This seems to vary a lot from person to person, but for me it was a nasty combination of nausea, dizziness, anxiety, weakness, lethargy, and inability to concentrate. It really is hard to describe, as it was a sensation unlike anything else I have ever experienced. It would start about 48 hours after my last dose and get gradually worse. The most distinctive symptoms for me were the nausea and a general hard-to-define but very persistent feeling that something was not right, to the point of being so anxious and queasy I could barely function.

As I started taking Effexor soon after it came on the market, no one told me about any possibility of withdrawal/discontinuation symptoms. I only realized what was happening one month when I hadn't refilled my Rx on time for some reason, started feeling terrible after a couple days with no idea why, then put two and two together when I got my refill and started feeling better within a couple hours of taking my dose. This would happen again if I ever forgot to take it a couple days in a row, so I learned not to let that happen! When I finally stopped taking it, I had to decrease it very gradually over a period of about six months. I told my doctor that patients should be warned about Effexor that once you are on it, it is not easy to stop taking it! It was an effective medication for me, but I wish someone had warned me about that. I hope this is helpful to you!