The Homicide Files: Effexor

This is the fourth in the series of psychiatric drug medication possibly causing homicide (Precripticide)

Today sees Effexor in the spotlight.

Effexor (Venlafaxine ) is a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) and is an extremely difficult drug to wean off due to its short half-life.

Links to parts 1,2, and 3 of the homicide series can be seen at the foot of this post.



AERS Case Number 4140388

Homicide by male (age 36) The patient was taking Effexor (dose unknown) beginning sometime in 2005. He shot and killed an unnamed person. (Click on images to enlarge)

The patient is quoted is this report, sent to Medwatch from Effexor manufacturer, Wyeth.

"The patient told police he was mentally ill (mental disorder) and "maybe a demon possessed me". The patient also commented, "I should just kill myself". When asked what happened between him and the driver he replied, "Oh my God, I don't know, it's just a blur".

http://www.murdermeds.com/index.php/2016/01/14/aers-case-number-4140388/

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AERS Case Number 4194052

Homicide by male (age 18) The patient was taking Effexor XR (75mg daily - increased to 300mg daily) during the periods November 2001 - January 2003. He was diagnosed with mild depression and had spoken with his Dr about not being able to concentrate for his grades. He killed his best friend by poisoning.

http://www.murdermeds.com/index.php/2016/01/14/aers-case-number-4194052/

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AERS Case Number 5836784

Homicide by male (age 58) The patient was taking Effexor XR (75mg daily) beginning in July 2003. Just days later he shot his wife to death before killing himself. The patient had no history of violence.

http://www.murdermeds.com/index.php/2015/12/28/aers-case-number-5836784/

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AERS Case Number 9822105

Homicide by female (age 34) The patient was taking Effexor (Unknown dose) Unknown duration. The patient was admitted to a psychiatric unit and after Effexor treatment was said to be in a confused state. The report also states that she experienced a psychosis during which time she tried to drown REDACTED and strangled REDACTED. After the events took place the patient said she could not remember committing these crimes.

The report was sent to the FDA by Pfizer.

http://www.murdermeds.com/index.php/2016/01/28/aers-case-number-9822105/

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AERS Case Number 6236297

Homicide by male (Unknown age) The patient was taking Effexor (Unknown dose) Unknown duration. 

Effexor therapy began in 1994. The report shows how the patient went on a "killing spree" and even quotes the patient as saying, "before I went on Effexor I was a man of peace, non-violent.

http://www.murdermeds.com/index.php/2016/01/19/aers-case-number-6236297/

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Bob Fiddaman.

Source - Murder Meds Database.

Previously in the Homicide Files series.

The Homicide Files: Paxil/Seroxat

The Homicide Files: Celexa & Lexapro

The Homicide Files: Cymbalta

Australian Pharmacists Paid By Pfizer For Patient Details

The Sydney Morning Herald is reporting that Pfizer, one of the world's biggest drug companies, has been accused of paying Australian pharmacists to promote some of its best-selling drugs.

The Herald writes:

Pfizer pays pharmacies a $7 ''administration fee'' for each patient signed up to so-called support programs that involve the drug company providing information directly to patients about nine of its drugs.

Pharmacists say the deal, which Pfizer struck with the Pharmacy Guild of Australia in July, is similar to the one dumped this month for them to market dietary supplements with prescription medicines.

The pharmacists' union said it was another example of the owners' guild using the good name of pharmacists to boost its profits. The union called on the guild to abandon the deal.

One of the drugs included in the scheme is Pfizer's cholesterol-lowering blockbuster Lipitor, for which more than 10 million prescriptions were filled last year through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme at a cost to the taxpayer of almost $600 million.

Pfizer will face competition from cheaper generic versions of the drug when its patent expires early next year.

Patients who sign up for the 12-week support program linked to Lipitor receive a cookbook and weekly emails containing health advice. Other Pfizer drugs with associated support programs are Champix, Xalatan, Viagra, Lyrica, Pristiq, Aricept, Celebrex and Effexor XR.

It's classic advertising by proxy and a cunning way to get around the ban on direct to consumer advertising that exists in Australia. Glaxo did the same back in 2002 with the marketing of Aropax [That's Seroxat and/or Paxil to you and I]. They kindly offered special counselling with the A Plus Project...on the proviso that the patient continued to take their medication, if they didn't then the offer of counseling was withdrawn. Great ethics, eh? [Source]

So, if you are an Australian and you have, in the past, used another pharmaceutical product for your erectile dysfunction, don't be surprised if you are sent some paraphernalia through the post that 'bigs up' [excuse the pun] Pfizer's products.

A Pfizer spokeswoman said the programs were designed to benefit patients rather than achieve commercial objectives.

''Under no circumstances does Pfizer market its medicines directly to patients,'' she said.

Yeh, and a cow just jumped over the moon!

Fid

ORDER THE PAPERBACK 'THE EVIDENCE, HOWEVER, IS CLEAR...THE SEROXAT SCANDAL' By Bob Fiddaman US and CANADA HERE
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