Migraine, headache, neck ache / pain and head pressure

[Altostrata]

merged related topics

[Kiwi123456]

Anybody took years to heal from head spasm?? I feel little hopeless. Been suffering for 28 months now

[Aleena]

I am tapering escitalopram (Lexapro). I suffered a headache immediately after an orgasm which lasted 24 hours and I still have a heavy head. Can anyone relate to this. 

[Johni]

 

Hello @Aleena. For me, it all started with the drug, although I’ll tell you honestly I never thought the drug would. yet at times it was so severe that I panicked smoothly from it. Ever since I started reducing escitalopram I have stopped. Now it’s been twice again in the last week though I hope for the time. It is a pain that extends from the back of my neck to the back of my eyes.

[Aleena]

Oh I hope it gets easier with time.

[Kiwi123456]

hey guys anyone healed from head nerve tightness in 3-4 years. i will be completing 3 years in few months and im not sure how long it will take. i am starting to think its permanent. any success stories? 

 

thanks

[Jnthnslo]

Hey everyone,

 

I'm trying to understand the different types of headaches/head issues people are experiencing. Right now I have a pretty persistent sensation on my temples that gets more intense during stress but I have also been feeling a sensation on the top of my head that's like an empty feeling, like I can physically feel that something is missing from my brain. Maybe this is what head pressure feels like. Has anyone else healed from this in combination with anhedonia? Sometimes I feel like this empty head feeling is the cause of the anhedonia and it's a sign of brain damage. A constant feeling that something is missing.

[ColdTurkey1]

Right sided scalp and face pressure pains

 

Hi All

 

I am cuurently on 3 drugs: Mirtazapine 30mg, Escitalopram 10mg, Ativan 2-3mg

I suffer from right sided pressure pains in my scalp and right side of the face

The pains are releived by Ativan, and slowely increase as the Ativan influence decreases. after 5-6 hours I usually need to take another Ativan

I was on 20mg Escitalopram and lowered to 10mg hoping this was the cause of the pains. the pains stay the same

 

So now I need to decide what is my next step, and would appreciate your help

I need to decide which of the 3 drugs most probably cause the head pains, and start withdrawal from it

 

 

If anyone has (or read about someone else who have) suffered from these one sided head pains , I would appreciate it if you tell me from what drug you think it was induced

 

Thank you very much

 

Edited January 16, 2022 by ChessieCat
added topic title before merging with existing topic

[HopingNWaiting]

A little while on SSRIs, I developed migraines.  I never put two and two together though.  I stopped Luvox back in October and my migraines have ceased.  

 

It's amazing how no doctor told me it could be a side effect.

[PortugueseSea]

Head Pressure - Any advice?

 

So, I have recently began stabilizing since having an adverse reaction to an anti-emetic (read anti-psychotic) and a subsequent prescription cascade. I am currently on 15mg mirtazapine and Klonopin PRN (taken once every 10 days or so). The worst symptom I have been dealing with has definitely been akathisia but even that has slooowly been improving. Thing is, now that that compulsion to move has largely gone I have been dealing with... head pressure. 

It doesn't hurt, it simply feels like my head is about to pop, sometimes it is accompanied by paresthesia but not always. It often lasts most of the day and  is very distressing. Sometimes I wonder whether it is a symptom on its own or "leftover akathisia", focal akathisia. That would be weird though as focal akathisia normally involves the limbs.

Anyhow, I searched for topics with this header and didn't find much and was hoping somebody who has or has had this symptom has any advice on how to deal with it.

Thanks guys!

 

Edited October 31, 2022 by ChessieCat
added topic title before merging with existing topic

[Akfodey7]

Hey

 

im not sure if you are feeling the same thing as me. I have had a year of hell. I’m down to 5mg cipralex now from the original 20mg 1 1/2 years ago. 
 

most my bad symptoms have started to drift. The one that stays with me almost everyday is this weird head feeling. In my face forehead/sinus area. It always feels a bit full. I’ve gone for mris and X-rays and everything is normal. 
 

some days it’s so bad I just sleep it off and it dies down a bit. 
 

I would really like to know what it’s called and how I can treat it. Not sure if you have the same but you aren’t alone anyways. 

[PortugueseSea]

Hey,

Maybe it is something similar. I am suffering PAWS from an anti-emetic (read antipsychotic) and currently take Mirtazapine (15mg).
A lot of symptoms have since cleared, panic attacks, crushing chest pressure, nausea etc.

Unfortunately, agitation is one of the lingering ones, it's bad. Alongside with it I have that "very strange head feeling" like you.
I've recently tried icing my neck and it seems to help a bit, with me it normally focuses on a specific spot.

