Effexor and menopause

I am F22, 5'6, 183 pounds and exercise daily. I am white. I haven't lost weight on the scale yet, but I've gone from a 36 inch waist to a 30 inch waist. I don't drink, I don't do drugs but I do vape. Ive taken 37.5mg of Effexor for the past 4 days after ceasing Sertraline 75mg after 3 months. Diabetes does run in my family but typically during menopause/older age. My grandfather had type 1 diabetes and he died at 57 years old. My last blood test was in 2022 in the ER due to abdominal pain. Cystic leisons in pelvic area, cystic leisons around bladder extending to my interior abdominal muscle/internal debris found and SI joint arthritis. Other than that, unremarkable. Tip top shape. I had my Mirena IUD taken out April 17th 2024. Today my boyfriend brought donuts home and I had four within the course of a few hours. Eventually I went to the gym, worked out for an hour and came back upstairs. Enjoyed another delicious donut. I don't typically eat sugar because I'm not a fan of sweets and the most sugar I get in a day is from ketchup or grapes. My period was/is two days late so I did what any responsible and paranoid young lady would do and took a test. The test required me to pee into the little cup it provided and use a dropper to transfer the urine into the test. I urinated into the cup and noticed a sweet smell. I smelled myself and my clothes because it honestly smelled exactly like donuts or a gourmand vanilla perfume. No, not me, so I brought the cup up to my nose to get a closer smell. My urine smelled like the donut glaze they use at Tim Hortons, which is exactly where the donuts I enjoyed came from. I finished the test, I am not pregnant, yippe! I have been noticing odd symptoms that easily could be explained by other things going on in my life. Dry mouth, thirsty constantly, urinating constantly, fatigue, blurry vision: SSRI. I stopped taking Sertraline very specifically because a few times a week I would wake up dizzy, shaking, nauseous, diarrhea, blurry vision, laggy vision and rapid heart beat. I'd get up, unlock the door incase I needed to call 911, get my gigantic water bottle, find my way into a hot shower and sit in it until I felt "settled" and then eat a bite of an uncrustable. I would go back to bed and hope I wouldn't die. I'd wake up feeling better but overall lethargic. My doctor said it's not possible Sertraline was the cause of this because he confirmed I didnt have serotonin Syndrome. He seemed frustrated but switched me anyways because he had no explanation otherwise. I noticed about a few months ago my urine smelled like the buttered popcorn and I never thought much about it, since I am not a peeologist. 

About an hour after my sweet urine dilemma I started to feel like garbage. Perhaps anxiety, perhaps not. All I know, is that it probably wasn't a great idea to smarf down 4 donuts at once and then 1 donut after the gym. I don't typically eat donuts, but I was so hungry and they really hit the spot.

A few questions. Is it possible to have sweet smelling urine without having diabetes? Is it possible that because I don't eat much sugar that I didn't notice until now? Am I just overly anxious about my other symptoms and being paranoid? If I am diabetic do SSRI's & SNRI'S affect your blood glucose or insulin? 

I have an appointment with my doctor on the 23rd and I will be bringing it up with him. I just don't want to sound crazy or overly paranoid about my health. If this is concerning (which all put together sounds like it is lol), I do live with my boyfriend so he will be around to keep an eye on me. I also acknowledge I am overweight and I am working on it actively by daily exercise, caloric deficit and healthy foods.

