I only took Effexor for 6 weeks - it worked so well as I lost a daughter and was in such a depression that I was suicidal - but once I was feeling better (and reading up on the withdrawl symptoms) I decided to switch to Wellbutrin and amd now off Effexor. For me short term it was great and did the trick - and I feel more myself with the Wellbutrin. I feel that Effexor depersonalized who I was, I let my 3.5 year old do whatever she wanted with a smile on my face, and i was unable to cry for the 22 year old daughter i lost. I wanted to feel again.