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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by PattyG on July 10, 2000, at 19:11:42
I've not been active for quite a bit. Thought we were headed in right direction to help my son with his psychiatrist in securing Adderall, Ritalin, etc. as adjunct to 150 mg. of Effexor SR for his constant lethargy. Used a lot of comments, etc. from you folks to try and prove to him that people all over U.S. do take these medications to battle the symptoms of depression. NO LUCK. Said when Reboxotine is approved, he's a candidate.
What he did do is prescribe additional 75 mg. of Effexor SR. Took that for 4 days and started having migraines. Stopped for several days - no headaches. Took meds again and started in with headaches. Stopped the additional Effexor about 2 weeks ago and all seemed well, but is now having migraines again. Some in day time and some in middle of night. Obviously, will have to go to doctor, but here's another glitch - he's got a 10 yr. waiver on insurance for pre-existing conditions (and MH issues) and he had a seizure in February. So if he ends up with a neurologist, I suppose they'll say it's all linked together? Sigh............feeling really blue and rather helpless:(
All suggestions will be quite welcome.
Thank you,
PattyG
Posted by Kath on July 11, 2000, at 17:01:30
In reply to Feeling afraid - Effexor/migraines, etc., posted by PattyG on July 10, 2000, at 19:11:42
Hi Patty - I'm sorry I have no experience with anything you're discussing, but I DO want you to know that I'll be thinking about you. Please let us know how you're doing.
Kath
> I've not been active for quite a bit. Thought we were headed in right direction to help my son with his psychiatrist in securing Adderall, Ritalin, etc. as adjunct to 150 mg. of Effexor SR for his constant lethargy. Used a lot of comments, etc. from you folks to try and prove to him that people all over U.S. do take these medications to battle the symptoms of depression. NO LUCK. Said when Reboxotine is approved, he's a candidate.
>
> What he did do is prescribe additional 75 mg. of Effexor SR. Took that for 4 days and started having migraines. Stopped for several days - no headaches. Took meds again and started in with headaches. Stopped the additional Effexor about 2 weeks ago and all seemed well, but is now having migraines again. Some in day time and some in middle of night. Obviously, will have to go to doctor, but here's another glitch - he's got a 10 yr. waiver on insurance for pre-existing conditions (and MH issues) and he had a seizure in February. So if he ends up with a neurologist, I suppose they'll say it's all linked together? Sigh............feeling really blue and rather helpless:(
>
> All suggestions will be quite welcome.
>
> Thank you,
> PattyG
Posted by KarenB on July 11, 2000, at 19:22:38
In reply to Feeling afraid - Effexor/migraines, etc., posted by PattyG on July 10, 2000, at 19:11:42
Patty,
Taking Inderal, a beta blocker, will stop the migraines. But, I'd only have him take it if you are really impressed by the energy and mood brightening properties of Effexor. If the Effexor is great aside from the headaches, give it a try. Otherwise, bail the Effexor and try something else.
I know how insurance can be...mine only covers 50% of mental health REGARDLESS of the cause. As soon as my meds are stabilized, I will go to my primary family doc for med management. He's already agreed.
Karen
Posted by Renee N on July 12, 2000, at 6:21:52
In reply to Feeling afraid - Effexor/migraines, etc., posted by PattyG on July 10, 2000, at 19:11:42
Patty,
I'm sorry to hear of your son's pain. I don't think I can be of much help, but thought I would share my experience. I had migraines along with sinus headaches almost constantly for 2 weeks when I went from 37.5 mg to 75 mg Effexor XR. I had no trouble going from 75 to 150 or 150 to 225. I also take ADDerall and blood pressure medicine. I wasn't on the blood pressure medicine when I first sttarted the Effexor...hmmm, maybe I can help afterall. Has your son had his blood pressure checked lately?
Best of luck to both of you. Renee n
Posted by PattyG on July 12, 2000, at 9:40:20
In reply to Re: Effexor/migraines » PattyG, posted by KarenB on July 11, 2000, at 19:22:38
The Effexor was like a miracle drug for him. Naturally, with time (4 years) some of the effectiveness has waned, but still, I would be somewhat fearful to go off of it at this point. If the doc prescribes something for the headaches, is that a mask? Of course, I'm assuming he will want to do some testing of some sort, but my son had a MRI and cat scan 5 months ago after his seizure and all was well. Also, I asked some more questions of him regarding the headaches. I think he called them "migraines" because of the intensity, but don't know if, for sure, they would be classified as true migraines. No vision problems and no nausea - pain is localized in one area over right eye. Thank you for your input.
PattyG
Posted by PattyG on July 12, 2000, at 9:44:14
In reply to Re: Feeling afraid - Effexor/migraines, etc., posted by Renee N on July 12, 2000, at 6:21:52
Funny you should mention the blood pressure issue as a known side effect of Effexor is elevated blood pressure. And his does tend to run a bit high (for his age.) I'm sure his doctor will check that out today. Are you saying that your blood pressure problems have been caused by the Effexor? And if so, does your doctor feel the benefits of the AD outweigh the risks involved with high BP?
PattyG
Posted by Renee N on July 12, 2000, at 18:24:53
In reply to Re: Feeling afraid - Effexor/migraines, etc., posted by PattyG on July 12, 2000, at 9:44:14
My blood pressure did rise after starting the Effexor, but instead of lowering the Effexor, my (now ex) psychiatrist reduced the ADDerall. Two of my sisters and one of my brothers have high blood pressure. Even though mine wasn't extremely high, my primary care physician recommended that I go on it now as a sort of preventive measure. It works great for me. My father died of a heart attack at age 46. Even though I try to maintain a lowfat diet my cholesterol is at the low end of high,too. My family medical history is scary! My mother died of cancer(uterine or cervical) at age 46. I've already had cancerous(noninvasive, thank goodness) cells removed from my cervix several years ago.
My headache pain was also around my right eye and temple. I also had a very sore neck, but that happens often when my sinuses act up.
No one actually told me that the blood pressure caused some of the headache pain, this is my own idea.
My psychiatrist got dropped by my insurance because he didn't respond to their request for a review. His office didnd't bother to inform me until the day of a long awaited appointment. I dropped him, too! I am tapering off both the Effexor and the ADDerall on my own, since neither really does much for my ADD symptoms. Wish me luck. Some people have terrible problems getting off Effexor...Renee N
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