[cookie]

Dear Karen:
I had lack of motivation during the 5 years I took cymbalta. But the lack of motivation got worse this week. I have been feeling very lazy.

So you stopped taking the Estrace?

Yes, I also had that feeling of "being electrocuted from a light switch" once. That time I felt it in ALL my body, as if the electricity went from my head to my toes. Lately what I am feeling is different, it is like "little" electricity sensations that appear and dissapear on head, face, neck, legs, arms.

I am glad that the colonoscopy went fine and you don´t have to do it in another 10 years.

I have also had yelling and crying spells, but I do associate it with cymbalta withdrawal.

Have a nice weekend!
hugs
Cookie

[cookie]

Dear Karen:
It´s nice that your husband walked with you and you did ok with the bandaids.

Wow you are already at day 16 without cymbalta

Yes, "body zaps" is the word! I don´t get them always, just sometimes.

My weekend was good. One thing that I have learned through this process is to really enjoy the moments I feel well. When I feel well I laugh I enjoy it so much. I do not have to be doing something fun, I can just be at home an enjoy. The thing that I´ve noticed is that I am having mood swings. Today I felt well morning and afternoon and then later I felt very anxious, frightened and wanted to cry with no reason. Then that feeling went away. I have also noticed I am super hungry at night, I keep on eating and eating. I am reducing dosage to 12mg, I am scared and excited at the same time.

How are you???

[cookie]

Hi Karen:
Oh I see... when you walk with your husband you have someone to complain about how your feet hurts!....
Even though I am eating too much I try to still eat healthy food. I do not buy junk food. The worst thing I could eat is oatmeal, bread, cheese in large amounts. It is like you mention, I never feel full when eating.

After a few bad days, yesterday I had a good day. I felt so calm. The feeling of calmness is great. Today I woke up “hyper”. I started organizing some papers, and wanted to keep on organizing things. I do not know if this is good or not. If it is kind of mania or not. I could concentrate perfectly (thing that has been difficult all this years due to my severe depression).

Tonight I was watching TV and I spaced out. I was watching a program, and suddenly Iook at the TV and I had no idea what I was watching. Weird. I hope all this is just withdrawals.

It is great that you are back to walking regularly!!!!
Hugs
Cookie

[cookie]

Dear Karen:
Yes, it is weird that one can suddenly become so energized when weaning. Like you said about working on your large garden, I organized a lot of papers that I had. I was so impressed I had the will to do it, but worries me that I couldn´t stop organizing things.

Oh that´s good you don´t eat bread. However make sure you are getting enough complex carbohydrates. (well you mentioned you eat fruits and vegetables, they should provide good carbohydrates). It is great that you learned to do portion control. With the weaning I haven´t been able to control my appetite these days!!!! I am eating like a pig!

I´ll tell you what happened......I was watching TV (a program that I watch everynight), and suddenly I didn´t recognize the actor on TV, I didn´t know what program I was watching, I didn´t know where I was, I was totally lost for a few seconds. It was very scary. It felt different from when one normally spaces out.

I am getting more headaches than usual. The good thing is that the feeling of calmness I feel sometimes is great.

How are YOU???????


cookie

[cookie]

Karen:

It is great to hear you are back to NORMAL, you feel like yourself and you are back to walking everyday.

Concerning my headaches I do not take anything for them. It is "funny/curious" but I am not a medicine person. I ended up taking pills because I needed and antidepressant and then with the weight gain an antidiabetic pill. But I do not like to take pills. First because I feel that if one gets a headache, or a cold, the body is trying to say something.....maybe to slow down stressful life, or something. The second reason, is that during weaning, I want to make sure the symptoms I am having are due to cymbalta withdrawal and if I add other medicines I won´t know if cymbalta withdrawal is causing it, or the new med, or the combination of both.

This week was good (in spite of some symptoms I mentioned earlier this week). I just love, when I experience this general feeling of calmness and happiness. Today was good, I felt almost like my old me. I know I still have a looooooong bumpy road ahead, and I know mood swings are one of the withdrawal symptoms. But feeling this sense of calmness gives me hope.

I believe everything happens for a reason. And there is something I have learned. That is to enjoy life the little periods of time that I feel well. When I feel well I try to laugh as much as I can. My biggest goal is not to get discouraged by the bad/weird symptoms that weaning brings.

