[Junior]

Don't be silly. You're not disjointed. I mean... your legs are all still attached to your body aren't they? LOL!!

Sadly, many doctors ARE swayed by drug reps. My naturopath has previously had a room in a doctor's surgery and was amazed at what she saw going on.
It's not just that though. It's the manipulation of the research by the drug companies. They either don't fund research that they know will paint them in a bad light (such as protracted withdrawals) or they somehow manipulate the data / findings to make it more acceptable. I don't blame ordinary GPs (pdocs for those in the US) but I DO have a problem with psychiatrists who are on a power trip and refuse to listen to their own patients.

From what I have read and heard over the past 10 months or so, it is very widespread and getting worse. I fear for the young kids who are being put on a plethora of drugs. I have a son with autism / intel disabilty / adhd and I'm glad I did my research before deciding to put him on medication. Admittedly we had no choice back when he was 7 (long story) and the meds actually helped him a lot but ... when he was 15 I wanted him on an a/d (strong family history) as soon as showed symptoms of depression. I had warned his paediatrician that the time would come. Well.. my paed asked what worked for me. Paxil. But there was no way I was putting him on that. Not when I was aware that Prozac was the only one that had been tested in the under 18 age group. You have to be so careful.

I could go on.. but I think I'll stop my rant now

Junior

[Ms_M]

Jane, on 28 June 2010 - 11:13 AM, said:

I woke up Sunday morning light-headed and thought I was going to faint. I called my doctor saying I felt like I was withdrawing from heroin. The on-call doctor never even called back. I'm so angry about this drug. I feel like a guinea pig.

That is so frustrating! I couldn't get my doctor on the phone either when I first began the w/d process. If it were not for this forum and my sweetie - I'd have been in the hospital!

[cookie]

bob86, on 18 July 2010 - 02:26 PM, said:

I was prescribed Cymbalta due to severe nerve pain caused in a motor vehicle accident. The doctor said that this would interfer with the neurotransmitters in my brain that recognize pain. I started out with 30 mgs in the morning and at night. After I adjusted to the medication, it would not control the pain at which point, he upped the dosagage to 30 mgs in the morning and 60 mgs at night, and then to 60 mgs in the morning and at night after about 2 more weeks. The pain has continued to worsen and I'm now looking at a 3rd back surgery. I was referred to the Cleveland Clinic and was advised to stop taking Cymbalta so the neurologists there could evaluate me properly and went through extreme dizziness and headaches. After the appointment, I started it again at 60 mgs in the morning and at bedtime. No one ever said that it was dangerous to stop or start this medication at the full dose, so I've going through hell dealing with this. I was just told again by the neurologist to stop taking this medication cold turkey at least 48 hours prior to a milogram that's scheduled for this coming Wednesday. Since stopping this medication, my blood pressure has gone way up from normal and my resting heart rate was at 120 bpm. I have been extremely dizzy and my jaws and ears are killing me. I also have a really bad headache, not to mention the extreme back pain, nerve jolts radiating down my legs, and shaking. Can anyone suggest any way to get my doctor to understand that they need to postpone the milogram until I can safely wean my way off of this drug? Our pharmacy advised me to come home, take one of my cycmbaltas and call the doctor in the morning.

I have several other friends that have been prescribed this same medication for severe back injuries and they've all have had the same reactions with it. Why is it that doctors are able to prescribe medications without going over not only the side effects, but also how serious it is to stop taking a drug like this cold turkey?

Dear Bob86:
Even in the package insert it says not to stop cold turkey.

I have been weaning slowly from 60mg to 20mg doing small drops. Still, I have had withdrawal symptoms. I can´t imagine what it feels like to drop from 120mg straight to zero.

It is hard for me to make a suggestion on how to get your doctor understand that he needs to pospone the milogram. I do not know how important or urgent it is that you do the milogram inmediately???.....The only suggestion would be to show him the insert in cymbalta´s package that says the symptoms of quitting cold turkey and maybe also this site???

Regards
Cookie

[cookie]

bob86, on 19 July 2010 - 08:34 PM, said:

Thanks for the info Cookie. We contacted the doctor this morning and found out that there was no need for me to stop taking the Cymbalta for the milogram and was advised to start taking it again. They said that it was a nurses mistake to tell me to stop taking it. We were also told that it could have easily caused a heart attack. Again, it amazes me that people that we're supposed to be listening to can be so ignorant. It looks like another battle to get the entire milogram approved because of worker's comp. They probably won't approve the milogram for the cervical spine, which may be causing some of my pain. This has been a long, 15 year battle with them. I just hope they don't stop paying for the Cymbalta, because I don't want to have to just stop taking it again.

Thanks again,
Bob

Dear Bob:
Nurses mistake???....my Gosh.
I hope your milogram is approved.
Hope you feel better

Hugs
Cookie

[cookie]

bob86, on 22 July 2010 - 07:23 PM, said:

Cookie,

Thanks for your concern. The approved the lumbar and thoracic milogram and ct scan, but denied the cervical spine. The results are showing 7 herniated discs in the lumbar and thoracic regions alone, and the doctors know there are more in the cervical. It looks like I will probably be on this medication for a long time to come. At least now I know that no matter what someone tells me, there's a proper way to stop taking this medication by slowly declining the dosage in stages. Looks like I'll probably have at least 1 or 2 more surgeries in the near future.

Thanks again,
Bob

Dear Bob:
I hope everything is solved soon. I wish you health
hugs
Cookie