Effexor?

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  • mglee
    mglee Member Posts: 1
    edited April 2009

    I too was given Effexor when I started my rads in February. I was at 75 mg and have cut back to 1/2 pill - so ~18mg. I went off for a week and found deppression really set in. Could be that I had just finished my rads and going through post mortum depression like suggested above, but have miserable hot flashes without it. Today I have put myself back on. I see my Oncologist next week and will look for suggestions. My acupuncurist  gave me a treatment (which helped the sleeping) and gave me natural pills, they didn't help the hot flashes and the dreams were too vivid for me.

    It is a merry go round, hot flashes- Effexor. Effexor - headaches, some nausea, can't sleep. Lunesta for the lack of sleep.... Lack of sleep - tough to work effectively at the office.... I'd like off the merry go round now.

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  • sydpen2
    sydpen2 Member Posts: 186
    edited April 2009

    Effexor has been wonderful for me.  Initially for hot flashes and the added bonus for my depression and moods.  It has been great for both.  I can't seem to do the generic version.  It didn't work.  But the  non generic is great.  Go figure....  I do everything else generic.....just not effexor.  I do not take the extended version.  If I don't take it though I get light headed until I get it back in me.  Then I am good to go again.

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  • kimbly
    kimbly Member Posts: 398
    edited April 2009

    I have been taking Effexor for about a year now with a month or so off in the middle, I tried to wean myself off but found out that was a bad idea.  I need it for both anxiety related issues and the hot flashes associated with chemopause and now surgical menopause ( had ovaries out a few weeks ago).  I also have xanax for night if I find I cannot sleep.  I was diagnosed in Nov of 2007 and not sure when I will feel I can go off these meds.

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  • vision4utoo
    vision4utoo Member Posts: 138
    edited April 2009

    I just began the Effexor XR two days ago. @ 75mgs  I had ugly reaction, shakes, dirreaha, nausea, felt loopy ~ I took at night and next morning still all those symptoms, had to leave work due to "loopy" drowsiness. So yesterday took only 37.5, sleepy but better ~ however, reading all the posts and withdrawal of coming off, I am not going to take at all.  I had already found a great Hot Flash treatment by accident, I switched vitamins!  I had been doing the Source of Life drink and wanted something easier to take in mornings, so I grabbed a new daily women's vitamin called Vitamin Code, Raw, made from raw ingredients.  I had noticed that I wasn't having any hot flashes, and I asked my what was different?  Those Vitamins! 

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  • GratefulGal
    GratefulGal Member Posts: 20
    edited May 2009

    rferraris 

    Chemopause - I love it!!!

    I too just started taking Effexor and I have to say, it has helped tremendously with the hot flashes. The sleeplessness - not so much.

    Skye - I didn't feel I needed an antidepressant either - however, I did find that the hot flashes were horrendous and my onc suggested that I try it. I had to get past the possible side effects (everything has them) and try it. For me, it seems to be working right now. Good luck! 

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  • Skye64
    Skye64 Member Posts: 109
    edited May 2009

    I am taking Effexor 18 mg once a day...I really helps me with my mood. I am still afraid taking more.....my hotflushes are still there like 30 a day...for sleeping I am taking now Ambien 5 mg..Now I can get a 5 to 6 our sleep during a night. I feel much better.

    GratefulGal: How much Effexor are you taking?

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  • vision4utoo
    vision4utoo Member Posts: 138
    edited May 2009

    Stopped taking that - feel much better, couldn't get handle on SE's  ~ still no hotflashes I posted about previously ~ Yeah!  find vitamins a little pricey, but working and considering my love of coffee...working really well!  I prefer the most natural treatment without drugs if at all posible for me.

    Has anyone tried the Mushroom compound? ( MD Anderson has done a huge study and found effective),,,?

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  • GratefulGal
    GratefulGal Member Posts: 20
    edited May 2009

    Skye64 -

    I am taking 75 mg once a day. Boy, looking at your dosage, mine seems a bit high. I do know that when they started me on it, it was 37.5 mg once a day for two weeks. Apparently it was so that my body could acclamate to the drug gradually.

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  • Skye64
    Skye64 Member Posts: 109
    edited May 2009

    I think 75 mg is the best dosage for the hotflushes. But I am afraid of taking it. I really do not want to depend on so much drugs. But now more SE from the Lupron shots kick in. My hip is hurting now. I have to move back to Germany in 3 weeks, and then I will try acupuncture for the hot flushes.

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  • dreamwriter
    dreamwriter Member Posts: 3,255
    edited May 2009

    I take 37.5 mg twice a day.  And it does help the flashes.... I wouldnt have noticed, but I didnt even have one today.

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