I've been taking effexor (venlafaxine) 150mg for 11 months and the side effects are getting worse. I went to the dr the other day to discuss constant tiredness, pains in my stomach and that i want to come off effexor. I didn't manage to discuss this though as he seemed to want to discuss the weather and make assumptions - like i drink alcohol - does he not realise i'm on a drug that you aren't allowed to drink alcohol with?! Perhaps it was a flippant comment but it made me feel like he didn't understand anything if he thinks i'm on this strong AD and yet go out partying every night!

He ordered a blood test for the tiredness but simply suspected it is a flu symptom that is not fully blown or something. I booked the blood test for yesterday but forgot to go (yeh i know bad me!) but to be honest i couldn't see the point anyway - i feel worse for wasting nhs time than missing for any personal reasons!

Anyway...getting to the point, i've decided i want to get off the meds without speaking to the dr again because since moving home i've been 2x and i don't wanna go again. I know everyone says you should do this under a dr but why? Does anyone have any tips? I know this is the right time physically...it does scare me slightly emotionally...but if anything that just proves that i'm psychologically addicted - bad, bad!

Any help would be greatly appreciated!