Hope it helps!

Lots of love!

[itiscomplicated]

I find dealing with tension throughout my body to be helpful for this stuff.

 

So, using a foam roller, or a percussion massager, on legs, arms, neck, back, torso - I've even tried the percussion massager on my face.

 

Me: I get a lot of headaches these days, and have a history of migraines/tension headaches going back to my to my teenage years, before any meds.

 

Lots of weird, assorted head sensation issues too, FWIW. Numbness, tingling, tension, burning, pain.

[Halfdozen]

Head Pressure

 

I’m about 3 weeks out from stopping gabapentin (300 mg a day sometimes more) & lowering my dosage of Mirtazapine from 15 mg a day to 7.5 mg.  Even before I started my journey to get off these drugs, I started to get head pressure around my ears and temples.  It affects me more on my left side.  It is a strange symptom.  It starts about 9:30 or 10 in the morning, &

bothers me until early evening then it subsides.  I sleep well, & my early morning hours are symptom free.  Does anybody else experience this type of symptom at a particular time of the day?

Not sure if it’s a combination of the 2 drugs or just 1 of them. 

 

Edited November 24, 2022 by ChessieCat
added topic title before merging with existing topic

[Catina7]

It's comforting to me to know that I'm not alone.  Below is the pure HELL I've experienced with Effexor/Venlafaxine:

 

• 3 months of SEVERE headaches with nausea/dizziness after missing a SINGLE dose. 
• 5 weeks of SEVERE headaches during titration when I waited too long to eat one day.
• 3 months of SEVERE headaches after my doc told me to double my Trazodone during titration b/c I couldn't sleep (I have since gone back to my original dose).
• Currently experiencing SEVERE headaches for the past MONTH because I was dumb and took Hydroxyzine and Melatonin to help me to sleep when my father passed away last month.  I don't know how long the pain will last this time.  I have also had horrible nausea.  

I have learned my lesson the hard way.  Note to Self:  Do not take extra drugs during withdrawal!!!

[SandCastle]

@Catina7 I’ve also been getting headaches with nausea/dizziness. Mine starts out mostly like a sinus headache behind one eye and down one side of my nose. It’s usually on the right side but switches to the left occasionally. Maybe about 1/3 of the time I get the headaches, I also get hit with a wave of nausea, and I’ll get dizziness throughout the day. I’ve had a lot of the weird head sensations throughout withdrawal (tingling, numbness, pressure, zaps, crawling), but the headache has not been common throughout. I’m racking my brain trying to figure out what I could have done to set this off!

[Phoenixmama]

what if i can't tolerate mag supplements , can i soak in epsom salt and aborb it that way ?

[Dragoon909]

I have light headaches with the dr I've had lately. I had to take an ibuprofen.  I tolerate them pretty well (200mg), but that doesn't mean everyone would. 

 

And there's no way I would take excedrin...not with all the caffeine in it. Not while having derealization anyway. 

 

 

[Nicolas45140]

On 2/17/2012 at 7:42 PM, angie007 said:

Hi Nine years,

 

No your not alone, can you describe your headaches??

Iv had them since getting off paxil about 9.5 months ago too

@angie007 long time ! But I will be pleased to ask you some stuff if you still around. Nicolas 

[Nicolas45140]

On 2/21/2012 at 12:18 AM, Nadia said:

I've had headaches a lot recently, but I don't get them in the morning. I get them when I'm stressed and tired, usually in the afternoon. My current headache started about an hour ago and sometimes I think not drinking enough water is part of it, or maybe just straining myself. I try not to take anything for the headache because it's not the head-splitting type.

@Nadiahi Nadia. Happy new year. If you still around, I’ll be happy to ask you some questions about your tapering journey. 
‘Nicolas 

[j1290]

I found that the head pressure/headaches intensified when I switched from Extended Release to Instant Release, and that some generics I had less symptoms than others, so I found one I better tolerated and a pharmacy that let me select it.   

 

I'm not done with my taper, but I'm approaching 50% down from my Original Dose and can tell you that at WD Normal, the pressure and headaches have reduced significantly and become more manageable.   

 

Just my experience.    

[Nicolas45140]

On 10/30/2022 at 3:22 PM, PortugueseSea said:

Head Pressure - Any advice?

 

So, I have recently began stabilizing since having an adverse reaction to an anti-emetic (read anti-psychotic) and a subsequent prescription cascade. I am currently on 15mg mirtazapine and Klonopin PRN (taken once every 10 days or so). The worst symptom I have been dealing with has definitely been akathisia but even that has slooowly been improving. Thing is, now that that compulsion to move has largely gone I have been dealing with... head pressure. 

