[DingoBlue]

My doctor started me on Cymbalta yesterday. I thought it was OK until I saw this site and the horror stories of withdrawal. I need more information to help me decide if I want to continue with this drug. Are the potential benefits worth the risk of horrible withdrawals down the track.

My depression statrted around age 14. In my late 20s I developed chronic fatigues syndrome and multiple chemical sensitivity. I've been too disabled by this to work for the last 10 years. I'm 53 now and it seems like little has changed. I'm sick of my intrusive thoughts about conflict, disaster and death. I'm tired of being exhausted, anxious and irritable all the time. I want the constant muscle pains to go away. The only things that work for me with the CFS/MCS are antibiotics and blood thinners (warfarin), and believe me I've tried almost everything available, conventional and complementary, to treat this illness. Cognitive behavioural therapy has helped me through the worst times. I eat well and excercise when I can.

I've had a bad time with depression over the last 6 months. Withdrawing socially and losing interest in everything. About 10 years ago I tried about a dozen different anti-depressants but found that I just couldn't tolerate the side effects, which were often extreme like tunnel vision and rage attacks. My doc now tells me that Cymbalta has a low side effect profile. I've only been on it two days but I feel wierd already - kind of buzzed up and vague. Very vivid dreams last night and burning pains in my calves, which I tend to get anyway but haven't had for a while now.

The doc says the side effects only last a few days but ............ my past experience with SSRI drugs is not good. I've never tried an SNRI.

Is there anyone out there who has benefited from Cymbalta? There's a lot of negative stuff about it on this site - which you might expect in a blog on depression. I've been through a lot with my illness, not just depression. At times it's a real nightmare. I'd love to have a phamaceutical tool that could help from time to time. I reckon I could handle the Cymbalta withdrawals when necessary if I had some real hope of good benefits from the treatment. I just need more information to help make this decision. EG How long does it take to get hooked? Are the withdrawals worse the longer you've been on the drug? If I stop after 6 - 8 weeks will I still get withdrawals?

Thanks.

[cookie]

Dear Dingo Blue:
5 years ago my life was hit by Major Depression. I couldn´t get out of bed, eat, concentrate, relate to others, work. I was so low, nothing interest me and everything was dark. I had never felt so bad in my life. My doctor prescribed cymbalta, saying that it was a relatively new product, which acted on two neurotrasmitters at the same time (serotonin and norepinephrine). After a period of taking cymbalta, I began to feel a little better. It was easier to get out of bed, I was able to eat, I could talk to others, I was less depressed. This improvement lasted a year aproximately, but then cymbalta´s effectiveness wasn´t the same.

My doctor never warned me about side or withdrawal effects. I gained a lot of weight (52lbs), and that made me more depressed, and due to the huge weight gain, I developed glucose/insulin problems, having to take a pill for diabetics. Another side effect from cymbalta 60mg is that I used to get horrible blinding headaches.

Cymbalta saved my life 5 years ago, but to tell you the truth I never went back to be 100% the productive, sociable person I was before. I tried going to another doctor, who increased my cymbalta´s dose to 90mg, saying that my Depression would improve if the dose was increased. All it did was give me additional side effects, with no benefits.

One day I found this site, and read the horror stories of withdrawal. I analysed the situation and realized I wanted to quit or at least reduce cymbalta dose.
I started weaning slowly 11 weeks ago. The curious thing is that I have been getting new symptoms which I never had when I initially took cymbalta. They are additional symptoms to my Depression which my doctor never told me. It is a long list, but these have been the ones that have bother me the most:
-Emotional/mental: Extreme rage, mood swings, mind goes blank, can´t find the words to talk, sensitive to noises and light
-Physical: seizures, shortness of breath, nausea, flu like symptoms, excessive sweating, extreme fatigue, itchiness/needles sensations in hands, electric shocks in the body, extreme hair loss, changes in appetite, blurry vision, jaw clenching.

