Anyone taking Effexor for "Hot Flashes"?

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cj81842
cj81842 Member Posts: 31
edited August 2017 in Managing Side Effects of Breast Cancer and Its Treatment

I was recently given a prescription for Effexor by my Oncologist for hot flashes and wondered how many take this drug and if it helped... 

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  • Makratz
    Makratz Member Posts: 12,678
    edited February 2012

    I took effexor for hot flashes for 2 days, had an allergic reaction to it and had to stop.  I now take gabapentin and it works great for me.  Lots of women take effexor and it works great for them.  I hope it works for you!

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  • Kaara
    Kaara Member Posts: 3,647
    edited February 2012

    Effexor is a drug to treat depression.  I didn't know it helped hot flashes.  Do the doctors think we get hot flashes because we're depressed?

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  • Makratz
    Makratz Member Posts: 12,678
    edited February 2012

    Effexor also treats hot flashes.  Lots of BCo gals are on it!  Yes, it is for depression but a side effect is no more hot flashes!  yay!

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  • bevin
    bevin Member Posts: 1,902
    edited February 2012

    I have taken it for a year. 37.5 mg. I take it about 9pm each night along w my AI. It took about 8 weeks to be fully hot flash free.  I now pretty much don't have them unless I drink alcohol. :(

    I haven't had any negative side effects from it and even lost a few pounds. 

    My hot flashes were so bad, they were about hourly and I'd drip sweat down my back and front and wake up almost hourly through the night. Sleep was non existant until I went on it.

    I take the lowest dose possible , which really doesn't do much for any depression as its not a therupeutic dose for that, but its the perfect dosage for hot flashes.  I  Love Love Love it.

    Good luck and send me a message if you need any other details.

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  • cinnamonsmiles
    cinnamonsmiles Member Posts: 779
    edited February 2012

    I can't take effexor. I started on Vitamin E and Evening Primrose Oil for natural hot flashes on the adivce of my bs. For my post mastectomy pain syndrome, I am on 2100 mg of gabapentin a day, the doctors want me on more, but my body simply can't handle more. I also take Black Cohosh. But I have read online that it may not be good for those who are estrogen positive. But for me, the dr.'s gave the ok.

    I still have nights sweats and do the covers on, covers off thing at night, still have hot flashes during the day. Sometimes they make me sick. I can feel them start in my head, it feels real heavy like, then I get hot the hot flash with a hangover feeling sometimes. But they aren't as bad with the Black Cohosh added.

    And no, hot flashes are not caused by depression. Some medicines have benefits for things other than what they are intended. Gabapentin, is actually an anti-seizure medicine. Amitrityline is an anti-depressant my pain dr.s gave me for pain and  to help me sleep.

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  • cj81842
    cj81842 Member Posts: 31
    edited February 2012
    Bevin, thanks for the positive on Effexor.  My prescription is the generic Venlafaxine HCL ER 37.5 mg cap.  Is there any reason you take it at night?  The doctor didn't tell me if I should take it in the am or pm.  I was going to start in the morning but now I was wondering if I should wait until bedtime.  I certainly hope it helps me with the hot flashes as much as it has you.  I can't understand why I have them so bad at age 69 but I suppose it's probably due to taking hormones for so many years although my estrogen blood level is extremely low.  Just doesn't make sense, I have them all night long too so now I'm very anxious to see if they will help me too.  The doctor had already told me it could take up to two weeks to see if it will help.  The positive about being bald from chemo is when I have one, I can take my wig off and get cooled down faster.  Laughing
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  • bevin
    bevin Member Posts: 1,902
    edited February 2012

    Hi Carole, Yes, Oncologist said to take it at night along with my AI only because even though I have the extended release Effexor (generic brand too) its still more powerful in the first 12 hours.

    So when I noticed a few hotflashes at night which woke me I switched  from daytime to night time and now I have a pretty good time getting a restful sleep. 

    I'd say at about 2 weeks I noticed small improvement in lessening hotflashes, I had full improvement after 8 weeks. Definately give it time to build in your system and work.

    I agree with hillk, for me, its been effexor has been life changing. 

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  • elimar86861
    elimar86861 Member Posts: 7,416
    edited February 2012

    cj8,  If you are most bothered by flashes at night that interfere with sleep, etc., then I would say take it at dinnertime.  You are supposed to take it with food anyway, and this will allow some hours for the time-released beads to build up in your system.  As Bevin said, it seems like the first 12 hours have the best effect.

