← Return to Tips on minimizing withdrawal symptoms from Effexor (aka Venlafaxine)

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@texasduchess

@youngsally
Yes, this is why I was prescribed Effexor--for hot flashes. I developed breast cancer in 2000 and was pre-menopausal. The cancer was hormone-driven and I was put on Tamoxifen after a lumpectomy, chemo and radiation. The Tamoxifen binds with estrogen and after about 10 weeks on it, I began having hot flashes because I was going into a chemically-induced menopause. It is very common for breast cancer patients who can't have hormones to be put on Effexor to control hot flashes (well-known off-label use). It worked like a charm and I was on 25mg for 18 years. I was going to quit it about four years ago, but developed breast cancer again. This time I was facing double mastectomy, several reconstruction surgeries and 16 rounds of chemo and my doctor said let's put that on the back burner. I had no idea when I started Effexor that it was such a powerful drug, that it affected your brain neurotransmitters and was difficult to quit. I don't think my oncologist knew this either and he has been surprised by my continuing issues despite tapering off quite slowly. It has been my experience, however, that if there is a weird, or uncommon side effect to something, I'll get it.

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Replies to "@youngsally Yes, this is why I was prescribed Effexor--for hot flashes. I developed breast cancer in..."

I'd say that 18 years ago, it was still an underrecognized side effect...Keep working at the taper- there's certainly a lot of resources here to help with ideas. Are you taking an AI now? I understand that the mood swings on those have prescribers adding an antidepressant to the mix as standard after therapy.

Your case is basically my case. I was diagnosed with breast cancer in April 2016 and elected to go ahead and have the bilateral Mastectomy. I didn't have to have radiation or chemo (Thank God!), but I was put on the 37.5mg of Venlafaxine. I am now at 75mg and then I found out what a horrible drug it is. I missed my pill for three days due to a conflict at my pharmacy, and I had begun to have brain zaps, nausea, and upset stomach. I want to be off this drug and hopefully be put on something else for hot flashes if possible. My oncologist office says we can try tapering back down to the 37.5mg and see how that goes. Had I known this drug was so bad, I would have said no to being put on it, but I was never told about the side effects of coming off of it.