Pros and Cons of Effexor for Depression

I have been on it a long time now, and am just at the start of tapering off it. Pros: - I found it very helpful at managing my symptoms, esp motivation and low mood - I didn't experience many negative side effects compared to other medications - you can get xr which reduces side effects Cons: - one of the trickiest anti depressants to wean off from - side effects for me: brain zaps, decreased libido (but not as bad as on some other medications), weight gain, heat sensitivity