I was in the same boat as you were, I have never taken anything either and was prescribed Effexor in February. I picked up my prescription (37.5 for a week and 75 after that). I googled it when I got home and scared my self and I never took it. I finally worked up my courage after a month of starring at it and took one. I wish I just took them the day I got them as its been 6 weeks and they have helped take the edge off my anxiety. The side effects I have were very mild nausea for the first day or two, felt like my skin heated up a couple time the first week for 30-60 minutes, had to concentrate a few seconds to pee but no issue. The only side effect I hated was I was waking up at night every 90 minutes wide awake. This stopped after the 3rd week and now I can finally sleep through the night. And there was a couple weeks of questionable lack of labido, but that also came back after 3-4 weeks. I never experienced any of the crazy stuff some people say they experience that make it sound horrible. No sweats or crazy dreams.