Have a great weekend.
Love
Cookie

[cookie]

Dear Karen:
I hope the rash on your ankles got better. Why is it called disney world rash??? is it because people walk too much?
How was your weekend?
hugs
Cookie

[cookie]

Hi Karen:
Did your mom go to the doctor to get her rash checked?

My weekend was good. I felt balanced. One night all these memories started to appear. It seems that cymbalta was hidden them. All the good memories came back. Even the image of the guy I used to like during college
Yesterday I reduced to 10,7mg. I can´t believe it!!!

I think I won´t be doing yoga for a couple of weeks. I am walking on the treadmill instead and doing exercises to strenghten my neck.

Hugs
Cookie

[cookie]

Dear Karen:
I hope your ankles and your mom ankles get much better.

It is great that you are able to walk 4 miles everyday. I walk 2,5miles and I feel an athlete! That is such an accomplishment that you walk that long distance daily

I guess mood swings are a part of this process. Last night I had electrical sensations in my spinal cord. They felt like lightning. Last night I had a horrible image of a skull. I do not know if I was awake or dreaming. But I kept on asking myself where did that image come from?. Today was a terrible day, I felt very depressed and weird. As if my initial symptoms are coming back. Surprinsingly at night I am feeling a little bit more calm. I have some social events this week so I might updose a little (from 10mg to 11mg). Well, but I know after dark days there is always a sunny day!!!!

Thank you for your words
Cookie

[cookie]

Hi Karen:
After some dark days surprinsingly today I had a pretty calm day. I woke up feeling fine. (I just hate these mood swings!) I never know what to expect?!?!?!. However I shouldn´t complaint, because I do have calm days, I wished I just knew how to make everyday a "calm day"!. I hope I feel well on the weekend because I have social events to go to.

Wow if you are able to walk 4 miles twice a day you are an athlete!

Thank you SO MUCH for your support!

hugs
cookie

[earthkitty1]

How many beads are there supposed to be in a 60mg capsule? I have tried pouring half of them out to make an approximate 30 mg dose. Is it better to take a few out day to day? I want off this stuff. I have been on it for about 3 years, along with Lyrica. I have daily pain from FM anad degenerative disk disease. I am new here and searching for help! I would really love to get off it all, as all it really does is fill the pockets of the pharmaceutical execs! Has anyone tried Chinese Herbals for meds? Thank you so much! Kim

[cookie]

karen, on 24 September 2010 - 11:37 AM, said:

Hi, Cookie

That is GREAT news that you woke up feeling fine. I hope that will continue, but you know if you have a bad day, a better day is right around the corner. I hope you'll be fine this weekend when you go out.

No,I'm no athlete. That's for sure! Like I said, I like to eat. Some study showed that after 50 a lot of women need to exercise 2 hours a day to lose weight and one hour a day just to maintain. I had already figured that out for myself. I've put a few pounds on since I lost that 7 lbs or whatever so effortlessly after I started taking Cymbalta. I thought I lost it because I quit taking gabapentin. Now I wonder if it was the cymbalta. I started gaining after I quit it. I probably have to just take the blame myself and get busy walking. Well, I have been the last couple of weeks. It was nice and cool this morning, so I was out the door as soon as it was light enough. I came home and had breakfast. Now I'm resting my poor feet, and I'll go for another walk in a little bit. The reason I do the 4 mile loop is because I have to do the whole thing to get back to my car. I could shorten it by cutting through the park, but I don't like walking there. I do a bike path that's out in the open but far enough from the street that you don't have to inhale the fumes. That's the only way I don't mind walking by myself. I listen to music while I walk. I can walk the fastest listening to michael jackson. It's mostly joggers and bikes where I walk, but there are a few people walking depending on what time of day it is.

Hang in there and have a good weekend!

Karen

Hi Karen

I think –everybody- should exercise to maintain health. When I started taking cymbalta I gained so much weight.
Oh I see, you have to do the 4 mile loop to get back to your car. Yes, it is important that you don´t inhale the fumes from the street.
I am down to 10mg.
Hugs
Cookie

[cookie]

Dear Karen:
It is hard to know, some people gain weight after quitting some lose weight. Although from what I´ve read on this site, it is more common for people to gain weight when they quit.

I am down to 10mg. My symptoms and mood vary from day to day. I am having more "normal" days and some dark days/moments. I reported my psychological symptoms to my doctor, and he said to increase dosage to 60mg.

