Effexor
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Author:
n/a -
Send To:
Effexor's manufacturer, Wyeth-Ayerst Laboratories
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Sponsored By:
those experiencing difficulty with the prescription antidepressant, Effexor -
More Info at:
Effexor Petition
We the individuals listed below have electronically signed this petition for the purpose of making it known that consumers treated with the SSNRI antidepressant Effexor have or are experiencing "often ignored" serious side effects of this medication. And that thousands of patients in the US and worldwide are unable to discontinue Effexor or even reduce dosage due to the rapid onset of severe withdrawal-like symptoms which often initiates before a patient begins dose reduction due to the short half-life of Effexor. Documentation of which the manufacturer, Wyeth-Ayerst has gradually disclosed now some 8 years after this drug was first licensed, being aware of these problems all along but failing to communicate this knowledge to the public and the medical community.
Wyeth-Ayerst misleadingly advertises through its Effexor labeling that only drug abusers are at risk of physical and psychological dependence, and withdrawal problems when tapering back or abruptly discontinuing Effexor usage. Wyeth-Ayerst knows such representations are false, and that all patients, including patients not having a history of drug abuse, are susceptible to withdrawal problems after tapering back or abruptly discontinuing Effexor.
Effexor as prescribed to us by our doctors resulted in anxiety and agitation, sexual dysfunction, hypomania, weight gain, and many other debilitating adverse reactions such as insomnia and bizarre vivid nightmares, deterioration in eyesight, high blood pressure, dehydrating night sweats, memory problems, thyroid disorders which can cause the very depression this medication was first prescribed to treat, among other serious side effects. These iatrogenic (medication induced) effects were ignored or underplayed by its manufacturer, which resulted in our overall inability to function normally for lengthy periods of time during usage and attempted dose reduction. Nor had proper disclosure been made that benzodiazepines had been co-prescribed during clinical trial in order to minimize the agitation that the manufacturer had recognized this medication could cause. Effexor in many cases is not the "stand alone" remedy that it has been advertised to be. Patient in accepting treatment with Effexor are not being forewarned that by their use of Effexor -- sleeping medication, blood pressure medication, and anti-anxiety medication might become a concurrent necessity. Thus the mis-informed consumer totally unexpectedly finds themselves being prescribed many more drugs than they ever anticipated needing.
We all know that taking prescription medication involves some risks and that with each medication some percentage of patients are likely to experience adverse results. We strongly feel however, that the risks involved with the usage of Effexor is greater than the medical community and the public realize, certainly greater than we were ever told, and that Wyeth-Ayerst knew of these risks but failed to communicate those risks to the consumer and their physicians.
Our lives have been negatively, unexpectedly, and undeservingly impacted by the antidepressant Effexor. We were not given full disclosure of this medication's known adverse effects, and many of us suffered greatly because of this failure to warn. Therefore, our purpose with this petition is to share information that we have gathered so that others will have adequate knowledge and be able to fully discuss options and risks of the use of Effexor with qualified medical professionals before they make any final choice regarding initiating these types of medications. Thereby being able to be a knowledgeable consumer and make the appropriate decisions together with their physicians in regards to their own medical treatment and might be spared the suffering we have experienced first hand.
By this petition let it be made clear that we are not advocating the non-use of Effexor because this medication's possible benefits to the public at large is beyond our scope of knowledge to the extent that each individual now considering the use of Effexor has informational benefits we did not, now that more medical information regarding Effexor has been released to the public. Now that others will have the benefit of this information where we did not, and the benefit of important public websites such as Steve Whiting's -- www.effexorfx.freeuk.com, each person must take responsibility to make their own decision regarding the use of these types of medications, assisted by proper advise from a qualified medical professional, fully knowledgeable of Effexor's profile and side effects.
But as individuals, and their are a significant number of us, we have found that the disclosure regarding the side effects and efficacy of Effexor that we were given and which is still being propagated, is significantly misleading to the consumer and the medical community at large. This cannot continue and we hope you will support us with our pleas to Wyeth-Ayerst for full and accurate disclosure.
