So to try and deal with my burning MS pain in my head/face...
 

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.

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:Bang-Head:

hang in there:hug:

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.

Efexor experience
 

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 to hear about all of your problems Laura, I don't know anything about the drug you are talking about but i do know about Clonazepam, my doc put me on it for anxiety but it just made me too tired so he switched me to zanex. This doc I like and he usually does me very good, it is my NEURO that ticks me off and sometimes I DO feel like I know more about SOME things than she does....

I take gabapentin for nerve pain, temzepam for sleep and zanex for anxiety. My neuro will only prescribe me the gabapentin, all else comes from my PCP..

I have so many issues all at once I am SICK of being SICK.......I am sure you know what I mean...

Keep your chin up and try and smile at LEAST once a day, sometimes it is all we can do :)

Joe

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