[cookie]

Dear Karen:
In response to the suggested increase I thought to myself the same words as you:.....”OMG!!!!!“

I have learned to listen to my body better, and I know which of the symptoms I am feeling are additional and different from the initial illness (depression). When the initial Depression hit I didn´t experience: (mood swings, difficulty finding words to talk, body electrical sensations, itchiness, breathlessness, flu like symptoms or extreme hair loss). It is shocking, that the response of my doctor to withdrawals is to increase the dosage. You are right, there are people who were on this medicine for other things different from Depression and have had psychological symptoms when quitting.

Yes, I´ve come so far. It has been months suffering ups and downs. I just want to be off the med and feel the REAL me, and treat the real symptoms, not the symptoms withdrawal is causing. If I increased to 60mg –again- how long would I have to stay on that dose?? Isn´t 5 years enough?? And then I would have to go through all this –again.- No way!. Besides, during weaning I´ve had some normal days at lower dosages. My mind is more clear. I am feeling more.

Wow it is great that you have been able to walk twice a day and lost weight. Oh I see the estrogen cream could have contributed to the weight gain. I hope your feet stop hurting so bad.

hugs
Cookie

[cookie]

Dear Karen:
Cymbalta was a relief at some point in my life, but then it just stopped working. No matter what increase in dosage I made. There was a period of time in which my dosage was increased from 60mg to 90mg, and didn´t feel better anyways.

With Depression, things/meds have to be tested by trial an error. That is why I want to get off this med, and see how my body/mind really feels. If I am going to feel bad anyways I rather really feel what my body has to say than feel the symptoms that a medicine is producing. The worse scenary is that I´ll have to take antidepressants again.

Yes, B vitamins are great, I am taking them. What other supplements are you planning to take?

[cookie]

Dear Karen:
Sorry for my late response, for some reason I wasn´t able to enter Cymbalta´s withdrawal web page for a few days. Where you able to enter the site for the past days???

What is alpha lipoic acid??? I searched it on the internet and it says it helps the body use glucose, and improves blood sugar control. I also read that it works as a chelator to get rid of mercury.

I am down to 9mg, doing OK. Since I keep a diary on my symptoms, I notice that withdrawal symptoms tend to get worse during PMS, and after that I get better.

hugs
Cookie

[*Serendipity*]

I could not get into the site either, I thought I had been blocked from looking at it by the IT guys at work!! phew!! Good to see you are down to 9mg now Cookie!

[cookie]

Dear Karen:
OMG!!! the cream had chili peppers!!!!! and you felt you were on fire!. I hope it burns less the more you use it.

I was very down at the beginning of this week. Today I finally feel better. I hate mood swings. That prevents me to have a normal and accept friends invitations, because I never know how I will feel. However I am happy that even though I am in such low dosage (9mg) I can have such a pretty normal day like today.

I went to my GP yesterday to get my glicemic levels checked. After that, I made a comment about how my mood was and she started taking about the importance of exercise and nutrition. But what impressed me the most, is that she focused so much on talking about the benefits of acupunture and meditation. She said that in spite of her being a traditional medicine doctor (a scientific) she is realizing more each day how this things are an additional support for people´s wellbeing.

Dear Serendipity:
I see that I was not the only one, not being able to enter the site these days!

[cookie]

Dear Karen:
I see that you decided to throw the chilli peppers cream.
I am happy the weather is great for your walks. Why is it bad to have a thought of walking a third time???

One thing I notice is that before cymbalta, I used to be so passionate and excited to have a boyfriend. Now I feel I do not care that much about things. This guy has been inviting me week after week, and I do not feel much. I used to like him so much years ago. Sometimes I think that I do not have much to offer him, if I never know how I am going to feel (moods swings).

Surprinsingly I felt so good today. Almost like before I got my Depression. I never know if it is an "artificial happiness" caused by withdrawal, or if it is my system getting clean and going back to who I was before.

It is amazing how I feel today in spite of being on such a small dosage (9mg). I just can´t believe my doctor had told me to increase to 60mg when I reported my symptoms a few weeks ago. I know this happiness I am having, does´t last long, but I made the decision that if I am going to "feel bad" anyways I rather take the least product I can. I took 60mg for 5 years, and never went back to normal. I want to be clean to really feel MY symptoms.

.

[cookie]

Dear Karen:
Walking is not bad. It is not like you are smoking 3 packs of cigarrettes. You are exercising. However, it is important that you do not get obsessed by it –everything in extremes is bad-. Well the important thing is that you do what makes you happy.

I am SO GLAD to hear that you are mostly back to normal. Wow! That is great!. You are so lucky.

