I started effexor when it first came out and because it didn\'t have the slow tabs, even if i was 1/2 hour late with taking my next pill i would start going into withdrawl right away!It was so very bad. Not to mention when you took the pill i went through months of side effects because it seemed like my body never got used to it. i was either having the bad side effects or having the even worse withdrawl. it was so bad and i was only 16 at the time and didn\'t know better... didn\'t have doctors or family to help me out. Even thought i was hospitalized for a bit of that time, no one seemed to know the hell i was living in. trying to go to school and work and have a semi-normal teenage life. i am finding out now, that i cannot remember most of my life and what i did back then. it really wasn\'t that long ago, but its as if that time in my life is missing. the good and the bad! i do remember how bad it was, always sick and feeling druged-up with hot flashes and being dizzy. i wouldn\'t sleep for days at a time and then want to sleep the whole day away. but what i did that year and who i was with and all of my life story for that time is missing.

My parents were clueless to all of this and i don\'t think anyone, even the docs knew how bad it really was.

if you know of anyone who took effexor when it first came out, please email me: sleepybeagle@gmail.com

all the info i am coming up with is on the effexor XR. thanks, carly