I met with an old friend a couple of weeks ago. We hadn’t seen each other for a few years. She looked great, and was very happy so I told her so. She thanked me and said that she felt it was, in part, due to having gone on hormone replacement therapy. She described her symptoms, and how happy she was to get a doctor willing to listen to her concerns. As I listened, I realized that I had many of the same concerns and maybe HRT was the answer.
I scheduled an appointment to discuss my menopause symptoms with my primary care practitioner for last Friday, May 3. Naïvely, I thought it was going to be an easy pitch, I would go in, tell her what was going on (the list is long), ask for the HRT, she would pull out her little prescription pad, and life would be happy ever after. The end.
Friday afternoon, I went in and told her everything going on, even going so far as to include a checklist. She commented how helpful the checklist was. When I said I was interested in hormone replacement therapy, she told me, “We don’t really prescribe hormone replacement therapy anymore because of the cancer risks for many women.” Etc., etc. She then went on to recommend Effexor.
Defeated and not knowing any better, I accepted the Effexor prescription and filled it. I got home and read the package insert, growing increasingly concerned over the list of side effects. I immediately went to Reddit, knowing there had to be something about menopause and Effexor and found this wonderful place. Based on some of the stories here, I knew that Effexor wasn’t for me, especially since I had experienced suicidal ideation on some previous antidepressants.
I sent a message to my provider through MyChart and told her that I would not be starting this medication as I felt it would exacerbate many of the symptoms I was complaining about. I spent the weekend pissed off that my practitioner, first, was so uninformed about current understanding of the risks and benefits of HRT, and second brushed off my symptoms as being in my head or depression.
On Monday, I looked on the website for my network provider, part of a large teaching hospital, and tried to book an appointment at the women’s care center. The woman on the phone who took my information was very sweet and kindly booked me an appointment for the first available time…in November.
After I got off the phone, I searched for online menopause providers. I was able to book a consultation yesterday, and picked up my complete HRT kit- dotti transdermal patch, progesterone caps, and estradiol vaginal cream- from the pharmacy this afternoon.
While I know that I probably won’t be singing joyfully with woodland animals, I am hopeful that HRT is a part of the plot in a new story free of joint pain, hot flashes, disturbed sleep, itchy nether regions, indescribable rage, and myriad other joys that have been my experience of “the change.”

September last year I developed strange left -sided chest pain just below the clavicle. I had I checked out by my cardiologist (12-led ECK and ultrasound) and he gave me the all clear. It sort of went away for a couple of months, but came back with a vengeance at Christmas complimented by a burning pain from left jaw to arm. I went to the ER where I had blood work, 12-led EKG and act scan of the thoracic area. All came back clear. I was put on ppi (pantoprazole) and Effexor for panic.
I since then visited a neurology’s who via MRI found a slight disc bulge c5-c7 which shouldn’t cause any symptoms.
After three months I stopped ppi but kept on Effexor (37,5 mg) as I didn’t see a massive change.
After a couple of weeks I experienced severe, strange long neck pain, chest burning and a racing heart which of cause took me back to the ER- again the EKG, blood work and X-ray of lungs which have the all clear. I was suggested to stop Effexor as it could cause some symptoms. While the neck is somewhat better, I still have the tightness in the neck and some chest burning coupled with a high resting pulse. Back at the cardiologist… I wore a Holter monitor for 48 hours, another ultrasound and EKG and a stress test- all came back clear.
Today I started on the PPIs again to see if it could indeed be GERD but that somehow the Effexor made the pantoprazole less effective.
Heart rate seems a bit better, but too early to say.
Could the two meds have caused some sort of interaction that resulted in little relief? And the PPI indeed work better if not with Effexor?
Could it be a hiatal hernia?
Or even neck related though neurologist says no?
My electrolytes are fine. I have been tested for Lyme and H pylori that are also negative.
I’m on the waiting list for an gastroscopy - earliest time is September.
Has anyone experienced anything similar? I’m tired of being put in the anxiety/ menopause drawer as I know that it is something else.

