Effexor Class Action Lawsuit

Hi Jeff,

I will forward your email to Michael Fearon. He usually checks his emails from Steady Health, but in case he doesn't get this, I'll send it. We need your full name and city and state where you live. He is trying to get a lawyer. So far he has been turned down by 2. But he is still pursuiing it. We have heard from a lot of people on this site. I am listed as anonymous because I am having problems with my password.

Terry P

Hi Terry P.

I have been taking Effexor for almost 10 years now, and have had a history of issues, never knowing where it was coming from.  I have always though I was going crazy and blamed it on some experience, which I thought caused my need for medicine.

My first episode was my Balance; I keep getting the feeling of spinning, felt like I could not stand for too long afraid I was going to fall over, extreme shaking, irritable, irritable to sound, my kids would talked to me and all I could say is not now, later was never good too. Which has caused some issues with my relationship with them, I could not be around people, and Thank God, for a boss I had at the time he let me come in after everyone went home so I could work.  I ended up going to numerous Doctors with no help then finally one Doctor told me to see a neurologist, they did a Brain scan with nothing showing up and sent me to the Balance center.  Come to find out my eyes were telling my Brain I was rolling down a hill.  (Really Odd) I had to do therapy to retrain my Brain I was not rolling down a hill however; I have always had this off balance feeling since then.

I have just went on my life thinking it was me this whole time that had the issues, and have just dealt with feeling ill for years.

I started to feel like it was not me about 3 years ago and started tapering down to 35.7mg doze a day and then to 35.7mg every other day that continued on for the whole time due to the way I would feel I felt Jailed to this medication.

I decided to go off it totally the beginning of 2012 because of the symptoms I had in the beginning was coming back the feel as if I was falling over, here is a list that I kept experiencing the past few years.

Irritable, noise, (The noise tolerance has been a major issue) Shaky, unbalanced, constant nose plugged/sore throat because of the nose drainage chronic ringing in ears, ears get plugged often, (I have seen many allergist, taken a lot of medications will not go away) went to a ENT’s, hearing checked, hearing is good, ears, nose, & throat nasal rinse, still no help with this issue.  The ENT said I had signs of migraines and offered a prescription however I am to the point I am sick of trying all these medications.

I have been complaining of this to my General Dr. and he has sent me to get another CAT scan of my Brain, Nothing comes up.  Again, Thank GOD.

I made another appointment to the Balance center due to CAT scan was normal the balance problems have been coming back strongly at this point, nothing they could find.  Suffer, Suffer is all I can do.  No answers, Frustrated as hell.

3 times a very strange feeling has been coming over me when I quit taking the Effexor

I become extremely dizzy (I was sitting down visiting my sister) my body went dumb, I had the electric shock extremely strong more than the normal electric shock that is felt that is very common with the comments on this forum.  My chest, and left arm went cold, my heart is racing, I am extremely shaky, and cannot think straight.  I went to the Emergency room and they could find nothing, checked my heart duet to a constant heart palpitations I get and they say my heart is healthy,  couple days later had a follow up with my General Doctor and he said I have had a Panic attach, I felt like I was going to die.

I was prescribed anxiety medication due to what he thinks I am experiencing, I don’t believe this is my problem because it was when I was off the medication the feeling started, it happened 2 more times same feelings and such, I am more nervous now because of what I feel in my body.

Last Year had 1 of my Physicals and my Cholesterol is high, the Doctor tells me to take fish oil and to get rechecked, when I was rechecked was when I was off the medication the Cholesterol was in normal range, not sure if it is the fish oil helping or being off the medication.  I actually lost 20LBS while I was off the medication; I have gained 80lbs since being on Effexor.  Always 125 even after 4 kids now 218, I was 238 before I took myself off.

Due to the effects I was having in the above few paragraphs and being off the medication the Doctor put me back on, I felt like I could not live without it, I physically thought I was going to die, This was not mental Illness this Is Totally from the Effexor.

Another problem is my bathroom usage, my urinations seems to come and go almost as if I had urinary tract infections, was checked when at the emergency room and was treated for this, however that feeling happens often for a couple of days then goes away.  My bowel movements are never normal anymore (My problem with this is that it is always yellow, which I heard is a Liver issue)

I went to the dentist because I had a fractured tooth by the gum to the root and had to get my tooth pulled out; when he pulled out my tooth, he asked urgently if I was on Blood thinning medication.   I said no, that is when I started looking up side effects with Effexor and everything I am experiencing is from Effexor, and more the Company does not list.

I am a pissed off user and am very concerned about my health, I don’t know what to do next?

I came across this forum in hopes of help with this process.

P.S. I do not even think Doctors know what these symptoms are they keep thinking totally other health issues and nothing when tested.

Concerned Effexor User!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi,

If you want to join the class action suit we are trying to form, give us your full name and city and state. I am sorry for what you have been through. The only way I had gotten off of it was to remove 1 more bead each day and I was being treated by a nautropathic dr. who was a great help. She has given me natural things as I weaned off. If you can't find one, she does phone consultations....if you live too far away. I am also on a vitamin program that has really helped. If you have any other questions, let me know. Terry P  

 

Hi Terryann, 

I was on Efexor for about a year. It ruined my life and I lost my executive 6 figure job. I had severe memory loss, anxiety, it magnified my ADD and I also had several weird seizures. The side effects have been long lasting long after I've been off of it. I still have memory loss more than 7 months after quitting Effexor. I am afraid I will never be normal again. I am a local celebrity where I liveand therefore it makes it nearly impossible for me to leave my name here. Please let me know if there is an email address or a way that I can contact you. Thank you so much! 