I am down to 8mg. I think this drop has been the most difficult one, since I started weaning. Concerning withdrawal symptoms: I got my first brain zaps (remember my electrical sensations were on my body, not brain). I have a pain in the right part of my body below the ribs (liver maybe?). But the worst is the emotional symptoms (rage, bad mood, feeling like crying, extreme mood swings).

For 2 days, I felt the same feeling I had when my severe depression hit. That worries me because in this case I do not think it is withdrawal symptom, but depression coming back???. I´ve been getting these horribles images in my mind while awake.

In relation to the guy it is not that I see him and don´t care. The thing is that he invites me, and I never know how I am going to feel with these mood swings, so I rather reject the invitations. However, I made the effort today and wrote him an email explaining that I am interested but I haven´t been feeling well lately. He was very supportive, although I didn´t tell him exactly was is happening to me.

Yes, I always stay at a dose a certain amount of time (usually 1 week, and if I feel bad 2 weeks).

Again I am so glad, that you are mostly back to normal!!!!!

Hugs
Cookie

[cookie]

Dear Karen:
I see, you exercise to control your weight, not necessarily for fun. How is your weight in relation to your height?, have you done the “Body mass index” calculation?. Because if you are in the right weight, it shouldn´t matter if the scale goes up a bit. I think the most important thing is that you stay healthy. Remember weight is given by 2 factors: 1. Exercise. 2. The food we eat. So maybe instead of walking the third time, you could focus more on healthy eating???? I totally understand when you say “giving the scale power”. I was always a thin person, but since I gained 50lbs with cymbalta, weight started to become an issue. This year I lost much of that weight, but I am fearful of gaining even a little weight while withdrawing.

Yesterday was the worst day since I started weaning. Tonight I felt much better (emotionally). My mood is so unpredictable.

The pain below the rib is still there, but I do tolerate physical pain much better than the emotional stuff. I´ve read so much on this site, about liver problems.

About the guy, I think during the hard times is when you know who really is your friend. He has been inviting me for the last 7 weekends. Let´s see if he will be there, now that he knows I am not feeling well.

Wow 8 weeks since your last bead of cymbalta!

Hugs
Cookie

[cookie]

Hi Karen:
Your BMI is excellent!!!!!: you shouldn´t worry that much about weight. Plus you eat healthy and exercise. After 5 years of medication it got to a point in which my BMI was 27,3. I am glad I lost the weight.

I am glad to hear your feet feel better after taking alpha lipoic acid and vitamin B12. I read something about the relation between Food Intolerance and Fibromyalgia and Depression. I do not know what kind of doctor or test can diagnose food intolerance. I am very interested in knowing. Have you heard something about this?

The mood swings I am having are undescribable. The horrible, down and dark mood I had this week, was replaced today by a sense of calmness and balance.. The “downs” I have are similar to when my severe depression hit, and my “ups” remind me of the old me before the illness (although not entirely 100%). I just do not know how I will feel once the medication is out of my system. I do not know if this “ups” are also part of withdrawal (like and artificial happiness) and I won´t have them once I am completely off the med. I just do not know who I am anymore. Just so confusing.

However, one thing I´ve learned is to really enjoy those moments of calmness and balance. I enjoy every little thing, every moment. I laugh at everything I can, I find sense of humor on little things.

The guy called me today to know how I was feeling. I had told him previously I was feeling bad but didn´t tell him exactly why. I just admire those couples in which one of the person is completely healthy and the other one has a health problem. I´ve seen on this site different couples, husbands taking care of their wife, girlfriends taking care of their boyfriends. I think that is a proof of love. But in my case, I feel it is unfair to him, he´s a young guy who wants to enjoy life.

Karen thank you so much for being there, listening and sharing. Talking to you has been a lot of help.

Hugs
Cookie

[cookie]

Hi Karen:
Again, I think your BMI is perfect. Take care of yourself but do not be obsessed with the numbers on the scale. The important thing is that you feel well and you are healthy.

My neck is much better, but haven´t gone back to yoga yet. I am doing exercises for my neck to strengthen it. I miss it so much.

Everyone is different. Maybe not all people have problems quitting the med. Maybe people on this site are the minority. Yes, it is sad to read the pain people are going through. But at the same time is a relief to have an explanation to the symptoms I am having.

Today I have felt anger and rage. I feel I have no patience. I am overeacting.

How are you???