We the individuals listed below have electronically signed this petition for the purpose of making it known that consumers treated with the SSNRI antidepressant Effexor have or are experiencing "often ignored" serious side effects of this medication. And that thousands of patients in the US and worldwide are unable to discontinue Effexor or even reduce dosage due to the rapid onset of severe withdrawal-like symptoms which often initiates before a patient begins dose reduction due to the short half-life of Effexor. Documentation of which the manufacturer, Wyeth-Ayerst has gradually disclosed now some 8 years after this drug was first licensed, being aware of these problems all along but failing to communicate this knowledge to the public and the medical community.
Wyeth-Ayerst misleadingly advertises through its Effexor labeling that only drug abusers are at risk of physical and psychological dependence, and withdrawal problems when tapering back or abruptly discontinuing Effexor usage. Wyeth-Ayerst knows such representations are false, and that all patients, including patients not having a history of drug abuse, are susceptible to withdrawal problems after tapering back or abruptly discontinuing Effexor.
Effexor as prescribed to us by our doctors resulted in anxiety and agitation, sexual dysfunction, hypomania, weight gain, and many other debilitating adverse reactions such as insomnia and bizarre vivid nightmares, deterioration in eyesight, high blood pressure, dehydrating night sweats, memory problems, thyroid disorders which can cause the very depression this medication was first prescribed to treat, among other serious side effects. These iatrogenic (medication induced) effects were ignored or underplayed by its manufacturer, which resulted in our overall inability to function normally for lengthy periods of time during usage and attempted dose reduction. Nor had proper disclosure been made that benzodiazepines had been co-prescribed during clinical trial in order to minimize the agitation that the manufacturer had recognized this medication could cause. Effexor in many cases is not the "stand alone" remedy that it has been advertised to be. Patient in accepting treatment with Effexor are not being forewarned that by their use of Effexor -- sleeping medication, blood pressure medication, and anti-anxiety medication might become a concurrent necessity. Thus the mis-informed consumer totally unexpectedly finds themselves being prescribed many more drugs than they ever anticipated needing.
We all know that taking prescription medication involves some risks and that with each medication some percentage of patients are likely to experience adverse results. We strongly feel however, that the risks involved with the usage of Effexor is greater than the medical community and the public realize, certainly greater than we were ever told, and that Wyeth-Ayerst knew of these risks but failed to communicate those risks to the consumer and their physicians.
Our lives have been negatively, unexpectedly, and undeservingly impacted by the antidepressant Effexor. We were not given full disclosure of this medication's known adverse effects, and many of us suffered greatly because of this failure to warn. Therefore, our purpose with this petition is to share information that we have gathered so that others will have adequate knowledge and be able to fully discuss options and risks of the use of Effexor with qualified medical professionals before they make any final choice regarding initiating these types of medications. Thereby being able to be a knowledgeable consumer and make the appropriate decisions together with their physicians in regards to their own medical treatment and might be spared the suffering we have experienced first hand.
By this petition let it be made clear that we are not advocating the non-use of Effexor because this medication's possible benefits to the public at large is beyond our scope of knowledge to the extent that each individual now considering the use of Effexor has informational benefits we did not, now that more medical information regarding Effexor has been released to the public. Now that others will have the benefit of this information where we did not, and the benefit of important public websites such as Steve Whiting's -- www.effexorfx.freeuk.com, each person must take responsibility to make their own decision regarding the use of these types of medications, assisted by proper advise from a qualified medical professional, fully knowledgeable of Effexor's profile and side effects.
But as individuals, and their are a significant number of us, we have found that the disclosure regarding the side effects and efficacy of Effexor that we were given and which is still being propagated, is significantly misleading to the consumer and the medical community at large. This cannot continue and we hope you will support us with our pleas to Wyeth-Ayerst for full and accurate disclosure.
25148 Signatures
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Alicia Marie A
- Country of Residence
- USA
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Erika H
- Comments
- this information is just amazing, and i finally feel justified for all the suspicions that i had linked between effexor and such problems as the ones listed. if i had known i would experience anxiety, weight gain, memory loss, insomnia, and nightmares/flashbacks like i did, i would definately have not taken effexor in the first place, not to mention the meds i was put on to comeback the side effects of this drug. i have wasted so much because of this medicine.
