[Junior]

Hi Mel

Don't be scared, just be forewarned

It's not only Cymbalta but all SSRI's and SNRI's (of which Cymbalta is one) that need to be weaned from slowly. Some people can do it quickly but most find the withdrawal symptoms too severe.

These drugs alter the way our brains function. It's not about how long it takes to get the drug out of our systems that is the problem, but how long it takes the brain to return to its pre-med way of functioning.

In addition, Cymbalta is an SNRI meaning that it alters two brain chemicals not one, like the SSRI's. Naturally this means that the brain has more work to do to regain its natural equilibrium.

I've heard that the recommended decrease for all modern anti-depressants is 10%. So if you were on 60mg, drop to 54mg. I understand that you need to break open the capsule and count beads but I don't know the schedule. I'll let someone else explain that to you.

Good luck
Junior

[MaureenV]

Mel, on 01 December 2009 - 09:14 AM, said:

Hello all,

I've been "weening" off cymbalta for about 5 days now... from 60 to 30 mg a day. Yesterday someone said something to me that made me a little angry - normal - but when they kept talking, I suddenly felt enraged and screamed at the top of my lungs which never happens. Anyway, it was only for a minute but it scared me into thinking that maybe I shouldn't take myself off the cymbalta.

I also noticed last night that it's starting to make me paranoid and overly sensitive about things... Please help...

Hi Mel,

60 down to 30 is a big drop. Some can handle it easily, many can't.

Please don't for one second believe that your behaviour means you need Cymbalta, your behaviour is a result of the fact that our brains have become addicted to it, and now your brain is having to slowly adjust to life without it. I'm not saying you definitely don't need it (or some alternative) just that emotional lability is one of the classic withdrawal symptoms.

don't even think about dropping further until your body has adjusted to this dose. You may want to consider going back to (say) 45mg (as your body has already started to adjust) and see how that goes. You can buy clear gelatine capsules to divide the doses. It takes about 30 secs to divide a 30mg into two 15mg doses, and you've got two days covered.

Then, as Junior says, try dropping no more than 10% at a time, less if you have to.


It took me 10 weeks to go from 20mg to zero.

regards, Maureen.

[nursedeborah]

Mel, on 01 December 2009 - 09:55 AM, said:

Oops, I hit the "add reply" button accidentally and sent a blank message. Yeah, I think I'm going to have to plan coming off of it more carefully. This website has scared me! Good Luck and Thank you!

Mel,
Sorry I didn't get here sooner, but I too was on the same dose, and my doc cut me to 30 mg
and six days later all hell broke lose, but that too was when I knew it was the Cymbalta!
Found this place, and a way to get off of it.

60 mg = 540 beads
30 mg = 270 beads
20 mg = 180 beads
10 mg = 90 beads
5 mg = 45 beads
1 mg = 9 beads

Then all you do is take out 10 beads every 2 weeeks, if you fine then decrease again by 10, and repeat until done.
Someone new has come, and said to use this method, but decrease by 20 beads every week. I don't know about this
method as it is not from the origional ones that started this great program.

I lived in hell while I was on this stuff, it ruined my life, who I was, everything about me. I didn't even know
who i was anymore, and that really frightened me.

I now have been doing this for 4 months, I finally hit such a place of peace that I never thought I would ever find
again. I really had goten to the place where I thought it had damaged me for life.

Just think about our method, it has so helped many people recover from this drug!!!

Take Care,
Debbie