Should I take venlafaxine for sweating?

[Fishponds50]

Happy New Year to our wonderful community. I have posted on here before about my hot flashes/sweating linked to my PMR/GCA and Prednisolone medication and received helpful advice. Recently I had a medication review with my Practice Nurse and mentioned these flashes (day and night at least 15 per day for 6 years) and she said I should try Venlafaxine (a prescription antidepressant) that has been found to be effective for menopausal women who can’t take HRT and experience excessive sweating. I’ve had the 37.5 mg tablets for a few weeks now but I’m very unsure whether to take them or not owing to potential side effects and problems coming off the medication. I am currently taking 4mg of Prednisolone from a starting dose of 60 mg 6 years ago. I also take AA (for diagnosed osteoporosis) and have recently been started on Atorvastatin so already have a range of medication. Any thoughts around whether to take Venlafaxine or not gratefully received. Many thanks.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

But the sweating is due to something else, not menopause.

medlineplus.gov/druginfo/me...

healthline.com/health/drugs...

And there is the thought of getting off it later - and that isn't always as easy as it might be.

[Fishponds50 in reply to PMRpro]

Yes, my concern was once I’d started on them and given them an appropriate length of time to work or not, it would then be a challenge to come off them and I don’t experience depression, that’s why I’ve been holding off taking them. I’ve managed with the sweats for 6 years so I think I will carry on with that rather than introduce yet more strong medication. Thank you as always for your helpful response. You confirmed my thoughts.

[piglette]

As PMRPro says Venlafaxine is not for hot sweats caused by Pred. It is a bit worrying that she is so unaware of how drugs work. I worked with the drug industry for many years and it was a standing joke how little some doctors know about drugs, but were quite happy to prescribe them willy nilly.

[Fishponds50 in reply to piglette]

Thank you I quite agree. I find more and more you have to research and manage your condition and not rely on the professionals who tend to look at things in isolation and not the big picture. Thank you for your response.

[piglette in reply to Fishponds50]

If you want someone who knows about prescription drugs talk to your pharmacist at your local chemist. They are much better than doctors. The drug industry spend a fortune trying to train doctors about drugs, but it depends so much on the doctor being interested.

[Fishponds50 in reply to piglette]

Good idea - thank you x

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to piglette]

"They are much better than doctors"

But what about the one mentioned this morning claiming you CANNOT use more than 15mg for PMR????

[piglette in reply to PMRpro]

Frightening!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to piglette]

The GP claimed the same ...