- Country of Residence
- usa
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Dallas R
- Comments
- I am suffering horrible side effects - I thought I was literally going mad. Now I know that it is the drug and not me.
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RENEE
- Country of Residence
- USA
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JUNIOR
- Comments
- HOPE THIS HELPS
- Country of Residence
- USA
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Tara M
- Comments
- Effexor is poison
- Country of Residence
- USA
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Lindsey
- Comments
- Effexor has totally put a strain on my life. For one, at night I sweat like no other. I wake up every night 6-8 times and have to dry myself off, change clothes, and change my sheets. And second, I have side effects such as shaking and tremors, not to mention sexual dysfunction too. And third, the withdrawl symptoms are horrible. If I miss my dose for one day, it will feel like waves are going througfh me, and it does not feel ggod. Its hard to explain. Then if I miss it for another day, I will get a headache, and stomach ace and be throwing up. It not fun, and it's a horrible medicine. People depend on it so much just because the withdrawl symptoms of comming off of it are so harsh! Thanks for listening. -Lindsey!
- Country of Residence
- United States of America
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Kristi P
- Comments
- I have been on Effexor XR for a year now. I decided to try and go off of it for 2 reasons. One - I've gained 25 pounds in the past 8 months and two-the cost. The withdrawal side effects are HORRIBLE! I am experiencing the vivid nightmares, the 'brain zaps' when I move my eyes, the aggitation, anger, mood swings and excessive crying. Not to mention the nausea, vomitting, diarrhea and extreme lethargy. Once this withdrawal passes (soon, I hope), I will admit that I will NOT miss the side effects that went along with a forgotten dose!!!! I believe that those at Wyeth-Ayerst should be forced to take this medication!!! Over the years, I have NEVER experienced the withdrawal off any anti-depressant that I have off Effexor!!
- Country of Residence
- USA
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Jeannine Q
- Comments
- I'm in the medical profession and always research any of my medical care. I , too, went through awful with drawal from this. At no time was I warned of addiction.
- Country of Residence
- USA
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LLS
- Comments
- Hey, I think its great that everyone is talking about the "brain zaps" See, I had them with other anti-depressants and never called it that. ..But I do think these anti-depressants are WAY over priced for what they do. These drugs are by-far not a solution. We are all going to get some weird brain disorder 40 years from now.
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DJ S
- Comments
- TRYING TO COME OF THIS DRUG IS AWEFUL
- Country of Residence
- USA
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Sabrina H
- Comments
- psychiatrists have been calling your drug "side-effexor"
- Country of Residence
- USA
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Jasmin
- Comments
- I think the comments on this page are bullshit. effexor is the best thing that has ever happened to me, and I am sure that there is many other people who agree. in reading the comments I have found statements that I know are made up, due to the content of their information. why are you people doing this? it is true that medication causes side effects at first, but they go away after six months. effexor is the most effective medication I have ever used in the treatment of major deppression. What are you trying to exactly are you doing by presenting your own bias's that is any better than the drug company)?
- Country of Residence
- Canada
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Karen
- Comments
- I was put on this drug because I was going through a divorce. I needed something to take the edge off. I put on 40 lbs, my eyesight is blurry, the sweats were unreal. The only thing I liked about the drug were the dreams I had. I called this medicine, The I don't give a shit medicine. That's how I felt on them. I knew when I started to feel like I didn't care about anything it was time to get off them. I was on them for about six months. The brain zaps were terrible. I tried to get off Effexor twice. Third time I made it.
- Country of Residence
- USA
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Bridget P
- Comments
- POISON!
- Country of Residence
- usa
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GINA
- Comments
- [email protected]
- Country of Residence
- NORTHERN IRELAND
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Mark C
- Comments
- Effexor created more problems than it solved.
