"i entered the beginning stages of menopause and my mood changed dramatically.  i was getting very concerned as i had never felt so sad and hopeless.  i could not stop crying and things that  normally i would not let bother me were becoming huge issues.  i did not recognize myself.  i am known as glass half full kind of person so the change was dramatic.  i was put on 35mg of effexor and wow - what a difference.  surprise, surprise my hot flashes stopped, ( i have since read it helps with that)  mood back to normal and strangely my joints don&#039;t hurt so much and i have more energy.  the few negatives are i yawn a lot and though i still enjoy sex i can not have an orgasm.  i consider both minor due to feeling so much better."