Milnacipran - completely stopping my brain fog

[hurray]

I've been suffering from POIS since 2000, posting on POIS forums since 2009 (Naked Scientist Forum) and more recently on here (since 2011), and I've finally found something that has consistently worked for me.

For the last 6 weeks, I've been taking milnacipran (Savella) before O. After O, there has been no brain fog - every time. My physical symptoms (dry hair, dry forehead, clicking knees) have also gone.

The milnacipran has an unusual side-effect - my Os feel much more intense, and last much longer. This hasn't happened with any other medicines I have tried, and I have tested many different medicines over the years. Again, this happens every time.

I have been taking one dose of 25mg approximately 1 to 1.5 hours before O. Initially I combined it with fenugreek, but now I take it on its own. The result has been 0% brain fog every time.

Milnacipran is an SNRI that inhibits norepinephrine reuptake even at low doses - other popular SNRIs venlafaxine and duloxetine (which I have tried) need much higher doses before there is any significant inhibition of norepinephrine reuptake. I believe that it is the norepinephrine action of milnacipran which is somehow preventing my post-O brain fog.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2938282/

It is early days now, but I sincerely hope that milnacipran will continue to work for me in the long-term. If it becomes less effective or stops working, I will come back to this thread and update it.

I would be happy to answer any questions.

[drop247]

Interesting. If I take anti-histamines with pseudoephedrine they are more effective than anti-histamines alone (ie Allegra-D). Pseudoephedrine is a norepinephrine releasing agent.

[hurray]

Interesting. If I take anti-histamines with pseudoephedrine they are more effective than anti-histamines alone (ie Allegra-D). Pseudoephedrine is a norepinephrine releasing agent.

Yes, there could be a connection there.

[hurray]

Milnacipran was developed firstly as a treatment for fibromyalgia, and some countries prescribe it for depression. Interestingly, fibromyalgia sufferers refer to one of their major symptoms being "fibro fog"/"brain fog".

I've copied a few quotes from a milnacipran (Savella) comment section (from fibromyalgia sufferers):

https://www.rxlist.com/script/main/rxlist_view_comments.asp?drug=savella&questionid=fdb152224_pem

WONDERFUL for energy, pain & brain fog

Pain is significantly reduced, energy is up and brain fog is much, much better.

I think I am most surprised that my thinking is almost 100% clearer! I can concentrate on tasks and actually finish one before I start another. The fibrofog is gone!

So it's interesting that several other people have reported it as curing their brain fog.

[demografx]

Interesting, hurray!

[berlin1984]

I'm curious if you're so long in the game, have you ever tried St. John's wort?

I've never tried it because I don't feel "depressed" as in the sense of sad. Sometimes unmotivated though :-). But if I understand correctly, St. John's Worth is also a reuptake inhibitor, but for more neurotransmitters than Milnacipran

[Muon]

Interesting. If I take anti-histamines with pseudoephedrine they are more effective than anti-histamines alone (ie Allegra-D). Pseudoephedrine is a norepinephrine releasing agent.

"Pseudoephedrine acts on α- and β2-adrenergic receptors" Ref

Activation of β2-adrenergic receptors on mast cells is the primary pathway for adrenergic agents to inhibit mast cells.

Table 1 and chapter 5: Neuroendocrinology of mast cells: Challenges and controversies

Milnacipran is used for fibromyalgia and fibromyalgia is associated/comorbid with mast cell activation disease.

[Iwillbeatthis]

Have you tried amitriptyline before and also is it safe to take only before O and not regularly, as that is the case with most antidepressants.

[hurray]

I'm curious if you're so long in the game, have you ever tried St. John's wort?

I've never tried it because I don't feel "depressed" as in the sense of sad. Sometimes unmotivated though :-). But if I understand correctly, St. John's Worth is also a reuptake inhibitor, but for more neurotransmitters than Milnacipran

Hi berlin1984 

Yes, I have tried St John's Wort, it worked fairly well as an anti-depressant while I was taking it. I didn't notice any effect on my POIS however 

I have tried other NRIs which had no comparable effect to milnacipran on my POIS symptoms - it seems to have a very unique effect.

[hurray]

Have you tried amitriptyline before and also is it safe to take only before O and not regularly, as that is the case with most antidepressants.

I was considering asking my doctor for amitriptylene, but since milnacipran is working so well for me I may not have the opportunity now.

I was prescribed duloxetine and venlafaxine last year (sister SNRIs of milnacipran) - stopping taking duloxetine after a short period was uncomfortable, and stopping venlafaxine was quite a lot worse.

I can't give medical advice - you MUST speak to a doctor with regards to whether or not a prescription medicine is safe to take. Milnacipran has side-effects including nausea (which I have experienced) and increased blood pressure.

With regards to my own situation, I don't feel any withdrawal symptoms after only taking milnacipran before O - unlike venlafaxine and duloxetine.

[hurray]

Interesting, hurray!

I'm hoping I can blow my brain fog away for good 

[certainlypois2]

Interesting, hurray!

I'm hoping I can blow my brain fog away for good 

Achoo to that.

[hurray]

Achoo to that.

Bless you 

[demografx]

Achoo to that.

