Why Has Effexor Been Discontinued in the US? Here’s the Reason

Why has Effexor been discontinued in the US? If your physician ever prescribed you Effexor or Venlafaxine, you may want to know the reason for its discontinuation distribution in the US. The drug was massively used as a medication treatment for depression. Yet, the very same medicine has various adverse reactions in patients.

This post packs insights regarding Effexor and which alternative options you have if the medicine causes you certain sufferings. Follow through with the exhaustive explanation! 

What Kind of Drug is Effexor?

According to Drug Watch, Effexor is known as a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor that is used to treat anxiety and depression. Effexor works in the body by regulating levels of norepinephrine and serotonin in your brain. The FDA approved the first Effexor in 1993 and accepted the extended version in 1997.

Later, Pfizer discontinued the initial Effexor since it required two daily doses. To make it efficient, Pfizer produced the extended version called Effexor XR, the one you can take only a single dose each day. Unfortunately, patients later reported the unwanted effects of Effexor, saying that the drug can cause severe nausea.

Why Has Effexor Been Discontinued in the US?

Since the unwanted effects have been apparent, there have been some lawsuits regarding the drug from the suffered patients. The users claimed that their kids were born with critical congenital disabilities after they consumed Effexor as medication. Hence, the lawsuits against the drug maker Pfizer have been piling up since 2012.

It’s the explanation behind why has Effexor been discontinued in the US. You might want to see other aftereffects of the drug so you can be more careful. Read below to learn more about what will happen after taking Effexor with a daily dose.

Effexor’s Side Effects

Based on the explanation from Verywell Mind, Effexor has ten common side effects that may occur. Look at the list below.

• Diarrhea;
• tired easily;
• constipation;
• loss of appetite;
• decreased sexual desire;
• heartburn;
• nausea;
• headache;
• vomiting; and
• drowsiness.

Since the side effects may disturb your daily activities, you can immediately call your physician for help. The users often ignore these symptoms because it’s natural to get these signs when you just started taking this medication. However, if the conditions persist over two weeks, ensure you call your physician for professional help.

3 Parties Who Can Be Held Liable

In case your condition worsens, even after seeking professional help, you can strive to find a trusted lawyer to handle your case. Most of the lawyers will know the reason why has Effexor been discontinued in the US, so it would be beneficial to have them take the case. Then, who can be held liable for this case? Find out the list below.

1. Drug Manufacturer

The drug manufacturer must be liable for this case because they must properly test the medicine before releasing it. Testing a medicine will take a long time since they must monitor its aftereffects before distributing it to the public. A drug maker (in this case, Pfizer) must provide complete warnings about the potential risks.

Therefore, if Pfizer fails to explain the known risks, the users can file product liability lawsuits against them related to the medication.

2. Physicians

Other than drug manufacturers, the prescribing doctors can be held liable, too. As a physician, he needs to inform the patients of possible risks to the patients before they take the medication. 

For instance, doctors should tell their pregnant patients who need to take this medication, as this drug can result in congenital disabilities later. Furthermore, physicians can recommend other medicines to cure the patients’ illnesses.

3. Pharmacies

Although pharmacies are usually only obliged to give medicines according to prescriptions, they still need to provide appropriate counseling related to the drug. For instance, if the pharmacies forget to warn the patients about the drug’s adverse reactions, the patients can also sue the pharmacies for not being considerate.

Hence, you may talk to your lawyer soon about your lawsuit related to Effexor. 

3 Leading Lawyers to Solve Effexor Lawsuits

If you need to file a lawsuit, providing all the necessary evidence and consulting your lawyer about the issue will increase the possibility of getting adequate payouts. Read the recommendations below for those who’d like to see prominent lawyers solve this case!

1. Reich & Binstock

Since taking Effexor to get out of your system may be slower than expected, ensure you call your chosen lawyer immediately. If you haven’t had time to check the recommended lawyers, you can call Reich & Binstock, the law firm experienced in taking personal injury cases and defective medical devices.

Visit their website now to have a free case review. If you’re interested in calling them instead, you can dial 713-622-7271. Remember to bring evidence that shows you’re taking Effexor as prescribed by your doctor to strengthen your case.

2. Morgan & Morgan

Another law firm that knows why has Effexor been discontinued in the US is Morgan & Morgan. Their personal injury lawyers are the experts in taking Effexor cases, so you can entrust your case to be handled by Morgan & Morgan. They will also do their best to get the compensation you deserve.

Call Morgan & Morgan now by submitting a free case evaluation form on their website. You can visit their office and meet them in person if you’re located in Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, or Georgia.

3. Krasovsky Law

Lastly, you may be familiar with Krasovsky Law, a law firm that handles dangerous drug issues. The Krasovsky Law knows best that Effexor can cause severe aftereffects, such as dependency, nausea, blurred vision, and serotonin syndrome. Hence, it would be their pleasure to help you through the hurdles.

Get your free case evaluation by submitting the form on their site here. Don’t delay too long, as your symptoms may progress faster than expected.

Hence, Why Has Effexor Been Discontinued in the US?

Reading the harmful effects of Effexor may scare those who are still taking the medication. However, keep calm and contact your physician immediately to change your medicine. Remember to get appropriately examined if you feel some of the above-mentioned symptoms.

So, after knowing the reason why has Effexor been discontinued in the US, ensure you talk to the professionals immediately. Keep yourself from harm by reporting your case directly to the physician and your chosen lawyer.