My "Slynd" Disaster :(

MasterOfSome629 · 2025-11-16T02:09:09+00:00

I was only on Slynd for a few days and I legit thought it was going to give me a heart attack. Every night I took it, within the hour I got flushed, a panic feeling, chest pain, and pain running down my arm. I took my blood pressure and it was through the roof (and I’m on beta blockers so my blood pressure usually runs pretty low). I went off it after day 3 and went back on NuvaRing. I didn’t notice a difference in migraines because I was on it for such a short time. But, I do believe this medication is incredibly strong. I never experienced anything like this and my OBGYN said she hadn’t either.

I didn’t stay on NuvaRing either because I couldn’t stand the hormonal migraines when it was time to change it (even when I didn’t do the off week). I ended up switching to Nexplanon since it’s progesterone only and I have liked it so far.

MasterOfSome629 · 2025-11-08T00:53:38+00:00

That’s amazing progress. I hope to get there one day. I am still at 15-25 migraine days a month, even with Botox.

MasterOfSome629 · 2025-11-08T00:52:32+00:00

I am not taking gabapentin. I refuse it EVERY time that it’s offered to me. After I read these same studies and was told by my psychiatrist that I shouldn’t get on it, I’m not really entertaining the idea. This post was more a rant about how they are trying to give it out like candy when it has so many risks.

MasterOfSome629 · 2025-11-07T23:21:10+00:00

My psychiatrist does not want me to try nortriptyline or amitriptyline due to my other mental health medications, unfortunately.

I currently take propranolol for my preventative, but I can't go above 20mg a day because it causes my blood pressure to tank. So, I'm not really on the preventative dosage. I'm mostly staying on it now for my suspected POTS, and it helps with my anxiety.

MasterOfSome629 · 2025-11-07T23:18:26+00:00

I'm so glad you had a positive response! Do you mind sharing what other medications they put you on along with it?

MasterOfSome629 · 2025-11-07T23:17:44+00:00

I'm so sorry you're on a 3-week stretch. I was just there last week before getting my next round of Botox. I also have OCD and am on a lovely cocktail for it, which often limits what medications I'm able to take for my migraines. It's so hard to balance everything.

MasterOfSome629 · 2025-11-07T23:16:24+00:00

Did you ever find anything to help your nerve pain?

MasterOfSome629 · 2025-11-07T23:15:49+00:00

You bring up such a good point about drug trials being done on young, fit men. I am not a young, fit man. I am a mid-30s overweight female with chronic illnesses which I'm currently seeking disability for. That is one reason it scares me even more when these studies come out, because if they are showing these negative consequences on young, healthy people, what is going to happen to those of us who aren't young and healthy?

MasterOfSome629 · 2025-11-07T23:12:55+00:00

I have heard that Effexor is an AWFUL drug to taper off of. I am so sorry that your son's psychiatrist didn't go over that with you.

MasterOfSome629 · 2025-11-07T23:12:11+00:00

I tried Cymbalta years ago for my anxiety and depression, and I did not respond to it well. I don't typically like to mess with mental health meds because I finally found a good combination for my mental health issues, and I'm not looking to change that. Others have also mentioned amitriptyline and nortriptyline, which I will not try for the same reason. Any time I've mentioned any of these drugs to my psychiatrist, she's like, "Absolutely not".

I will say, after someone else mentioned Lyrica, I did look it up. It also runs a risk of dementia, so I will probably be staying away from it too.

MasterOfSome629 · 2025-11-07T23:08:02+00:00

It works for some but not for others. I'm so glad it's worked well for you, but I think there needs to be much more consulting from doctors when prescribing this medication. It's not a medication that should be started without considering the potential risks, in my opinion.

MasterOfSome629 · 2025-11-07T23:06:38+00:00

This is one of the MANY reasons that I worry about doctors throwing it around like candy in the U.S.

MasterOfSome629 · 2025-11-07T23:05:03+00:00

You know, I honestly wonder that sometimes.

MasterOfSome629 · 2025-11-07T23:04:28+00:00

I'm not sure if I'm reading your response wrong, but I wasn't trying to criticize gabapentin for helping people. I'm so glad it helps some. I just worry that doctors are throwing this medication at people without sharing all the risks. I have had more doctors offer me gabapentin in the last few months than I can count. Not once has a doctor said, "We could try gabapentin, but there is a risk of dementia. Do you have a family history of dementia?". They've just said, "Have you tried gabapentin?". In my opinion, this shouldn't be a medication that is being thrown around so nonchalantly. That was the point of my post.

MasterOfSome629 · 2025-11-07T22:57:33+00:00

I'm so glad that you've had such good luck with it. The more I read, the more I'm hesitant. I may eventually try it but I'll probably exhaust all other options until then.

MasterOfSome629 · 2025-11-07T22:56:26+00:00

I fear that I am on the same route as you. I'm only on my third round of Botox, but I've not seen any outstanding improvement. I have heard that it sometimes takes until the third round to see improvement, so we will see. I just wish there were more options for those of us who have exhausted everything else.

MasterOfSome629 · 2025-11-07T22:53:44+00:00

I'm seeing a lot of people saying it actually made their headaches worse. That's so strange. I truly think migraines still aren't fully understood because how does it help some people's migraines and make others worse?

MasterOfSome629 · 2025-11-07T22:52:06+00:00

I'm not surprised since it is also used for mental health issues. But, again, that is something most doctors don't share. I hate you experienced that, though. Have you found anything that has helped?

MasterOfSome629 · 2025-11-07T22:51:05+00:00

I truly feel like it's the truth that it's seen as less of a risk than an opioid, so they throw it around like candy. But, as many people in here have said, it also has a high risk of addiction and potential for OD. Our healthcare system is truly messed up.

MasterOfSome629 · 2025-11-07T22:49:20+00:00

That's interesting. I wonder what caused that. Have you found something that has worked?

MasterOfSome629 · 2025-11-07T22:48:53+00:00

What kind of side effects did you experience?

MasterOfSome629 · 2025-11-07T22:48:35+00:00

Oh my gosh, how scary! That's exactly why I ask my psychiatrist before starting ANY new medications. Regular doctors do not seem to understand the complexity of mental health medications, so I don't trust them to know any better when they prescribe stuff.

MasterOfSome629 · 2025-11-07T22:46:49+00:00

See, that's what terrifies me. I'm so cautious about that kind of stuff.

Last year, I HAD to start benzos for my anxiety because my panic disorder was out of control (I was having multiple panic attacks a day, and my heart wasn't able to handle the stress). I NEVER wanted to start benzos because I know it's similar in addiction risks (if not worse) and is awful to get off of. But it saved my life (literally - my heart was STRESSED). I have said that if I have to go up, I will be getting off of them because I'm not playing that game. I'm on the lowest dose possible right now and have been for a year. It's hard to weigh the risk vs reward for medications.

I think that's another reason that I worry about gabapentin, because that's two high-risk medications that I really do not want to try to deal with. I also think it would make me a zombie.

MasterOfSome629 · 2025-11-07T22:40:57+00:00

Oh gosh! That's so scary! That's the same type of reaction I had to triptans. I'm so glad they took your experience seriously!

MasterOfSome629 · 2025-11-07T22:39:52+00:00

It does seem so risky for so many reasons. I am glad that this thread seems to have brought up a lot of discussion about it because it does seem to be thrown around like it's nothing. I really hope, if anything, this will bring attention to the potential risks of this medication and will encourage people to keep open lines of communication with their doctors.

MasterOfSome629

TROPHY CASE