Effexor Class Action Lawsuit

How do I officially sign on to the class action lawsuit? And I would like to know if there is anyone out there who has sucessfully gotten off of the drug. I need to hear from you and how you did it - Please.  This is a hell I wouldn't wish on anyone.  Is anyone educating doctors about this? 

I Started Effexor when I was 16, and for 4 years I was prescribed 365mg (yeah 3 hundred) and now after yo-yo ing from 75mg to currently 150mg, this medication is from HELL,
BRAIN SHIVERS, TERROR, SLEEP DISTURBANCE, DIZZINESS, IMPUSLIVITY, ETC 

I was able to get off of it by slowly weaning off....If you are interested, let me know and I will give you the details. I am also working with a naturopathic dr. which is crucial to recovery. I want to give you hope that there is a way.

I have been on effexor xr 75mg for about 7 yrs. I tried to wean off it over 3 month period w the help of psych. Didn't work. The withdrawal syndrome was horrid. I called Wyeth, and they told me they had done a 6-8 wk study of this, and found the same withdrawal syndrome symptoms I had. They had no further info. I found it interesting 1. they didn't know if it was 6 or 8 wks 2. they had no further info, or suggestions. Now they send me letters trying to get my medical information, which I disregard.

Hi,

I was able to wean myself off. If you are interested in hearing how I did it, please contact me. I want to help others who are facing such a hopeless situation as I once felt.

I'm on day 10 of effexor withdrawals after 12 years of being on it and gaining 70 pounds. The zip zaps are still here, I actually "hear" them through my eardrums, the zaps cause my eye to shake back and forth. Doc said to try wellbutrin to help with withdrawals, I havent gone insane, just physically tired of the symptoms. I refuse to ever go back n it and once again, be it's slave. I have noticed the food obsession is dwindling.

I have been on antidepressants for many years and I think I have probably taken most of the ones on the market.  Effexor XR is by far the worst of all of them for trying to go off the drug.  I actually have come to a point where I don't believe I need an antidepressant so asked the Dr. to take me off of Effexor.  The strange thing is that I was already having the brain "zaps" prior to weening off and I believe that was due to the generic form not being consistant in its formula (this is just my opinion).  I read up on Effexor XR and read about the withdrawal symptoms to include the brain zaps or brain shivers or whatever the correct description for this depilitating side effect would be.  When I told my doctor about it he laughed at me and said there is no such thing, obviously I will not be going back to him and he has been my doctor for over 20 years.  I even gave him the information I had found on the demon drug and he wanted nothing to do with it.  He did give me a lower dosage to ween me off but the zaps continued so I broke open the pills I had left from my full perscription of 150 mg and started putting a few pellets in a spoonful of applesauce and weening myself off that way.  Not sure if I am there yet but it seems to be getting better.  This drug needs to be taken off the market and I am willing to get involved in any lawsuit out there that is making progress on this subject.

Hi Anna,

I hope you got my email. Please answer to this post if you did not.

I think we all need compenstion for our suffering from this medication. What can I do to help with this class action lawsuit?

ambg wrote:

Terryann wrote:

Anna wrote:

I have been on antidepressants for many years and I think I have probably taken most of the ones on the market.  Effexor XR is by far the worst of all of them for trying to go off the drug.  I actually have come to a point where I don't believe I need an antidepressant so asked the Dr. to take me off of Effexor.  The strange thing is that I was already having the brain "zaps" prior to weening off and I believe that was due to the generic form not being consistant in its formula (this is just my opinion).  I read up on Effexor XR and read about the withdrawal symptoms to include the brain zaps or brain shivers or whatever the correct description for this depilitating side effect would be.  When I told my doctor about it he laughed at me and said there is no such thing, obviously I will not be going back to him and he has been my doctor for over 20 years.  I even gave him the information I had found on the demon drug and he wanted nothing to do with it.  He did give me a lower dosage to ween me off but the zaps continued so I broke open the pills I had left from my full perscription of 150 mg and started putting a few pellets in a spoonful of applesauce and weening myself off that way.  Not sure if I am there yet but it seems to be getting better.  This drug needs to be taken off the market and I am willing to get involved in any lawsuit out there that is making progress on this subject.

Hi Anna,
I hope you got my email. Please answer to this post if you did not.

I did not get your email but would like to hear what you have to say.

Hope you get this Anna

Hey everyone, I am a single mom of four, I am now 42, kids are pretty much grown, I have been fighting severe depression, PTSD, and Borderline Personality Disorder (some want to say Bipolar) Effexor worked for the most part.

I have taken the time to read everyones stories. They are pretty much all the same and I have the same one. Been on Effexor for 6 years 150 mg every day. I can't take the extended release becasue half way thru the day I have withdrawls. If I forget my dose in about three to four hours I start feeling suicidal and cry, can't concentrate and have the most aweful brain zaps, definatley shouldn't drive. OH going to work was hell.

BUT I am scared to get off of this. Not becasue of the withdrawls but because after so many years and finding the "right" one. I am finally at a place in my life I can function with out horrible depression and suicidal actions. I went with out the Effexor for three days one time and felt like death, in fact I would have rather died. When I was off the effexor for a week thinking I could just push through it, I did try to commit suicide. I was in the hospital for three weeks and have been seeing the same phyc since. He understands how hard it is to get off the drug but since I am doing so good I don't want to get off. But after reading and thinking of all the other things involved, I want to get off, but again I am so frightened.

I lost my job and no longer have health insurance so I talked to my pharmacist about anything else that would compare so I could get help paying for the scripts, (By the way, non of the companies that help pay for drugs will pay for this one), He said there is nothing like it and I'd be back at square one trying to figure out something that will help me.

It's been hell and I am so tired of fighting and trying.

I'm scared... Any suggestions? Tell me where you are with the suite and how other are getting off. My biggest problem and fear is that I do not have the money to spend to try all sorts of things, am I stuck here in this limbo land?

 

Sandra

Did U ever launch a law suit against the Effexor manufactureres? After near-suicide, from improper weaning I'm ready to sue them.
Michael.

Michael Fearon wrote:

Someone was talking about trying to get one together. I would like to be involved in that too. You have every good reason with your near suicide to sue them. I am hoping that something will come about with all the people that are having problems getting off of this dangerous drug. I am off of it.....I can tell you  ***this post is edited by moderator *** ***
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I have been taking Effexor XR 150MG and anxiety medication for two (2) years now.  When I skip a dose I get really back headaches, blurred vision, crying fits, irritability, and cannot concentrate on anything at work or home.  I feel like if a have tunnel vision.  I try writing something and it makes sense to me but I have to read it over and over again because it does not make sense (only to me).  Like I know what I want to say but I just cannot get my brain to function correctly.  I feel so helpless, not worthy of living and such a failure to my children.  I did not realize that by taking this medication it was going to make things worse.  I have attemped to commit suicide twice since I started this medication. 

David, I don't now if the info is accurate; the time of your latest reply says 9 ago, approx. 3:00pm, North American Eastern time zone.
Is this Alabama David?
If so, did you see my email about launching the class action law suit once we assemble ten interested individuals?