After a 3 month taper I have finally discontinued Effexor. I was on 75 mg. And tapered by 25% every 3 weeks. I Would describe my withdrawal symptoms as moderate. I probably should have tapered a little more slowly. The nausea and diarrhea were the worst. I was able to minimize brain zaps, but now that I'm off completely I am experiencing mild zaps, but the nausea has gone and diarrhea has lessened. I found grated ginger with club soda to help best with nausea.. During the first month I found CBD oil 4 drops under tongue 2 times a day to help with the brain zaps but it might have been psychosomatic. My heart goes out to all those withdrawing from this drug. Everyone is different, so find what works for you. I was grateful for the info here that helped me understand my symptoms so I didn't panic with what I was experiencing, not knowing if it was something else. My GP was unfamiliar with effector withdrawal, so I did it on my own. I recommend doing it under psychiatric supervision if you have that available.