It is sometimes prescribed as a "take as needed" med for upcoming anxious situations. People with stage fright might take it before a performance. I had a prescription for it at one time and would take right before anxious situations I had coming up to help me be calm through them. I can't remember if it helped me with anxiety in those situations or not, but it made me feel better to know I had something in my pocket I could take something that was supposed to help. I had no side effects.

Yes, Effexor can raise blood pressure in some people. Has it raised yours? I would be cautious about taking blood pressure medication regularly without knowing I had a need for it. If your blood pressure is on the high side and it has increased since beginning Effexor, then it could be a good choice. If your blood pressure is on the low side, it might not be the best choice. Be sure to coordinate with your primary care provider, especially if your Pdoc is not monitoring your blood pressure regularly.