2001, at 20:04:03
> Hothead--
>
> A variety of different types of drugs are prescribed for migraine prophylaxis and/or treatment. Can we assume that you've tried them all? Basic old ergotamine tartrate works well for me, but there are AEDs such as Depakote, antihypertensives such as beta blockers or calcium channel blockers, as well as the triptan family (Maxalt) you're taking.
>
> The URL below is to a study published in the journal "Headache" last summer on the use of EffexorXR for migraines:
> http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=10940096&dopt=Abstract
>
> If EffexorXR is not available on your medical plan, your doc can petition the plan to have it included (although your plan may not approve it for "off-label" use). If you have no health insurance, you may qualify for free meds from the manufacturer. Your doc must request the form from the company, complete it (you must sign) and return it. This process can get "hung up" at any point and may take up to 3 months. More info is available at:
> http://www.needymeds.com
>
> Well wishes from a fellow migraine sufferer---medlib
Thanks for the info! Yes I've tried several other preventatives. I would have to check my records for the prescription names. One was actually used for high blood pressure. I have low blood pressure, so this didn't work for me, I got even sicker. I was on amitriptaline for a while. At first it seemed to work, then the headaches came back even worse. Also, I had such an appetite on that drug and of course I hated that side effect. My dr. said there is another thing we can try. Something used for epileptic seizures??? She said that would be the last resort. Have you had any experience with this? What are the side effects of this drug?
This is the end of the thread.
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