Posted by cjf on March 27, 2001, at 17:53:40
In reply to A Very Interesting Forum................, posted by Leo on March 24, 2001, at 16:27:24
>I for one am very glad this site exists. As I was going through withdrawal and not knowing it, I was very scared. After finding this site, it explained what was happening to me. One thing I want to mention is this. Wyeth-Ayerst is using each and every one of us for their research. I spent over an hour trying to get through to someone other than a customer service rep with Wyeth-Ayerst. Finally after mentioning the next phone call would be to my attorney did I get results. First was a phone call from the President of the company's secretary. Next was a person who asked my doctor to call them so they could "help me" (The help was to go back on Effexor). The final call was from a doctor that was the head of the neuro-science division. After answering many of his questions about my symptoms and the problems I was having with Effexor did I realize that I was just another number in they research. The doctor agreed. He said there was very little research done about the withdrawal from Effexor. When I asked what would happen if a person was allergic to this drug and having a SEVERE reaction, he said the patient would have to decide which to go through...the withdrawal symptoms or the allergic reaction. What a choice! I understand there is a law firm in Philadelphia handling the class action suit against Wyeth-Ayerst. I have looked in the Baltimore & DC areas for another law firm also filing a class action suit with no luck. So, if anyone out there can put me in touch, please do!!! It is not for the money, but the principle. I will not stand for being used as a guinea pig without my knowledge. We as the American public daily put our lives in the hands of doctors and pharmacuetical companies without giving it a second thought. Why? because they know more than we do. They are suppose to be taking care of us and guess what? They are...for their benefit! While going through withdrawal I was involved in a 3 car accident(my fault) because I was having a "brain freeze". I am an accountant and this is the worst time for my career to be having memory and health problems. I could be sued for injury in the car accidents...I could lose my job because I can't function. And why, because a doctor who didn't have time (her words) to tell me about the withdrawal effects and a pharmacuetical company who didn't do their research before their drug was released to the general public. Am I angry??? YES!!! They have messed with my life and nobody is going to do that. My life is the only thing I have total control over and by losing that control to a prescription drug and its manufacturer is not an option. At some point these large corporations must be called on the carpet. To go to an extreme, why is this any different that the "experiments" performed on the jews during Holocaust? Come on people stand together, take charge of your life and don't let strangers use you. Any help in locating the law firm would be appreciated. Please email me the information. Thanks,
>cjf
> Well………………..this certainly has been a very interesting forum over the last 72 hours. I hope that of us who have been fortunate enough to overcome our depression haven’t relapsed and that those of you that are still struggling with the disease haven’t sunken deeper into the abyss while reading these posts.
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> I have spent the last twenty years as a freelance investigative research professional. I have researched and prepared documents on an enormous variety of subject matter, under contractual agreements, for various agency’s, organizations, corporations and privately funded “think tanks” from around the world. These assignments have lasted anywhere from 6 hours to 6 years, depending on the subject matter. I have undertaken, on my own, and because of my personal experience as it is related to effexor, some investigative research on the drug. Now, when one investigates a subject, it is broken down into two categories: objective and subjective. The objective category deals strictly with the facts that surround the subject matter. The subjective category deals solely with the emotions and opinions that surround the subject matter. 99.9% of any subject is shrouded in emotion and opinion. Focusing emotions and opinions along with personal attacks on a subject, without a doubt, obscure the facts and are extremely counter-productive. However, no matter how one goes about debating the subject or issue at hand, you CAN NEVER DISPUTE THE FACTS.
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> I’m sure that Dr. Bob established this website to for people to read shared experiences. This is an excellent therapy practice. Mainly because of the support that it offers all of us in one form or another. People come to this website seeking answers, support and help, not to be attacked. They are coming to this website and the others out there because they, like I was, are FRIGHTENED by what they are experiencing. These people, like I was, are suffering from physical and emotional withdrawal so intense, that they are wondering if they are going to make it through the day without some catastrophic event occurring that is going to harm them. No one, including his or her doctor, has an answer. The med supplements that are supplied with the medication DO NOT address the withdrawal associated with effexor, do not warn if its dependency and vaguely address its side effects. Hence, an extremely FRIGHTENING experience for those, like me, who have never been there before. During the initial shock of withdrawal from this drug and well after its being discontinued, there are hundreds of people that are continuing to report experiences with one or more of the side effects from this drug. Why is it that Wyeth-Ayerst has yet to come forward with ALL the facts associated with this drug? Trust me when I tell you that they are well aware of what we know. There are FACTS in experience. No matter how mild or extreme. Those of us that have gotten off this drug and have related our experiences are Wyeth-Ayersts “post trial” studies. When you eliminate the emotions and opinions in these and the hundreds of other sites on the internet dedicated solely to this drug, you find a huge thread of commonalties that allows one to deal solely with facts. Failure of the developer and manufacturer of this drug to FULLY disclose ALL the facts about effexor only forces them to dig a deeper, darker hole for themselves. One that they may very well end up being buried in. This lack of disclosure is my primary concern. All the facts need to be disclosed to a potential user of the drug so they are not broad-sided by its effects. This so they can make an educated decision before they going forward with using the drug. If they know what to expect, then the fear will be lessoned.
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> Finally, I think all of us will agree that this is an excellent site that offers information and support. Personal attacks on each other are extremely counter-productive and have no positive outcome. I will continue to post my “post” effexor experiences. I feel that this is important and I think that all of us should. We should all be respectful and civil towards the personal experiences related here and try to stay as objective as we can. We all share commonalities in these experiences. We should be helping and supporting each other through our experiences, good or bad, not attacking. I am here to offer whatever help I can, especially with those of you how are going through the withdrawal from the drug. This site helped me survive an extremely frightening and unexpected experience. Now, go do something that will make you laugh!!! It's good medicine. Thank you Dr. Bob.
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> Regards,
> Leo
poster:cjf
thread:13781
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010327/msgs/57699.html