I took 150 mg a day for a little more than five years. I was afr...

I took 150 mg a day for a little more than five years. I was afraid to stop taking it due to the horrible way you feel just missing one dose! Yes, I gained approximately 30 lbs (and I go to the gym!), my cholesterol went way up, I had horrible nightmares, and right before I stopped taking it I started having bouts of double vision. I stopped taking it almost a year ago. I have lost some of the weight. I still, after all this time, am having brain zaps in the middle of the night, still don't sleep well, still have bad dreams and still have regular bouts of double vision. I have been to a neurologist who sent me for a brain mri (normal) and blood work (normal). He has recommended I get another doctor to look at me. In other words, there is no obvious reason for the bouts of double vision. I blame five years of Effexor XR for all of this! My doctor should have never allowed me to continue on this drug for so long!