No side effects for me but stopping... yes that was a major problem. If the side effects are too severe then just stop. Sometime a med just has too many side effects to outweigh any potential good it may have in the weeks to come. If the side effects aren't severe and it works and makes you able to function then it's worth it. It isn't something I'd recommend to anyone who was not suffering so badly that day to day functions are very impaired.
BTW a short term use of prozac is excellent for helping with the withdrawal from Effexor.
Just my 2 cents from personal experience.