[crazyinCOLORADO]

Good day all...

I've had ADD/ADHD since I was a child. No oppositional defiant disorder or anything mean, just a tendency to get bored easy and push limits hard. I managed to get through high school and college with no problems, than I entered the CORPORATE WORLD. Reality is nothing like you see on TV...I expected that if I worked hard I would be promoted quickly and be on my way to the top...there I was, one of the lowest paid employees in my position, doing the work of 2-3 employees....and getting decent reviews, but was told that I was spending too much time on my job and not enough time networking (AKA KISSING BOOTIES)...by the time I reach this point I was at the job for 5 years, already married with children and a mortgage, and living in a small community, there is really no option but to stay put.

I discussed with my PDOC some of my symptoms and he suggested Cymbalta. I had heard of it before and read about the rave reviews. So I was started on 30mg for 2 weeks and then to 60mg. After 8 weeks, my life had changed. There was a fire burning in me that I hadn't felt before. I no longer sweated the small stuff, I enjoyed doing things again, and people liked being around me. I thought that this was the best thing ever!

Then it started. Little stuff. Cravings. I wanted a cigarette. I wanted a chew. It progressed...I wanted a beer...
without even knowing it, i had become a raging alcoholic...I never drank like this before...not even in college...and we DRANK in college...
it wasn't the quantity that was concerning...it was the frequency.

Easter Sunday 2008 I was celebrating with the family. It was March Madness. I drank 7 beers between 11 am and 4 pm. I got home, all was good...except, I had no cigarettes. So I hopped into my truck and drove the 6 blocks to get the smokes and on the way home...red and blue lights....this is not good.

Arrested, alleged DUI...doing all the calculators on the internet, no way was I dui...blood test came back, .0178...what????
Good lawyer, no priors, got reduced to dwai, but all consequences of a dui (minus the interlock).

I continued down my wicked path until I decided I was no longer depressed. I weaned off of my cymbalta...how did I do it...I met with my doctor, he changed my dosage to 30 mg for 1 week and then nothing. I have never felt that bad in my life. The zaps and tingles and fog....sucks...for 6 WEEKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

No more cymbalta for me....weird thing is....I've only had a total of 1 beer since I quit cymbalta. There is definitely a correlation. Not blaming the drug for my decisions, but it's influences were not the best. Good luck to all and god bless...if there is ever a class action, I will be on top of the list.

-CrazyinCOLORADO

[MaureenV]

Thanks for sharing your story.


Glad to hear you're off it now.


regards, Maureen.

[Junior]

Hi CrazyinColorado

So sorry that Cymbalta had such an adverse affect on you. It would be hard enough dealing with ADD/ ADHD (whichever version you have) without the desire to drink huge quantities. Sadly a few people on this forum have talked about Cymbalta increasing their desire for alcohol. How weird. A drug making you want another type of drug. I fail to see the value in that *rubs chin*

Also very sorry about the hardcore 'weaning' you had to go through. Cymbalta is proving to be one of the hardest anti-depressants to get off. So many people have suffered what you've suffered simply because their doctors are ill-informed. We have found that a slow taper is the best way to go. It's a shame you didn't find us earlier. Your withdrawal could have been much easier.

Thanks for sharing. Take care
Junior

[cmonk]

crazyinCOLORADO said:

Good day all...

I've had ADD/ADHD since I was a child. No oppositional defiant disorder or anything mean, just a tendency to get bored easy and push limits hard. I managed to get through high school and college with no problems, than I entered the CORPORATE WORLD. Reality is nothing like you see on TV...I expected that if I worked hard I would be promoted quickly and be on my way to the top...there I was, one of the lowest paid employees in my position, doing the work of 2-3 employees....and getting decent reviews, but was told that I was spending too much time on my job and not enough time networking (AKA KISSING BOOTIES)...by the time I reach this point I was at the job for 5 years, already married with children and a mortgage, and living in a small community, there is really no option but to stay put.

I discussed with my PDOC some of my symptoms and he suggested Cymbalta. I had heard of it before and read about the rave reviews. So I was started on 30mg for 2 weeks and then to 60mg. After 8 weeks, my life had changed. There was a fire burning in me that I hadn't felt before. I no longer sweated the small stuff, I enjoyed doing things again, and people liked being around me. I thought that this was the best thing ever!

Then it started. Little stuff. Cravings. I wanted a cigarette. I wanted a chew. It progressed...I wanted a beer...
without even knowing it, i had become a raging alcoholic...I never drank like this before...not even in college...and we DRANK in college...
it wasn't the quantity that was concerning...it was the frequency.

Easter Sunday 2008 I was celebrating with the family. It was March Madness. I drank 7 beers between 11 am and 4 pm. I got home, all was good...except, I had no cigarettes. So I hopped into my truck and drove the 6 blocks to get the smokes and on the way home...red and blue lights....this is not good.

Arrested, alleged DUI...doing all the calculators on the internet, no way was I dui...blood test came back, .0178...what????
Good lawyer, no priors, got reduced to dwai, but all consequences of a dui (minus the interlock).

I continued down my wicked path until I decided I was no longer depressed. I weaned off of my cymbalta...how did I do it...I met with my doctor, he changed my dosage to 30 mg for 1 week and then nothing. I have never felt that bad in my life. The zaps and tingles and fog....sucks...for 6 WEEKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

No more cymbalta for me....weird thing is....I've only had a total of 1 beer since I quit cymbalta. There is definitely a correlation. Not blaming the drug for my decisions, but it's influences were not the best. Good luck to all and god bless...if there is ever a class action, I will be on top of the list.

-CrazyinCOLORADO

CrazyinCOLORADO
WOW you know I tried to stop smoking while on this crap and was having a hard time. I had stopped before and did not have that hard of a time. I used acupuncture to quit and started weaning off cymbalta. I am on 7.5 mg and I still crave cig. I guess that is why I still want to smoke. I fell better knowing that when I am totally off cymbalta the cravings will go away. I also crave chocolate really bad I hope this goes away to......Thanks 4 sharing

Candy

[nursedeborah]

CrazyinColorado,
This is really popping up like crazy here just in the last week with people
craving alcohol. I just can't understand what the cause of this might be?
To get rid of the awful way we feel? I just can't think of what it could be,
but all I know is that I am seeing this some much lately!

I am in recovery, and to me it's really frightening because to be an alcoholic
is bad enough as it is, and getting clean/sober is not easy my any means.
In fact these withdrawls are harder than when I did get clean/sober!!
I just think of the ones that turn into alcoholic's, and what if they don't
find a way to stop, or it takes them years of drinking to do so?

I guess because of my background this really has a huge impact on me,
and may not seem like any big deal to anyone else?

I am just so grateful that you did stop!!! What did happen to you was
awful, and I so hate this drug for all it's done to me, and so many other's.
I too can't wait for this to get into a court room!! I am ahead of you!

Debbie