On day 3 of cutting back about 9 % I was irritable as hell all day and didn't know why until I read my emails that had posts from this group talking about their rage side effects and I immediately knew that was it because I just don't get that irritated at every frustration all day. Also I took some of the beads I'd been saving and now feel ok. So I guess I'll try 3 %. Because I read where someone said to another over 6 percent is too much. Now I believe it. Oh well at least I'm learning and trying and not giving up.

I.m 64 now. Experienced rages since 17. My current clinic doctor "forgot" I was taking Effexor, even tho he prescribed it. Maybe 10 years ago. It does curb my rages, but I sleep 28/30 days a month.

@lisalucier
I've had the irritability and rages occasionally ever since my withdrawal symptoms began 6.5 weeks AFTER my last dose of Effexor (AND I tapered off very slowly from 25mg). Sometimes, I will have crying jags (especially when very tired) where I just sob for up to 30 minutes as though I've just lost my best friend. The raging, or crying episodes begin with akathisia (must pace, cannot sit, cannot concentrate, must be moving, try to soothe myself by rocking and hugging myself, etc.). I resort to taking 1/2 of a 5mg Valium (prescribed for just these occasions) and sometimes, the other half in an hour, or two if I cannot calm down. These episodes occur mostly on weekends when I am not observing my regular wake and eat schedule and am not at work where I have tasks to perform and keep me occupied. These episodes are occurring less and/or are not as intense now that I am SIX MONTHS out from that last dose. I wasn't even taking Effexor for mental, or emotional reasons and I was only ever using 25mg daily--I cannot imagine how my fellow discontinuers who were are able to cope. I am still trying to find a doctor who is familiar with Effexor withdrawal and how to go about it; I live in the DFW Metroplex, not the boonies--you would not think finding such a doctor would be that hard.