It doesn't hurt, it simply feels like my head is about to pop, sometimes it is accompanied by paresthesia but not always. It often lasts most of the day and  is very distressing. Sometimes I wonder whether it is a symptom on its own or "leftover akathisia", focal akathisia. That would be weird though as focal akathisia normally involves the limbs.

Anyhow, I searched for topics with this header and didn't find much and was hoping somebody who has or has had this symptom has any advice on how to deal with it.

Thanks guys!

 

Hello everyone. 
loads of people complain about headache or head pressure. Something weird or difficult to explain, and even more if your not English speaker. 
this kind of head pressure on the top of the head just under the scalp, feeling like irritated nerves…is not painful but there all day… 

what is it ? Will that pass with time ? 
I’m so worried cause it create anxiety to not knowing what is happening. 
 

[Elaine5]

On 10/30/2022 at 10:22 AM, PortugueseSea said:

Head Pressure - Any advice?

 

So, I have recently began stabilizing since having an adverse reaction to an anti-emetic (read anti-psychotic) and a subsequent prescription cascade. I am currently on 15mg mirtazapine and Klonopin PRN (taken once every 10 days or so). The worst symptom I have been dealing with has definitely been akathisia but even that has slooowly been improving. Thing is, now that that compulsion to move has largely gone I have been dealing with... head pressure. 

It doesn't hurt, it simply feels like my head is about to pop, sometimes it is accompanied by paresthesia but not always. It often lasts most of the day and  is very distressing. Sometimes I wonder whether it is a symptom on its own or "leftover akathisia", focal akathisia. That would be weird though as focal akathisia normally involves the limbs.

Anyhow, I searched for topics with this header and didn't find much and was hoping somebody who has or has had this symptom has any advice on how to deal with it.

Thanks guys!

 

I also had an adverse reaction, to Buspar, or some other med in a rapid fire trial and error situation. 
 

Well, the panic and restlessness are diminished, now I am left with I’ve been classing as depersonalization. However, when I really zero in on it, when it’s bad, it feels physically like there is a balloon in my head, and it has been blown up to the verrrryyyy maximum in limit, and is now pressing on my head from the inside. It feels like my brain is actively inflamed and swollen, as if it were a collection of machinery which has been exhausted, and is about to give out! Other times is describe is a static that occupies my entire head, 
 

It’s sort of like a very specific headache. I can actually feel the physical exhaustion in my brain. I wonder if this is a part of repairing things after the adverse reaction? I hope so. 
 

I don’t know if this the cause of depersonalization/anhedonia, or simply, a really bad headache, to put it simply. 
 

Interesting that we both mentioned something similar. 

[j1290]

On 1/11/2023 at 9:32 AM, Nicolas45140 said:

this kind of head pressure on the top of the head just under the scalp, feeling like irritated nerves…is not painful but there all day… 

what is it ? Will that pass with time ? 

I get sort of a burning sensation on the top of my scalp.   When I press on the top of my head with my hand, it feels better.  It helps my anxiety a little to know that it's a scalp thing and I can do something to affect it.  I bought a few different headache hats from Amazon, they're just tight fitting gel filled hats you can put in the freezer if you want.  I find myself wearing them all the time when I'm alone because they're awesome.  

 

I also get temple and head pressure that feels better for a minute if I massage or apply pressure to my temples.   Sometimes that's enough for me to break my focus on it and forget about it.  

 

My very last choice is to go to pills I got from my psych doctor.   However, if I have to do it, this is what I use and the order I use them in.  Aleve(OTC pain reliever), Clonodine(blood pressure med), Sumatriptan(migraine med), and as a very rare, last resort 1/8th a Xanax.  I always want to take the least of these as I can so I start at 1/2 or 1/4 pill and add more if necessary.  

 

I'm still on a pretty strong dose of ADs, but all these side effects have lessened as I've tapered down.  Things have definitely gotten better.   

 

I'd love to hear what others do.  

 

EDIT:  for the record, when I was at my starting dose I'd get what felt like bands of pressure on my head, pain that would move around my skull, stabbing headaches, all sorts of fun stuff.  All of that has gotten less common and less intense as I have tapered.  I also believe switching to a different generic helped me as well.  

 

There's also a reddit group on migraines that may be useful.  

[PoetJester]

On 10/30/2022 at 9:22 AM, PortugueseSea said:

Head Pressure - Any advice?

