In 2001, I was very grateful that Effexor controlled my hot flashes—I was post-lumpectomy for hormone-driven breast cancer and going into a chemical menopause because of Tamoxifen; from one moment to the next, I'd be shivering, then so hot I couldn't stand it. From the first 25 mg dose, Effexor balanced my body temperature and allowed me to function. Other than getting a headache if I missed my daily dose, I never had any issues with Effexor.

However, for many, getting off Effexor (venlafaxine) can be difficult, if not impossible, because it is not supplied in dosages, or formulations that allow easy tapering and withdrawal effects show up VERY quickly. This is a BIG problem if you have to get off Effexor quickly because of health issues (raised blood pressure, weight gain/loss, dizziness, nausea, constipation, eyes/vision effects, sweating, insomnia, loss of sex drive/inability to orgasm, you are pregnant/trying to be, etc.), mental health effects (suicidal thoughts, indulging in risky behaviors. blunting of any/all emotions, etc.), or inability to get the medication (can no longer afford it, it's not available in your area/country, or you can't get a prescription). A study by Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics confirmed that people who stop antidepressants often experience severe withdrawal, which, in some cases, can last for months or YEARS. In my own experience (I am not a doctor, nor medical professional of any kind) and that of many others looking for help in quitting Effexor, VERY FEW psychiatrists, much less other types of doctors, know of the difficulty that people have getting off Effexor and other antidepressants.

You're the only one who can decide if the risk of possible difficulty getting off Effexor is worth the possible benefit of Effexor mitigating your hot flashes. You don't say how bad they are—I knew someone years ago whose hot flashes were so severe (her hair and clothes would be dripping wet within moments of one starting and they could happen more than once a day) that she seldom left her house and was pretty much a social recluse. I didn't know anything about Effexor when I started on it—I just knew that my moment-to-moment hot/cold flashes were hard to live with, so I took the Effexor without a qualm on my oncologist's recommendation.

You also don't mention your age. Menopause is not a condition you'll have forever—you go "through" it. Your menopausal symptoms could be short-lived ... but your being on Effexor could be of long duration. I ended up being on Effexor for almost 18 years; I decided to taper off Effexor because it seemed like a good time to do so—1) I was sure I must be "through" menopause, 2) I wasn't actively being treated for breast cancer and 3) my reconstruction surgeries were done.

I have been dealing with Effexor withdrawal since mid-2018 (I have PAWS—post-acute withdrawal syndrome). Looking back to 2001, I still would go on Effexor. But knowing how much time and $s for supplements it has taken me to get off Effexor, I'd not have quit it—I'd have just stayed on it. I no longer recommend Effexor to folks dealing with hot flashes anymore without warning them about the difficulty of getting off Effexor.