Thank you for your input. I am currently in the sloooow withdrawal process from Effexor XR 75. After 3 weeks, I am taking about 72.5 mg by counting beads. I don't know what will happen and my dose gets lower and lower, but I do know that I must get off this drug because of the horrible withdrawal I know I will face at some point. Better now than later. I am trying to control anxiety with therapy, breathing techniques, mindfulness, etc. I do not want to take antidepressants anymore. I've been on them nearly 30 years, with 22 of them on Effexor. Are you doing of without anti ds?