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Wyeth Effexor

Yvonne of Cardiff, OTHER September 25, 2008

Yvonne of Cardiff OTHER (09/25/08)
I was prescribed effexor and proceeded to begin it's use with my Doctor's assurance that there are no withdrawal symptoms acknowledged to be associated with it. I effectively lost two years of my life to this horrible product and now after it's discontinuation I have quite severe gaps in my memory during the time I was using it. I suffered really awful withdrawal symptoms when I ceased using it ending up during withdrawal in an emergency room as my husband believed I had suffered a stroke! This product should be banned!

I spent two years in a drug enduced 'dreamlike' state, I put on a huge amount of weight which I still carry the physical effects from losing, my business suffered to the point that I had to close it.

Jennifer of Philadelphia, PA August 23, 2008

Jennifer of Philadelphia PA (08/23/08)
I have been taking Effexor 37.5 mg for many years. I have tried, unsuccessfully, to taper off. When I do, even slowly, I get crying jags, I feel out of control, incredibly anxious, dizzy and nauseous. In the past year I have been getting sick from actually TAKING the drug, so much that I was prescribed the anti-nausea medicine Compazine. I now have to break the pill in tiny pieces and take it over the course of the day. If I even take half, I vomit. I feel that I am trapped in this vicious cycle, can't take the medicine, can't get off of the medicine.

I am spending approx. 600 or more per year (I do not have prescription coverage) to take a medication that does nothing for me, and makes me sick. I was diagnosed a couple of months ago with an ulcer, and I cannot imagin that this medication is helping. I am wastig money and I am literally sick from this.

Amelia of Norwalk, CT April 1, 2008

Amelia of Norwalk CT (04/01/08)
Effexor was prescribed to me by my GYN to help with menopause symptoms and I was told it would help with IBS symptoms. I have been on it for about 2 yrs. I am currently trying to stop taking Effexor and, unbeknownst to me, the withdrawal side effects are making me violently ill. Just a few of the side effects: vertigo, stomach upset, nervousness, headaches, aches and pains and more.

Withdrawal side effects making me ill. I refuse to take any more of these pills just to get a quick fix in order to wean myself off. If I knew I would suffer like this, I would never have filled the first prescription.

J.l. of Hot Springs, AR March 6, 2008

J.l. of Hot Springs AR (03/06/08)
While I know many medications have side effects when one wishes to stop taking them, there is one antidepressant that exhibits a note worthy mention. I have been on Effexor XR for a little over a year. Due to side effects, (weight gain, bones aching and swelling, moody, short tempered, etc, etc, etc.) I ATTEMPTED to wean myself off the medication. The amount of side effects I have endured can only be described as the following:

1. A headache from hell, literally. 2. Nausea and vomiting like the worst morning sickness ever! 3. Pain in knees worse than before when taking the medication. 4. Emotional highs, lows, inbetweens, and just about every emotion heightened, one can experience.

Something needs to be done about this type of medication, and I do not mean just complaining. We need to formally contact Wyeth Pharmaceutical company and demand they take this drug off the market. And any other pharmaceutical company that produces the same. Notifying the general public what they can expect when taking the medication and what they might experience when attempting to stop taking the medication. And I do not mean in just tiny print, they need to alert the public by way of media, physicians, magazines, patients, handouts, TV interviews, and I might add, give help to the consumer when they wean themselves off this product.

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