[daveyt29]

Hi,

I have been taking 30mg. of Cymbalta for about 6 months and have decided it's time to come off of them, for various reasons, i.e I felt better before I started taking them, and I feel generally much happier with the way my life is going.

As agreed by my previous doctor, I cut my dosage, by taking 30mg. every other day for 2 weeks, then every 3 days. The withdrawal symptoms are pretty horrific (brain shivers/agitation etc etc etc.).

Yesterday I consulted with a new doctor, who finally understood what I was talking about and offered excellent support. We decided that it was time to finally kick the cycle, by going cold turkey as weening doesn't seem to be working. I get to day 4 and crack as the symptoms are awful. Luckily, things at work are very quiet so I am able to take a couple of weeks off to go through the withdrawal period without any other commitments.

I've done a lot of research online and read that 5-HTP can be fairly beneficial when withdrawing from Cymbalta. I've not taken 30mg. of Cymbalta for almost 4 days and am starting to feel pretty dreadful. Is it too soon to start taking 50mg. of 5-HTP daily. I've read about serotonin syndrome when combining these meds. After 4 days without Cymbalta, one would assume that it's probably safe to start on the 5-HTP?

Anyone have any ideas about this?

Cheers

Dave

[phtech]

Hey dave,

I would suggest you talk with a pharmacist. One will be able to tell you if you cymbalta is still in your system and how 5-htp will work. Where did you here about 5-htp? I am going through withdrawals my self and my major issue is insomnia and a pharmacist told me to just take a benadryl. As a pharmacy tech I am aware that the active ingredients in most sleep aides (tylenol pm) are the same active ingredients as benadryl. So his suggestion made perfect since. One other thing I read was that "Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a neurotransmitter (mood-related brain chemical)that is naturally present in the body. It's taken in supplement form to reduce insomnia, as well as anxiety and depression. How it works: Gaba is an inhibitory neurotransmitter that slows activity in th ebrain and makes it easier to fall asleep. How to use:Take 500mg to 1000 mg one hour before bedtime if you have trouble getting to sleep. IF your problem is that you wake in the middle of the night and cant go back to sleep, then take it then. Do not exceed recommended doses on the package. Do this for two weeks. If it doesn't help, talk to your doctor. Caution: combining GABA with prescription or over-the counter sleep aids can cause excessive sedation." quote from, bottom line's hushed-up 100, copyright 2010.

daveyt29, on 13 August 2010 - 08:01 AM, said:

Hi,

I have been taking 30mg. of Cymbalta for about 6 months and have decided it's time to come off of them, for various reasons, i.e I felt better before I started taking them, and I feel generally much happier with the way my life is going.

As agreed by my previous doctor, I cut my dosage, by taking 30mg. every other day for 2 weeks, then every 3 days. The withdrawal symptoms are pretty horrific (brain shivers/agitation etc etc etc.).

Yesterday I consulted with a new doctor, who finally understood what I was talking about and offered excellent support. We decided that it was time to finally kick the cycle, by going cold turkey as weening doesn't seem to be working. I get to day 4 and crack as the symptoms are awful. Luckily, things at work are very quiet so I am able to take a couple of weeks off to go through the withdrawal period without any other commitments.

I've done a lot of research online and read that 5-HTP can be fairly beneficial when withdrawing from Cymbalta. I've not taken 30mg. of Cymbalta for almost 4 days and am starting to feel pretty dreadful. Is it too soon to start taking 50mg. of 5-HTP daily. I've read about serotonin syndrome when combining these meds. After 4 days without Cymbalta, one would assume that it's probably safe to start on the 5-HTP?

Anyone have any ideas about this?

Cheers

Dave

[daveyt29]

Cheers for the message. Any idea where I can get GABA? Willing to try anything! I've been a week free of that horrid drug. So far, the brain shivers, clumsiness, brain fog, are all very much present. One of the weirdest side effects is my sudden bout of dyslexia. Writing this is actually quite difficult as letters on the keyboard are really confusing (I don't usually suffer from this).

I have found that 5-HTP is deffo helping me. I've also found that listening to binaural beats has been quite helpful.

5-HTP Youtube video

[Cat]

I am on 30 mg of Cymbalta plus 150 of Wellbutrin. I was on 120 mg Cymbalta plus the other for almost 2 years. 8 weeks ago I fired my dr, dropped to 60 mg and 4 weeks later I went down to 30 mg and have anew dr. No more than 200 mg of 5-HTP per day is what I am told, starting with 50 mg per day and adding to it every 2 weeks til I reach 200. I know my body and there comes a time when you have to manage your own health, we've put our health/faith in drs like they are some super human entity and they are human like you and I. I have lived in my skin for 45 years and know when a medication is causing more damage than good, and I can certainly tell when what I am doing makes sense just because I feel better. Not doing damage but trying to repair what has happened and doing it in a healthy way...take your vitamin B Complex every day and Omega 3 Fish Oil...2000 units total per day. Heart healthy and brain healthy!
Best
Cat