Extreme sleep onset insomnia and hypnic jerks after severe flu and Effexor withdrawal – Need advice.

Hi everyone,

I’m struggling with a very specific type of insomnia and I’m looking for some insight. For context, I’ve been on 5mg of Aripiprazole for 12 years.

About a year ago, I tapered off Velaxin (Venlafaxine) 37.5mg and started taking a B-complex. Shortly after, I had a bout of insomnia, which Magnesium Glycinate managed to help with. However, everything changed after a severe case of the flu (suspected Influenza).

During the flu, I had high fevers and took Paracetamol daily. One night, after taking Paracetamol, I experienced extreme night sweats—I felt like I was burning in hell and woke up completely drenched. It was a terrifying experience.

Since then, my sleep onset has been ruined. Every time I try to nap during the day or drift off at night, I experience "jolts" or sudden awakenings. My fingers twitch right as I’m about to fall asleep, and my brain just "shocks" me back awake. It’s incredibly draining.

The strange thing is, if I actually manage to cross that "threshold" and fall asleep, I sleep perfectly fine for 7-8 hours at night. My problem is strictly the transition into sleep.

Has anyone experienced something similar after a virus or medication withdrawal? Could the flu have damaged my nervous system's ability to regulate sleep onset? I don’t want to add more heavy psychiatric meds to my routine.

Any advice on supplements or protocols to calm these hypnic jerks and "startle" responses?