Rob, please give some thought to discussing this with your prescriber. Any side-effects, especially those dark thoughts you're having, should be talked over with your doctor.
I'm not an expert, I've only tried a few different meds for anxiety before settling in with EffexorXR. What worked most effectively for me was noting how I felt and relaying that info to the nurse-practitioner that was working with me. By doing that were able to find the correct dosage and time of day to take it that would work best for me.
I also took Aciphex for awhile for the indigestion, but again, please talk to your doctor about what you're experiencing. Play it safe, OK?