I came on here because I am currently trying to get off of Effexor and while I try not to look up side effects, because of how I felt not long ago I did look a few up. Effexor has been called a last resort one by some online, but it isn't necessarily that. It is called a "dirty" version of Pristiq which I was taking but was too expensive so I asked my pdoc for something less expensive and there you go, voila Efffexor. I have hated being on it but then, no pill has ever worked for me so I am trying -- and it is not going well -- to get off a very high dosage I was on of this, and will then probably give up or go in for electroshock. I say don't expect to be afflicted by the worst things you read, go by what you know of YOURSELF, and try to be healthy as possible while on anything. I simply do not trust most docs or meds anymore so we should all take care of ourselves. Docs haven't a clue.