"i have been on effexor xr for 7 years now and it&#039;s awesome! i briefly went off it for awhile and it does have bad side effects when you are taken off of it so it&#039;s best to wean off slowly. i got back on it and it&#039;s really the best out of a lot antidepressants that i have tried.  i can tell if i miss a dose, my moods are more irritable and i get down easier. it has helped me with social anxiety. no bad side effects."