Hi Simon007, I didn’t experience serious side effects of Effexor withdrawal except for the “zaps”. When I had finished tapering I had no more problems although later I was prescribed sertraline which eventually I was also able to taper off without any serious issues. In November 2022 I had an operation for a hiatus hernia and lost a lot of weight while on the six week liquid diet that followed it. I also lost a lot of physical strength and became anxious and depressed. I was on Clobazam ( 15 mg/day) and Mirtazapine (15 mg/day) Tapering off the Clobazam according to the Ashton manual methodology was ok but the Mirtazapine has been a nightmare. I could not endure a higher dose than 15 mg of Mirtazapine due to extreme agitation. I am now back on sertraline (50 mg/day) to help me taper off the Mirtazapine but it has been much harder than the benzodiazepine to taper off. Mirtazapine for me has been mostly side effects with little effect against depression or anxiety. Looking back, it was easier for me to taper off Effexor than Mirtazapine. I hope you find your symptoms reduce over time. I have found frequent prayer and Christian mediation to be the major factors that have helped me through. I highly recommend reading books by Max Lucado such as “Anxious for nothing”.