Effexor

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ever1
ever1 Member Posts: 26
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
Hi Everyone, My doctor has prescribed Effexor 75mg once a day for hot flashes/night sweats caused by chemo. I was wondering if Effexor worked for anyone here and if it did, how long before you noticed an improvement. Also, did you have any side effects from it? Thanks to everyone!

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  • JKAlley
    JKAlley Member Posts: 84
    #2
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    I just weened myself off Effexor a couple months ago. It worked great for me, I would still have hot flashes and night sweats, but not nearly as bad or as often. It was a while ago, but I think I remeber it didn't take long at all to start working. The only side effect I had was I was kind of an emotional flat line - Effexor is actually an anti-depresant. Things that would normally make me cry or upset me .... well it just didn't. I felt real bad (lol) but got over it pretty quick. I guess for someone coming off cancer treatments, this might not have been a bad thing. I became REAL mellow. Things like: oh, I have spots on my lung, hmmm, or I have this weird pain in my back, geezz. Kidding, kinda. It's a low dose I know, but I really did notice a difference both directions of my emotions. I stayed on for about a year and a half, went off as soon as I quit feeling any sort of hot flash. I did ween myself off slowly. Didn't want any emotional breakdowns!! Good luck, I think you'll find it helps alot, and is MUCH better than dealing with those personal summers, it's hot enough with out that.
  • Future
    Future Member Posts: 133 Member
    #3
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    I took effexor and it also worked great for me. You'll see some studies that recommend not taking it but I tried other meds/remedies and effexor was the best option for me.
  • Maeve0102
    Maeve0102 Member Posts: 6
    #4
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    Everyone reacts differently to medications because our chemical makeup is so diverse. Effexor was prescribed for me and I had side effects from it. That doesn't mean that you will so give it a couple of weeks. I think it takes about 3 weeks to a month, if taken every day, to start giving you some relief. If it doesn't work, there are many other anti-depressants that do work really well. I got a lot of relief from hot flashes by using the herbal medicine black cohosh. The brand I use is called Remifemin and is available in drug stores. I experienced no side effects from it. Good luck!
  • hounddog
    hounddog Member Posts: 115
    #5
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    Hello my name is Marilyn and I'm on Effexor Rx 75 mg for hot flashes and night sweats also .Effexor does help I don't know how long it took before it helped but I also have Depression and It also helps with that.
    Also a Friend from church told me to take vitamin e 1000 mg it also helps
    marilyn
  • goldentopaz50
    goldentopaz50 Member Posts: 1
    #6
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    Maeve0102 said:

    Everyone reacts differently to medications because our chemical makeup is so diverse. Effexor was prescribed for me and I had side effects from it. That doesn't mean that you will so give it a couple of weeks. I think it takes about 3 weeks to a month, if taken every day, to start giving you some relief. If it doesn't work, there are many other anti-depressants that do work really well. I got a lot of relief from hot flashes by using the herbal medicine black cohosh. The brand I use is called Remifemin and is available in drug stores. I experienced no side effects from it. Good luck!

    If your breast cancer was estrogen positive than it`s not a good idea to take the black cohosh. It acts as an estrogen in the body.
    Look up herbs that interfear with other medicines.
    Black cohosh and vitamin E was good for my hot flashes with my first cancer, the Dr.didnt want me on HRT because of the cancer, but breast cancer is a different thing you should ask your Dr. about it. Take care.

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