    I take it for another reason (neuropathy) and I still have some flashes, but they are fewer and milder, kind of what hillck described earlier.  Before that, I really felt like coming off the Tamox.  There was no way I could have five years of my head feeling like it was trapped in a sauna.  While I wish I did not have to take the Effexor, I do feel that I can stay with it for the five years now.  The worst S/E I now have using both drugs, is dry eyes and dry mouth.  

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  • vote4jc
    vote4jc Member Posts: 2
    edited February 2012

    I took it 3 days and had 3 days of migraine headaches. Quit taking it. Would really like to know what one CAN take to help control the hot flashes. They are miserable!

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  • exbrnxgrl
    exbrnxgrl Member Posts: 12,424
    edited February 2012

    No, doctors don't think we get hot flashes because we're depressed. Some anti-depressants curb hot flashes. I took Celexa when I went through menopause several years ago and it was very effective. I take Effexor now and think it's also quite effective. No Arimidex hot flashes and a happy camper to boot! Caryn

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  • cj81842
    cj81842 Member Posts: 31
    edited February 2012

    exbrnxgrl, do you have joint and muscle pain (knees & legs) from the Armidex?

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  • sanbar8771
    sanbar8771 Member Posts: 281
    edited February 2012

    I take effexor and I love it. Not only are my hot flashes more bearable I am not so much of a bitch. Cheers. :)

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited February 2012

    My oncologist offered it to me simply FOR chemo- flashes.  So far it's worked great, although I didn't have hot flashes before chemo--and am not sure I'm having them now since I'm on the effexor :>)

    Side effects were mild headache, loss of appetite and a bit of weight loss...the first two went away after about a month and I haven't gained the weight back.

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  • edoyrest
    edoyrest Member Posts: 55
    edited June 2012

    What dose of effexor is everyone taking for hot flashes?

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  • bevin
    bevin Member Posts: 1,902
    edited June 2012

    I take 37.5 and it works like a charm. I took aout 7 weeks for full effect to kick in. Good luck.

    BTW- I actually lost weight on it too.!

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  • caroline71
    caroline71 Member Posts: 27
    edited June 2012

    Hi I am on 225mg of effexor for the last 4.5 years  I was pt on it when I found my brother dead  age 28  I started of on 75 mg and gradulally it was increased  but I didnt know it was for hot flushes also  I was diagonised with triple negative  on the 19th April  I started my 1st chemo TC on last Tuesday 29th May  which takes 7 hours  to get I sffer terrible with hot flushes  over the last 3  years and still do  only now a little worse  I am new to this site and find it great  I live in Ireland  Co Tipperary  I am getting my treatment done in Limerick  I am having 6 seesions of chemo once every 3 weeks  and get Nuestrla Injection 24/48 hours  after my chemo  then I am having a Masetomy  on my right breast  also 35 seesions of Radium  would any of ye have advice on getting a double Masetomy  as they found a lump on my left breast  but it is benign  I am considering in asking can I have it done I know I cant have  a reconstruction at the moment  maybe down the road but when my surgeon said that I know thats a no  the tumour is 6cm  and very aggresive 

    Good day to you all god bless Caroline  

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  • TAPPY
    TAPPY Member Posts: 283
    edited June 2012

    I am starting to take this - but at the higher 75 mg...I think it is to much, as it makes me feel buzzed and sort of dizzy...ugh

    I was hoping this could help with hot flashed and the general anixety I have been feeling.

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  • marjie
    marjie Member Posts: 1,134
    edited August 2012

    I am going to start taking Effexor tomorrow for my hot flashes.  I think my biggest complaint is lack of sleep, but they are starting to come on pretty strong during the day as well and sometimes besides being uncomfortable, it can be pretty embarrassing. My family has also noticed that I am turning into a first-class A1 bitch too which I think is more from the broken sleep than anything else.

    I was really against taking medication for hot flashes but  I'm at the point now that I want some help - I am NOT happy.  Hopefully the effexor helps - I'm a little nervous about taking it....will it make me feel different???  Am I going to be weird (er) ???

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  • Denise-G
    Denise-G Member Posts: 1,777
    edited August 2012

    My friend of 50 years was on Effexor.  She tried to wean herself off of it.  Her doctor told her it is harder to get off than heroin.  She couldn't get off of it and is still on it.  She wishes she would have been warned about this drug before starting it. 

