effexor

What is the name of your state? Michigan Three years ago my doctor(actually she was a physicians assistant) told me I was depressed and gave me effexor. I take 250 mlgrms a day. It work well for me and even though at the time I didn't think I was depressed I felt very good in terms of dealing with problems that came my way. In the last year I lost my job, my house, my boyfriend and my insurance. If I wasn't depressed then I sure am now. Since I lost my benefits I had been calling the docs office to get samples until I could find a way to get them through a patient program. I made an appointment and at that time I found the PA I was seeing was no longer there so I saw the doc. I had been going to this office for many years but had never seen the doc before. he didn't seem very interested in me. He gave me a script for the pills and some samples to get me through until the program kicked in. About 5 weeks later I called the office to check on the status of the program and they didn't know what I was talking about. I tried to get them to recall but to no avail. At this point they told me to give them the info again, ok fine but in the meantime I am out of pills, do you have any samples you can give me. After about ten minutes on hold they come back and say no samples you have a script get it filled. I can't afford $200. please help me. The withdrawls on this med are awful. You aren't supposed to just stop taking it. I'm sorry we can't help you. Well what can I do. At this point I get a little panicked and start begging them to please help me. The nurse got on the phone and said we can't help you get your script filled and hung up on me. A few days later I'm in bad shape and I got a form printed from the internet that might speed things up. I sent it along with a letter to the doc telling him what happened with his staff. About the same time I get a letter in the mail(they crossed in the mail) telling me how sorry they are for my situation and they send me the same form I sent them. Ok so if I can just hang on until the pills start rolling in. at least now I have hope. Well today I get a letter in the mail stating I have to go elsewhere for my health needs and they sent me the form back. I called them and asked them why what was wrong and they just said the letter should explain. Well it doesn't and I don't understand and I feel terrible. Why are they doing this to me? Is there anything I can do?

[vrzirn]

I find it exceedingly difficult to believe you went many years to a doctor's office and never met him. It is just as difficult to believe the drug samples and prescription were given to you by a PA.
But if you say so....
Venlafaxine is used to treat generalized anxiety disorders and is a new and therefore relatively expensive drug. After being taken for some period of time a tapering off period of 2 weeks is suggested. The effects of going "cold turnkey" are uncomfortable but not life-threatening.
It is unreasonable to expect a free life-time supply of samples. Either you find some way to buy them or you find a doctor (one you actually meet), and request a similar drug that may be purchased as a generic.
Perhaps you should be trying to fix the cause and not the symptoms.

Why is it so difficult to believe I never met the doc? I always saw the physicians assistant. Aren't PA's supposed to be able to write scripts? I never expected a lifetime of free pills but they do have a patient program the t helps people with no insurance get their meds cheaper or free. Venlafaxine is used to treat depression as well as anxiety. It comes in 35 and 75 mlgrm caps. I was taking 3 pills a day. Yes the withdrawls are very uncompfortable, as far as life threatening I guess that would depend on what frame of mind you were in.