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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 Sioux on October 17, 2002, at 23:08:48
My condition is such that I have a lot of pain. I also have adrenal insufficiency which will go into crisis with pain (also heat and fatigue). So I take a complicated pain management regime of 200 mg Neurontin X 4, 100 mg Ultram X 3, and Celebrex. Opiates for acute flare-ups.
In the last 6 mos this has proved inadequate. I'm maxed on the Ultram and Celebrex. We tried upping the Neurontin.
Unfortunately I sleepwalk and and sleepeat on the higher doses. I've gone outside to a restaurant(I live downtown), I've eaten sticks of butter, I've tried to fry the houseplants, I set 8 marshmallows on fire and then disconnected the fire alarm - all of this in my sleep.
Obviously this all is at least entertaining to those who find me in the garage at three a.m., or find me sound asleep in the corner covered in half-chewed pieces of onion. At worst it's hazardous to life forms in the vecinity.
So another doc suggested Effexor at the lower doses (37.5 mg/d) After about 4 days, the pain did decrease.
Has anybody else used it for pain?
Posted by freesia on October 18, 2002, at 8:43:43
In reply to Using Effexor for pain, posted by Sioux on October 17, 2002, at 23:08:48
Glad I found this site. I've been on Effexor for
just about 1 month, taking 75mg a day. I've had
some bizzare side effects. Headaches, constipation,
anxiousness, tingling in my fingers and pupil dialation.
I went to the eye doc who said that he thinks the
pupil dilation is caused from the Effexor, my therapist
said he's never heard of that or any of the other
side effects I am having. I was on Celexa and went off
due to severe weight gain I also had headaches and
constipation on that med as well. Has anyone else
had pupil dilation? or felt tingling sensation on
Effexor??? I know everyone reacts differently to
meds but has anyone had any good response to other AD's?
Freesia--
Posted by Sioux on October 18, 2002, at 12:43:37
In reply to Effexor and eye problems, posted by freesia on October 18, 2002, at 8:43:43
Yes, Freesia, those are common side effects of Effexor and they go away with time and/or lower dose. Take a tablespoon of oatbran (from bulk food store) in water for the constipation.
Posted by nigel99 on October 19, 2002, at 10:41:51
In reply to Effexor and eye problems, posted by freesia on October 18, 2002, at 8:43:43
Thank God someone else mentioned the eye problems!! My doc said it was just a coincidence and Effexor couldn't cause this. However, it seemed way to much of a coincidence to me that my vision was suddenly compromised within a few days of starting it.
My problems include the chronic dull pain around the eyes (kind of like sinus pain) as well as slight bleeding of vision. The latter is difficult to describe but is like a TV set that bleeds colour: the focus seems OK but the writing on signs seems smeared horizontally slightly. It doesn't matter how close or far I am from the sign when driving when this happens so it is not the traditional near or far sighted-ness.
The only good thing is that it seems to have subsided somewhat over the last two weeks but I still have days when it is worse than others. I have always had perfect vision until now.
The pupil dilation you mentioned has not been a big problem for me but it is definately there as I seem more sensitive to light too. I like to wear my sunglasses driving even when cloudy now.
Please let me know how this works out for you!!
> Glad I found this site. I've been on Effexor for
> just about 1 month, taking 75mg a day. I've had
> some bizzare side effects. Headaches, constipation,
> anxiousness, tingling in my fingers and pupil dialation.
> I went to the eye doc who said that he thinks the
> pupil dilation is caused from the Effexor, my therapist
> said he's never heard of that or any of the other
> side effects I am having. I was on Celexa and went off
> due to severe weight gain I also had headaches and
> constipation on that med as well. Has anyone else
> had pupil dilation? or felt tingling sensation on
> Effexor??? I know everyone reacts differently to
> meds but has anyone had any good response to other AD's?
> Freesia--
Posted by maro on October 20, 2002, at 0:38:53
In reply to Effexor and eye problems, posted by freesia on October 18, 2002, at 8:43:43
I'm glad I found this site too!
This is the weird thing I am experiencing. I'm not quite sure how to explain it, but after you mentioned eye problems and tingling sensations - maybe you can relate to this? I get these very weird tingling sensations when I move my eyes from side to side.
I first noticed it at wor, walking down a hallway and looking to the side without moving my head. I wouldn't say that I get a dizzy sensation, but it's almost like a dizzy sensation in my head but it's a tingling sensation instead of feeling like I am spinning or moving up and down. The tingling can spread to my face, and sometimes right down my arms to my hands.
I only notice it when I am having withdrawals. I was on 150 a day, and if I forgot to take my pill at night, the next afternoon I would start feeling that awful sensation. So it would kick in about 12 hours after I should have taken the meds.
Right now I am trying to get off Effexor. I went down to 75 mg, had no problems at all, was on 75 for about 10 days then went down to 37.5. Since I have gone down, I get this tingling much more frequently. I usually take the meds about 8 or 8:30, and I find that I start having the tingling about 2 hours before I am due for the next pill, and it takes a couple hours after taking the pill for the sensation to go away, although it doesn't go away completely till the next day.
That makes me nervous, because I used to not get the sensation until about 36 hours after the 150 mg or the 75 mg (on the days after I had forgotten tot ake my pill), but now I am getting it about 22 hours after the 37.5 mg. I'm not even makign it a whole 24 hours. I'm supposed to cut back to taking a pill every other day, but I almost feel like going back to the 75 mg because it's making me feel so weird. I'm going to call my doctor Monday and see what she says, but I think I am just going to have to go through this - that it's just a withdrawal side effect that I have to deal with. Or maybe she will know of something that will help make the withdrawal process easier.
it's definitely a pretty freaky sensation tho. I've seen other people here talk about "brain zaps" - I don't think this is what they are talking about, but I'm not sure. So I'm curious if any of you have ever had this tingly problem? I'm okay if I turn my head, it's only when I look to the side with just my eyes.
If anyone knows how to get rid of this, I'd be very interested in hearing!
> Glad I found this site. I've been on Effexor for
> just about 1 month, taking 75mg a day. I've had
> some bizzare side effects. Headaches, constipation,
> anxiousness, tingling in my fingers and pupil dialation.
> I went to the eye doc who said that he thinks the
> pupil dilation is caused from the Effexor, my therapist
> said he's never heard of that or any of the other
> side effects I am having. I was on Celexa and went off
> due to severe weight gain I also had headaches and
> constipation on that med as well. Has anyone else
> had pupil dilation? or felt tingling sensation on
> Effexor??? I know everyone reacts differently to
> meds but has anyone had any good response to other AD's?
> Freesia--
Posted by linkadge on October 20, 2002, at 7:23:55
In reply to Re: Effexor and eye problems - and tingles!, posted by maro on October 20, 2002, at 0:38:53
Yes, My pupils dialated. Everything seemed
so bright and sparkely. My doctor said I looked
like I was on Opium, they were so dialated.Linkadge
Posted by jflange on October 21, 2002, at 18:23:20
In reply to Re: Effexor and eye problems - and tingles!, posted by maro on October 20, 2002, at 0:38:53
Maro:
You are definitely experiencing "brain zaps" and many others have spoken of the visual trigger (moving eyes to the side) before the onset of the tingling. It is most likely due to the withdrawal from the Effexor and, as you discovered, taking more Effexor is really the only thing to get rid of your tingling.
In the meantime, congratulations on moving down to 37.5. My only advice would be to >go slowly<, maybe even much more slowly than the 10 day increments you are already giving yourself. Others have posted in this board the "home remedies" and vitamin supplements (like Inositol) that many have used to alleviate withdrawal. Check them out and good luck!
jflange
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