Hiatal hernia, GERD or neck related?
Female 45 years, 65 kg, 165 cm
September last year I developed strange left -sided chest pain just below the clavicle. I had I checked out by my cardiologist (12-led ECK and ultrasound) and he gave me the all clear. It sort of went away for a couple of months, but came back with a vengeance at Christmas complimented by a burning pain from left jaw to arm. I went to the ER where I had blood work, 12-led EKG and act scan of the thoracic area. All came back clear. I was put on ppi (pantoprazole) and Effexor for panic. GO says throat is fine and dentists says teeth/ mouth is fine too.
I since then visited a neurology’s who via MRI found a slight disc bulge c5-c7 which shouldn’t cause any symptoms.
After three months I stopped ppi but kept on Effexor (37,5 mg) as I didn’t see a massive change.
After a couple of weeks I experienced severe, strange long neck pain, chest burning and a racing heart which of cause took me back to the ER- again the EKG, blood work and X-ray of lungs which have the all clear. I was suggested to stop Effexor as it could cause some symptoms. While the neck is somewhat better, I still have the tightness in the neck and some chest burning coupled with a high resting pulse. Back at the cardiologist… I wore a Holter monitor for 48 hours, another ultrasound and EKG and a stress test- all came back clear.
Today I started on the PPIs again to see if it could indeed be GERD but that somehow the Effexor made the pantoprazole less effective.
Heart rate seems a bit better, but too early to say.
Could the two meds have caused some sort of interaction that resulted in little relief? And the PPI indeed work better if not with Effexor?
Could it be a hiatal hernia?
Or even neck related though neurologist says no?
My electrolytes are fine. I have been tested for Lyme and H pylori that are also negative.
I’m on the waiting list for an gastroscopy - earliest time is September.
Has anyone experienced anything similar? I’m tired of being put in the anxiety/ menopause drawer as I know that it is something else.
I since then visited a neurology’s who via MRI found a slight disc bulge c5-c7 which shouldn’t cause any symptoms.
After three months I stopped ppi but kept on Effexor (37,5 mg) as I didn’t see a massive change.
After a couple of weeks I experienced severe, strange long neck pain, chest burning and a racing heart which of cause took me back to the ER- again the EKG, blood work and X-ray of lungs which have the all clear. I was suggested to stop Effexor as it could cause some symptoms. While the neck is somewhat better, I still have the tightness in the neck and some chest burning coupled with a high resting pulse. Back at the cardiologist… I wore a Holter monitor for 48 hours, another ultrasound and EKG and a stress test- all came back clear.
Today I started on the PPIs again to see if it could indeed be GERD but that somehow the Effexor made the pantoprazole less effective.
Heart rate seems a bit better, but too early to say.
Could the two meds have caused some sort of interaction that resulted in little relief? And the PPI indeed work better if not with Effexor?
Could it be a hiatal hernia?
Or even neck related though neurologist says no?
My electrolytes are fine. I have been tested for Lyme and H pylori that are also negative.
I’m on the waiting list for an gastroscopy - earliest time is September.
Has anyone experienced anything similar? I’m tired of being put in the anxiety/ menopause drawer as I know that it is something else.

New here, 56F post-menopausal, recent osteopenia diagnosis. Have had mild symptoms for years (arthralgia, night sweats, now frozen shoulder).
Gyn recommends Estradiol transdermal patch + Progesterone to help with bone mineral density in addition to increasing calcium, D, weight bearing exercise. Says may also help mild depression and anxiety.
Have just started Effexor SNRI on advice of neuro, as it may improve migraines (unable to take tryptans, etc due to another condition), and now also for mental health benefit.
Just now seeing that SSRIs and SNRIs contribute to bone loss and I could scream. The research is exhausting. Anyone have any experience with Estradiol helping with anxiety, depression, or bone loss?

New here, 56F post-menopausal, recent osteopenia diagnosis. Have had mild symptoms for years (arthralgia, night sweats, now frozen shoulder).
Gyn recommends Estradiol transdermal patch + Progesterone to help with bone mineral density in addition to increasing calcium, D, weight bearing exercise. Says may also help mild depression and anxiety.
Have just started Effexor SNRI on advice of neuro, as it may improve migraines (unable to take tryptans, etc due to another condition), and now also for mental health benefit.
Just now seeing that SSRIs and SNRIs contribute to bone loss and I could scream. The research is exhausting. Anyone have any experience with Estradiol helping with anxiety, depression, or bone loss?

I've (49, peri) been asking for HRT for about a year, finding some relief with BioLabs lotions. I have so many of the symptoms, was on sick leave last year before I figured out it was peri. Now hot flashes are waking me up so I asked if birth control was an option as the dr (I'm in Canada) won't give me HRT until I'm fully menopausal. So yeah, I learned that the only thing my doctor will give me is Effexor.
This is just a rant... On top of numerous symptoms, I'm really struggling with chronic depression and feel it's completely due to peri as I'd never had it until a few years ago. I'm desperate to start HRT and have no risk factors!
I haven't done well on SNRIs or SSRIs and just don't want to start a new drug. Just so disheartening.

I just started taking Effexor (lowest dose) once a day to help with the night sweats and hot flashes. ( I take nothing else for menopause) I would like input on how well it works for this and how long before I start seeing my sweats disappear or subside. Any input from people taking this for menopausal night sweats would be greatly appreciated!

I am currently almost 3 weeks out from lumpectomy and most recently visited my oncologist. I was taken back by that appt due to having to make a decision on the medication route. I am currently on 10 mg of prozac for the past 10 years or so and am told that I cannot continue taking that due to the interactions with tamoxifen. So I have to decide to either start taking effexor and the tamoxifen or continue with the prozac and take anastrozole. I am only 45 and have not gone through menopause yet. Any advice or experiences are greatly appreciated. I feel nervous about changing my antidepressant.

