I have been taking Effexor XR for hot flashes. I have been on it for about 15 months. I have gained weight while taking effexor even though I have increased my activity level to 5 days a week 30 min. to 60 min. each day. I decided to go off effexor because I feel I am pretty much through the worst of my menopause. I have been trying for 10 days now to get off effexor. It has been very difficult with most or all of the symptoms described on the websites. I had hoped to get off in a week to 2 weeks but now I don\'t know when I will be able to get off of this horrible medicine.