I have had some of the same symptoms you are experiencing. It is 530 am and I have not been able to sleep- that is why I am on here. I did a search to find out if anyone else is having problems getting weaned off the drugs. I started a couple months ago weaning off effexor. I started taking it when going through menopause (it helps menopause symptoms) . Started on 75 mg then a few years later had a melt down and they upped it to 150mg. Well i have been on it now for 10 years at least and have completed menopause so i decided to wean off. I started on my own by doing 1 capsule every other day then went to the physician and asked how to get completely off. I took 75 mg. a day for 2 weeks and then he told me to go to every other day for one week and stop, He said that was adequate timing to get off the drug. That has not exactly worked. I was ok on the 75mg. daily but now I am having panic attacks, crying for no reason during a movie etc. Tonight I have not been able to sleep due to tearfulness throughout the day and a panic attack tonight. I have had several panic attacks over the past few days.I have debated about asking for more meds but I only have 4 more to go. I can't sleep so i read suggestions on here & went to buy appropriate food hoping it might help.I do not want to go back to effexor again, I had no idea getting off would be so hard, I am going to try and stick it out because I am not working this week. Hopefully my symptoms will be gone before returning to work. The panic attack is the scariest thing for me....At least now I know what to tell people who ask me about antidepressants. Just want to get over the withdrawal S&S.

I am by no means an expert but I too had issues with feeling scared and anxious when I went to bed. Not sure if they were panic attacks for me but I have always loved to sleep in total darkness but was scared not to have some kind of light on. It made me feel like there was something there in the darkness. Freaky feeling when I started weaning off Effexor. I didn't know it was caused by the Effexor but after reading what everyone else is going through I now know it was.

If I were you I would go back to the lowest dose that didn't make me feel so bad and didn't cause the panic attacks and start weaning a lot slower from there. A lot slower.

You will get lots of good information on this site. They helped me tremendously! Good luck and don't give up! You will get there.

One more thing, I was also taking Effexor for my menopause symptoms but unfortunately (or maybe fortunately) it didn't work for me after a couple months and by that time I had researched the drug enough to know I didn't want to go to a higher dose so then started weaning off it. I was only on it for a few months and it took me a couple months to get off it successfully so you need to go a lot slower and be patient, I think! Also, the doctor I was seeing didn't even think I needed to wean off it since I was only taking 75 mg so that tells you they don't always know what is best for each individual.

That is way to fast to withdraw from Effexor. I withdrew over a period of 9 months & I still experienced extreme emotions, crying, anxiety, panic attacks. Plus, I was never on anything larger than 75 mgs. Everyone is different, but I strongly suggest that you taper much slower than what you are currently doing.

Same same.....I dreaded getting off of work because between the insomnia, strange scary thoughts, and detailed nightmares......I was afraid to go to bed.....admittedly I did take a .05 mg RX of Lorazepam every once in awhile.....mostly I am drinking warm Almond milk now w a little honey or some chamomile tea before bed....also I have been taking Valerian Root or melatonin with the 5htp in it...really helps....now that I actually want to physically move....I can walk/exercise at night just a bit after dinner......soon I hope to be exercising in the early am again.......I have also taken benadryl to help with anxiety to help during the day also. I would rather be a bit tired than anxious.