In the last week my hot flashes have become really frequent and intense. It’s like when I was first put into menopause in 2011 and before going on Effexor. My HFs are always more noticeable in warm weather but this is crazy. I haven’t had any med changes.
Has anyone else had their HFs suddenly change like this?

My doctor prescribed me Effexor XR for depression & perimenopause symptoms. I am hesitant to start it because I have read so many bad reviews on Effexor about withdrawal symptoms when trying to wean off. I’ve read that this medication is the toughest and most horrific withdrawal to get off of even when weaning off slowly. Also, afraid of weight gain on this medication. Anyone have any advice about Effexor XR? Did it help your menopausal symptoms, any weight gain? Is this medication worth the bad withdrawal symptoms when trying to get off when ready to?

So.. 60 year old female. When I was 20 an eye doc diagnosed me with dry eye (after a car accident that had left glass bits in my eyes). Never suggested eye drops. Went right to these little plastic plugs. The one on my right side hurt all the time and scratched against my eye. It drove me nuts. I made him take them out. He told me I was crazy and that there was 'no way I could feel them'. I never went back.
Over the years, I occasionally could feel the dry eye. I drank more water and sometimes used artificial tears. But really rarely.
Until the last couple years... I expect it's a combination of age and menopause.. the dry eye had gotten worse but still manageable with drops and sometimes ointment. My regular eye doc never mentioned it.. the substitute doc I saw last time said that the severe drop in vision was due to dry eye but never mentioned doing anything about it. But it made me more aware of it.
Then about 6 weeks ago I went on effexor. Now my eyes look like a cartoon of Ren and Stimpy... or maybe just a caricature of a stoner. And they HURT. Especially on one side where it looks like I have a sore on the eyeball. I've upped my artificial tear usage but all the recalls and stuff have made me nervous. I'm trying to find the line on water consumption.. I was drinking "too much" and my urologist cut it by half. And that has made the dry eye worse. (how the heck do you choose between eyes and kidneys?)
ANYWAY... that's the background. The question is... mental health aside... Am I crazy? Does anyone else have issues with pain at the duct and scratching from the plastic? Reading through here it seems like punctal plugs are the go to. If so, how the heck do you 'get used to it'? I've been nervous about seeking treatment after what happened with the plugs before.
And what kind of doctor do you see for dry eyes? My pcp just said 'drops' and that's not cutting it. My reg eye doc is an optometrist.. is that where I should be getting help or do I need an opthamologist?
And lastly.. is any of this covered by your health insurance?
Thanks

Effexor worked for a bit, but then it didn't. I don't want to be addicted to something that isn't working 100% so i tapered.
I have been off for over a month at least .... I'm not in a good place at all.
I've heard that these withdrawals can mess me up for a long time.
I don't know if this is depression or withdrawal anymore. Could me peri menopause, doc says I've got all the symptoms of that too.
ADHD meds aren't working either.
I don't know what's normal anymore, I don't know how to adjust, my doctor is helpful, but she has no idea what to do, I've tried a bunch of SSRIs and they aren't helpful.
I'm waitlisted to see physc folks, but that's a looooonng list.
To the people that have been off effexsor ... How long did it take for you to feel normal again (whatever your normal is)?