If there was a “magic pill” which would improve my mood, make me interested in things in life, wake up early, be energetic, sociable, etc I would take it for the rest of my life. And I wouldn´t go into withdrawals because I would never quit it. The thing is that cymbalta helped me in the worst moment of my life but then it stopped working for me.

I tell you my story to see if it helps you to make your decision, however everybody is DIFFERENT.

Regards
Cookie

[DingoBlue]

Hey Cookie,

Thanks for telling your story. I've read other similar tales on here about the short term benefits of Cymbalta. After a year or so it seems to stop working, they say. I certainly don't want to be on this drug for an extended period. My plan would be to use it in the really bad times, then stop when things stabilise. A 12 month plan to stay on cymbalta might be a reasonable thing. I'm still deliberating on it though.

I cetainly know there are no quick fixes or magic pills for this stuff, which is why I'm trying to be cautious and gather information from others about their experience. I'm well aware of the medical and manufacturer bias towards dismissing the severity of withdrawals.

But I'm pleased to hear that it worked for you for at least a reasonable amount of time. Maybe it will work for me.

About your withdrawal symptoms. I get all of those things (except the seizures) after I'm exposed to chemicals like pesticides and solvents in paints and renovating materials. This leads me to two questions.

1) Is Cymbalta an MCS initiator (see http://findarticles....6/ai_n15688810/ )?

And

2) Are people with MCS being misdiagnosed with depression?

If Cymbalta is an MCS initiator - I'd be in deep trouble. But if your experinece represents the overlap between major depression and CFS/MCS I might do OK.

Sorry if it sounds like I'm talking to myself here but it helps me to get things clear.

It usually takes me more than three months to recover from the worst of an MCS initiating chemical exposure and several years before I return to what could be described as my previous normal function. But some neuro-cognitive deficits from these exposures seem to be permanent.

I think I'm going to have to have a longer conversation with the doc.

Good luck with your journey. I keep myself going by reminding myself that, despite all the dark crap, the world is still a pretty amazing place and we probably won't get another crack at it after this life. I've lasted this long, I reckon I can make it to the end now, whatever life throws at me.

Best wishes
DingoBlue

cookie, on 24 July 2010 - 01:06 AM, said:

Dear Dingo Blue:
5 years ago my life was hit by Major Depression. I couldn´t get out of bed, eat, concentrate, relate to others, work. I was so low, nothing interest me and everything was dark. I had never felt so bad in my life. My doctor prescribed cymbalta, saying that it was a relatively new product, which acted on two neurotrasmitters at the same time (serotonin and norepinephrine). After a period of taking cymbalta, I began to feel a little better. It was easier to get out of bed, I was able to eat, I could talk to others, I was less depressed. This improvement lasted a year aproximately, but then cymbalta´s effectiveness wasn´t the same.

My doctor never warned me about side or withdrawal effects. I gained a lot of weight (52lbs), and that made me more depressed, and due to the huge weight gain, I developed glucose/insulin problems, having to take a pill for diabetics. Another side effect from cymbalta 60mg is that I used to get horrible blinding headaches.

Cymbalta saved my life 5 years ago, but to tell you the truth I never went back to be 100% the productive, sociable person I was before. I tried going to another doctor, who increased my cymbalta´s dose to 90mg, saying that my Depression would improve if the dose was increased. All it did was give me additional side effects, with no benefits.

One day I found this site, and read the horror stories of withdrawal. I analysed the situation and realized I wanted to quit or at least reduce cymbalta dose.
I started weaning slowly 11 weeks ago. The curious thing is that I have been getting new symptoms which I never had when I initially took cymbalta. They are additional symptoms to my Depression which my doctor never told me. It is a long list, but these have been the ones that have bother me the most:
-Emotional/mental: Extreme rage, mood swings, mind goes blank, can´t find the words to talk, sensitive to noises and light
-Physical: seizures, shortness of breath, nausea, flu like symptoms, excessive sweating, extreme fatigue, itchiness/needles sensations in hands, electric shocks in the body, extreme hair loss, changes in appetite, blurry vision, jaw clenching.

