Whistling in my head

I started Effexor about a month ago and felt some symptomatic relief almost immediately. I expected some side effects, but the most annoying is a constant whistling noise in my head. This isn't tinnitus, or ringing in the ears, though similar. It seems to be right in the middle of my head, and I'm wondering if anyone else experienced anything like this.

I see my doctor on Friday and would like to be prepared. The therapeutic effects right now outweigh this small annoyance, but I don't know if I would want to put up with this if it never goes away. On the other hand, I would rather live with this than go back to my old explosive temper and crying fits.

Thanks in advance.

Thanks for your reply! This definitely started a few weeks after starting the Effexor. I did experience a minor but constant headache for a week or so after starting, but read here that some get that. Then the noise started. I am an audiophile and have a lot of money invested in my hearing, which my wife says is "too sensitive" (people who talk loudly hurt my ears).

The noise does not affect my hearing, that's how I know it's in my head, not my ears. I am hoping that it goes away after a few weeks. I am thinking of asking for an increase in dosage on Friday, thinking the noise may get better or worse... that would pretty much nail it.

To me, ringing is like "eeeee", and whistling is "sssss" or maybe "shsh".

Must be nice to hear music... well, maybe not all the time

I've just done a Google search and found several references to tinnitus and "swooshing noises" related to Effexor, though typically from those trying to come OFF the drug. It is listed as a less common side effect of Effexor. As I do not lose sleep or have any other serious side effects, this leaves me with the question whether or not I want to remain on this med for its therapeutic properties, try to switch to something else, potentially less effective, or continue with it and hope that this annoyance eventually goes away.

I saw my doctor today and discussed this. I told him that the Effexor is a "darn good 'head' drug" and does everything I had hoped it would. He told me to double my dose, that maybe that may knock out the noises. We discussed Pristiq and Cymbalta... there are potential downsides to each and might not do for me what Effexor does.

BTW Pristiq doesn't actually go generic until 2022. It costs 3-4X as much as Effexor... pricey, but not prohibitive. What you take may be under the generic name (desvenlefaxine) but it won't become less expensive until Pfizer surrenders their patent. Desvenlefaxine is the primary metabolite of venlefaxine but even the manufacturer advises against moving directly from one to the other without tapering down first. As they say, YMMV. I'll have to see how the 2X Effexor affects the ringing. If not then I must choose between losing the benefits or tolerating the noise.

BnotAfraid - I'd be interested to hear about some of those injuries you mentioned. If you get an email from a Yahoo name that looks sort of like my screen name, that's me. I spend a lot of time in chatrooms, mainly cancer, helping new victims and caregivers. At least I like to think that i help. Also orthopedic injury chatrooms, though not so much anymore.

Thanks for your replies!

Effexor doubled, okay so far. Noise still there but no worse.

Trina - I sent you an email. Hope you are well.

Hi HT. Hang strong mate.

Perhaps some of the shuddering is the issues of mum and her dementia. Heard to deal with no matter what level of relationship parent/child is or was.

Be kind to yourself HT and Rob, do not count on anyone else doing it for you.

Peace
Trina

I'll bet by now, Karen and Trina are probably wondering, "why the heck did we ever let this guy in here... now he just won't shut up"

So anyway, recently I mentioned my anti-D pulling back and Abilify or similar "mood stabilizer" was suggested. I have a little knowledge of antipsychotics in general and neuroleptics (Seroquel and Fluphen-azine in particular) thru some experience with family members. I'm not ready to go quite that far, at least not just yet.

Some background is probably in order.

Earlier this year I was put on ADT or androgen deprivation therapy, as part of the "trifecta" of cancer treatment... surgery, radiation and chemo. Generally speaking, ADT is the chemotherapy for advanced prostate cancer. It blocks hormone production, and is somewhat like menopause... for most women, menopause sees a gradual decline in hormones over a period of years.

ADT is like slamming on the brakes on the freeway. Suddenly there's an onslaught of side effects... persistent hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, mental fog, weight gain, body hair loss, and gynomastia. I had asked my radiation oncologist for help with the SE's. He was no help. I asked my GP and, after a lot of research of my own, requested Effexor. Other men on ADT have reported using it for ADT SE's.

Initially it was helpful. It reduced the frequency, severity and duration of the worst SE's. Additionally I felt more emotionally stable, as I had also hoped it might do. A couple years ago, when I suspected there was something wrong, but all the tests were negative, I was experiencing volatile moods... lots of crying, explosive temper... that kind of thing. My wife kept telling me I was depressed, which didn't help at all. But after starting the Effexor I told my wife "all the memories are still there, they just don't bother me so much anymore".

So at this point I'm enjoying some of the "off label" benefits of Effexor. I still have a lot of headroom if and when I need to increase dose. The buzzing or "whistling" in my head is a small price to pay for the reduction of SE's from the Lupron injections, as well as a sense of being perhaps a more pleasant person to be around... certainly less volatile, with far fewer ups and downs.

Thank you... I appreciate the recommendations (and concerns!) and hope my comments here are okay.

...Rob

Thanks... the increase was a little over a week ago. So far the noise is no worse and maybe even a little quieter. The therapeutic effects are starting to pull back, I think, but then I'm still on a pretty low dose. I remember there was a sense of exuberance when I first started, that it seemed to be working so well. After a while it leveled off. That's maybe all it is. As I said, I think I still have a lot of headroom for increases. Thanks for asking!