How long does it take to stop the sweats

#1 3daughters

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Joined: 22-November 09
why_joining:
Seriously bad withdrawals from Cymbalta. Need support.
Had enough doctors and meds. No more chemicals.

Posted 22 November 2009 - 09:57 PM

I've been taking Cymbalta for almost two years. Decided to wean myself off slowly, then quit taking altogether about a week ago. Feel like I have the flu, but the cold sweats are the worst. Can anybody tell me how long this part takes? I've been loading up on the vitamins and supplements. Got to go to work tomorrow, worried about breaking out in awful sweats. This is the worst think I've ever gone through. Might as well been addicted to really bad illegal drugs instead of one that was prescribed.

#2 Junior

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Joined: 11-August 09
LocationMelbourne, Australia
why_joining:
I am a sufferer of depression and GAD. After 20 years of suffering with undiagnosed GAD (to be fair to the medical profession, it wasn't in the DSM back then) I stumbled upon Aropax following a bout of depression. Having had the therapy I badly needed at the time, I came good and did well on Aropax for 11 years. Last year I started having difficulty with sleeping and thought I was suffering the poop out effect, so I switched to Lexapro. A few months later I realised it was causing me more problems than it was solving so my GP agreed to give me a referral to a psychiatrist - so we could work out the best medicine for me. Nearly 3 weeks on Cymbalta and I've stopped already. I've had restlessness, increased insomnia (I now recognise that there is more to that), an inability to concentrate (the opposite of the real me) and nausea. I want to converse with others who are going through the same issues with medication.

Posted 23 November 2009 - 03:52 AM

Hi 3daughters

Welcome to the forum but sorry you have to be here (if you know what I mean).

You didn't say what dose you were on or how slowly you weaned. What I can tell you is that many people here have found that slow weaning is the best way to go. By that I mean 1mg at a time if necessary. I believe the drug companies themselves recommend drops no greater than 10% at a time. How long one needs to stay on a dose before reducing further can differ, as we are all different, but 3 weeks to a month seems to be common. The symptoms you have described .. well it just sounds like you may have weaned a little too quickly for you. It may even be worth going back on a low dose and weaning more slowly.

Another option could be Prozac. Prozac has a longer half life than Cymbalta is said to be easier to get off. Additionally, Prozac only works on serotonin while Cymbalta alters both serotonin and norepinephrine, which means that Prozac can ease the serotonin withdrawal while allowing your body to get used to functioning without the added norepinephrine. Does that make sense?

Good luck
Junior

#3 3daughters

Newbie

Group: Members
Posts: 2
Joined: 22-November 09
why_joining:
Seriously bad withdrawals from Cymbalta. Need support.
Had enough doctors and meds. No more chemicals.

Posted 23 November 2009 - 06:59 AM

Thanks for your reply. I just really really don't want to go on any other type of chemical. I was on 60 mg for almost 2 years. I'm sure I weaned off too quickly but feel that since I've gone this far, I might as well just keep going and fight through it. Sleeping at night is good, thankfully, but with the help of Tylenol PM. The worst part is the cold sweats, other than that I could probably deal ok. Any idea how much longer this will take or if there's more bad stuff to come?

#4 nursedeborah

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Joined: 18-August 09
why_joining:
I am reallly trying to get off Cymbalta, and not having, well I am having nightmares even with the decreased does, and clanging in my head.

I just found this site, and I really need help, I can't do this, I fear I willl never get off this brutal medication.

Deboreah Wesson

Posted 23 November 2009 - 12:52 PM

3daughters said:

3daughters,I didn't want to take anything ever again either, nit after what happened to me withthe Cymbalta. My case is a really bad one with this drug, it ruined everything in mylife mentally/physically. I am glad I did go for the Prozac, just for me, as it wasn'tuntil the 6 th day when all hell really broke loose for me as far as the withdrawls.The thing with the withdrawls, and remember we are all different, they can last 6 mo. to 2years, for some even longer.I do know there are many withdrawls that people have, here's the site so you will know
what is going on with you if you do start to feel something. http://prozactruth.com/cymbalta.htm

I just hope to God that's all you get, and you don't end up like some of us do.

Good luck,
Debbie

Four Dont's

Don't hurry. Your going to live for ever---somewhere. IN fact, you are in eternity now;so why rush!
Don't Worry. You belong to God, and God id Love; so why fret?
Don't Condemn. As you cannot get under the other fellow's skin, you cannot possibly know what difficulities he has had to meet-Your are not perfect yourself and might be much worse in his shoes.
Don't Resent. If wrong has been done, the Great Law will surley take care of it. Rise up in consciousness and set both yourself and the delinquent free. Forgiveness is the strongest medicine.