Serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibiting drugs are also labelled as SNRI meds. These are commonly taken for depression, panic and anxieties. By making chemicals like serotonin and norepinephrine available in your system, these drugs regulate your moods. These were introduced in the latter half of 1980s as well as early part of 1990s, and are grouped as second-generation antidepressant meds. Venlafaxine is one of the widely used SNRI drugs. But is venlafaxine used for migraines? It is worth your while to possess more insights into this.
Being depressed for long can have a direct impact on your physical wellbeing. When you find in a state of worrying and fretting for more than 15 days, it is advised to speak to a mental caregiver. Depression is often characterised by drop in interest to pursue daily activities and a feeling of lower self-worth and esteem. Risk factors include life-changing events like death of a beloved one, divorce or loss of job. Those with a family track record of mental illness like depression or anxieties are more likely to get it.
Treatment offered ranges from intake of antidepressants like SNRI meds, psychotherapies – to name a few. Often, your caregiver may prescribe a combination of treatment plans. Strength of medications and duration of medication plans depend upon severity of your mental condition. As an extended use, SNRI meds are used for treating anxieties and symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder – in short, OCD.
In this milieu, what is venlafaxine?
This medication is used for the treatment of mental conditions like depression. It is available as an extended-release version and also as an immediate release tablet. Strength of dosages vary from one individual to another. In terms of effectiveness, venlafaxine is considered more potent than several other types of antidepressants.
Venlafaxine
Use of venlafaxine among younger adults as well as teens is not fully studied. Younger patients may experience suicidal instincts and violent thoughts. Also, those who have prior allergies to SNRI meds are recommended to stay away from using this drug. As this drug can work adversely with meds like trazodone, tramadol, etc., you need to inform your doctor of your other treatment plans, if any.
Venlafaxine 37.5 mg for migraines
As an off-label use, venlafaxine is used for treating migraine. Key ingredients of this SNRI med work on a few brain chemicals – such as norepinephrine, serotonin, dopamine, etc. These transmitting substances play a critical role in managing pains like headache. Intake of venlafaxine 37.5 mg for migraines helps reduce severity of headache as well as frequency of onset.
There are better drugs available for treating a headache; but, if you are down with anxiety and sleeplessness coupled with migraine, intake of venlafaxine is recommended. You need to stay aware of the side effects of taking SNRIs; commonly experienced adverse outcomes are drying of mouth, being excessively tired, increase in blood pressure level, abdominal discomforts like nausea and difficulties to pass stools.
If you experience persistent spells of constipation, your caregiving team may administer stool softeners or a laxative. It is unsafe to take these meds on your own. This is chiefly because laxatives are habit forming; hence, regular use of these drugs can make you addicted to them.
It is important to stay hydrated all through your medication plan. If you notice dryness of skin, parched tongue or an itchy skin, it is essential to drink more amount of liquids. Talk to your treating doctor about ways to avoid a dehydrated state.
As noted, venlafaxine for migraines is an extended and an off-label use of this med. Hence, taking it as per the medication plan of a qualified clinical professional is a key prerequisite. Taking it through self-medication may cause near-fatal or fatal outcomes. If you intend having more inputs on venlafaxine used for migraines, it is highly recommended to speak with a certified caregiver.
Disclaimer
Information provided here are only of supplementary nature. Information shared here does not substitute a qualified doctor’s advice. This website is not suggesting intake of this drug as safe or appropriate. Hence it is advised to talk to your doctor before consuming this med or any other drug.
Education: Master’s in Nursing (MSN) from Johns Hopkins University. Experience: 7 years writing for online health portals and nursing journals, specializing in patient education and chronic illness management.
