All women are going to go through menopause. Millions of women go through menopause without being prescribed Effexor. There are more benign meds that can be prescribed if needed. I understand using low dose estrogen for a few years only can be helpful. OP will get through menopause sooner or later. Then she has to deal with the Effexor dependency and withdrawal. I wonder if her doctor explained what she will in all likelihood go through when menopause is over. Did he weigh the risks and benefits of this drug. I would bet he did not.