I started on 37.5mg about eight months ago and didn’t notice any improvement in my depression. I was taking it alongside Buspar for anxiety. My doctor increased the dose of Effexor to 150mg and I admit I began to feel good after a couple of months. Unfortunately, the side effects (mainly unbearable migraines and inability to orgasm) are not worth enduring for the benefits. I am going through a program called Hungy for Happiness which has an incredible success rate and I believe will help me to get to the root of my depression and the overeating that occurs because of my resistance to experience unpleasant feelings.

So, I’ve decided to wean myself off of the Effexor. I cut down to 75mg for two weeks and seemed to be doing just fine, except that the migraines became more frequent. I then made the mistake of not taking ANY Effexor for three days. I had zero headaches but I began to feel manic (things that were mildly amusing became the funniest things in the world, I felt on top of the world over nothing at all) and suddenly I would crash down into a puddle of fear, uncontrollable crying and an overall feeling of hopelessnesss and self hatred.

I felt like a crazy person so I decided to take 50mg about an hour ago. I’m going to do a slower weaning process. I’m incresibly saddened by the fact that both doctors who recommended this medication failed to mention the seriousness of the side effects should I decide to stop taking it. This drug is a nightmare. I’ll post an update soon.