I wish you all only the best of the best. I do want to share that if it were not for effexor, and sertraline, I would not be alive, able to function, learn or be a parent, or almost finished completing my Bachelor's of Science in Nursing. No lie. Ive been on it since 1985. Ive been hospitalized, inpatient, locked wards only, more times than I can count, and was weaned off, so other modalities could be tried, with unfortunately no success. I was 14 when I started Effexor. Im 53 June 6th, have 3, gorgeous, now young twenty-somethings children, and outside of my biological family, i adore everything about being alive. I give thanks for each sunrise, sunset, each breath and beat of my heart. I was severely abused, neglected and ritualistically tortured as the recepticle for an unmedicated schizophrenic mother and absent father. No sibs thank god. This occurred from birth through age 18. I will have Major Depressive Disorder and Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder until the day I die and I hope that day is a loooooooong time off. I can say that now ... but without the 2 meds I previously stated, and the tons and tons of therapy i have had, and will continue to have, I could never have said those words. I was unable to say them years ago. I am glad that those of you who want to get off of venlafaxine are able to do so, while still able to live life without constant flashbacks, list time, or uncontrollable morbid depression. Your bodies/brains do not require it to live and have functional lives. That is awesome. Just know that there are some persons, whose brains and bodies need it to exist and contribute to life and take proper care of themselves and their loved ones too. -mary