How do you know if you have pmdd
Hey everyone I’m new here. I’ve suffered my whole life with things I wasn’t sure what it was but before I go into “my story” I have one basic question how did you know you had pmdd? And did anything help it? My primary suggested I may but no real way to know for sure? Thanks.
Edit: here is my story for as long as I can remember, I have been extremely up-and-down with my moods. I thought it was just normal or in my genes haha. My periods were always pretty irregular. up until I had bariatric surgery in 2020 that my periods became more regular but not always sometimes it be over a month and still not there but most times it’s 3 to 3 1/2 weeks on the dot. I got the more “ crazy” feeling before my period. I’m talking extreme, highs and extreme lows. so I just kind of went with it because I thought that’s who I was but then I started having physical symptoms such as lightheaded and dizziness, shaking, tingling, panic attacks, etc etc , and I’ve suffered with depression and anxiety, my whole life so like I said, I didn’t really realize it was getting worse until it was really bad.. and I snapped. Before I snapped, I started and had been tracking my cycle because we have been trying to have a baby since we got married in 2012. I haven’t been on birth control since my early 20s and honestly I felt like that made me more crazy but maybe not maybe it was just me . I am now 37 years old now. So trying to make a long story short here, when I lost my stepdad unexpectedly and then my dog not even a month later unexpectedly everything got way worse and I had loss before so it didn’t make sense . But nothing like him. I had suicidal thoughts in the past verying, but I knew I was too weak to ever do anything about it and care too much about everybody else, but I always felt like the world would be better off without me and I would just “go crazy”. But then I’d be fine and be like hmm ok I’m good. it was so up-and-down I thought maybe I’m bipolar. So Therapy and everything they said I have anxiety and depression but no bipolar and when I snapped, they decided I needed medication. Well, anxiety and extreme medication anxiety that was a whole Nother story after trying a few that were awful for me, I finally found something that worked for me. Buspar it took the edge off, but still wasn’t enough. I did that for about six months and realized I’m still so hot and cold and I’m still crying a lot . I couldn’t be alone. It was so much but trust me it was bad. It was so bad I was begging my husband to admit me to a psychiatric hospital. I was having thoughts nobody should have, and it just wasn’t me like I said, I thought about not wanting to be in this world in the past but nothing like this. And even when I felt “good” I still didn’t have motivation or I’m always tired. I always have lots headaches and feel dragged down. I feel broken. Of course they started blaming my surgery. Before that they blamed my weight, However, I have felt this way before my surgery so I knew that wasn’t it. So we decided to try Effexor for it and my headaches. And hydroxyzine as needed to get through the slump, and it was a hard slump. But slowly it changed my life. Not completely but enough live. It’s a Band-Aid not a fix but I definitely was doing better to the point. My husband said he married another woman meaning me. 😭 at one point I wouldn’t even want to see anybody and that is not me like if people wanted to visit me always I will let them but even then I wouldn’t let people come over I wouldn’t go anywhere there was just so much . it’s been a year and a half and I feel myself back sliding very hot and cold again. Randomly yelling at my husband over stupid things. I don’t remember if I did that before but I’m sure I did and that had stopped feeling less motivated anxiety getting worse just all the things but it’s very up-and-down so when I think it’s worse and then I feel better. I’m like OK it’s all my head I’m fine. I went to a new primary doctor because we moved in November and she mentioned PMDD and that she prescribes the medication I’m on for that and that maybe we should raise it. I’m so torn to raise it or add Buspar what I am on now to