My doctor has now prescribed me Venlafaxine (Effexor).

I'm a bit weary about this one, having read the description of it. My prescription is to be taken 1 37.5mg capsules for 10 days, then increasing to 2 capsules a day.

I took my first one last night, and went to bed around midnight. Woke up at 4am feeling really 'weird'. Kinda nauseous or 'off'. Finally fell back to sleep, woke up at 8 am and same deal, I feel kinda nauseous.

Of course the 'hope' behind this isn't the anti depressant portion, if the off label help with neuropathy.

So far, I'm not too impressed and I don't know if I should keep taking this crud. Doctor did keep me on Clonazepam however and was surprised to read that it has anti convulsant properties (ever feel like you know more than the doctor does?).

Anyone else tried Venlafaxine before? As I sit here typing this, I'm yawning and it's a mixture of poor sleep feeling and wanting to toss my cookies.

I went back to sleep and woke around 1pm. I decided then that I will go a week before thinking about touching this drug again. I tried to call my doctor today, and no luck, they're having a flu clinic and the phones are off!

I'll stick by my clonazepam for now.

Hi Dmplaura,

I've been taking Venlafaxine [Efexor] for some 12 years without any ill effects. My current dosage is 300mg per day [half in the morning and half in the evening]. You may find that you tolerate slow release version [Efexor XL] better, than the older tablet form.

Efexor is a Serotonin and Nor-epinephrine reuptake inhibitor [ie it does not supply serotonin or epinephine, but rather enables a build up of these naturally produced substances in the brain]. Thus it is chemically unrelated to other types of antidepressants.

Let me know if you have any specific concerns and I will try to help if I can.

Take care.

Merle

Sorry you are dealing with this! I don't know anything about the medication, sorry. I hope this improves quickly for you though!

I did tell my GP that I had not heard of this medication either... and she knows that I know a bunch about medications doing my own research (I had to basically explain to hear why Clonazepam is helping the burning pain, due to it's anti convulsant properties.. and she was unaware of this!).

Ideally we both want to see me OFF the Clonazepam, but it may be the only drug that really and truly helps to calm down the burning.

Doctor also gave me heck for quitting smoking cold turkey. Said I should have gone to her first to get the patch or something to ease the process. It does now seem I have tossed my body into a semi relapse as far as the burning pain in my face is concerned.

Laura I sure hope something gives for you and this annoying issue, I know the clonazepam was only thing that worked for me for some time, dont ya just love having to talk to a doctor on a friday

hang in there

From what I understand effexor is often prescribed for neuropathic pain (particularly trigeminal pain which is what you are probably experiencing). It is an anitdepressant.

Clonazepam is more likely to be prescribed for spasticity. I have taken it a few times when my leg is really bothering me with spasticity.

My neuro mention effexor as a possibility when I first started taking neurontin if neurontin does not work. Side effects do not sound pleasant. I have heard that mj helps more with the burning than anything else.

Sorry to hear you are still suffering with the facial pain, Laura. Did you happen to give Benadryl a try?

It sounds like quitting cold turkey was stressful for you, although from here you seemed to manage it exceptionally well. I'm a smoker, so I know it wouldn't have been easy . . . but CONGRATULATIONS for such a huge accomplishment!

Cherie

I am also taking the neurontin (gabaptin..or whatever it is generic lol)

for nerve pain...it kicks the tingling pain off me...I will feel my face feel that numby feeling...but not the tinglings....I have some side effects...and watching how much I am taking..due to that...but for the nerve pain...heaven....hugss,sarah

Thanks for all the replies!

I mentioned to my doctor about the trigeminal neuralgia possibility, to which she responded that she did not believe it was actually trigeminal neuralgia.

Sometimes these doctors just make me want to

Anyways, I slept AGAIN from 5 pm to 9 pm this evening.. now it's almost midnight, and I'm ready to go back to sleep again.

Possible I caught a touch of something, but I am going to wait until I can contact my doctor and discuss the drug before taking any more of it. I did feel absolutely dreadful.

I've tried:

Amitriptyline (lots of side effects)
Carbamazepine (changed my pitch perception of music in 2 day's worth, scared the crud out of me, discontinued this)
Neurontin/Gabapentin (the stuff made my head feel like it was going to explode)

Clonazepam is the only one thus far I have been able to tolerate.

So that's 2 "nos" on the anti convulsant front, and 1 no on the anti depressant front. Effexor may join the list as a 'no'.

My doctor wanted to try the extended release venlafaxine (37.5mg tablets), starting with 1 daily for 10 days, and then up to 2 daily.

In any event, I felt truly awful all day, and it began about 1 hour following taking my first pill.

I believe I am seeing my neurologist in November, but it may be worthwhile to call him and see what he has to say about this head burning. It's almost like my burning mouth I had for so long (which by the way, is nearly gone.... still some tender spots though) moved upwards into my head. I've had the head pain before, but it had gone away, now it's back and it does not seem like anything is breaking through it.

For all I know, my neuro may suggest another round of IVSM, or prednisone. The pain has gone away completely before, but the quitting smoking definitely triggered this current relentless pain I'm having.

Edit: Cherie, nope I didn't try that but maybe I'll go grab some tomorrow. Worth a shot!