Effexor and hot flashes

I've been on Effexor XR (75mg at night and 37.5 in the morning) for a few years now and have had excellent results. I also been on other antidepressants and had similar luck, but after a few years of taking the others, they seemed to "wear out".

As I read your problems you've experienced with Effexor, I think that maybe you need to try some other meds--that Effexor isn't the right choice for you, not all anti-depressants work the same way. Also, anti-depressants take time to kick in--from one month to six months and then level out. One SUPER side effect of Effexor is if you're suffering hot flashes from peri or full blown menopause, at the right dosage, Effexor (and some other anti depressants) will stop the flashes--a God send in my eyes.

The one thing I did want to share is you should NEVER go off any anti-depressant cold turkey. You should wean off slowly or the results can be VERY uncomfortable. Also realize that it will take a few months for your brain chemicals to come down to were they were before the anti depressant kicked in.

I think more of you should talk to your doctor about what is going on while you're taking Effexor and make some changes. Maybe a higher or lower dose might help--if that doesn't work, then try a new med. If your doctor isn't listening or trying to help you make changes or if she tells you to stop taking an antidepressant cold turkey--get a new doctor.

Hello

I was on the Effexor drug for Major Depression among other symptoms. I believe I was having hot flashes, and heavy sweating. It was terrible droplets of sweat coming down my face and I was unable to control it. I was taking 225mg for about 4 months and felt my depression coming back on. My doctor wants to put me back on another kind of psychotropic med, but I think I will do it like the old days "ignore it". The worst side effect I am having is the mood swings, the brain shifting. The brain shifting feels as thought it hurts my vision, when the brain shift I feel my eyes twitching. Is pretty bad feeling the brain shift, your equilibrium is off. I feel dizzy, sick to my stomach, diareah and feeling wanting to vomit.
I cannot wait until this all goes away. I am hoping it goes away

Well, just wanting everyone to know that I stop taking this medication cold turkey 3 day's ago because of the evil side effect's. For those who just started on this med just wait until u miss a day are two or been on it long enough u will experience something's u will not like trust us u will be trying to get off this evil drug!!! I've been on it for 2 year's and at first I didn't experience anything I thought it was great it worked for the hot flashes immediately but after my body got use to taking it the hot flashes came back along with virtigo more and more just wait and see!!! it wont be long, but anyway I quiet 3 day's ago and I feel great!!! the side of effect of dizzyness and me not being able to walk straight are there but the energy & me feeling myself again feels GREAT!!! Im not tired anymore for the first time Im up early like I use to get up, and last night I wasn't sleepy early I stayed up with my husband he couldn't believe it! I actually feel good about myself. If u ask me this medication need's to be revisited because it doesn't help after awhile I wouldn't want to take something that if I were in a situation were I didn't have this med I would be close to death without it, Im off cold turkey and going to hang in there until the side effect's go away and it's out of my system for good! I pray for u all whose on this med because it's insane and not good. Oh I forgot to mention that it get's worse for the first time I over slept and was so,so,so tired friday night I couldn't go to work this drug after awhile draines u and makes u so sleepy and wore out it make u feel like you've been drinking all night and have a hangover trust me this is real.

I have not yet started taking Effexor. It has been perscribed for my hot flashes. I am also a tired person with alot of responsilities and would certainly not want to gain any weight.
I am not a depressed person but easily cry over anything at all tender. I still think I am overboard in this area... tearing too easily. I don't think I have read many favorable remarks re: this drug. Any other GOOD things to say out there..?

I'm not sure if this is from Effexor or not, but I have developed serious neck and head pains which tend to bring on even more headaches. I was put on the Effexor as a preventative medicine for migraines and also take care of "hot flashes".

Does anyone else have this side effect?

I took effexor for two years and can report that I experienced the halucinations, the bad dreams, the feeling of no feeling. I felt like my creativity and life had been sucked out of me. If I forgot my morning dose (150 mg) I would be dizzy, nauseous, and have hot flashes. I lost 15 lbs that I didn't need to lose, I was weak and felt like I had had a lobotomy. This drug is absolute evil, and I think everyone should run the other way if a doctor wants to prescribe this. I went off it cold turkey, had two weeks of absolute hell, and only am now really feeling my true self. I have been clean of all drugs, street and otherwise, for two years now, and I am happier than I have ever been. Get high on life!

I went into full blown menopause 5 months ago. I could not sleep at nights, unbelievable hot flashes every 15 minutes throughout the day (I couldn't go anywhere without my hand-fan), crying over the silliest things, thinking people were purposely being unkind or cruel to me, - the entire situation was a nightmare to say the least. My doctor put me on Effexor and within 2 weeks, all symptoms (above) had completely dissapeard. It is the first time in my life I feel balanced and normal (even better than before I went into menopause). The only side effect I have experienced is that I cannot lose weight - I have not gained any, but seem to be remaining at the weight I was before going on Effexor.

i have been on effexor for one year. and i love it, actually i have lost weight! i was put on it to help with my hot flashes and mood swings. i was on zoloft and gained 70 pounds. i love effexor.

I was put on Effexor following a hysterectomy in March 2002. I was not depressed, but suffered hot flashes. The low dose of Effexor did not seem to have much effect on my hot flashes, so I attempted to get off it. Had severe upset stomach, weakness, pain of withdrawal after missing only ONE. Tried this 2x and both times had same reaction. Subsequently my doctor tripled my dose and it seemed to help hot flashes for a while, then stopped helping. I now would like to get off this med, but withdrawal is HORRIBLE! I am trying to reduce gradually, but it's still difficult.