[Coffeebean]

Well, I saw a new PM doctor on Thursday and he prescribed entirely different medications for my RSD. I wanted to know if anyone has ever been prescribed Effexor for their RSD symptoms? This was one of the medications he prescribed. They gave me a starter pack so I took one yesterday. Wow, did it hit me hard. I was so nauseous and had a headache all day. However, I also noticed the swelling and redness in my hand reduced as well as a little bit of the stiffness. I was shocked that this med did anything at all. I did take 1/2 of the lowest dose pill again this morning in the hopes of avoiding the nasty side effects. Has anyone else tried Effexor or drugs in this class, and if so what did you experience?

He also prescribed: Trileptal 150mg (for nerve pain) and Doxepin 5% Cream for nerve pain. Anyone have experience with these? I get so nervous taking new meds.

One of my miserable symptoms of RSD has been anxiety. I wonder if that is what Effexor is supose to help.

[CZZ74]

coffebean. sorry Im only familar with effelor- its an antidepressent-from what I know of it a good one. I am not familar with it for use with rsd. I take cymbalta. as for your other new meds. I have not heard of them sorry I could not be of more help to you. I hope someone else is more familar. take care cz

[daniella]

I think and I may be wrong but doxepin is an older drug. i think that was the med my doc at Cleveland clinic wanted me to try in combo with Cymbalta.Did you see about taking the effexor at a different time. Of course ask your doc but I know with cymbalta I was suppose to take it with dinner cause it irritates the stomach. I too get nervous with new meds cause I am so sensitive. Wish I had more to offer but try to stay in the moment cause I know my anxiety tends to go through the roof and that makes it even harder. Good luck

[Coffeebean]

I had to stop the Effexor due to the headaches getting so bad I could not lift my head or look at light, even the TV. I feel a lot better today since I did not take it. I had such a bad headache yesterday I thought my head was going to explode. That is no way to live.

I do hate the anxiety component of RSD. I get extremely anxious just trying a new medication because I do tend to suffer from the side effects. It is a vicious circle some days.

[Kathi49]

Lisa,

I am sooo sorry to hear about your headaches. I saw your post and just thought I would pop in. I have had a bad, bad occipital headache yesterday and today. Thank goodness I see my PM tomorrow and I HOPE he will give me injections at C2/C3. Anyway, do you think you could try the Lyrica 25mg and see how it goes? I know you said the Cymbalta didn't agree with you but I am wondering if the Lyrica would help. Hang in there.

Kathi

[Desi]

Originally Posted by Coffeebean

I had to stop the Effexor due to the headaches getting so bad I could not lift my head or look at light, even the TV. I feel a lot better today since I did not take it. I had such a bad headache yesterday I thought my head was going to explode. That is no way to live.

I do hate the anxiety component of RSD. I get extremely anxious just trying a new medication because I do tend to suffer from the side effects. It is a vicious circle some days.

Hi coffebean!
I have been on Effexor XR(time released)for a long, long time(Even before I got RSD) I am now on 75 mg. and have been on this dose for years. This was the only antidepressant that I could tolerate. It is also for anxiety. I didn't know it was for RSD too?? I had a new med. added to my list of many. It is amitriptlin 10 MG.(It is an older antidepressant) and I asked my doc. why he put me on this? He said it also helps with the pain, plus it will help me sleep. Well, take care and I wish you the best. ~Love, Desi

[Coffeebean]

Kathi, yes, I think it is worth trying the Lyrica one more time. I want to give it a day or two to get the Effexor out of my system. It really was hard on me. It felt great not to take it today. I had more arm pain and swelling but the headache was almost gone. I hope you feel better.

[Debby]

From Wikipedia:

Doxepin is a psychotropic agent with tricyclic antidepressant and anxiolytic properties.

Effexor: Venlafaxine (Effexor, Efexor) is an antidepressant of the serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) class first introduced by Wyeth in 1993. It is prescribed for the treatment of clinical depression and anxiety disorders, among other uses. 21-35% have nausea & 34% get headaches from it.

Hope this is helpful.

DebbyV

[Kathi49]

Debby,

Thanks for the info. No wonder you had a bad headache Lisa and no wonder my sister was so sick on it as well. I, myself, have never taken it but tried Elavil and couldn't handle it. I just think I don't tolerate the anti-depressant types very well. Lisa, try the Lyrica one more time and give it at least a week if you can. Another poster in another forum said yesterday that Lyrica contains Sulfa. I don't know if that is true or not and need to look it up. But if so, no wonder I felt cruddy on it. I am allergic to Sulfa. And didn't you say you broke out in hives on Lyrica? Here I am telling you to try it but it just occurred to me that I THOUGHT you had mentioned hives before.

[bassman]

Originally Posted by Coffeebean

He also prescribed: Trileptal 150mg (for nerve pain) and Doxepin 5% Cream for nerve pain. Anyone have experience with these?

Doxepin is one I tried a long time ago, as part of a trial-and error parade of drugs that did not work. If I remember right, that is one that did nothing for me. Everyone is different, though and it must work for someone.

I have been on Trileptal for a long, long time. It was effective in reducing the sudden onset of symptoms and made things a little more "even." Not relief, but fewer sudden spikes. This is a neurologic drug sometimes used for seizures.

I am also thinking of changing PM docs, also. I think I need some new perspective and see if there are better ideas. The "stay the course" approach doesn't always work.

Mike