I did count beads with Effexor. And the Cymbalta taper might be just as bad; I don't know because I haven't done it. I suppose it is beads; again, I don't know because I haven't opened a capsule. I take them for depression and anxiety. The depression is bad, but it's manageable. The panic attacks, however, come out of nowhere and they're what I want to prevent. I don't know how long you have to take a drug to see if it will work. If you haven't been on one for too long, the taper may be bad, but you know you can get through it. I'd been on Effexor for 25 years, with an increasing dose over that time. I don't remember the amount I was taking when I tapered. I do know it was higher than the 60mg of Cymbalta I take now.