venlafaxine/Effexor
kmiller2528
Posts: 17 Member
My Doc recommended this medicine for hot flashes. It is an anti-depressant. It helped with the hot flashes but getting off of it is a nightmare. If I had known how awful it would be, I never would have started taking it. I should have done more research and asked a lot more questions. If you are considering this medication, please make sure you are fully informed.
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Replies
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Do you still have hot flashes?1
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I’ve been on it for over a year. Not only does it help with hot flashes, it also got my anxiety and emotional ups and downs under control. I forgot my pills on a long weekend we went out of town and going cold turkey was a total nightmare. I couldn’t get back on it fast enough. I’m afraid to try and get off it now...but I feel fine and I have plenty of other health issues to worry about, so I’m staying on it for the foreseeable future.4
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I think it's wise to ask questions about any medication you are taking or thinking about taking, including the ones that are available without a prescription. Medications are not without side effects and possible risks/harms, but they don't happen for everyone. Likewise, herbal preparations have risks, interactions, and side effects. Some medications have interactions with foods, other medications, vitamins, and/or herbal stuff. It is important to do your due diligence and consider if the benefits outweigh the risks. I find pharmacists are the best source of information.5
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0somuchbetter0 wrote: »I’ve been on it for over a year. Not only does it help with hot flashes, it also got my anxiety and emotional ups and downs under control. I forgot my pills on a long weekend we went out of town and going cold turkey was a total nightmare. I couldn’t get back on it fast enough. I’m afraid to try and get off it now...but I feel fine and I have plenty of other health issues to worry about, so I’m staying on it for the foreseeable future.
It's advisable to wean down, not suddenly stop.1 -
I have been weaning down for several weeks and then I started feeling pretty bad daily so now just off it completely. My hot flashes have not returned, so I may be on the other side of that part. This medication is great for some people and uses, it’s just hard to stop taking it if/when that becomes the best course of action.
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kellimiller2528 wrote: »I have been weaning down for several weeks and then I started feeling pretty bad daily so now just off it completely. My hot flashes have not returned, so I may be on the other side of that part. This medication is great for some people and uses, it’s just hard to stop taking it if/when that becomes the best course of action.4
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I totally agree. I may have posted this in the wrong place. My intention in posting was3
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Well done on posting this information anywhere. Who knows how many others you may help because they may now have the head space to think before they grasp the pills themselves. I hope you are able to get on top of your other health issues. Possibly try reading about them, keeping to information with scientific references, may help you find ways to help yourself. Wishing you all the very best and most of all Take care of Yourself.
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I got off of that stuff about a year ago. All i remember is that i was very tired all the time for about a week or so. it would behoove you to ask questions about any medicine a doctor prescribes you.0
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nutmegoreo wrote: »0somuchbetter0 wrote: »I’ve been on it for over a year. Not only does it help with hot flashes, it also got my anxiety and emotional ups and downs under control. I forgot my pills on a long weekend we went out of town and going cold turkey was a total nightmare. I couldn’t get back on it fast enough. I’m afraid to try and get off it now...but I feel fine and I have plenty of other health issues to worry about, so I’m staying on it for the foreseeable future.
It's advisable to wean down, not suddenly stop.
I know. I forgot the pills, I didn't do it on purpose.
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Well done on posting this information anywhere. Who knows how many others you may help because they may now have the head space to think before they grasp the pills themselves. I hope you are able to get on top of your other health issues. Possibly try reading about them, keeping to information with scientific references, may help you find ways to help yourself. Wishing you all the very best and most of all Take care of Yourself.
Is this to me? Sorry, I'm a bit confused because you said "I hope you are able to get on top of your other health issues." I'm the one who has other health issues, not the OP. Anyway...I'm doing what I can. Thanks.0 -
0somuchbetter0 wrote: »nutmegoreo wrote: »0somuchbetter0 wrote: »I’ve been on it for over a year. Not only does it help with hot flashes, it also got my anxiety and emotional ups and downs under control. I forgot my pills on a long weekend we went out of town and going cold turkey was a total nightmare. I couldn’t get back on it fast enough. I’m afraid to try and get off it now...but I feel fine and I have plenty of other health issues to worry about, so I’m staying on it for the foreseeable future.
It's advisable to wean down, not suddenly stop.
I know. I forgot the pills, I didn't do it on purpose.
