I had "brain zaps" when quitting Effexor.Gabapentin greatly reduced them.Now I take a gaba only when needed. I'm 89.

My goodness~ your taper is by far the quickest I have read about.
I am 63 - been on anti depressants for about 30 years. Initially started after a difficult child birth, a big company move shortly after. . I started off with Prozac - it saved me. I had developed agoraphobia . I thought I must have a brain tumor! Not much was written about it back in the day. But I was handed the book (by a stranger in a library ) (“Peace from nervous suffering” written by Claire Weeks. This was a Godsend. It was like it was written personally for me! I was not going crazy - !!! I have a chance. Eventually Prozac stopped working and went to a few different ones after that. Since 2021 I have been tapering off of Effexor. It stopped working for me once I was in full menopause. (2 years ago) I had no joy. I’ve been slowly eliminating it out of my system over a year and a half. 225mg- 150 (hardest taper..struggled..my darkest time). I felt like I was dying. Darkest thoughts. Paralyzing fear. With all the strength I had, I put my self into a 36 day TMS regiment. Just getting out of bed everyday and showing up an huge achievement. I started to feeling a positive shift after my 17th appt. - I was showering every day and running occasional errands. For a full month after - I felt normal. Energized, calm, participating in life, patient, engaging…best feeling in life. Is this what life is suppose to be like? After 40 days- the magic left me. I was devastated. One month passed and I decided to put my self back in to TMS but for only 3 days a week. I just started- so I will keep you posted. I am now on 75+37 1/2 mg …feel nauseous and have a lot of brushing sounds in my head. .. . I will eventually go to 75mg —anxiety is so debilitating to me.
They are not recommending Xanax..because the new studies are they are linked now to Alzheimer’s (besides being addictive) My pcp won’t prescribe them anymore. Paxil is out of the question because like Effexor…it’s another drug that’s a struggle to get off of. If I miss just 1 dose of Effexor, I can’t even walk without holding on to a wall! I can’t turn my head with out electrical shocks. Some shocks are so explosive and loud that it’s frightening. It’s like someone shutting off the power grid for a whole skyscraper. . I often feel like In have the flu. The sweeping and zaps are ridiculous. Big Pharma took their first Effexor pill off the market for a reason. I’ll never understand why this XR is even on the market. To me it’s a poison. I’ve been in anti-depressants for at least 30 years.
Anytime I mentioned i was feeling blue or having anxiety - my pcp’s just assumed my meds stopped working and changed them. It’s very frustrating.
Now I am experiencing restless leg/body syndrome- my body just jolts off the bed while trying to sleep. I am for medication if it works and has little side effects. Effexor is the devil. I’m sorry to all of you in this struggle. I will keep you in my thoughts. I’m rooting for all- N