see if it’s the perfect combination I’m on a very low-dose because of bariatric surgery but I did raise it last year around this time for 10 weeks and I thought it was making me feel worse but now I feel that way I did then and I’m thinking maybe it was seasonal. Of course sometimes I blame the medicine and think maybe that’s causing the issues but I know better. I told you this was long-winded, so I apologize. However, as far as the period goes, I have always felt worse around my period but mostly the week before with tracking I realize it’s like 10 days. with my cycles being so short, I feel like I get a week if that a feeling “good” it’s not great but it’s better. For example, a few days ago I was in ovulation. I felt great I was singing and all , making more plans and I thought oh my gosh maybe I don’t need up my medicine. And the last two days awful I have that burning panic sensation in my chest. My anxiety is awful. I feel grumpy. I feel sad and I feel like it’s slowly getting worse every time. The plans I made coming forward I’m starting to dread. Which I’m sure I’ll bounce back, but it’s just exhausting. I’m 37 years old and they thought maybe I was pre-menopause but nothing points to that yet either. So I started researching PMDD and I found an article that is exactly me but unfortunately with everything I feel it could be many different things so it’s hard to diagnose . changing eating habits and exercising I know, but what what else do you do to help this ? Does medication really the fix? Well Band-Aid not a fix , but you get the point makes life livable. It’s very hard for me to work out because when I do, my vertigo gets extremely worse and I feel like I’m going to faint even more. I’m working with doctors on part of it because who knows what that is. The best way I can explain it I just feel very hot and cold again like one minute I feel like I could murder my husband in the next minute. Angry , sad or happy never know what your gonna get but last few days just so angry and down. I just want to love on him and if he doesn’t give me that love back, I cry. Mind you, on this medication I stopped crying as much because I’m a crier and cry about everything. Commercials, angry cry, sad cry, always crying so the medication gave me a break from crying to the point where sometimes I felt like I wanted to cry and couldn’t but then finally, I always would but it wasn’t as extreme as before, and it still isn’t, but I’m just afraid to go back there. I know this is long-winded, but I’m just not sure if this is what I have or if they’re just telling me it’s what I have to get me to shut up because of all my issues if that makes sense . But like I said I’ve always felt like it’s hormonal and it’s like I get a week of feeling emotionally good if that. and because my cycle is three weeks to 3 1/2 weeks it feels like I’m always not OK. Or not OK then I am briefly and it’s exhausting and nobody understands which is why I am posting here. there’s a lot I’m leaving out of this because if I said everything we’d be here forever but thank you for the advice and for listening and I understand doctors are what I need to talk to over reddit however, experience is important and while I’m waiting for my appointment I just wanted to see how it was diagnosed and what they do about it I spent the majority of my adult life, feeling insane and now I feel like this could’ve been it all along. And boy do I have stories about certain things that I did before medicine before I knew there was a problem I did that was absolutely crazy and I can’t believe my husband stayed by my side. It got pretty intense, but I just thought it was normal. And I’ve always been really good at putting on a happy face, and then behind closed doors, letting out to my safe place. And he doesn’t deserve that. He is absolutely amazing. Even though his emotions are not like mine he has done so much for me, and I want to be better for not only myself, but for him. I don’t even work and feel like such a loser, but with all the physical things I can barely get out of bed most days, so when the mental flares up, it’s even worse. Anyways, thanks again ! And if you read all this, I appreciate it

