Hi Happy and Lucky (deliberate misinterpretation of your name... hehe).

Heck.. this is a hard question for me to answer.  I wrote a sharepost which started about the difficulty I am having with Effexor.  So... my answer is totally personal, based on personal physical and emotional experience and reading and research.

I would almost bet that the immediate difference you notice when you're late taking a dose is a physical effect? 

EffexorSR is so difficult to quit that it scares me.  Other drugs, even heroin, the physical withdrawal is over in a week or so.. it's the emotional dependence on the drugs that drags people back.  With Effexor... it is four weeks later for me and the physical withdrawal is very very bad.  Very hard to deal with emotionally as a result.

I know drugs can help a lot of people tho, and I couldnt take that help away.  So I would just ask that you weigh up if the benefits outweigh the fact you will be on the drug for life?  The weight gain is nearly 100% from the medication.  Will this have a negative effect on you in the future, or again do the benefits outweigh the extra weight?

Can you possibly talk about how you are feeling, and why, and how you can manage daily... with a therapist and also with your friends and family?  Seems to me that this do more for your belief and confidence in yourself and your long term health.

But... personal opinion!

Love,

Sam