Should You Really Take Effexor Treatment for Hot Flashes?

How effective is Effexor treatment for hot flashes? This was the subject of a Mayo Clinic study on this primary symptom of menopause. It showed that the drug venlafaxine, brand name Effexor, reduced hot flash occurrences by half in 60% of tested women.

What's more, the treatment happens fast. 80% of the decrease happens inside a week.

Effexor Treatment for Hot Flashes - How Much to Take

In the Mayo Clinic study, treatments involved 12.5 mg., two times a day. A later clinical trial revealed that some women could need as much as 75 mg. per day to experience substantial relief from the medication.

An option is an extended release version of Effexor, or the drug paroxetine, brand name Paxil. It works in the same way as Effexor but some patients displayed a better tolerance for it.

Recommended dosage for Paxil is 10 mg a day during the initial week. The dose must then be doubled during succeeding weeks.

Effexor Treatment for Hot Flashes - Fluke or Fact?

Taking Effexor treatment for hot flashes is no fluke. Studies have shown that antidepressants classified as SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors) also work against hot flashes. Paxil is one such SSRI, so is Prozac and Celexa.

Despite the effectiveness of Effexor treatment for hot flashes, doctors caution that menopausal women should only consider it as an alternative to hormone therapy. The latter is more effective, especially in relieving the hottest flashes.

Effexor Treatment for Hot Flashes - Side Effects

Despite the Mayo Clinic study reporting hardly any side effects, Effexor has been known to cause the following:

• dry mouth
• nausea
• appetite loss
• vertigo or dizziness
• sexual dysfunction

In other clinical trials, only the first three side effects were reported. Nausea is usually significant during the initial week of Effexor treatment, gradually waning in succeeding weeks.

WARNING: Effexor should not be taken by women with high blood pressure, unless it can be controlled under a doctor's supervision.

Effexor Treatment for Hot Flashes - How Much Does It Cost?

A regular dose (a single 37.5-mg. tablet), taken twice a day, is around $2. A daily dose (a single 75-mg. tablet) is sold for $2.40.

It will cost you less if you take it once a day, but which you choose will depend on your case and your tendency towards side effects.

Some insurance plans that cover prescription benefits may cover Effexor treatment for hot flashes.

Effexor Treatment for Hot Flashes - Non-Drug Alternatives

You don't have to confine yourself to popping pills to deal with a hot flash. Aside from costing you less, these alternatives don't come with side effects (although some may have the side effect of making you healthier!).

1. Dress in loose-weave cotton layers.
2. Use loose-weave cotton beddings.
3. Open a window or use a fan to maintain air circulation indoors.
4. Avoid spicy food, alcoholic drinks, and caffeine.
5. And the simplest solution: eat an ice cube or two when you feel a hot flash coming on.