"i was on effexor xr for about 4 years (started at age 18, weaned off at 22). over the years, my dosage fluctuated between 37.5 and 300 mgs. 
it helped immensely throughout the first year. i was still feeling lethargic and such, but no longer had suicidal thoughts. 
the only side effects i had were ones that appeared when i&#039;d miss a dose. night sweats, weird dreams, headaches. annoying, but basically harmless.
after three years of being on this medicine, i realized it was no longer doing things for me that i couldn&#039;t do myself. i was supposed to be taking 37.5 mgs daily, but weaned myself off of it over a course of several months (check with your doctor first). i had little to no withdrawal symptoms and no major signs of a returning depression."