Hey everyone I’m new here. I’ve suffered my whole life with things I wasn’t sure what it was but before I go into “my story” I have one basic question how did you know you had pmdd? And did anything help it? My primary suggested I may but no real way to know for sure? Thanks.
Edit: here is my story for as long as I can remember, I have been extremely up-and-down with my moods. I thought it was just normal or in my genes haha. My periods were always pretty irregular. up until I had bariatric surgery in 2020 that my periods became more regular but not always sometimes it be over a month and still not there but most times it’s 3 to 3 1/2 weeks on the dot. I got the more “ crazy” feeling before my period. I’m talking extreme, highs and extreme lows. so I just kind of went with it because I thought that’s who I was but then I started having physical symptoms such as lightheaded and dizziness, shaking, tingling, panic attacks, etc etc , and I’ve suffered with depression and anxiety, my whole life so like I said, I didn’t really realize it was getting worse until it was really bad.. and I snapped. Before I snapped, I started and had been tracking my cycle because we have been trying to have a baby since we got married in 2012. I haven’t been on birth control since my early 20s and honestly I felt like that made me more crazy but maybe not maybe it was just me . I am now 37 years old now. So trying to make a long story short here, when I lost my stepdad unexpectedly and then my dog not even a month later unexpectedly everything got way worse and I had loss before so it didn’t make sense . But nothing like him. I had suicidal thoughts in the past verying, but I knew I was too weak to ever do anything about it and care too much about everybody else, but I always felt like the world would be better off without me and I would just “go crazy”. But then I’d be fine and be like hmm ok I’m good. it was so up-and-down I thought maybe I’m bipolar. So Therapy and everything they said I have anxiety and depression but no bipolar and when I snapped, they decided I needed medication. Well, anxiety and extreme medication anxiety that was a whole Nother story after trying a few that were awful for me, I finally found something that worked for me. Buspar it took the edge off, but still wasn’t enough. I did that for about six months and realized I’m still so hot and cold and I’m still crying a lot . I couldn’t be alone. It was so much but trust me it was bad. It was so bad I was begging my husband to admit me to a psychiatric hospital. I was having thoughts nobody should have, and it just wasn’t me like I said, I thought about not wanting to be in this world in the past but nothing like this. And even when I felt “good” I still didn’t have motivation or I’m always tired. I always have lots headaches and feel dragged down. I feel broken. Of course they started blaming my surgery. Before that they blamed my weight, However, I have felt this way before my surgery so I knew that wasn’t it. So we decided to try Effexor for it and my headaches. And hydroxyzine as needed to get through the slump, and it was a hard slump. But slowly it changed my life. Not completely but enough live. It’s a Band-Aid not a fix but I definitely was doing better to the point. My husband said he married another woman meaning me. 😭 at one point I wouldn’t even want to see anybody and that is not me like if people wanted to visit me always I will let them but even then I wouldn’t let people come over I wouldn’t go anywhere there was just so much . it’s been a year and a half and I feel myself back sliding very hot and cold again. Randomly yelling at my husband over stupid things. I don’t remember if I did that before but I’m sure I did and that had stopped feeling less motivated anxiety getting worse just all the things but it’s very up-and-down so when I think it’s worse and then I feel better. I’m like OK it’s all my head I’m fine. I went to a new primary doctor because we moved in November and she mentioned PMDD and that she prescribes the medication I’m on for that and that maybe we should raise it. I’m so torn to raise it or add Buspar what I am on now to see if it’s the perfect combination I’m on a very low-dose because of bariatric surgery but I did raise it last year around this time for 10 weeks and I thought it was making me feel worse but now I feel that way I did then and I’m thinking maybe it was seasonal. Of course sometimes I blame the medicine and think maybe that’s causing the issues but I know better. I told you this was long-winded, so I apologize. However, as far as the period goes, I have always felt worse around my period but mostly the week before with tracking I realize it’s like 10 days. with my cycles being so short, I feel like I get a week if that a feeling “good” it’s not great but it’s better. For example, a few days ago I was in ovulation. I felt great I was singing and all , making more plans and I thought oh my gosh maybe I don’t need up my medicine. And the last two days awful I have that burning panic sensation in my chest. My anxiety is awful. I feel grumpy. I feel sad and I feel like it’s slowly getting worse every time. The plans I made coming forward I’m starting to dread. Which I’m sure I’ll bounce back, but it’s just exhausting. I’m 37 years old and they thought maybe I was pre-menopause but nothing points to that yet either. So I started researching PMDD and I found an article that is exactly me but unfortunately with everything I feel it could be many different things so it’s hard to diagnose . changing eating habits and exercising I know, but what what else do you do to help this ? Does medication really the fix? Well Band-Aid not a fix , but you get the point makes life livable. It’s very hard for me to work out because when I do, my vertigo gets extremely worse and I feel like I’m going to faint even more. I’m working with doctors on part of it because who knows what that is. The best way I can explain it I just feel very hot and cold again like one minute I feel like I could murder my husband in the next minute. Angry , sad or happy never know what your gonna get but last few days just so angry and down. I just want to love on him and if he doesn’t give me that love back, I cry. Mind you, on this medication I stopped crying as much because I’m a crier and cry about everything. Commercials, angry cry, sad cry, always crying so the medication gave me a break from crying to the point where sometimes I felt like I wanted to cry and couldn’t but then finally, I always would but it wasn’t as extreme as before, and it still isn’t, but I’m just afraid to go back there. I know this is long-winded, but I’m just not sure if this is what I have or if they’re just telling me it’s what I have to get me to shut up because of all my issues if that makes sense . But like I said I’ve always felt like it’s hormonal and it’s like I get a week of feeling emotionally good if that. and because my cycle is three weeks to 3 1/2 weeks it feels like I’m always not OK. Or not OK then I am briefly and it’s exhausting and nobody understands which is why I am posting here. there’s a lot I’m leaving out of this because if I said everything we’d be here forever but thank you for the advice and for listening and I understand doctors are what I need to talk to over reddit however, experience is important and while I’m waiting for my appointment I just wanted to see how it was diagnosed and what they do about it I spent the majority of my adult life, feeling insane and now I feel like this could’ve been it all along. And boy do I have stories about certain things that I did before medicine before I knew there was a problem I did that was absolutely crazy and I can’t believe my husband stayed by my side. It got pretty intense, but I just thought it was normal. And I’ve always been really good at putting on a happy face, and then behind closed doors, letting out to my safe place. And he doesn’t deserve that. He is absolutely amazing. Even though his emotions are not like mine he has done so much for me, and I want to be better for not only myself, but for him. I don’t even work and feel like such a loser, but with all the physical things I can barely get out of bed most days, so when the mental flares up, it’s even worse. Anyways, thanks again ! And if you read all this, I appreciate it