I read that part. I wasn't suggesting anything regarding you forgetting them. I mentioned it because you said you were concerned about coming off them.0 -
nutmegoreo wrote: »0somuchbetter0 wrote: »nutmegoreo wrote: »0somuchbetter0 wrote: »I’ve been on it for over a year. Not only does it help with hot flashes, it also got my anxiety and emotional ups and downs under control. I forgot my pills on a long weekend we went out of town and going cold turkey was a total nightmare. I couldn’t get back on it fast enough. I’m afraid to try and get off it now...but I feel fine and I have plenty of other health issues to worry about, so I’m staying on it for the foreseeable future.
It's advisable to wean down, not suddenly stop.
I know. I forgot the pills, I didn't do it on purpose.
I read that part. I wasn't suggesting anything regarding you forgetting them. I mentioned it because you said you were concerned about coming off them.
Ah...well, I see no reason to get off them now. I feel fine and they're working for me.0 -
This was a hard one to wean off of from side effects of lower to no dose. I felt ill for 2 weeks after stopping0
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nutmegoreo wrote: »0somuchbetter0 wrote: »I’ve been on it for over a year. Not only does it help with hot flashes, it also got my anxiety and emotional ups and downs under control. I forgot my pills on a long weekend we went out of town and going cold turkey was a total nightmare. I couldn’t get back on it fast enough. I’m afraid to try and get off it now...but I feel fine and I have plenty of other health issues to worry about, so I’m staying on it for the foreseeable future.
It's advisable to wean down, not suddenly stop.
From experience, even a very slow taper resulted in those nasty discontinuation effects that Effexor is notorious for. The only way I was able to get off of it was with a cross taper with Prozac.
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nutmegoreo wrote: »0somuchbetter0 wrote: »I’ve been on it for over a year. Not only does it help with hot flashes, it also got my anxiety and emotional ups and downs under control. I forgot my pills on a long weekend we went out of town and going cold turkey was a total nightmare. I couldn’t get back on it fast enough. I’m afraid to try and get off it now...but I feel fine and I have plenty of other health issues to worry about, so I’m staying on it for the foreseeable future.
It's advisable to wean down, not suddenly stop.
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cerise_noir wrote: »nutmegoreo wrote: »0somuchbetter0 wrote: »I’ve been on it for over a year. Not only does it help with hot flashes, it also got my anxiety and emotional ups and downs under control. I forgot my pills on a long weekend we went out of town and going cold turkey was a total nightmare. I couldn’t get back on it fast enough. I’m afraid to try and get off it now...but I feel fine and I have plenty of other health issues to worry about, so I’m staying on it for the foreseeable future.
It's advisable to wean down, not suddenly stop.
The brain zaps are TERRIBLE! Never again. I remember I’d forget to take them before going to school and I’d be sitting in the back of the classroom trying not to rip all of my hair out from the sensations. Truly awful.0 -
nutmegoreo wrote: »0somuchbetter0 wrote: »I’ve been on it for over a year. Not only does it help with hot flashes, it also got my anxiety and emotional ups and downs under control. I forgot my pills on a long weekend we went out of town and going cold turkey was a total nightmare. I couldn’t get back on it fast enough. I’m afraid to try and get off it now...but I feel fine and I have plenty of other health issues to worry about, so I’m staying on it for the foreseeable future.
It's advisable to wean down, not suddenly stop.
Even weaning down, coming off Effexor was really awful for me. I weaned over months with a doctor's supervision and still had brain zaps and other symptoms. It was hideous.
I'd never go on it just for hot flashes and think there are other medications that can handle anxiety and emotional ups and downs without the problems involved with Effexor.3 -
liltortillaboy wrote: »cerise_noir wrote: »nutmegoreo wrote: »0somuchbetter0 wrote: »I’ve been on it for over a year. Not only does it help with hot flashes, it also got my anxiety and emotional ups and downs under control. I forgot my pills on a long weekend we went out of town and going cold turkey was a total nightmare. I couldn’t get back on it fast enough. I’m afraid to try and get off it now...but I feel fine and I have plenty of other health issues to worry about, so I’m staying on it for the foreseeable future.
It's advisable to wean down, not suddenly stop.
The brain zaps are TERRIBLE! Never again. I remember I’d forget to take them before going to school and I’d be sitting in the back of the classroom trying not to rip all of my hair out from the sensations. Truly awful.4 -
Effexor has been a life saver for me. I’ve been on it for over ten years for depression and it gave me my life back. The withdrawals are bad if I forget a pill but the positives for me definitely outweigh the negatives.2
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