I was on Effexor for five years and I stopped taking it twice to save money. Both times I went right back into deep depression, the second time worst than the first.

I'm back on high dose Effexor XR and Seroquel XR for almost a year now, and I feel great. Just saw my psychiatrist yesterday and he said I will have to stay on meds for life. (He said that before too but I was stubborn and didn't want to believe him.)

Well I learned the hard way that he was right all along, and now I'm just glad I lived through my stubborn denial. The difference between me on meds and me off meds is the difference between night and day. Seriously, it's nothing short of a miracle.

I don't let other people bother me anymore. This is my life and if they don't like it they can suck an egg.

Hang in there!