Originally Posted by
LucilleBluth 
I went off effexor cold turkey. It was a good 4 weeks before I felt normal. SEvere brain zaps. Aching joints. The brain zaps were the worst. I just rode it out. Effexor is one of the hardest drugs to withdraw from but I am proof that it can be done.
Yes, I just found that out right before I started tapering on the Pristiq. Pristiq is a form of Effexor and from what I was reading last night it is just as bad as the Effexor and Paxil for withdrawals because of the super short half-lives.
I am glad you were able to get through it and I am going to hope that maybe with four weeks I can be done, too.