[chad5749]

I would like to begin with the fact in one dose or form of another, I was prescribed this medication for a period of around (5) years prior to my Psychiatrists Abrupt Discontinuation of the medication.

I was taking daily, 375mg of Effexor XR in one daily dose, everyday for the past at least 2-years. I live in the United States and believe this is the max allowed to take in a 24 hour period, only am not sure. I was up until a month and a half ago (2) 150mg Capsules of Effexor XR along with (1) 75mg Capsule by mouth in one single daily dose.

I am not well at all. I was extremely upset with the community health Psychiatrist who made a choice to abruptly stop my Effexor XR prescription drug therapy when I requested help with an another SSRI or an addition to the Effexor XR. I have voiced my concern having been replaced now with 100mg of Luvox eq per day.

I even made a copy of the Letter released about the issue from the following report released to the study of discontinuation of drugs such as Effexor XR in PDF form and presented this to my Therapist and am still sufering in so many ways in such since the abrupt discontinuation of the Effexor XR which the only explanation given via. my Case Mangaer having never met my current Psychiatrist of over one year, seeing his Clinical Nurse Specialist who had assured me the drug would be decreased gradually.

When the Case Mangager of my Case went to the Psychiatrist who the state requires to manually sign my prescriptions and the Psychiatrist has such been signing the Effexor XR and all of my Prescriptions for well over a year now, never having met me in person or evaluated me in his own person or self. He claimed since I am on the drug of generic Valium that no gradual reduction would be necessary. He said he refuses to write any more prescriptions for the drug of Effexor XR

I found the PDF letter from June of 1994 released at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/SAFETY/2.....hcp.june.pdf
and for some reason even after showing this letter released by wyeth that the Psychiatrist is not concerned with my concern and even now after the drug has bee abruptly stopped, I continue to feel very unwell and am having much emotional and physical problems.

If anyone has input on this matter or someone who they think can help me with this issue, as I find it to be not of what I feel I should suffer as a patient and am so much lower functioning now, than I was when I requested help with my new added diagnosis in addition to Anxiety Disorder NOS as being OCD. Axis I is Bipolar Type 1 Mixed episodes moderate to severe. I am disabled and feeling really helpless over the decision of a system in this United States of America where since 2004 a Psychiatrist is signing his name on my prescriptions never enven having met me or even spoke via. telephone or other to even observe me and even know what I look like, yet I am under his care.

I don't know the legal stuff and I dont know if this has become standard practice of treating chronically mentally ill persons on medications such as Effexor XR, and to be taken with no dispute or question in regard to this decision made. I just know it is effecting me on so many levels and now I am too depressed to even persue the matter and if after that many years, could I still be experiencing side effects of the withdrawal? Does my Neurological disorder have anything with the way my brain is functioning now not having the medication or am I just 'psychosomatic' and to be disregarded? I just dont kno3w the answers to all that is messed up with me since the abrupt d.c. of the Effexor, double vision, blackouts, dementia, and such side effects. I even believe I am having seizures in my sleep. When I am even able to stay awake.

I feel I am suffering and wonder if I should be or if my suffering is necessary and things. I thank you for taking the time to read this thread and thank you for any suggestions.




~º~chad~º~