"i tried paroxetine, prozac and celexa and had no positive results so my doctor advised i try effexor xr given it is a snri or different class of drug. almost immediately &lt; 1 week i felt a positive mood change, my social anxiety and mild stuttering seem to dissipate and i felt balanced. i have been taking effexor xr now for almost a month now and my anxiety has dropped right off that i feel my normal self again, i am a lot more social and i stutter hardly ever and i think more logically. the only down sides are that i do sleep more and find it harder getting up in the mornings for work and have noticed fluid retention around my abdomen. i do not mind these small side effects because this drug has really helped me get my life together. :)"