"i took effexor xr after i gave up on lexapro (it didn&#039;t work for me, waited for a couple months). i started at 75 mg and 10 days later to 150 mg. i have been at 150 for about 5 months. i feel that i am at a stable point so i don&#039;t want to change anything for a while. my doctor said to start weening off but i don&#039;t think i&#039;m ready yet. i had gone through a gut wrenching episode in my life that lasted for about 4 intense months of sleepless nights, hot sweats, heart palpitations, heavy chest, lack of concentration, and sadness. i felt as if i was at a doctor every other day trying to figure out what was wrong. my anxieties were so bad that i felt like exploding. thankfully i waited it out and effexor has helped."