Midodrine and or meclizine

[akj]

Have been doing pretty well with Midodrine for controlling lightheadedness and dizziness.  Had a sudden syncope event that brought me to the floor followed with intense vomiting.  Was transported to ER and doctor there prescribed Meclizine. Which gave some relief.  But follow up with my neurologist brought another suggestion for change, Effexor?..
 

A few searches suggested Midodrine and Meclizine don’t work well together. And checking some threads on Dinet showed a number of people wary of Effexor.  Does anyone use these drugs regularly and if so how taken?  What time, together, separate?

My thanks.  Dinet has been my life line through this very confusing condition.  Found a thread from 2018 “ER and full syncope.” Which was so helpful.  I thought I was near death with some new aspect of OÍ.  But there was info right there that others had had this very same thing happen.  Reassuring that you aren’t alone.

And very special thanks to the moderators and contributors who do so much study and research.  It is very very helpful.  You amaze me that you can put together such excellent papers and dialogues with the brain fog so many of us experience. Thank you, akj

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Pistol]

@akj I am sorry you had to go to ER! I have been in your shoes many times, I used to pass out ALL of the time and was in the ER tons. What always helped me was IV fluids. Today I barely ever pass out because of my meds and bi-weekly infusions. But I do wonder - why meclizine? Did you have dizziness? Meclizine is usually prescribed for vertigo, or for dizziness that feels like you or the room is spinning. For me the dizziness from syncope is more of a lightheadedness, and loss of balance. Meclizine would not help with that, in my case at least. 

[akj]

Thank you Pistol ( how do I create the little turquoise oval the opens a response?).  Appreciate your insights.  I always explain when ending up in ER that I don’t experience vertigo, but lightheadedness and in these new episodes syncope.  So very helpful to know Meclizine is more for vertigo.  I’ll stick with Midodrine.

The other prescription was venlafaxine er.  Not sure that is going to help, taken it for three days and find I can’t sleep.  So I have not yet got a workable prescription plan.   Glad that you have something in place that supports you.  But I am sure it took a great deal of work and trials.

I have been reading more and more about IV infusion therapy and how much it helps some Dysautonomia individuals.  I have thought about it, as I am sure you know, once you are taken to the ER a drip is almost always started first thing and I think it makes me feel better.  Thank you for your thoughts.  AKJ

[Pistol]

Hi @akj - to direct a person directly type the @ sign followed by the persons name - in my case @pistol - the name will appear below and you click on it. That is how you can address a member directly. 

[akj]

@Pistol Ok, that was fun to learn something. Thanks 

[Pistol]

@akj you graduated wirh honors!

[Sarah Tee]

@akj, this article touches on Effexor and SNRIs:

https://zero.sci-hub.se/6856/5ca5f52fc3de87ced1c7c7c783ad5d58/miller2018.pdf?download=true

(Direct link to PDF)

It’s on p.6.

Dr Raj has a few good talks on the Dysautonomia International channel and on the DINET lecture channel. He usually gives a good run-down on medications and also medications often come up in the Q&A segments at the end of his lectures.

And this article might help too, if you haven’t already seen it.

https://www.bjmp.org/content/postural-orthostatic-tachycardia-syndrome-pots-evaluation-and-management

 

I’m sorry you had this setback when you were doing well on midodrine.

[akj]

@Sarah Tee thank you

akj

[Sarah Tee]

@akj, the other thing I was going to say was that if the meclizine seems to be helping, then you should keep taking it, but then you mentioned you had seen some indication that it might not be suitable in conjunction with midodrine.

Could you check this with your specialist? Another option, if your specialist is at a hospital or connected to one, is to ask for a clinical pharmacologist to look at the combination. (I think clinical pharmacologists usually work at hospitals; they don’t usually have a private practice.) Another possibility would be the head pharmacist at the hospital pharmacy.

Of course there’s also your regular pharmacist, but it might be a bit of a specialist question. But maybe they could research it for you.

But hopefully if there are some some folks who take meclizine and midodrine together successfully they will comment soon and be a lot more help than me!

[akj]

@Sarah Tee

Wanted to send a more detailed thank you for your suggestions and article links.  I have been in bed feeling pretty awful having caught a respiratory virus at the hospital.  Haven’t read much on this but do think having Dysautonomia makes recover from other viruses harder.

Wish I did have a specialist’s input.  The one I was referred to in our area for TTT has since retired.

Have followed your posts with interest as your profile listing of symptoms and diagnoses sounds so much like mine.

Will review article suggestions carefully.  Thanks again.  Much appreciated.

Looking forward to info from this July’s conference.

akj