If there was a “magic pill” which would improve my mood, make me interested in things in life, wake up early, be energetic, sociable, etc I would take it for the rest of my life. And I wouldn´t go into withdrawals because I would never quit it. The thing is that cymbalta helped me in the worst moment of my life but then it stopped working for me.

I tell you my story to see if it helps you to make your decision, however everybody is DIFFERENT.

Regards
Cookie

[cookie]

Hey DingoBlue:
Why are you exposed to chemicals like pesticides and solvents in paints and renovating materials??? Is it because of work???

Concerning the question about people with MCS being misdiagnosed with Depression. I just feel that there is less importance on the diagnosis than there is on treating the symptoms. If you are having similar symptoms of Depression then I would deduce a Depression treatment should work. At the end, I do not know what caused by Depression. Maybe it was also caused by exposure to chemicals. Chemicals nowadays are present in the things we eat, shampoos, etc.

Keep in mind that antidepressants treat, hide the symptoms of Depression but they do not really cure.
Keep me posted on your decision

Hugs
Cookie

[DingoBlue]

Hi Joh,

I think I might not tolerate the higher dose either. I'm not sure I even want to go there. My past esperience with antidepressants is that the side effects really kick in once I go up to a therapeutic dose. Prozac gave me tunnel vision and rage attacks.

I have a medical doctor who is familiar with nutritional medicine. She's giving me various herbal and nutritional supplements but I think I'm wasting my money. They don't seem to make much difference. But I know they help lots of other people. I tried kineseology too but......... no good.

A different doctor has prescribed the Cymbalta but they both know each other as they both work in the area of CFS. I reckon I should talk to the other doc about it too. Usually it takes several months to see her but I have an appointment next month. Not too far off.

Meanwhile, I hope I don't regret Cymbalta. I saw a recent study in the Journal Of the American Medical Association that found Cymbalta worked well to reduce pain and depression in fibromyalgia, which I also have. But there was no study of the long term effects - as is usual.

My plan at the moment is to stay on the 30mg. Maybe I won't even attemp to up the dose if it stabilises my moods.

I wouldn't want to stay on it for more than 12 months though. Even that might be too long.

But I still don't feel quite right about being on this drug. It seems like a big risk for me. The thing is, I've only been on it a few days and my mood is much better already but I'm not sure if that's a placebo effect. Hope springs eternal, hey? :-)

DB

joh, on 25 July 2010 - 05:24 PM, said:

DingoBlue,

Your situation is a tuff call. I took 50 mgs of Cymbalta for 5 years......I could never tolerate the "therapeutic" dose of 60mgs.....maybe that should of been an indication right there?

I have been tapering down for 3 1/2 months, plus I started on bioidentical hormones, I am taking 20 mgs of Prozac to get me off of the Cymbalta, I go to a chiropractor who works with herbs and kinesiology, all these things have helped, but I totally regret the day I decided to go on Cymbalta.

I hope you can make a good decision for yourself, that helps in the long run.

[DingoBlue]

Hi Cookie,

I was exposed to pesticides and herbicides by my state and local governments. The state government did a frut fly eradication program in the area where I worked. They used organophosphates which are known to be associated with MCS, fenthion and Malathion. That was ten years ago and I haven't worked since. After the pesticides, I became sensitive to the Roundup herbicide my local government sprays in the streets and parks to kill weeds. They would spray around my home and I'd be left bed ridden for months with acute chemical sensitivity to perfumes, smoke, vehicle exhaust, new carpets and more. They wouldn't beleive me that it was making me so sick. I fought them for five years, ending up in the federal court under disability discrimination legislation. Now I have a no-spray buffer zone around my house and they notify me when they spray in the area. My health is much better now.

After all this happened I organised public protest rallies and lobbied our state government for recognition of the problem - there's lots of MCSers these days, about 6% of the population by some measures. There was a Parliamentary Inquiry and the government is now getting serious about MCS but it's very slow progress.

