0311,

A very wise warning to post for those who care to be prepared. Effexor in particular is terrible to come off of. It should take a person 6 months to wean off of it properly, under a qualified shrink's instructions. Not just any MD. Benedryl does counter some side-effects of withdrawal. Effexor can be practically deadly to go without cold-turkey, as the dizziness can keep you from even walking, much less driving or anything else requiring you to be "sober." This can last from 3 weeks to a month, along with some other very annoying side-effects.