Like I have said many times, there are 2 ways to know something: the anecdotal way..IE. it happened to me so it must be true, or the scientific way which says this happens to 99% of people etc. based upon well structured research. The fact is Effexor is not addictive, it has SE's if you come off it wrong as do most drugs, but it and Paxil seem to be the worst of the ADs for this. This is science, and true, and helpful for people looking to use these drugs or get off them. 99.99% percent of people who taper off Effexor and Paxil very slowly, with a replacement drug on board do fine with no brain zaps, alien abductions or multiple personalities.