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Mental Health (Expert Forum)
Overstimulation from Effexor XR
Answered by
Roger Gould, M.D. - Mental Health, Wellness
Questions posted in the Mental Health forum are being answered by Dr. Roger L. Gould, author of the Mastering Stress and Depression program and affiliated with the UCLA. Department of Psychiatry. Topics covered include anger, attention deficit disorder (ADD) , bipolar disorder , dementia , electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) , learning disabilities, memory, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) , panic , personality disorders, phobias , post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) , schizophrenia , stress , transitions, and work problems.
Overstimulation from Effexor XR
by computersarefun, Jul 23, 2002 12:00AM
I have been experiencing a daily headache after taking Effexor XR for nine months, getting off it for two months, and then getting on it again. The first time I was on it, it was very, very stimulating, like drinking five cups of coffee. This time around, the medicine is not as stimulating, and I have an uncomfortable/headache sensation in my head. I believe that this sensation is the result of my brain having been overstimulated for such a long period of time (the first time I was on Effexor XR). The only way I have found to alleviate this sensation is to somehow get my brain stimulated to the same level that it was before (e.g. drinking coffee, etc). I could probably bump my dosage of Effexor up until I feel the same way as before, and that would get rid of the headache, but then I will be an overstimulated robot again. Are there any remedies that might treat this type of withdrawal-like headache (besides pumping myself with stimulants)? Could it be vascular in nature, like caffeine withdrawal? I've tried all of the simple over-the-counter medications with no avail.
Doctor's Answer
by Roger Gould, M.D., Jul 25, 2002 12:00AM
, Jul 25, 2002 12:00AM
There is not much more you can do but you can change medications to another ssri and the chances are you will get a good result without a headache. There are many to choose from so ask your doctor.
