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My My GP prescribed Effexor in January. Hot flashes were frequent each day (and also at night), plus I felt anxious, was crabby (not usual for me) with no tolerance for stupidity! I also had difficulty sleeping, so lack of sleep wasn't helping my general frame of mind. I didn't feel like "myself" and I often wondered where an outburst had come from! After about 3 weeks, the hot flashes disappeared and I was ecstatic. After another 3-4 weeks I felt back to normal again no mood swings, I didn't feel anxious etc. and sleep was back to normal. After about 3 months, though, I started to get a bit anxious again, so I went to max dose of XR. It's now July and I feel great except the hot flashes are as regular as they were before I started, and have been for around the last 5 months. I have tried Black Cohosh, "Harmony" tablets no noticeable difference. I am now resigned to having to put up with them, and always carry an elegant fan, so I can help my face cool down. With each hot flash, the sweat (it's not perspiration or a "glow") runs down my face and neck, and down my back. It's horrible, but what can I do? Thank goodness for Effexor, though.

I am a 63 year-old woman who has experienced severe hot flashes since my mid-40s. HRT controlled the hot flashes, but that was stopped after 10 years, at which time the severe hot flashes resumed. With a little anxiety like a party, getting ready for work, a small glass of wine, I have dripping hot flashes from my face/neck area. I never go anywhere without a fan. NSAIDs for arthritis, Effexor XL, and Prilosec are my only meds. Xanax taken as needed helps a little. I am miserable, embarrassed, several times a week; have gotten used to night sweats. Black cohosh and soy products have been unsuccessful.

I had to have a complete hysterectomy when I was still relatively young. I was put on HRT and was on it for about 15 years. By then, my physicians had heard that for people with a family history of breast cancer, and mine has a strong history, we should probably not use HRT as it adds more risk. So, they just took me off the HRT cold turkey. I then had many of the same symptoms as anyone would with menopause. I found an herbalist who gave me a product she called menopause formula. It had one pill for the morning and one for the evening. It had black cohosh and valerian in the evening pill, and I don't remember what the morning pill consisted of, I wish I did. I had no side effects and was able to focus more during the day and sleep at night and had 0 hot flashes on them. I slowly weaned myself from these and have been fine since. I truly wish that I could find this lady now as my daughter is going through having a hysterectomy. She has the hot flashes, sudden mood swings, night sweats and can't sleep well. I will continue to look until I find the same type treatment for her, as I firmly believe in this alternative medication.

I am 62 and have had severe and frequent hot flashes for 13 years! I am in a high-risk group for breast cancer, so HRT was not a possibility. Four years ago, my doctor suggested trying 37.5 mg of Effexor XR daily. After trying other supposed remedies without success, I was astounded that it worked! It was a miracle treatment for me. I occasionally get mild hot flashes, but nothing like the severe ones I had before. Unfortunately, my health insurance will not pay for the medicine and it is $100 for 30 tablets. So, I pay for it out of pocket, and it is worth every penny!

I have found the best thing for eliminating hot flashes and night sweats. It's a product called Soy Balance. You can purchase it over the counter, and it works wonders, at least for me. When I don't take it, my hot flashes and night sweats are unbearable. When I continue to take it, I have no symptoms. I hope this information helps.

I happened to come into contact with poison ivy this summer (first time ever) and had a very severe reaction. The doctor prescribed steroids to help, and I also switched from Claritin (for my allergies) to Benadryl (to help the itching). Four weeks later, when I was finished with my poison ivy, I realized that while I was suffering with the rash, I didn't have any hot flashes. I went back to my routine with Claritin and noticed the hot flashes were back. The next day, I switched back to the Benadryl and the hot flashes were only a few a day, and they weren't as “hot” as before. Twice I have switched back to Claritin to see if it was the Benedryl that was really helping, and it seemed it did.