I too stopped taking Effexor. I had been taking it to help with hot flashes and my medical personnel didn\'t begin to tell me that I\'d have difficultly getting off of it. I\'ve only taken it for 120 days but it might as well be years. I have the brain zap, I\'m tired and my stomach aches consistently The only advantage is I\'ve lost a few pounds. I\'m going to start taking it again just to end the symptoms and then taper off more gradually than I did. My naturopath almost had fits when she found I ws taking this drug. Why doesn\'t anyone tell you about the side affects.