User Reviews for Effexor XR

I have been suffering with hot flushes and insomnia since I entered menopause. I have been miserable until a friend who suffers the same told me she was on Effexor with great success. I am on the lowest dose (37.5) and my hot flashes have decreased by at least 80% and I am sleeping at least 5 hours a night now. I have just started taking it so I hope this isn't just a honeymoon period. I recommend any menopausal woman suffering with symptoms to give it a try. I had no idea this was a cure.

My ob/gyn recently recommended Effexor to treat my menopausal symptoms (hot flashes, anxiety, mood swings) after having my ovary removed. I was skeptical because I have been treated with anti-depressants in the past and the side effects were horrendous. I also suffer from GAD and SADD, but because I am such a wimp about taking pills, I have tried to tough it out. I was willing to try anything to help me get better. It has only been a week at the 37.5 dose, and I already notice a difference. Hot flashes are gone, I don't fly off the handle at everything and everyone, I am laughing, I can concentrate, I worry less, and am generally more calm. Side effects are minimal. A little spacy at times! Loss of appetite (which is good for an overweight woman). LOVE THIS MEDICINE!

This drug decreased my hot flushes by 2/3. I figured it would be 100% but that was probably an unreasonable expectation. I've gone from 8-12 a day to 2-3. I've suffered hot flushes since 1998 and the past 6 months they have only gotten more frequent and very annoying. My husband says I'm nicer to live with after taking Effexor, so now I realize I really was irritable from the lack of sleep and night sweats this past year. I tend to forget names or words more frequently but am not sure if the foggy brain has another cause.

I have been taking Effexor XR for approximately 6 months now. My hot flashes were very severe. I would be soaked and wet from top of my head down to my legs. Cold glass of water hardly touched it. After taking Effexor I only have little sweating around my head and neck maybe two to five times a month. It is a great relief.

Effexor XR has been very helpful. The only side effects I've noticed is a occasional, slight feeling of dizziness and increased sweating. The benefits greatly outweigh the side effects.

Have been on Effexor for 3 years to combat depression and severe hot flashes that are the result of treatment for breast cancer. It definitely does the job, and I plan to stay on it at least until I am done with my 5 years of oral chemo, and then will evaluate staying on it longer. Only drawback is that it will be difficult to get off of it. Will have to work closely with doctor to slowly wean, otherwise there are significant withdrawal symptoms.

I was prescribed Effexor for fibromyalgia. Not only did it not help the fibromyalgia, but it restarted the menopausal hot flashes that had been under control. In doing research for fibromyalgia, I discovered that it can cause hot flashes and other menopausal symptoms to be more intense in women with fibromyalgia.

I have suffered with hot flashes since my late teens and began menopause at 50. I tried Effexor XR just to see if it would help and was so surprised with the RELIEF that I got from it. It helped so much. It didn't stop them. I don't think anything can, but it sure did cut the number of hot flashes by at least half. When I do have one, it's a butt-kicker, but by cutting the number in half, my quality of life has been improved so much. Between the Effexor XR and Topamax putting a complete halt to my migraines, life is really good again!

I was having extreme hot flashes and started taking Effexor 75 mg and it almost immediately stopped 95% of them. I am up to 150 mg per day now and the only issue I have with the medication is the horrible withdrawal symptoms. I was without insurance for a month and within 2 days of not taking it I was at the hospital with what I thought was the flu. My Doctor had warned me not to stop cold turkey but I had no idea it would be that severe. But if you take as directed and discontinue with your Doctor's help there should be no problem. The pros definitely outweigh the cons.

I had horrible hot flashes getting one every 45 minutes to an hour on average. Since I've been on Effexor XR 37.5 my hot flashes have decreased to on average one a day and it's much less severe. I been taking it for over a year. Only draw back for me is a reduced sex drive.

Effexor XR works great for hot flashes, not to mention it elevates your mood as a bonus. I do recommend the extended release as the side effects are fewer. I have no hot flashes now at all. I recommend it to anyone who does not want to take hormones.