Effexor Class Action Lawsuit

Hi both ojailady and tschnet1
Wished we could give our emails, but we can't seem to be allowed to do that. I was able to get off this awful drug by removing 1 more bead each day. I also got the help of a naturopathic dr. who gave me some natural things as I weaned off the drug. It really really worked and I have been off of it for at least 6 months with not side effects. I only use the natural things as needed. This was the only thing that worked for me. A lot of drs. want to put you on another durg to get you off of this one. I did not want to go this route...that is why I went to a naturopathic dr. If you can find on in your area, they can be a great help in getting you off this drug with natural replacements. If you have any other questions, let me know.
Terry

Congratulations on getting off this insidious medication. Could you tell me what products the naturopath put you on to help you out? You just removed one bead a day? I think I am going to try that because if I am even an hour late taking it, I start getting electrical zaps! I appreciate you sharing this and I will keep you posted.

If anyone is interested in class action lawsuit please contact me. I'm located in Kansas City, Missouri. You can find me at kcpetite1atyahoocom. Email addresses are not allowed on this website.

CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT Since email addresses are not allowed on this website you can read between the lines and contact me at kcpetite1atyahoocom This drug company needs to be STOPPED!

It is tedious at first, but well worth it. Open the capsule and count how many beads you have. I started with 240 because I was on 75 mg, if my memory is correct (but then again Effex. has ruined my memory)......So I took 239 beads, then the next day went to 238, then 237. I just gradually went down. I guess it might be possible to remove 2, but I didn't want to take any chances. My nauturopathic dr. put me on remedies for anxiety and depression which are very inexpensive. Also St. John's Wort for a while. But now I only use the remedies as needed. As I got to the very end of the effex. I had a terrible anxiety attack and the remedy got rid of it within a short time. I am also on some good vitamins from her. Magnesium, 5htp, VitaminD3, and some other things. Everyone has different needs. If you can find a good homeopathic or naturopathic dr....that would help.

Dear KCPetite, please don't let your lawyer mislead you. Bringing successful class action suits is extremely difficult, and even in successful cases, the lawyers often gain far more than the plaintiffs. If your lawyer really thought you had a case, and was prepared to take it on a 'no win, no fee' basis, he/she would probably be offering to notify the class in question - in this case, the community of venlafaxine users worldwide - on your behalf. If I'm not mistaken, I think that at some stage the judicial process actually obliges him/her to do in any case (but hey, I'm no lawyer).

A couple of class actions have already been launched against venlafaxine. I think one was in 2006, another in 2011. Not sure where those ended exactly, but I'm pretty sure that the 2006 case, which related to claims that venlafaxine taken during her pregnancy can cause infant death, has already resulted in changes to label warnings.

The world isn't a fair place, and it totally sucks that you and others (including me) have had such a difficult time withdrawing from this drug. But that doesn't mean that there's a case to sue the companies that sell it. It's also important to remember that it's not just Pfizer-Wyeth anymore. You're talking about a large number of companies worldwide that now sell generic versions of the same product. It is tough to say this, but please don't waste your time. It could just make you feel worse. You don't deserve or need that! Good luck and look after yourself.

Michelisma
YOu are probably right. It doesn't make sense since there have been other lawsuits against other anti-depressants. It is discouraging thinking that no one can do anything about this drug and countless others will be suffering from taking it in the future, not to mention the ones who are now suffering, including me and you. The only thing people can do is try to get off of it the way I did by removing 1 more bead each day. That is our greatest revenge....then we won't be giving the company money for their horrible drug. And we can warn others who may be considering taking it by telling them about our experience. It's too bad we can't do more.
Terry

Thank you so much for posting this!! I am on my last week of tapering from 150mg per day. My doctor did it slowly but there have been days I could hardly move I was so sick. Right now my lips are tingling. I started the 5-htp but I didn't think I was taking it enough with my low dose of Effexor at 37.5 per day. I actually am doing a lot better than most of the posts I have read about the terrors of tapering. There are about 2-3 days per week for the last month I have been too sick to do anything other than the bare necessities. I get sick, but do not vomit. I am also on a very natural whole foods diet and I think that has helped a lot.

I too was on Effexor (Effexor XR , but I was taking the generic, venlafaxine, I think manufactured by Pfizer). I was on it for at least 17 years. I weaned off of it very slowly (I was only taking 75 mg) in 2011. I had a little of the the brain zaps and electrical shock sensations, but not the nausea that I would experience if I waited too long to take my next scheduled dose. From what I understand, no different from heroin.) My psychiatrist told me it would be difficult but she did not get any more specific than that. Had she been more specific, I might not have weaned off of it in the first place. So I was completely weaned off in July 2011. Nothing prepared me for the hell that I experienced, and that pervaded every area of my life. I started having SEVERE anxiety, which turned into panic attacks that would start every morning at 4am, reach a pinnacle around 8 or 9 am. This was every morning. Then the attacks started making me physically ill. Then it got to the point that I could not eat at all because I was dry heaving all day long due to the anxiety. I had to go on medical leave from a very well-paying IT job that I had been at for 10 years. Tried going back 3 months into my medical leave, but that lasted 2 days. I dry heaved the entire time. So back on medical leave. At the end of 6 months, I was still not well enough to return to work, so my position was terminated. My long term disability benefit kicked in from my now former place of employment. Then they backed me into a corner saying that if I did not apply for social security disability that they would drastically reduce my benefit. So I had to go through the stressful rigmarole of applying for SSD (which, in fact, I was awarded in July 2012). However, the amount I am getting from SSD was not enough for me to afford to be able to keep my house. So, now I live with my parents. I tried going back on effexor. Twice. No help. Tried several other meds that did not help me either. I feel that effexor has permanently altered something in my brain as to where I will never be 'normal' again. I even contacted Brown and Crouppen, explaining all this to them. All they could say to me (in an email that was no doubt written by the secretary and not the actual lawyer himself...I guess he could not be bothered with such a petty issue) was they would not be able to assist me. I sent them an email back kindly asking for a reason why they could not assist me. So, as far as a class-action lawsuit, I'm right along with you. And I agree with you. These big drug companies (no doubt in cahoots with psychiatrists, and psychiatrists getting kickbacks and 'benefits' from prescribing their products) keep us addicted and sicker, just like street drug pushers.

I have been on all doses of Effexor up to 225 mg for 15 years. I have tried to wean off 3 times and ended up back on the meds due to side effects. This time I am giving it up for good. I was seeing a chiropractor specializing in brain therapy and supplements. Physically, I was strong and was rid of infections, etc., and then I tried to de-tox slowly, doing it right. I have been off the meds for 2 1/2 months and my energy is sapped, my brain is in a fog, I cry for no reason, I can't sleep, you name it. The other day walking to work, I wondered what it would feel like to just jump in front of the oncoming bus to end the suffering of the withdrawal symptoms. (Where did THAT thought come from?) I can't believe this drug was ever marketed.

I feel your pain. My psychiatrist (who I like SO much better than my former one (she was an incompetent, uncompassionate *****. When you have a panic attack before seeing your doctor it's time to switch.) Anyway, my present psychiatrist gave me some referrals to some doctors/therapists that do neurofeedback, because everything that I have tried after weaning off of effexor (even going back on it TWICE) has not helped me. Hopefully this will.

please go to ipetions and search effexor class action canada and sign the petition

Thank you for this online petition. I have signed it.

There is a lawyers firm in Ottawa that specialies in class action suits against large pharmacutical companies. I don't think we should give up. This drug is ruining our lives. Please rethink. 

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Sounds good. Sending reply to other addy.