 

So, I have recently began stabilizing since having an adverse reaction to an anti-emetic (read anti-psychotic) and a subsequent prescription cascade. I am currently on 15mg mirtazapine and Klonopin PRN (taken once every 10 days or so). The worst symptom I have been dealing with has definitely been akathisia but even that has slooowly been improving. Thing is, now that that compulsion to move has largely gone I have been dealing with... head pressure. 

It doesn't hurt, it simply feels like my head is about to pop, sometimes it is accompanied by paresthesia but not always. It often lasts most of the day and  is very distressing. Sometimes I wonder whether it is a symptom on its own or "leftover akathisia", focal akathisia. That would be weird though as focal akathisia normally involves the limbs.

Anyhow, I searched for topics with this header and didn't find much and was hoping somebody who has or has had this symptom has any advice on how to deal with it.

Thanks guys!

 

Hi PortugueseSea,

 

I had the head feeling like it was going to pop sensation, although it happened after stopping mirtazapine.  It was like my brain was swelling against my skull, and the sensation would last most of the day, and was mostly misery.  I've read that it has to do with excess nitrogen in the bloodstream, due to how certain psych meds affect the kidneys badly.  I also had severe ankle and foot swelling while i was on mirtazapine where none of my shoes fit anymore, which is also a sign of kidney problems from the drug.  

 

Poetjester

[Nicolas45140]

On 12/20/2014 at 9:16 PM, Altostrata said:

Merged similar topics. Thanks, Zoe, for that tip in http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/6024-what-is-this-migraine/?p=78052

not working anymore.

[Nicolas45140]

Hello to all. 

Anyone with head symptoms lasting for days or weeks....not paintful but there from morning to evening. behind the eyes and on the top of my head....with anxiety of course. 

I wish there is people around with similar situation to exchange and feel less alone. 

Its very stressful. 

[Altostrata]

There are many topics about head symptoms in this forum. Please use search to review them.

[Happy2Heal]

16 hours ago, Nicolas45140 said:

Hello to all. 

Anyone with head symptoms lasting for days or weeks....not paintful but there from morning to evening. behind the eyes and on the top of my head....with anxiety of course. 

I wish there is people around with similar situation to exchange and feel less alone. 

Its very stressful. 

https://youtu.be/U3FdOJnAB-4

[Happy2Heal]

there are photos in this one

so no need to worry about the language barrier

 

https://www.excedrin.com/headaches/prevention-tips/yoga-poses-for-headaches/

 

 

[Nicolas45140]

On 10/31/2022 at 7:27 AM, Akfodey7 said:

Hey

 

im not sure if you are feeling the same thing as me. I have had a year of hell. I’m down to 5mg cipralex now from the original 20mg 1 1/2 years ago. 
 

most my bad symptoms have started to drift. The one that stays with me almost everyday is this weird head feeling. In my face forehead/sinus area. It always feels a bit full. I’ve gone for mris and X-rays and everything is normal. 
 

some days it’s so bad I just sleep it off and it dies down a bit. 
 

I would really like to know what it’s called and how I can treat it. Not sure if you have the same but you aren’t alone anyways. 

Hello 

same problems…. Feeling better ? 
Nick 

[Akfodey7]

The sinus and face pressure has almost stopped after a long ass time. I’m staying on the 5mg hoping it’ll level out for me. My anxiety has gotten much better but I still go into these weird funks for a week before getting a bit better. One thing I’ve noticed is if I miss a pill or even take a fraction less than 5mg all my symptoms come screaming back. What are you dealing with? 

[Altostrata]

Thanks, @Akfodey7 Please update your Introductions topic and follow these instructions Please put your drug and withdrawal history in your signature You may need to use a computer to do this.

[Hope42]

Is severe neck pain also a withdrawal symptom? It's not like any normal tension pain, but a sharp nerve pain down the center of my neck/spine. Almost like my neck is broken (it's not).

[Pianojane]

Hallo everbody, i stopped using lexapro very quickly after 9 years of use  3 years ago and have been suffering from almost permanent migraine for 2 years with preceding aura, which manifests itself in dizziness and fatigue. it's very hard to go through this. i haven't read much about it on the forum and wanted to ask if anyone knew about it. thank you for your feedback, Pianojane

[manymoretodays]

@PianojaneHere is the topic that relates to your new topic, and worth a read through.  You'll see your post now above in this topic.  And have a read through the posts here now.  Sorry to hear it's been such a constant feature of your WD and hope you see or find something non-drug to try from other members experiences.

 

Then....... also this will be helpful for when you want to see if there is a pre-existing topic prior to starting a new one:

Before you start a new topic in Symptoms and Self Care

Edited April 17, 2023 by manymoretodays