Hello,
I'm new to this site, and new to Effexor. It's been approx a week that I've been taking 37.5 mgs. I suffer from migraines as well as depression, and my doc thinks that Effexor is the way to go. Most SSRI's I've tried increase my migraines, so they won't work for me. I took Nortriptyline for a while and it did work (for both headache and depression) but I didn't like the sedative aspect of it. So...I'm trying something new. Made it through several days ok, but then spent the last 3 days with a horrible migraine. I'm really not sure if I should stick this out, or stop the Effexor now. Anybody else out there have experience w/ migraines and Effexor? Thanks in advance for your input.

I don't know if that's an SE or not. Maybe if you have it you could look at the box? Maybe look it up on line? Plus the coolest thing about here is we have a whole room dedicated to this med. check it out!!! Lots of support for sure and maybe some answers to your questions

Hey Anyjenny
I'm also an old migraineur (I believe they call us) and was on Efexor for many years. I didn't really notice any increase in my migraines, if anything they got less and less, until they just became once-a month hormonal ones. I'm 46, don't know if age makes a difference.

But I did have a lot of tension headaches and nausea AND migraines for the first 2 -3 weeks. Headaches and nausea are listed start-up side-effects. Keep in touch with the doc, but I'd suggest you try and make it through the first 2-3 weeks (might not be as long for you) before you make a decision. Migraine prevention meds like Sibelium do the opposite of SSRIs so it makes sense that the SSRIs would worsen migraines. Efexor is different, it's worth a shot.

After the start-up SEs went away, I was only left with some constipation, but went into remission as far as the depression was concerned. Yoohoo. I can't exactly say I remember what happened with the migraines - but I was so happy to be happy at last.

Thanks for replying, Ajumbledmess and moonlightress. For what it's worth, there are new studies coming out that are showing venlafaxine to be comparable to nortriptilyne/amitriptyline in migraine prevention. That's a big reason that I started up on this med. Last week I was feeling discouraged as I was having some of these initial start-up migraines, but this week I'm feeling happier and hopeful that this med will help with both the headaches and the depression. We'll see!

I've also got the start up headaches second time round on Efexor... onto my 2nd week now and i've had it 3 days running. But I know from past experience they do pass

I've JUST been put back onto Efexor I started this morning and about 3 hours after taking the first capsule I got the first headache. But like you Nicole, I know they'll pass. There'll be other SEs over the next two weeks, but I'm so so thrilled to be back on it...

3rd day of 75mg and I woke up with a humdinger of a headache at 05:50 - grabbed a Grandpa powder and it's calmed down. Had some nausea as well. Fortunately no migraines, so far.

H-e-a-d-a-c-h-e-s !!!!!
OK, I'm sorry but I have to whine just a little about it... I've had one ALL day today. I feel miz. I know it will pass. I just had to say that to someone!

Hope your feeling abit better

Thanks ja4445. Unfortunately not - I eventually just took a sleeping tablet and went to bed as I couldn't fight it anymore and no painkillers I had, worked.

I'm withdrawing off Cymbalta and cross-tapering to Efexor. Yesterday I decided to do some reading about Cymbalta withdrawal, and blow me down - HEADACHES are a frequently reported symptom!

I was on 60mg. The pdoc said to spend a week on 30mg and then stop. But I am going to slow that down. (He's not the one with the headaches!)

Hello...

The sad part about taking any medication can be unpleasent side effects.
Headaches seem to be a common one unfortunately.
There is a big difference between migrain and common headache, although both are difficult to live with on a daily basis.

Ive had migrain attacks all my adult life at around one attack per 14 days..lasting on average 24 hours....... head in a bucket, the works.
At times the attacks would be more frequent at one or 2 per week......... over maybe 30 years.

Only in the past 4 years did I find out about sumatriptan/ betablocker combinations.
This does not always work for normal headaches and isnt meant too....... but for full blown migrain.. for me it reduced the attacks by about 80% and that was like a lottery win.

I have clinical depression /agorophobia and yes I found most of the calming medications for that problem did trigger migrain attacks.... but at that time..... I didnt know about sumatriptan.....

If nothing else works for migrain........ and its compatible with current meds....... its worth a try.

Regds
Leo

Its horrible having to change meds, I have done it several times, Im cutting my Effexor done at the moment, bit fed up of being fogged up and difficulty sleeping!!

The headaches left me after a couple of weeks... almost up to the 4 week mark and no more headaches yay!! I knew they'd get better... on occasion I may still get one, but nothing like starting up

Sumatriptan is a life-saver! If I can get it swallowed right at the start of an aura, it aborts the migraine 95%...
A friend of mine, who gets bad migraines, developed a tolerance to sumatriptan (and other triptans), the beta-blockers and Sibelium didn't help her, but Topamax has done it for her. so there are options...

Tension headaches are much more of a problem for me, (now that I have sumatriptan.) Today I went from 75mg to 150mg of Efexor and the headaches are still b-a-d. Or should I say headache, since it's actually one ongoing one.

I agree about the triptan drugs--they are wonderful at stopping migraines. However, I'm finding more and more that docs won't simultaneously prescribe triptans and ssri's because of the risk of serotonin syndrome. I know my doc won't do it.

The good news is that my start-up headaches have subsided, though I'm still not sure the Effexor's really doing the trick for me.

H