doesn't happen w/everyone, but i've been told its one of the worst for withdrawal.  my own family member experiences extreme and horrible symptoms....another family member not so much.  after seeing the bad one, i decided if i ever back off any antidepressant or knew anyone dealing with effexor, i would go off slower than slow....   in fact, i had a withdrawal thing from prozac when i was switched years back to wellbutrin.   i was convinced the wellbrutrin made me feel (it did) worse than i'd ever experienced in my life.....later a doctor convinced me to try wellbutrin again.  I was scared, but tried...his theory being it was too fast off the prozac....I've been taking wellbutrin ever since   slower than slow on stopping med is my plan if i do change anything