Hi there ~

Though Effexor is an effective medication for depression and sometimes anxiety, going off of effexor is not easy. There are side effects and the taper off of the medication has to be done very gradually. Even then you may experience withdrawal symptoms like you currently are. I recommend that you follow your psychiatrist and take the dose of xanax when these symptoms appears. Xanax does not stay in your system for too long and it helps with the withdrawal symptoms. However if they get too bad and you cannot bear it, it is advisable to consult a psychiatrist right away or go into the emergency room.

I hope this helps. Take care and have a nice day !

Hi there, thanks for asking. As you mentioned, Decreasing the dose of Effexor could cause panic attacks, especially if the period necessary for taking the medication has not completed. For example if somebody has experienced two episode of depression in his/her life he/she should take the medication for at least five years. If somebody has panic disorder, she should take the medication for at least a year and if she wants to discontinue the medication, she should take advantage of talk sessions to avoid the relapse of the symptoms. When you experience such symptoms at the time you are decreasing the dose of Effexor, it means this attempt is premature rather than other issues. Xanax is helpful for every attack of panic, but it cannot prevent the attacks in the near future. Effexor could also prevent such anxiety bursts to happen. You can decrease the dose after talk therapy sessions. I wish you a good health.