Migraine - helped by depression medication??!!?!

Migraine - helped by depression medication??!!?

I have suffered from migraines for over 12 years. I would usually get about 2 per month. No kind of medication would help. I would just have to sleep through it, if I could. It was bad to the extent that it was disrupting my work for about two days each month. But recently, I had to take a depression medication called effexor XR (75mg) for some reason. And since the month that I started taking it, I have not had a single migraine. I have been taking the medication for almost a year now.

I am really happy..... however, now my course for Effexor XR is about to be over. I am now scared that my migraine would return.

Could someone shed some light on why this happened and what I can do to prevent the migraine, given these circumstances.

I say try to stay on the effexor, if you see the same doctor he will likely renew your prescriptions. Many different medications work to prevent migrains including antidepressants, anti-seizure medications, and even blood pressure medications!! Migraines are still a bit of a mystery (we know more about some types than others), but once you find something that works for you, it is good to stay with it. Also all available data shows that long term use of effexor is not damaging to your health. I am a pharmacist and i have patients that have been on it for years without serious side effects. In fact the most common side effects people see with it is when they attempt to stop taking it they have withdrawal symptoms, however being dependent on a daily dose of this medication is not dangerous, think of it like having your coffee in the morning.