Leftover Medication After Quitting

Leftover Medication After Quitting What to do with leftover pills after you quite Cymbalta

#1 Devoid

Newbie

Group: Members
Posts: 2
Joined: 23-March 10
why_joining:
Have questions about withdrawal as well as getting rid of existing medication

Posted 23 March 2010 - 01:15 PM

Hi everyone

I quit a 60mg/day prescription that I have been taking for about 2.5 years.

My problem is I have dozens, if not hundreds, of capsules left over. This is worth quite a bit of $$$ as I'm sure you're all aware of what with the RIP OFF price this snake oil is peddled for...

So, can I get a refund from Lily? Can I resell the stuff (it's all still sealed in the blister packs)? Or should I just resign myself to the fact that I need to flush it down the toilet and take the loss (I paid cash for my medication as I do not have medical insurance of any kind)

Thanks, and good luck to all of us trying to get through the brain buzzing, sweating, nightmares, hallucinating etc etc!

#2 Junior

Like a Family Member

Group: Members
Posts: 807
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 March 2010 - 04:23 PM

Hi Devoid

I can't answer your question about what to do with the leftover drugs. Here in OZ we just give them to the pharmacists to dispose of safely. But... I'm concerned that you are suffering bad withdrawal effects. Did you go cold turkey? If so, it might be worth going back on a lower dose of the Cymbalta and weaning more slowly.

Many people think that once the drug is out of their system, the withdrawals will stop. Unfortunately that is not how it works. These drugs chemically alter our brain function and its about how long it takes for our brain to return to their pre-med function. By withdrawing gradually, you can minimise the withdrawal effects and enjoy a better quality of life.

Let us know if you would like to do this. We can help to guide you through the process.
Kind Regards
Junior

#3 Devoid

Newbie

Group: Members
Posts: 2
Joined: 23-March 10
why_joining:
Have questions about withdrawal as well as getting rid of existing medication

Posted 23 March 2010 - 04:45 PM

Hi Junior

Thanks for getting back to me.

To wean myself off, I went onto a 30mg dose, daily, for about 2 weeks. Then I went onto 30mg every 2 days for about 2 weeks, then every 3 days for about 2 weeks, and now I've been off "cold turkey" for about a week.

I'm definitely not back to normal as I'm still dizzy most of the time, but I was hoping it would just go away after another week or so.

I was just at my wits end while I was on Cymbalta. I had put on weight, was suffering from constipation, had night sweats and just felt like I was living in a fog. As if I was looking at my life from a distance, like in a dream.

I was just tired of all of that and was prepared to go back to being depressed (as opposed to "unhappy" while on Cymbalta) if only to regain some sort of clarity to my life. And to stop sweating, and to go the damn toilet regularly (which is working already :-) etc etc

Once again, thanks for answering my post. It's nice to know there are folks out there that care!

DV

#4 Junior

Like a Family Member

Group: Members
Posts: 807
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 24 March 2010 - 02:50 AM

Hi Devoid

I had a bad time on this drug as well and I was only ON it for 19 days! Then I had a rough time withdrawing from it :huh:

as well so I know how you feel, esp with the GI issues. I had trouble while on it as well :unsure:

In your case, the 'every other day' (every 3rd day I think you said) is why you are still feeling the withdrawal effects. First you ask your body to do without, then you reintroduce the drug. I really don't know why Drs tell their patients to withdraw this way. It never works! It is better to stay at a regular dose for a while before dropping, than to do it your Dr's way.

Some people find that natural supplements help. I know that high doses of fish oil is good for the brain zaps. I'm on a regime of 5 diff things that my naturopath prescribed and they have helped me immensely. Everyone is different though. Some people find supplements help a lot, some don't. Some find exercise really beneficial, some don't. The only way to find what suits you is trial and error.

Take care
Junior