I was exposed to solvents around 1994 while working in a newly constructed and poorly ventilated building - it stank!! I got real sick there and had to leave that job. Couldn't work at all for 6 months after but I never really recovered from that.

I've also had other exposures, like when I tried to renovate my house that was built in 1910. I had to stop that because I just couldn't walk anymore. I'm sure some of the walls haven't seen a lick of paint for 20 years :-)

Now that I know for sure that I'm chemically sensitive, I avoid chemicals as much as possible. But you're right, they're everywhere and it's almost impossible.

I know you say it's important to treat the symptoms of depression and that's what I'm looking for - some kind of treatment. But studies have shown that MCS related depression isn't the same as "normal" depression. MCSers don't tend to have the same level of self hatred/blame and low self esteem and don't have the same lack of motivation - we just don't have the energy. But there's still lots of similarities and overlap. I'm worried that Cymbala might actually be something that causes MCS, in which case long term use could be disastrous for me. But I just don't have enough information to make a decision.

I'll be sure to keep you posted on my progress. Thanks for taking an interest.

DB

cookie, on 25 July 2010 - 11:03 PM, said:

Hey DingoBlue:
Why are you exposed to chemicals like pesticides and solvents in paints and renovating materials??? Is it because of work???

Concerning the question about people with MCS being misdiagnosed with Depression. I just feel that there is less importance on the diagnosis than there is on treating the symptoms. If you are having similar symptoms of Depression then I would deduce a Depression treatment should work. At the end, I do not know what caused by Depression. Maybe it was also caused by exposure to chemicals. Chemicals nowadays are present in the things we eat, shampoos, etc.

Keep in mind that antidepressants treat, hide the symptoms of Depression but they do not really cure.
Keep me posted on your decision

Hugs
Cookie

[cookie]

Hi DB:
Yes, it seems that you are very sensitive to chemicals. This world is full of chemicals. I once read that even the fluoride contained in toothpaste caused depression. I even ask myself what is the food nowadays made of???....I have been trying to go back to basics, eat fruist and veggies and stop eating processed food or drinks, artifitial sweeteners, etc.

Yes I am sure your “depression” is something chemical. You don´t have low self steem.

I hope you make the best decision for your health.
Hugs
Cookie

[DingoBlue]

Hi Cookie,

I've decided to stop taking Cymbalta. It's giving me nasty side effects. I have trouble concentrating and remembering things anyway but Cymbalta seems to be making it much worse. I'm getting burning pains in my legs and back too. And fatigue. The doc said that it would pass after a few days but it seems to be getting worse. If I was exposed to a chemical that did this to me I'd run a mile.

I also found a study on the effectiveness of anti-depressants in MCS. Around 80% of people reported that it either made things worse (50%) or had no effect (30%). So, I'm outta here :-)

Thanks to you and everyone else who replied to my posts and helped me to work through this. Very much appreciated.

I hope you guys do well in future.

Best wishes for a happier, healthier life.

DB

cookie, on 27 July 2010 - 12:11 AM, said:

Hi DB:
Yes, it seems that you are very sensitive to chemicals. This world is full of chemicals. I once read that even the fluoride contained in toothpaste caused depression. I even ask myself what is the food nowadays made of???....I have been trying to go back to basics, eat fruist and veggies and stop eating processed food or drinks, artifitial sweeteners, etc.

Yes I am sure your “depression” is something chemical. You don´t have low self steem.

I hope you make the best decision for your health.
Hugs
Cookie

[DingoBlue]

Stopped Cymbalta two days ago after only a few days on the drug. I fell asleep on the sofa for half an hour this afternoon. When I woke up I felt like I was in an earthquake - everything seemed to be shaking. I thought it was really weird but then I remembered I read on this site how this happened to someone else while they were withdrawing.

What a nasty drug! I'm so glad I didn't continue it.

Thanks everyonje for sharing your experience and helping me decide what to do.

