I finally tried Venlafaxine ER 75 mg. I've been on it for about 4 weeks. It definitely reduces the severity and duration of my headaches.
Backing up a bit, all of my devices are good for me (phone, laptop, monitor, car, home lightbulbs).
The problem I'm trying to solve is that I get headaches when I am exposed to light sources that I can't control:
- Riding in other people's cars
- Sitting next to someone who's using their device
- Large TVs in work meetings that are used as projectors
- Fancy restaurants that dim their lights
This evening (after dark) I sat in my wife's car for 25 minutes. Normally, all the PWM from the dashboard and ambient lighting would give me a severe headache that would last for hours after exposure. Today, it was a moderate headache that lasted for about 10 minutes after exposure and a mild headache that is still lingering an hour later.
So the Venlafaxine is a big improvement for me, but not a complete solution. Also, the Venlafaxine has side effects of its own, so there are drawbacks to taking it. I see the neurologist again in May, so I'll provide an update later this year.