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  • marjie
    marjie Member Posts: 1,134
    edited August 2012

    I know - I have read that too.  I am getting a very low dose, was she being treated for hot flashes?  I had other options but chose to start with the Effexor due to different SE's and my lifestyle etc.  I am being treated at the Hot Flash Clinic at my cancer centre and they have made me feel really confident that we can get me comfortable again.  They have also checked my thyroid function as well.

    I hope it will be okay

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  • marjie
    marjie Member Posts: 1,134
    edited August 2012

    Ugh...I have taken one capsule.  Actually its the generic Venlafaxine 37.5.  Upset stomach, horrid heartburn, headache and insomnia....I'm not thinking this is going to work for me :(

    I think I'll call the doctor in the morning because I really don't want to take it tomorrow.

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  • cmbear
    cmbear Member Posts: 1,086
    edited August 2012

    Sorry Marj it has caused you trouble. I've been on it for about 2 months and I am still waiting for the hot flashes to stop. I would like to say they are less severe but they actually SEEM to come more often than before. I'm on 75 mg, mine was not just for the hot flashes. . . my GP did say to take it in the a.m. and with food for sure. I will tell you by mid afternoon I am dancing in my chair. Its a weird energy--not like being on speed(how would I know about that???) but not heart racing. Would like to say my house is cleaner, but, no not the case!

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  • pupmom
    pupmom Member Posts: 5,068
    edited August 2012

    My MO prescribed Effexor for depression. I finally relented and started taking it. She gave me Gabapentin for hot flashes. I filled the script but have never taken one because I haven't had any hot flashes. 

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  • JanetM
    JanetM Member Posts: 336
    edited August 2012

    I have been on 37.5 for hot flashes for almost a year.  I tried to go without for about 2 months after my hysterectomy but the hot flashes and night sweats were so unbearable that I had no choice.  The 37.5 works pretty well, I still get some flashes and night sweats but they are better than when I wasn't taking it.  I had sometimes that I felt like I was going to pass out.  I tried upping it to 75 but I had some vision issues so I decreased it back to the 37.5.

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  • marjie
    marjie Member Posts: 1,134
    edited September 2012

    Going to try it again this weekend - if I run into difficulty they will change my meds....

    wish me luck!!

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  • auntienance
    auntienance Member Posts: 4,216
    edited September 2012

    I'm taking the 37.5 dose with really good results and the added benefit of better sleep. I'm not a good sleeper and since I started the effexor, I fall asleep and stay asleep, formerly a rare event for me. I take it in the evening.

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  • stephN
    stephN Member Posts: 284
    edited September 2012

    marjie,

    I've been on effexor since right before I started Femara in December.  The first two weeks were awful.  I felt really sick at my stomach and kind of dizzy, but after that I have felt great.  I think it would be really hard to get off of...it's just one of those that's hard to adjust to and hard to adjust from.  If I miss a dose or am even really late with a dose, it makes me feel weird.  For me, for now, the benefits outweight the negatives.  I still have some hot flashes, but they aren't too bad and the wild mood swings I was having are pretty much a thing of the past.

    Good luck! 

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  • Hipline
    Hipline Member Posts: 195
    edited September 2012

    Thank you all for posting. I need sleep! I can fall asleep but within a few hours I am throwing covers off. I am sleeping in the nude because I get so dang hot. I know I am driving my husband crazy and he would be very pleased for me to settle down. I thought maybe I should just ask the Dr for a sleeping pill but now I am going to explore Effexor, thanks.

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  • bookart
    bookart Member Posts: 564
    edited September 2012

    I was on the 37.5 dose of the generic.  I took it about 8 months for hot flashes.  I guess I'm sensitive, because although it helped immensely with the hot flashes, i felt drugged and sleepy all day, and mentally dull.  People noticed.  I tried taking it earlier in the evening, so that I could wake up better in the morning, but nothing worked.  I finally decided to get off of it, and just stopped taking it.  MISTAKE.  Fell into a depression!  Eventually had to go on Prozac to get out of depression.  Still felt drugged and somewhat dull mentally, although better than Effexor.  Weaned off Prozac about 4 months ago, and people keep telling me how good I look.  I feel like myself again.  Of course, I still have hot flashes, but they are not as bad as they were.  I don't know what I'll do if they come back at that intense level again.  I won't go on Effexor.

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  • marjie
    marjie Member Posts: 1,134
    edited September 2012

    So far so good - I don't know what happened the first time dose I took, but it seems to be fine now. My hot flashes which were really severe have stopped instantly and I'm getting much better rest at night.  I am so much more comfortable and hope this keeps on working!

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