I am sorry that you have been through such horrible things with this drug. 

I, too, have severe memory loss and anger issues. I am going to a naturopathic dr. who has helped me by giving me natural things. Do you have any of those drs. in your area? If not, mine does phone consultations. I'm sorry you can't give me your name.... Maybe we could do that if you tell me how to do it.

 

Hi Terryann,
Thank you so much. I do have Naturopaths that I can work with. L-Theanine and Huperzine help memory a little. I will be trying Inositol which is a form of B Vitamin that is known to be helpful.
I am wondering if you use Linkedin? I see a Terryann P and was wondering if that is you, I could friend you there? Thank you so much for what you are doing! You are a champion for so many people.

Hi,

Yes, I am on Linkedin, but haven't used it...not sure if I have a password on that or not. Help me through that since I'm not sure. What exactly is Lnkedin...I must have signed up a long time ago. Send it to me and then I'll try to answer you there. My naturopath has given me remedies for anxiety and depression, which really help. I used them at the end of my weaning because my anxiety became huge. I only use them when I have to now. She had also put me on St. John's Wort. 5 htp is good too. I am also on Magnesium and calcium, which help a lot and Fish oil. Send me something at Linkedin and I will try to answer.

Terry P

Count me in. This drug is bull. Six months after I started taking it, I tried committing suicide. Years beyond that and I still suffered from big lows. Every time I went through a low, my dosage would just go up. I wasn't strong enough to disagree with my doctor. So I went with it. I became concerned with my addiction when, if I missed my morning dose, I would have to leave work because I became so sick. Eventually, after I had been placed on a 300 mg/day prescription combined with Wellbutrin AND Buspar, and I still was having strong lows, I bucked my doctor and said I'm done. DONE. It wasn't so bad to taper down to 75, but after that it's been hell. Going to 37.5 was hard. Hard. But not nearly as hard as the next step-0. I feel like I have a massive hangover. I'm jumpy, my temperature is all over the board-from sweating to chilled to the been, I'm frustrated and angry-I feel like the Incredible Hulk, I WISH I could throw up, I feel like I have a rock in my chest, my head is cloudy, I can barely concentrate. It's HELL. Thankfully, I have a good sense of humor or I'd go crazy or literally turn into the Incredible Hulk. Two weeks out.... and I keep holding onto the small daily improvements. Cuz right now, that's about all I got. PS I'm not exactly thrilled with my doctors right now.

Hi Jolene,

I am really sorry for all your have suffered. This drug is horrible. Please try what I did. Now that you are down to this dose, please try to remove 1 bead each day then another the next.....I started with 240 beads, next day 239, next 238. I was on 75 mg. and went down to nothing. I had the help of a natural dr. who gave me natural things for anxiety/depression when I got to the end. I had no side effects. This is the only thing that worked for me after being on it for 12 years. I am forwarding your information to Michael Fearon, who is trying to start a class action suit. My hope is that we can get this drug off the market before others are damaged. Thank you for writing, Terry P.

 

Please count me in for and CAL in the works. I am Heather, 43 years old and bipolar. Effexor is a nightmare! I have gained 15 pounds I cannot get rid of, I am unfocused and miserable. I have no tolerance to heat or cold and have had chest pains, nausea and a sense of futility. I take 75mgs a day and am terrified of withdrawal but I want this poison out of me! It's ruined my life!

 

Hi - I would like a contact name - I am a family member of someone, that was on Effexor for 10 years - and it ruined her life and our family. I need to tell this story!! There is sooooooooo much damage that was done as a result. I am ready to file legal action- I live in Ontario Canada

Please let me know of any updates on this. I have been discussing the idea of a class action law suit with my husband over this very concern for years. I have tried, unsucessfully to wean off of Effexor for years and and simply taking it beacuse it has been physically impossile for me to do so.

Hi Marlea,

I too had a terrible time getting off. I had taken it for 12 years, but got the help from natural doctors. I chose to remove 1 bead a day and then another one the next day till I was down to none. I also took a natural product for depression/anxiety. I had no side effects at all and also had a treatment from a doctor that has helped relieve my depression. If you are interested, I can tell you more. It IS possible to get off if you try it this way. it was the only way that worked for me.

Terry P

i also would like to know what natural and prescription things you are taking.unfortunately removing one bead a day is actually quite dangerous.why does it seem we do endless talking about this and yet no lawyer has contacted any of us

Michael Fearon contacted 2 lawyers who turned him down and is trying to get another. If anyone knows of a lawyer who would take this, please let me know. No, removing 1 bead a day really works. It is more dangerous to go from 75 to 35 and down to nothing. That is harder on the body. I tried all ways, believe me. I had no side effects by removing 1 bead a day....It is much easier on the body. This really worked for me...that is why I am sharing this with everyone. Where did you hear that it was dangerous?