Hey Effexor Fam.
I've been a long time 225mg taker and I've noticed that since starting, even when I was on the 37.5mg dose I've just been running super hot. Even in winter I'll be in shorts and tshirts because I feel like I'm on fire. Has anyone else had this?
I feel like menopause will be a breeze when I get there with all the practic.

I have to get up and change tops I am post menopausal on low dose HRT and Effexor. I had terrible times sleeping so I also take Trazadone and an extended release melatonin. Any advice? Blood work is normal and I don’t have medical conditions that I know of. I will mention to my doctor Any suggestions?

Hi all! Just found my way here from menopause.
I’m 35 and just had a radical hysterectomy from endometrial cancer- everything went from quickly, diagnosed in early December, surgery late December and now just about to head back to work, but I am struggling!
Can’t do any hormones due to the type of cancer I had. Having issues sleeping due to crazy hot flashes and sweating while my entire body is shaking from chills. I go from angry to crying over silly things.
I have been taking Evening Primrose Oil and Vit D + K2. I’ve been on Venlafaxine/Effexor for many years. And was just prescribed Veozah, but I haven’t started it yet, as my doc follow up is next week. Just wondering if any other suggestions were to be found. I’ll be honest I’m feeling pretty miserable right now and very nervous as I’m due to go back to a pretty intense and demanding job next week and I am not feeling at all like myself!

I have a mom that is going through menopause. Recently, she said that she started feeling anxiety that feels overwhelming, and she says that she doesn't feel like herself. She is scared that she might hurt us or do something. These symptoms started when she watched a scary short video; it was part of a scary movie. This is what triggered the anxiety.
My mom is the nicest person I ever met; people love being around her because she is friendly to everyone. I saw her cry and it broke me; I don't know what to do. 😔
We went to the doctor and I asked her if she can do blood work to check her progesterone and estrogen levels and she said no, that she knew that they were going to be low. She prescribed effexor for her hot flashes and that's it. Today is her first day taking it so let's see how it goes. But I still think she should see another doctor for a second opinion. Have any of you felt this way before? If so, what helped you?

So I am continuing a slow transition from pristiq to trintellix, been on 50 of the former and 10 of the latter for a couple of months or so. I was also taking 7.5 mg mirtazapene (and also take .5 clonazepam in the morning and when I go to sleep) but my pdoc thought the hot flashes (and I'm male so not menopause, lol) might be due to too much norepinephrine which all three ADs could potentially raise, directly or indirectly. I had recent blood work which is fine so I know I dont have some blood cancer which is good as I definitely have health anxiety. I tapered the mirt over a couple of weeks and have had some rough days after getting off it (but I had some rough days on it too), diarrhea, aches, dry mouth at times, and anxiety and depression especially in the morning. However I dont know if that is from getting off the mirt. I assume the next part of this will be to lower the pristiq from 50 to 25 by alternating at first, then going to 25 but we have not set up a date to start that. I will see my pdoc again in early Feb. One thing for sure is that going off the mirt has not stopped the annoying hot flashes, which only happen at night, often I am unaware of some as my wife has found me sweating in the beginning of sleep sometimes, but I do notice when it happens before I fully wake up. I do recall stuff like this happening when I first got on pristiq but it went away after some time. Does the same thing happen with trintellix? Or could something else like an annoyed digestive system be the cause. I didnt have them when I was on 75 mg pristiq and 10 trint plus the 7.5 mirt so I am kind of surprised they showed up now. I dont get actual fever so I dont think its something non medicine related, also my apple watch would pick up significant temperature variations which it has not. Its only been a few days since stopping the mirt, maybe 5 or so, so maybe I just need to let time pass? My pdoc has had good success using trint as a way to get off pristiq or effexor and I really want it to work. I also think that if trint isnt the solutiont for my anxious depression that it is probably easier to switch from it to another ssri type drug that did work in the past like lexapro or zoloft, both of which worked well decades ago until they didnt or to something else. FWIW 5 mg of trint didnt bother me at all, the 10 mg does bother my stomach (never threw up though, the symptoms seem similar to what anxiety can do tbh, ie pain, the runs, gurgling, one difference is trint does cause more flatulence) but I take it with food in the morning to minimize those effects (sometimes works well, especially if my mood is also good). Maybe someone here can relate to some of this, anyway good luck to everyone else on your journey to wellness.

The weight gain is awful :-( the Effexor is so good for my mental heath and the other crap I have going on ( 150mg a day) but I just can’t do a diet for the life of me! I don’t know what it is, I just have no will power! I’ve been looking at weight loss drugs or supplements online…. Has anyone used these?? I’m 45 year old pre menopausal woman so also have that going on :-( normal weight 11 stone, I have put on two stone on Effexor! It’s the rock and hard place situation! Help aghhhhh

I was on Effexor to help with menopausal hot flashes and other symptoms. It really helped. Downside was my sex drive flatlined. So I went off but all of my hot flashes returned as did the other menopausal symptoms. I really want to go back on, but don’t like the sexual side effects.
Has anyone ever used vylessi while on Effexor to help increase sex drive? If so, did it work? Any side effects?