Please start at Page 1 of this thread and read ALL of it. There's a lot of good information on this discussion board; I hope you'll start at the beginning and work your way through up to the present. You will note that the recurring recommendation is to taper off Effexor (venlafaxine) slowly—drop to a lower dosage that is no more than 5–10% less and stay at the new level for weeks (even months) AND stabilize before dropping again. Withdrawal symptoms (brain zaps, anxiety, hopelessness, rage, etc.) are the big tipoff that a taper is being done too aggressively.

You say that no doctor has been able to help. Sadly, the NORM is that often doctors don't know how to get someone off antidepressants; as @jakedduck1 said, "If there is an expert on getting off Effexor, they are hiding very well." You can help yourself—read this thread, do some online research, print out articles to give your doctor. Here are some articles about the difficulty of getting off psychiatric drugs, tapering off and the importance of tapering slowly—
https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/ninetonoon/audio/2018703293/going-off-antidepressants-take-time-to-quit
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/may/30/antidepressant-withdrawal-symptoms-doctors-side-effects
https://natashatracy.com/treatment-issues/withdrawal/stop-antidepressants-minimize-withdrawal/
https://natashatracy.com/treatment-issues/withdrawal/antidepressants-effexorpristiq-venlafaxinedesvenlafaxine/
https://www.benzoinfo.com/benzodiazepine-tapering-strategies/

Once your doctor is up to speed re discontinuing psychiatric drugs, you can ask your doctor to prescribe a different formulation of Effexor—changing from extended-release capsules to regular-release tablets (I was on 25mg regular-release tablets that could be cut), or to specify a certain brand of capsules (@farm_mom found Teva had the most consistent size and number of beads within a capsule—helpful to those counting and throwing out beads to taper—see @sandij, or @doorman on how to do this). Or your doctor can write a prescription for a compounding pharmacy to make tapered doses for you (the extra cost may well be worth it because you can glide down in incremental amounts, rather than make rather large jagged drops). You can also ask your doctor about a "Prozac bridge"—essentially, the Prozac cushions the effect of no Effexor and lets you "ride out" the withdrawal process—
https://natashatracy.com/treatment-issues/withdrawal/antidepressants-effexorpristiq-venlafaxinedesvenlafaxine/
https://www.depressionforums.org/forums/topic/107532-coming-off-of-effexor-with-prozac-bridge/

Even with a slow taper, you can experience withdrawal symptoms until you stabilize at the new lower level; OTC medications and supplements can help with some of the withdrawal symptoms (you can click on my name and go back through my past comments to see the supplements I used). Ben*dryl, Bon*ine, or other seasickness remedies can reduce/minimize the dizziness/vertigo. Sucking on Pepto Bism*l lozenges and eating dry saltine crackers can help with nausea. Folks who experienced "brain zaps" found relief by taking fish oil capsules. Do NOT take l-tryptophan, or 5-HTP while still on Effexor (can trigger serotonin syndrome). Here's a good article re how to mitigate withdrawal effects with supplements—
https://www.4mind4life.com/effexor-withdrawal-symptoms

Distraction during the weaning process helps—reading, hobbies, work, chores, gardening, exercise, etc. But some things can just be too agitating, so be mindful of what TV and movies you watch, or any video games you play—nothing frenetic, violent, or disturbing. Same for what you read, or listen to (no atonal, or dissonant music).

There is quite a benefit to getting your hands in dirt. There's a microbiome in it that acts as a natural anti-depressant. Even if you aren't up to a lot of gardening (or that interested), a houseplant, or an outdoor potted plant can lift your spirits and give you something beautiful to look at and/or smell.

Getting natural light to your eyes is extremely beneficial for lifting your mood and is calming … sunbathing isn't required, but getting out and seeing daylight—take a walk, or at least, get out of your house for 5–10 minutes, even if it's just stepping out onto a patio.

Effexor is a very powerful antidepressant that affects your brain's neurotransmitters–serotonin and norepinephrine. While reducing, or after getting off Effexor, it takes your brain a while to figure out how to rebalance serotonin and norepinephrine. Each of us is our own guinea pig; we're all just guessing here on what tapering schedule's going to work for us. Only you know how you feel; don't let anyone rush you. Make it easy on yourself—take as much time to taper off as you need to.

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