I've been taking 75 mg effexor xr for 11 years. With my Dr's advice, I thought I would see how I did on 37.5. To cut back, I took 75 mg one day and 37.5 mg the next for one month. Other than a strange tingling sensation of my upper left lip, all was fine. After one month, I cut back to 37.5 mg daily. After 2 weeks, I started experiencing stabbing pain in my right calf. One week later, I felt extreme anxiety, skin pain, irritable, facial and arm/leg tingling and numbness. I tried going back to 37.5 and 75 mg alternately but was not in a good way. I have now increased to 75 mg every day for a week now but still feel facial and skin tingling, trembling, physical anxiety. Has anyone else experienced this? I just want to feel like I did before making any changes. Maybe my body needs more or less; I'm confused as to what to do. Yesterday I felt great until I took the 75 mg and have been shaky and skin crawling ever since. I can't ask my dr as she just retired. I expected brain zaps when cutting back but didn't experience any.