- Country of Residence
- USA
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Christine (Last Name W
- Comments
- Effexor was the 3rd antidepressant my doctor prescribed for me, after side effects with the other two, Wellbutrin & Paxil. But when I complained to my doctor about excessive fatigue, she said that most people are wide awake on this drug, & she increased my dosage to 150 mg, & suggested that I might need to take up to 450 mg. When my fatigue did not improve, I called a pharmacist, who was very surprised by what she'd told me, and said that Celexa was the preferred drug for antidepression now. I'd asked her to try that in the beginning, but it *wasn't appropriate* for me, since it had a mildly sedative quality to it. However, that's not what others taking it have told me. I've not tried to quit this yet, but missed a dosage a week ago, and felt VERY strange. Now, I'm worried, & am going to reduce the number of beads in the capsules by a few more each day or two. Wish me luck...
- Country of Residence
- USA
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cindy s
- Comments
- I had to send my child away for 2 days for fear of hurting her. Then I had to take loads of Xanax for the next week to keep me calm and Antivert to keep me from falling over from dizziness. Even a week after being off the drug (which i was only on for 12 days!) I was lashing out in anger. For me though, being on the drug was much worse than the withdrawal...probably because I was a zombie from so much xanax!
- Country of Residence
- usa
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Amy B
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marie f
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Tracy L
- Country of Residence
- United States
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Joy L
- Country of Residence
- USA
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Jennifer N
- Country of Residence
- England
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Sherry G
- Country of Residence
- United States
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Deb La P
- Country of Residence
- USA
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Kevin A
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melissa w
- Country of Residence
- usa
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Mary G. H
- Country of Residence
- USA
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Ruth B
- Comments
- Is there any group fighting successfully to get this horrendous stuff banned? I was nearly killed in a horrible car accident because of the blackouts it causes. These were the most terrifying side-effects, but only the tip of a huge iceberg of horrible reactions Effexor can induce. I would gladly volunteer time to guarantee that no one else suffers from exposure to this drug.
- Country of Residence
- К
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nadine l
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Jennifer L. W
- Country of Residence
- USA
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carrie
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Cindy N
- Comments
- Absolute hell...Lawsuit, anyone?
- Country of Residence
- USA
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Amy M. C
- Country of Residence
- USA
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jasonpegler
- Comments
- read my autobiography on manic depression at www.chipmunkapublishing.com
- Country of Residence
- United Kingdom, London
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Rebecca H
- Country of Residence
- Glasgow MT.
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shyztryha5q4
- Comments
- a45vyaq3s
- Country of Residence
- aq45avy 4
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Belinda H
- Comments
- This has been the worst time of my life. I can't wait to get off this medication. Would NEVER recommend it to anyone!!!!!!
- Country of Residence
- USA
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Arthur van G
- Comments
- Let us people from Europe know about this horrible drug. In Europe Effexor is spelt Efexor with one f.So if you go to a searchengine you won't find much. That's smart from Wyatt.Get this shit of the market
- Country of Residence
- The Netherlands
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Angie N
- Comments
- Effexor Ruined My Life
- Country of Residence
- USA
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Andre A
- Country of Residence
- US
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Greg S
- Comments
- I'm glad I'm getting off after only three months. It's bad enough as it is.
- Country of Residence
- USA
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BELINDA H
- Comments
- THIS MAY RISE TO A CLASS ACTION SUIT
- Country of Residence
- USA
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Aaron B
- Comments
- Dreading the day the side-effects start to match the benefits. Then a withdrawl period to look forward to. Misleading info regarding withdrawls/addictive properties.
- Country of Residence
- USA
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Krista P
- Country of Residence
- United States
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April
- Comments
- My mom's been taking effexor for a while now, and it worries me that it might not be that safe.
- Country of Residence
- USA
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Joan L
- Comments
- Your Premarin caused my dick to shrink to the point that now I look like an old, bitter woman. You should never be allowed to manufacture drugs again. Bad company. I hate you and am devoting my life to your destruction! Oh, and your Centrum multivitamins are yummy.
- Country of Residence
- USA
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Audrey Deanna Goodman W
- Comments
- I am still suffering from withdrawal effects...can't eat, sleep, cocentrate...etc...severe nightmares..
- Country of Residence
- USA
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Clifford p
- Comments
- What a horrible horrible medicine.
- Country of Residence
- USA
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25148
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