Can I sue my doctor for Effexor addiction?

[adco88]

I am addicted to Effexor. I know that a class action lawsuit will take many years. I was maybe mildly depressed. Actually, I am chronically fatigued, I think. I am thinking of suing my doctor in small claims court, and use the funds to go to a rehab clinic for withdrawal treatment. Even if I forget to take a pill one day, I will have vivid nightmares when sleeping. This is a common withdrawal symptom I hear. Then I am really exhausted the next day. I am age 62. When I have had these nightmares, sometimes I will awaken in the middle of the night with my heart pounding. Probably people have died of heart attacks from Effexor at 3 am and no one knows it. In the past,  I have refused drugs like Prozac, Zoloft and Paxil. Both my parents committed suicide. I did not want to take any addictive drug, or a drug likely to cause suicide. I do not take any illegal drugs, or cigarettes or alcohol. My doctor assured me that Effexor was non-addictive, and posed no suicide risk. Now I am reading that Effexor has been linked to addiction and suicide! I think the limit is small claims court in my state is $3500. At least I could go thru a supervised withdrawal. I would be afraid to go cold turkey. I hear you can get angry and suicidal. Also, I now have a costly drug habit of $5 a day, and I only get $610 a month social security. Has anyone sued their doctor in small claims court for getting them addicted to Effexor?

[larbec7]

It is hard to wean off effexor, i took it years ago and had vertigo getting off of them.  Take the capsule in half and take half for a week, then a quarter for a week and then a feww pellets.  For me I had vertigo for a couple of days.

You can sue anyone for anything BUT I doubt you will win a law suit.

[TrayCee]

NO

[SophieShine]

When you talk about holistic alternative, are you again trying to sell a durug treatment program in your "safe haven" retreat?
You are the director of this retreat and are trying to drum up business on this substance abuse forum. As already mentioned before.

[kelley43]

By the time the law suit goes thru you will probably get a check for $25.00!  We have to take responsibility for what we take, and have an understanding, at least a basic one, of the meds we are prescribed.  As far as a health risk, as long as we use the same pharmacy they usually keep track well of meds that are compatible.  As far as what the drug is for, WE need to know that, read the inserts that come with our meds.  If you don't ask your doctor, you are doing yourself a disservice also.
I don't think the tobacco industry should be sued by people that smoked when they knew it was health risk.  
I know I take full responsibility for the meds I put in my mouth.  When it became stronger then my own willpower I knew I had an addiction problem.  I could have continued to get prescriptions, it was ME that decided i would not refill my prescription and flushed 42 1/2 hydrocodones down my toilet ( I sang a sad little song, it was a sad day) I knew they were addictive, my body knew they were addictive.  No one will save me, but me.  
And no one is going to save you but you, and you know what?  It takes every ounce of energy and spirit and perserverence and guy wrenching withdrawl symptoms sometimes to stop.  I would not have the energy to fight with the stupid legal system.  Save yourself.
good luck, Keeping myself clean makes me see things a bit clearer everyday.  It's another perk to being clean.
PEACE

[steveo30]

forget about the money and worry about your health.one thing is for sure,we are ginny pigs.the end   steveo

[SunGodRa]

Good luck in suing them.  Doubt that it gets far seeing how they got lawyers out the yin/yang. But the thing is
Doctors should teach nutrition not pharmaceutical addiction
  All drugs are toxic to the liver. Physician do no harm.  That is an axiom from the beginning. The doctor feigns ignorance but have you ever seen any medication without side effects?  There are alternatives.  Dependency vs Liberation
Self Help vs. Control.  True health comes from taking responsibility for your own health. Becoming your own doctor.  Pharmaceutical drugs kill, try the holistic alternative.