The first time that I quit effexor it was a nightmare. I couldn't eat or sleep. The dizziness and nausea were extreme and lasted weeks. I didn't know why I was feeling so bad so I went to the family doctor. He told me that I was having withdrawals from the effexor. I was stunned! The pshchiatrist that prescribed it didn't mention side effects, including sexual disfunction and weight gain. An erection became nothing more than a memory not to mentin the 50 pounds that I gained.

I went back on the effexor. After a considerable amount of time I decided that it wasn't working...my emotional state was flatlined. No joy..no sadnesss...nothing.

Another side effect that I seldom see mentioned is 'restless legs syndrome'. I never had this condition until I started taking effexor. Additionally I had no idea that effexor could cause it. I am sure that Wyeth will deny it too. Unfortunately, the RLS did not go away after weaning off the effexor. It is a condition that will drive you crazy. I now have to take mirapex to counter the RLS. Also, I was not informed that my vision could be effected. I have great difficulty seeing at night now.

What really pisses me off is that another psychiatrist prescribed effexor for my son at age 16 for depression. He is now 20. We went to see the doctor and told her that when he tried to quit taking the drug he would get violently ill. She didn't believe him. She said that a small decrease in dosage couldn't cause all those problems. To her credit she did some research and learned that 'yes', it could cause those problems and very rapidly. He still wants to get off the drug but he can't afford to lose the time while he is attending college. It is a viscious circle indeed.

I sit here at this moment wanting to force upper management of Wyeth to take this drug...get them addicited and then have them stop 'cold turkey'. They'll experience misery like they have never imagined. Otherwise, the only way to get this crap off the market is to file a class action suit. I plan on talking to my attorney in the near future regarding this last alternative. Wyeth should be punished severely for not being forthcoming about all the side effects of this poison.

The second time that I decided to go off the poison worked much better. I replaced the effexor with well-butrin. Using the same dosage of well-butrin each day for about a month, I felt no serious side effects that weren't manageable. At the end of the month I just simply quit taking the well-butrin. It worked for me, I only hope that it might help those who are going through this awful experience.

My son is so afraid of the side effects that he refuses to even consider the option until he finishes college. Is this right? Hell no it isn't. It's criminal! Wyeth knows the problems and has made no attempt to remedy the situation...additionally they lied in their reports to the FDA about the frequency of side effects. They stated that 35% experience side effects while a Harvard study reports 78% experience significant withdrawal symptoms. Someone twisted the truth and it isn't Harvard.

I am ranting and I am pissed!

Thank you for reading this if you managed to get this far.

end of comments by Greg

***

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