BrainZap Staff

Deborah Phelan: Founder: aka boatsie. The BrainZap project was initiated in early summer, over the course of a week when I was experiencing severe cold-turkey withdrawal from 150 mg of Effexor XR. The withdrawal was the direct result of Wyeth’s decision to replace its new derivative “Pristiq” in doctors offices and in clinics which routinely supply medications to those who are either shifting to a new med due to difficulties with their current prescription, as well as to those who routinely received their meds from the hundreds of free samples Pharmaceutical Companies provide to practitioners for distribution to their clients. Wyeth, faced with loosing its patent on Effexor XR, determined to promote Pristiq a year before the patent ran out. Unfortunately, drug representatives were not informed to warm doctors that there was of yet no research determing the impact sudden discontinuation from Efffexor XR might have on those who use the drug.

I was one of many who went through severe Effexor XR withdrawal, and as many are aware Effexor XR is currently under investigation for the severere symptoms associated with withdrawl, symptoms which mimic those of individuals withdrawing from addictive drugs.

To pass the time during this process, I designed BrainZaps. The Community now has two administrators and we are working jointly to pursue publicising this community in order to reach sufficient critical mass to engage alternative treatment practitioners in designing case trials for us to use in our search for alternative treatments.

I was diagnosed with MDD close to 16 years ago and have been in ongoing treatment and on drug therapy since. I have long believed that the drugs themselves have sucked most of the vital energy out of me, making it extremely difficult to motivate, persevere, maintain consistent employment, and work towards finding and creating community. I am a veteran reporter, with a MA in education, who studies the role of information and communication technologies in addressing th global digitial divide, and on successful models for sustinable development; the importantce of grassroots projects which tap into the intrinsic motivation of individuals to work on real life meaningful community issues with a direct impact on their lives.

I am a consummate researcher on numerous topics (history, quantum psychics, deep ecology, social movements, interntational politics, global warming and green infrastructure.

A 57-year-old woman, I am divorced, with a 23-year-old daughter who is applying for graduate school in the area of Sustainable Developent with a focus on east Africa. I can be reached directly at deborahphelan@gmail.com

kimbriel Brainzaps’ first administrator …

To be updated soon….