Posted by ben on March 9, 2006, at 15:20:35
Hello together
Last summer I took lithium, 600mg/day of Effexor and 800 mg
of Neurontin twice daily. Effexor had lost its effect at 300mg7day and did not regainits effectivness at 600mg/day.
Then my physician (pdoc) began to order Lamictal for me, in order to stabilize better my moodr. At the same time I wanted to wean off Effexor, since it did not workedany longer after
3 years. I increased the Lamictal very slowly, whereby I
began to wean off Effexor very slowly. At the end of of 2005 I had concerned with the Lamictal at 100mg/day and it seemed something to work. For this reason we did not increase. With the Effexor I had concerned at approx. at 200mg/day. In the autumn I felt an easy headache, which was coming from the back of the head (not shoulder!) over the whole head, but only on the sides (not in the middle!).
The stichting headache occurred on both sides. It passed
practically no day, without I did not have headache. Pain killers such as Paracetamol, Ibuprofen and morphine brought practically no improvement. This also not with higher doses. Also medicines against Migraine did not bring anything (sumatriptan for ex.) A MRI was then made from th head, and the neck spinal column was x-rayed. Blood checks.
Everything was correct. (Probably it ist the nervus occipitalis = name in latin).
As pharmacist and an occasional guest of this good forum I know that there are withdrawal symptoms of Effexor. I made however an extremely
slow tapering off. From 600mg up to 300mg (slow!) I did not notice withdrawal symptoms. When the headaches became even worser, I had not changed the dosage any longer. Now I have since approx.. 6 months continuously headaches. Effexor is at 100mg/day and at Lamictal 175mg/day.
Bruxism (is under control and I have new eyeglasses likewise, but the improvement is not large.
I get the longer the more the impression that it could be the Lamictal, which causes the headaches. A short term increase of the dose of Effexor didnot bring improvement. I began now carefully with Cymbalta, which could possibly moderate the withdrawal symptoms of the Effexor. So far however without success. The only medicine, which something brings is
Valium. Unfortunately only in a dose, which makes me too tired. Themoreover I have the feeling the headache must also have a
vasomotoric component have. Every times, if I bend my head in
front to the legs, it knocks easily in the head and the head
it becomes very heavy. Can it be the Lamictal?! The specification
concerning headache is very different with Lamictal. The company says that it does not occur more frequently, as with placebo. In scientific books it is however mostly as side effect listed, against what others antiepileptics are not so concerned.
What are you thinking and what is your experience?Many thanks and best regards
ben
poster:ben
thread:617966
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060304/msgs/617966.html