"update to review below. i have now been on effexor xr for six months, and i can honestly say that it&#039;s worked wonders in eliminating my depression and obsessive thinking. i wasn&#039;t able to stay on the low 37.5mg dose, as i discovered that this is a starting dose only. i have been on 150 mg for about four months, and apparently this is the lowest effective dose for achieving a therapeutic effect for most disorders. my depression has gone, and i no longer have obsessive thoughts that were making daily life a living hell. the only drawback with effexor xr is that it has low half life, which means that it doesn&#039;t stay in your system for long, and if you miss a dose you will feel withdrawal within a few hours. this medicine has been a life saver!"