I still would like to quit, but I don't want to feel that sick again. The reason I want to stop is because I don't think I need the medication anymore, not because I think it's a bad drug. Dr. Bob is on the advisory board for this site, Psychiatry Online. It is the opinion of this group that Effexor should be used as a second-line medication. I saw my psychiatrist recently and I mentioned what I have read on this forum about using Prozac to help people withdraw from Effexor.
People do take the medication because it is likely that they trust their doctors.
Also, if someone is feeling bad and believes a medication will help, then of course a person will seek relief. During my tenure with Effexor I experienced a dry mouth, and that was it. I felt no other side effects. The only time I ran into trouble was when I tried to quit. I don't think it is bad to take it.