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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by McPac on November 29, 2002, at 9:09:26
I thought I'd noticed a few posts here before talking about shingles (I never really read them though). My brother now has shingles and also is on Effexor. Is there any link to SSRI's and shingles? Just curious.
Posted by NikkiT2 on November 29, 2002, at 10:11:20
In reply to SSRI's Shingles?, posted by McPac on November 29, 2002, at 9:09:26
Not that I know of.. but there is a connection between shingles and stress...
Nikki
Posted by medlib on November 29, 2002, at 17:41:21
In reply to SSRI's Shingles?, posted by McPac on November 29, 2002, at 9:09:26
Hi McPac--
Effexor is used sometimes to treat neuropathic pain (such as that from diabetes or shingles). Some studies have shown tricyclics helpful for that type of pain, but side effects are a deterrent. Effexor provides pain relief (for some) similar to that of TCAs with fewer SEs.
I had an outbreak of shingles a couple of years ago while on high dose Effexor. Given the area involved, my doctor expected me to be in far more severe pain than I was--and I'm no stoic. It felt no worse than a pretty bad sunburn--painful on contact, but not agonizing. Haven't seen any lit suggesting a causal, or even associative, relationship between SSRIs or E. and shingles (herpes zoster).
This is the end of the thread.
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