[UnitedWeCan]

I think we should all unite so our voice can be heard. The only way we can make a difference is to put all our stories together and send them to everyone who has resources and power to help us. Please send your name, phone #, address and story to pamward36@hotmail.com.

The pills are by weight not by bead count. You will notice some beads are much larger than others. I am back on full dose because I could not handle side effects either. Sorry I have nothing to offer but neither do most doctors or the company. If we make bring enough attention to it, someone will study the problem and write a protocal.

[UnitedWeCan]

cookie, on 23 September 2010 - 10:02 PM, said:

Hi Karen:
After some dark days surprinsingly today I had a pretty calm day. I woke up feeling fine. (I just hate these mood swings!) I never know what to expect?!?!?!. However I shouldn´t complaint, because I do have calm days, I wished I just knew how to make everyday a "calm day"!. I hope I feel well on the weekend because I have social events to go to.

Wow if you are able to walk 4 miles twice a day you are an athlete!

Thank you SO MUCH for your support!

hugs
cookie

[cookie]

Dear Karen: I just came back from a trip. How are things for you????? My trip was great, I felt good most days, energized, happy, enjoyed things. The only thing is that I burst into tears once. But it is not like the -crying without a reason- people describe on this site. The moment I cried I was actually talking about something that really bothers me. It felt so good to cry (I hadn´t cried for 5 years. It felt that I am getting my emotions back). I was able to walk on a treadmill during the trip. I am down to 5mg now.

[cookie]

Hi Karen!
Nice to hear from you! Great that you were also on a trip. Sorry you broke your baby toe. Thanksgiving dinner sounds fun. It doesn´t matter that you gain 8 pounds, if you enjoyed the food!

It is amazing how I´ve changed my eating habits. I ate super healthy during the trip. I am learning how to make smart choices concerning food.

I started my yoga classes again, my neck bothers me, but yoga class helps me so much with my mood and anxiety, that I rather do it. I am so glad to be down to 5mg. I am still having extreme mood swings, and I am more vulnerable but I keep on enjoying the good days, when I have them. I think I´ll be done by january. Then I will find out if the –weaning slowly method- was worth it or not. I am a little bit scared but also excited.

[cookie]

Hi Karen:

Wow 37th anniversary! Congratulations, that is a long time. It was definitely not the time to be on a diet. I am sure you enjoyed the food.



Yes, my neck is still bothering me, and also my lower back. I´ve noticed I am having pains in different parts of my body. I wake up with a pain on my lungs/chest. But I do not complain because the mental/emotional symptoms have improved.



Are you still walking everyday?

[cookie]

Dear Karen:

I am sorry to hear that you are not walking everyday because your toe hurts too much. I hope the new bike is a solution and option to exercise without pain.



Last week was one of the hardest week since I started weaning. I am down to 5mg. Things are getting tougher. The physical pain and discomfort is unbelievable (remember I took the medication for depression not fibromyalgia). I spent the whole week with severe flu-like symptoms, high blood pressure, shortness of breath, anxiety. All I want to do is lay down in bed. Last yoga class I felt terrible, I suddenly felt that I was being torn in 2, and dizziness. So I couldn´t go to yoga class the rest of the week. It makes me very upset not being able to exercise, because exercise was an option to the antidepressant decrease. I have a new symptom: I eat and I feel like vomiting.



I will have to do very tiny drops from now on (maybe 2 or 3 beads at a time). I have to feel well for christmas gatherings with family and friends.

[cookie]

Dear Karen:

Did you try your bike??? With a shoe on??



It is shocking to hear that you are not back to normal with memory and comprehending and that you say wrong words all the time. I do not remember the name of people, places and things.



I never had PMS. Since I started weaning I am having really bad PMS. I cannot function. So it seems that the emotional and physical pain I am having is related to the part of the menstrual cycle I am at. I hope this goes away soon.



Thank you for being there

[cookie]

Hi Karen:

I am sorry that you started to feel pins and needles in your feet after 20 minutes of riding the bike L . At least it is not as painful as waking on your feet. I hope it gets better.



I hope the cognitive issues get better for you. It must be very upseting not remembering what people said or trying to figure out what someone is saying. It is shocking to hear that you see people that you know and you have no clue who they are. That hasn´t happened to me. My trouble is finding words to talk.



I had body temperature problems when I started weaning but now anymore.



My Sunday and Monday were the most horrible days I´ve had since started weaning. The darkness and despair was unbelievable. But the moods swings are also unbelievable. Today I feel fine, calm, no physical pain. I guess yoga has so much to do with it.