Help
Dr.Lady, on 08 July 2010 - 05:40 PM, said:
I quit Cymbalta pretty much cold turkey 7 days ago. I went from 60 mg per day for 7 years, to 30mg for 5 days to nothing. I am a (sort of) sane, professional woman in my mid forties. I started Cymbala after it was prescribed to me after post partum depression and chronic pain. I don't smoke, drink or use illicit drugs.
I would have stopped sooner but the "brain zaps" always reminded me when I had missed a dose. These brain zaps are hideous and become worse if you go off the medication. They seem to be some interference with brain function, almost like a radio receiving static interference. These zaps affect how you hear things, try to run the vacuum cleaner and hear how the sound changes! I have also noticed that I have an involuntary horizontal/rotational nystagmus (eye movement) that accompanies the brain zaps. The zaps are accompanied by tingling in my fingers and hands and appear to be worse when I am tired or sleep deprived. I wonder if a mild anti-epileptic would ease the brain zaps? In addition, I am lightsensitive and very sound sensitive. I have nausea and some dizziness.
Sleep on Cymbalta was always a nightmare. I could sleep 2 days straight and still feel tired. Off Cymbalta, I get perhaps 5-6 hrs of very segmented interupted sleep. I have vivid dreams/nightmares, wake after each one, only to have another almost immediately. I wake fatigued but unable to sleep. It has gotten better over the past few days, before I got maybe 4 hours of this terrible sleep.
Cymbalta withdrawal (or "cessastion syndrome" as it is known in polite-company-in-denial) has caused severe disabling pain in my muscles and joints and burning and inflammation of the soles of my feet. The calves of my legs cramp and ache, my ankles hurt, my feet are so painful and swollen I have to wear a pair of old sneakers to work. My neck and shoulders ache like I have carried a heavy load for several miles, my finger joints ache and are swollen. I have a low grade fever, suffer from sweating and hot flushes (no, not memopause). I have taken 2 Aleve daily and it has helped with the pain and brain zaps. The zaps have gotten less frequent and less intense over the past few days, but is still present on day 7. I am severely constipated, feel cold and have difficulty concentrating.
Interestingly, my dry mouth has improved in leaps and bounds, and I no longer get myoclonic jawjerks I used to get when I fall asleep at night. These used to be so bad while on Cymbalta that I frequently bit my tongue at night, over and over in the same location. I have a scar and TMJ to remind me of this. I don't feel depressed off the Cymbalta, just very sick. I feel anxious and paranoid, jumpy at night, easily startled and have very little grip on my temper. I hope fervently that there are no long term effects from this drug.
If you are not currently on this drug and are looking for some information to help you make a decision, my advice is to look at another drug. This drug is truly evil.
I would have stopped sooner but the "brain zaps" always reminded me when I had missed a dose. These brain zaps are hideous and become worse if you go off the medication. They seem to be some interference with brain function, almost like a radio receiving static interference. These zaps affect how you hear things, try to run the vacuum cleaner and hear how the sound changes! I have also noticed that I have an involuntary horizontal/rotational nystagmus (eye movement) that accompanies the brain zaps. The zaps are accompanied by tingling in my fingers and hands and appear to be worse when I am tired or sleep deprived. I wonder if a mild anti-epileptic would ease the brain zaps? In addition, I am lightsensitive and very sound sensitive. I have nausea and some dizziness.
Sleep on Cymbalta was always a nightmare. I could sleep 2 days straight and still feel tired. Off Cymbalta, I get perhaps 5-6 hrs of very segmented interupted sleep. I have vivid dreams/nightmares, wake after each one, only to have another almost immediately. I wake fatigued but unable to sleep. It has gotten better over the past few days, before I got maybe 4 hours of this terrible sleep.
Cymbalta withdrawal (or "cessastion syndrome" as it is known in polite-company-in-denial) has caused severe disabling pain in my muscles and joints and burning and inflammation of the soles of my feet. The calves of my legs cramp and ache, my ankles hurt, my feet are so painful and swollen I have to wear a pair of old sneakers to work. My neck and shoulders ache like I have carried a heavy load for several miles, my finger joints ache and are swollen. I have a low grade fever, suffer from sweating and hot flushes (no, not memopause). I have taken 2 Aleve daily and it has helped with the pain and brain zaps. The zaps have gotten less frequent and less intense over the past few days, but is still present on day 7. I am severely constipated, feel cold and have difficulty concentrating.
Interestingly, my dry mouth has improved in leaps and bounds, and I no longer get myoclonic jawjerks I used to get when I fall asleep at night. These used to be so bad while on Cymbalta that I frequently bit my tongue at night, over and over in the same location. I have a scar and TMJ to remind me of this. I don't feel depressed off the Cymbalta, just very sick. I feel anxious and paranoid, jumpy at night, easily startled and have very little grip on my temper. I hope fervently that there are no long term effects from this drug.
If you are not currently on this drug and are looking for some information to help you make a decision, my advice is to look at another drug. This drug is truly evil.
All I can say is Amen sister
