Do anti-depressant medications cause severe headaches?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am a 19-year-old female, with a weight of 130 pounds and a height of 5.6' feet. I am on the sleep medication Trazodone to help with my insomnia. I have been experiencing headaches on the right side at the back of my head for a while now. Lately, I am having pain in both of my ears, the place where my neck meets my head, and generally all around my head. I have also been experiencing lightheadedness occasionally. I visited a healthcare unit a few days ago. They suggested me to go to the ER and get my heart rate checked. My heart rate is 130 to 140 beats per minute. They also conducted a chest X-ray and blood tests, but they could not figure out what was wrong. Last week, I visited my primary care provider to get a routine physical examination. They feel that my symptoms are a side effect of the medication that I have been taking for my sleep problems. I have stopped my medication, but I do not have relief. I tried taking painkillers such as Advil and Tylenol, but it did not help. The headaches are now starting to interfere with my daily life.

Please help me find out what is wrong with me.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I have read your query and understand your concern.

It is important to evaluate the reason for your headache. Also, your heart rate has increased, which is a cause for concern. Kindly provide me the details of the medications you were on, and which medication did you stop taking? Do you have an anxiety issue? I suggest you to undergo a CT (computed tomography) scan of the brain, as it will help diagnose your condition better.

I hope this has helped you out.

Kindly revert with your reports at the earliest.

Thanks and regards.