I was on venlafaxine for about 5 years and had always heard horror stories about the withdrawals. About 7 or 8 months ago I decided to ask my doctor to start tapering me off. Took about two weeks in total and the only side effect I had was when I would turn my head I could "feel" my brain moving around. It was a very strange sensation. I was on 150mg and then 75mg to nothing. I feel extremely fortunate I didn't have any of the issues most seem to have getting off the stuff.