Effexor Dosage

Hello @c411d and welcome to Mayo Connect.

You are asking very good questions about the side effects of the medications that you are taking. As you may know, everyone's response to meds is different, so it is difficult to say how much longer these side effects will last. The fact that you have been on this combination of meds for several months now, suggests that you might want to discuss how you are feeling with your prescribing doctor and inquire if you should lower the dose of one of the meds.

If you are comfortable sharing more, what else are you doing to treat the anxiety? For example, do you have a gym membership, do you exercise at home with videos or do you walk? What about breathing exercises and/or meditation?

Often with anxiety, the combination of physical and social activity is more effective than just meds alone.

Will you post again and let me know how you are doing?

I get more and more dismayed with the way doctors prescribe. In my opinion Effexor should have never been prescribed for menopause problems. These doctors have to stop pulling out their prescription pads and writing heavy duty meds without trying alternative methods first. They’re getting so many in major messes with their over prescribing.

Hello @sears

I appreciate your thoughts on prescriptions for menopausal issues. Do you have any experiences that you would like to share regarding other ways to treat this type of anxiety?

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.

I’ve been on anxiety meds since I’m 25 yrs old. I was only switched to Effexor to see if it will help with the stubborn anxiety being caused by perimenopause. I’ve consulted with my GYN regarding hormones and he is against it because of the potential risks of cancer and blood clots. He rather me deal with my Psychiatrist to treat the anxiety issue head on. With that being said, I wasn’t just thrown on it for menopause

Hi. I speak with someone for CBT. I have been doing acupuncture weekly. And now with the warmer weather coming, I plan on walking more. As of today we lowered the Effexor dose so I am hoping that it will help level me out again. It’s only when my period decides to show up that things go wacky. I’ve maintained my GAD pretty well through these years until Perimenopause. It seems to combat my meds and it’s been quite a roller coaster ride that I hope will soon stop

Have you tried bio identical hormones?

Agree. I recall my mother going through menopause after having hysterectomy being prescribed Valium!

How many years ago was this? We need these doctors to become more aware and knowledgeable about the harm these physchiatric drugs can do. Not the Benzos so much nowadays, but they hand out the antipsychotics and antidepressants out like candy.

So sorry I must have misread your post. I thought you said several months.