DB

[cookie]

Dear Dingo Blue:
I hope you find a solution to all the chemicals you were exposed throughout life.
Hugs
Cookie

[DingoBlue]

Thanks Cookie,

I've had the problem since 1984 and it only gets worse over time. The best answer I've found so far is simply to avoid chemicals. It's very difficult and isolating at times but it has to be done.

But the rest of society also has to realise that the chemicals they use every day are making a lot of people sick. There needs to be a public health response from governments, industry and communities to reduce toxic chemicals in the environment.

It's a similar problem to climate change but its in the public health arena instead.

Best wishes
Peter

cookie, on 29 July 2010 - 02:56 PM, said:

Dear Dingo Blue:
I hope you find a solution to all the chemicals you were exposed throughout life.
Hugs
Cookie

[BlackLagooner]

When Cymbalta worked for me, it was a miracle.

I loved it. I had been on Prozac, Zoloft, Effexor, Celexa and Abilify and NOTHING worked as well as Cymbalta did.

As with all the others, my body quickly adapted and within 6 months I was at the maximum recommended dosage, but for 2 years after I reached the max dose it seemed to work REALLY well! Right up until it did not any longer. I am in day 4 without the medication.

Now I am in the pits of hell, and want to kill myself.

I am doing all I can to remember all the people I suggested Cymbalta to, so I can give them an update and take back my recommendation.

This is not worth it. There has to be another way.

[kathyl]

DingoBlue, on 23 July 2010 - 10:45 PM, said:

My doctor started me on Cymbalta yesterday. I thought it was OK until I saw this site and the horror stories of withdrawal. I need more information to help me decide if I want to continue with this drug. Are the potential benefits worth the risk of horrible withdrawals down the track.

My depression statrted around age 14. In my late 20s I developed chronic fatigues syndrome and multiple chemical sensitivity. I've been too disabled by this to work for the last 10 years. I'm 53 now and it seems like little has changed. I'm sick of my intrusive thoughts about conflict, disaster and death. I'm tired of being exhausted, anxious and irritable all the time. I want the constant muscle pains to go away. The only things that work for me with the CFS/MCS are antibiotics and blood thinners (warfarin), and believe me I've tried almost everything available, conventional and complementary, to treat this illness. Cognitive behavioural therapy has helped me through the worst times. I eat well and excercise when I can.

I've had a bad time with depression over the last 6 months. Withdrawing socially and losing interest in everything. About 10 years ago I tried about a dozen different anti-depressants but found that I just couldn't tolerate the side effects, which were often extreme like tunnel vision and rage attacks. My doc now tells me that Cymbalta has a low side effect profile. I've only been on it two days but I feel wierd already - kind of buzzed up and vague. Very vivid dreams last night and burning pains in my calves, which I tend to get anyway but haven't had for a while now.

The doc says the side effects only last a few days but ............ my past experience with SSRI drugs is not good. I've never tried an SNRI.

Is there anyone out there who has benefited from Cymbalta? There's a lot of negative stuff about it on this site - which you might expect in a blog on depression. I've been through a lot with my illness, not just depression. At times it's a real nightmare. I'd love to have a phamaceutical tool that could help from time to time. I reckon I could handle the Cymbalta withdrawals when necessary if I had some real hope of good benefits from the treatment. I just need more information to help make this decision. EG How long does it take to get hooked? Are the withdrawals worse the longer you've been on the drug? If I stop after 6 - 8 weeks will I still get withdrawals?

Thanks.

It's not the going on the meds that was the problem for me, it was going off it. You probably want to weigh the pros with the cons.If you lose your insurance and can't get patient assistance from Lilly, then it will cost you around $250 to $365 per month.
If I would have known about the withdrawals, I would never have started Cymbalta. After I started taking it, even I missed a day, I would be very ill. When I tried to wean off it every other day, I was sick every other day and then cold turkey was a living hell for me.
I hope this helps you decide.
Kathy