Has anybody had any luck on this medication? I know there are side effects but how common are they? I just started and not quite sure I need it. I'm 52 and menopausal. I've been irritable ,foggy thinking ,headaches, insomnia and some anxiety. My mom passed away in June and feeling down about that. Night sweats are bad too.

Hi Rosie,
I'm so sorry that you're having to deal with your mother's recent death. My sympathies to you.

Regarding Effexor - it is one of several SSRI antidepressants. I work in the mental health field and also take antidepressants for my major depression. Just like most medications, Effexor can affect different people differently in terms of effectiveness and side effects. Antidepressants usually take a few weeks to reach full effect, so you have to be patient unless you're experiencing intolerable side effects. If Effexor isn't right for you, you'll know it and can ask for a different antidepressant. I take Zoloft with good success and no real side effects other than constipation. Sometimes the doctors get it right on the first try - other times they don't. It isn't an exact science. Just out of curiosity, is your doctor a psychiatrist?

In terms of night sweats, it's the same trial and error process. I had great success with bioidentical estrogen and progesterone; others have found different solutions.

Hang in there - at 52 you're probably close to the end of the worst.

Cesca

Hi Rosie,
Sorry about the loss of your Mom ....Give yourself time and go thru the grieving process as long as you need to...

Regarding Effexor - I personally have not used it but my sister in law uses it and she swears by it...And she hasn't had any side effects - she's been on it for over a year.

Blessings,
Stacy

My first week on Effexor was good!I have been back at work and feeling very competent. ...and not too frantic ...have upped the dosage since Wednesday and have been dizzy (mid mornings) with a "buzzing headache". I also get ravenously hungry in the afternoons.

Hi Rosie

I was diagnosed with Panic Disorder and PTSD quite a few years ago and after trying a number of anti depresants, I found Effexor initially to work well for me. But, I think these disorders themselves are much of a roller coaster ride affected by outside situations, stress...etc. I had been doing quite well on the Effexor and .25 xanax only as needed. But right now, I have had a bit of a back slide and so I just switched the xanax to the xanax xr and feel a bit spacey with that. My dr would like me to increase the effexor even more or add a different med. I am on 175 mg but I am hesitant to do this.

If anyone has any suggestion, please reply.

Angie

As mentioned before Effexor is a good antidepressant only if it works for you...unfortunately it's a trial and error process with antidepressants. My sister is taking Effexor and doing well; I also have a co-worker who calls it her "happy pill" and have been taking Effexor for years. Effexor helped my co-worker to breeze through menopause. I tried it only once and it made me feel strange, but I've also not been able to tolerate any SSRI antidepressants. For over a year I've been taking Wellbutrin and doing okay. I hope that you find what works well for you .

My doctor prescribed Effexor for me last week after my body went haywire on a different anti-depressant --horrible joint pain, insomnia, hot flashes that began with anxiety and that could fry an egg.

I tried it for two days and that was it, none of my previous symptoms minimized and I got the added benefit of really weird and vivid dreams when I finally could fall asleep.

Those anti-depressants are all rat poison as far as I am concerned. I am determined to find a better way to deal.
T