Effexor

[Kell_11]

Hi all, my onc. is putting me on venlaflaxine (effexor) for hot flashes. Has anyone else tried this, does it work? One of the side effects says in increased sweating!

[Tall_Allen]

Yes it works, but you may find that estrogen or megace patches (with tamoxifen) works better. If you want to handle it without more drugs, acupuncture has been shown to be effective.

[Tjc1]

Magace will work. You will feel effexor i think. Magace had no effects on me rather than of course, stopping the hot flashes.

[Lombardi24]

It didnt work for me and it contributes to ED. My doc has prescribed gabapentin 300mg 2x daily for hot flashes and it has reduced them greatly.

[DenDoc]

I tried everything mentioned by others here including Accupuncture. The only thing that works for me is an Estrogen Patch(Climara). Look up work by Richard Wassersug, a Canadian researcher who is a fellow traveler in the PCa arena. Publishes a lot on estrogen therapy.

[arete1105]

Sweet relief in less than a week!

A study published in Molecular and Clinical Oncology looked at women who had their estrogen levels suppressed as part of their breast cancer therapy. They'd all had surgery to remove their tumors and had been on anti-hormonal treatments for at least three months before the study.

And they were all complaining of some pretty significant menopause symptoms.

But they were able to get significant relief once they started supplementing with either pure sunflower honey or a mixture of honey and bee pollen.3

Participants ate a tablespoon a day of either a mixture of pollen and honey or just pure honey for two weeks, took a two-week break, and then switched to the other treatment for another two weeks. The type of honey used in the study was produced by European honeybees (Apis mellifera), the common type consumed in America.

The results were eye opening. Over two-thirds of the patients who completed the study reported an improvement in their symptoms--and many experienced benefits within just three or four days. Patients taking aromatase inhibitors experienced more improvement than women treated with Tamoxifen.

Interestingly, although the researchers had set out to test the efficacy of only bee pollen, there wasn't much difference between the pollen-honey mixture or pure honey treatment

[TNCanuck]

It's been very effective in relieving my husband's hot flashes. I hope it works as well for you!

[Kell_11 in reply to TNCanuck]

Thanks. I hope so too! Just started this morning.

[Joeym1040]

Only thing that worked for me after 5 yrs of a hot flash every 45 minutes like clockwork.

Drs would not give memegace or anything else. A nurse suggested it effexor (simvastatin). Started with 75 mg daily and it did not diminish number of attacks but drastically reduced the severity. Gradually moved to 37.5mg and not on 37.5mg every other day. Like all theses medications they seem to affect everyone differently. I also did try acupuncture, chinese herbs, ambien to help seep NOTHING SEEMED TO WORK FOR ME EXCEPT simvastatin.

[Rbtflr]

I have been on Effexor XR 75mg (Venlafaxine) since 2011 when after RP and radiation failed, I was diagnosed stage IV metastatic (biopsy) and put on Lupron and Casodex. Helped with the hot flashes but did not stop them. It did help me even more with anxiety and depression after the diagnosis. It has made my quality of life better. I use to choke up with a ball in my throat and tear up at anything. Effexor stopped that for me. Got off it a couple of times for a while but the emotions, depression and hot flashes would flare up again. I know about possible side effects but I do not want to be like that around the wife and kids or anyone else. I want quality of life as long as I can and this drug works for me. Best of luck to you.

[larry_dammit]

On Effexor twice a day for hot flashes and mood swings, yes it helps me but doesn’t get rid of them completely. Daughter gave me a hand held fan/air conditioner pretty handy. Think she got it on Amazon . Fight the good fight

[BigM62]

It’s actually a great anxiety medication as well. Can help give more motivation and slow down mood swings. So many of us don’t realize our short fuse irittations are depression.

[Kell_11 in reply to BigM62]

I was hoping for that too BigM, I have plenty of anxiety to get rid of !! Just started taking it yesterday 37 mg. for a week then 70mg. daily. We'll see

[BigM62 in reply to Kell_11]

Are you feeling any better at this point?

[Kell_11 in reply to BigM62]

Hi Bigm. The hot flashes i think may be a little less intense, its hard to tell because its been so hot & humid here. Also it makes me a little anxious sometimes & weird dreams at night, trouble falling asleep. Im gonna give it some more time and see if the side effects are worth it.

Fight on brother!

[robbo262]

Hi Kell

I have been on Effexor 150 mg for about 8 months. I started at 75 and didnt notice much change so my doc bumped it up to 150 which I thought was much more effective. As some have mentioned here, it also is a mood elevator and who among who is suffering advanced PCa couldn't benefit from a mood elevator?

One thing I have noticed is while I have fewer "hot flashes" that come upon me without warning, last for 30-40 minutes and then subside, I am still sweating constantly this summer. I live in NH and this has been a perfect summer in my opinion in terms of weather: sunny, warm to hot, sometimes very humid and so have been pouring sweat out all day long, especially working in the yard, kayaking, hiking, biking etc.

The change has been radical in terms of how much I perspired prior to lupron, zytiga, prednisone, decadron. I find i have to be careful in terms of fluid intake as while I dont have hot flashes much, I perspire all day long like a faucet leaking. I keep a handkerdhief in my pockets all the time to wipe my brow. I also find I need to drink water constantly to keep adequately hydrated.

I have a suprapubic catheter as a result of my salvage prostatectomy so I can measure my urinary output very easily and when my urine is dark, stinky, and low volume I know i need to increase intake. I suggest you give it a try and see how it works, if they start you on 75mg you can try 150. My palliative care team also has other drugs we are talking about switching to if this continues to be a problem. The important thing is manage the dehydration.

If you are on a bunch of other drugs that effect the temperature regulation system in the hypothalamus then you really need to monitor fluid intake religiously, moreso if you live in hot climate.

stay well and stay in touch

Rob

[robbo262]

I just reread this after i posted it....make sure you understand I am not suggesting you try a suprapubic catheter! haha

[larry_dammit]

Two pills a day for the hot flashes and mild depression, I also have a small portables hand held fan that I carry with me. Can get on amazon