Bless you 

[Nas]

I've been suffering from POIS since 2000, posting on POIS forums since 2009 (Naked Scientist Forum) and more recently on here (since 2011), and I've finally found something that has consistently worked for me.

For the last 6 weeks, I've been taking milnacipran (Savella) before O. After O, there has been no brain fog - every time. My physical symptoms (dry hair, dry forehead, clicking knees) have also gone.

The milnacipran has an unusual side-effect - my Os feel much more intense, and last much longer. This hasn't happened with any other medicines I have tried, and I have tested many different medicines over the years. Again, this happens every time.

I have been taking one dose of 50mg approximately 1 to 1.5 hours before O. Initially I combined it with fenugreek, but now I take it on its own. The result has been 0% brain fog every time.

Milnacipran is an SNRI that inhibits norepinephrine reuptake even at low doses - other popular SNRIs venlafaxine and duloxetine (which I have tried) need much higher doses before there is any significant inhibition of norepinephrine reuptake. I believe that it is the norepinephrine action of milnacipran which is somehow preventing my post-O brain fog.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2938282/

It is early days now, but I sincerely hope that milnacipran will continue to work for me in the long-term. If it becomes less effective or stops working, I will come back to this thread and update it.

I would be happy to answer any questions.

Do you have social dysfunction symptoms and does this medication help with it?

[hurray]

I've been suffering from POIS since 2000, posting on POIS forums since 2009 (Naked Scientist Forum) and more recently on here (since 2011), and I've finally found something that has consistently worked for me.

For the last 6 weeks, I've been taking milnacipran (Savella) before O. After O, there has been no brain fog - every time. My physical symptoms (dry hair, dry forehead, clicking knees) have also gone.

The milnacipran has an unusual side-effect - my Os feel much more intense, and last much longer. This hasn't happened with any other medicines I have tried, and I have tested many different medicines over the years. Again, this happens every time.

I have been taking one dose of 50mg approximately 1 to 1.5 hours before O. Initially I combined it with fenugreek, but now I take it on its own. The result has been 0% brain fog every time.

Milnacipran is an SNRI that inhibits norepinephrine reuptake even at low doses - other popular SNRIs venlafaxine and duloxetine (which I have tried) need much higher doses before there is any significant inhibition of norepinephrine reuptake. I believe that it is the norepinephrine action of milnacipran which is somehow preventing my post-O brain fog.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2938282/

It is early days now, but I sincerely hope that milnacipran will continue to work for me in the long-term. If it becomes less effective or stops working, I will come back to this thread and update it.

I would be happy to answer any questions.

Do you have social dysfunction symptoms and does this medication help with it?

Yes, having to deal with other people is one of the worst things about my POIS brain fog.
Going to work with POIS is a nightmare for me - it's really difficult to have conversations,
I can't find the right words to say, and I badly want to be left alone.

After O with milnacipran, it is business as usual at work. I am clear-headed, and socially
I'm the same as if I hadn't had an O for a week.

[Nas]

Yes, having to deal with other people is one of the worst things about my POIS brain fog.
Going to work with POIS is a nightmare for me - it's really difficult to have conversations,
I can't find the right words to say, and I badly want to be left alone.

After O with milnacipran, it is business as usual at work. I am clear-headed, and socially
I'm the same as if I hadn't had an O for a week.

Wow, this sounds incredible. I don't think there is a medication that worked 100% for someone in this forum.
Do you mind if I ask if you have premature ejaculation or not?

[hurray]

Yes, having to deal with other people is one of the worst things about my POIS brain fog.
Going to work with POIS is a nightmare for me - it's really difficult to have conversations,
I can't find the right words to say, and I badly want to be left alone.

After O with milnacipran, it is business as usual at work. I am clear-headed, and socially
I'm the same as if I hadn't had an O for a week.

Wow, this sounds incredible. I don't think there is a medication that worked 100% for someone in this forum.
Do you mind if I ask if you have premature ejaculation or not?

Nobody was more amazed than me Nas I was starting to give up hope after all these years and all the things that I'd tried.

It seemed unlikely that anyone was going to develop a medicine specifically for POIS, so I thought my best chance would be to find an existing medicine that I could use "off-label".

Yes, I suffered quite badly from PE in my twenties and early 30s, not so much now.

[demografx]

It seemed unlikely that anyone was going to develop a medicine specifically for POIS, so I thought my best chance would be to
find an existing medicine that I could use "off-label".

Exactly what I did, too, hurray!

[drop247]

Have you tried amitriptyline before and also is it safe to take only before O and not regularly, as that is the case with most antidepressants.

I was considering asking my doctor for amitriptylene, but since milnacipran is working so well for me I may not have the opportunity now.

I was prescribed duloxetine and venlafaxine last year (sister SNRIs of milnacipran) - stopping taking duloxetine after a short period was uncomfortable, and stopping venlafaxine was quite a lot worse.

I can't give medical advice - you MUST speak to a doctor with regards to whether or not a prescription medicine is safe to take. Milnacipran has side-effects including nausea (which I have experienced) and increased blood pressure.

With regards to my own situation, I don't feel any withdrawal symptoms after only taking milnacipran before O - unlike venlafaxine and duloxetine.

Why consider amitriptylene? Does it have some potential advantage over milnacipren?