[jimscott]

I was on 60mg of Cymbalta for 3 years. I am a 51yo Male. My GP put me on it for depression and knee/back pain. I feel I have turned the corner on my depression(loss of Father and Brother).
I was tired of the "side effects" of the Cymbalta. No, I mean NO sex drive, gain of weight(Bloating) that was impossable to lose,dry mouth, bowel problems.
I decided to quit taking the drug. I am sober 15 years so I am familuar with withdrawl. I cut back to 30mg for 7 days then quit completely. This has been as tough as anything I have withrawn from.
I'm on my 15th day of zero Cymbalta. I finally got 5 hours of sleep in a row. I have been quick to temper. I've had a few crying jags at sad TV shows...lol...which I actually enjoyed after zero emotional response for 3 years. My bowels are starting to work, although a bit unpredictable.

All in all I am feeling more "human". I look forward to a life free and clear from Cymbalta. Cymbalta might have it's benifits for most severe inflicted, it sure wasn't the solution for me.

[NotWaving]

Tyler Durden, on 31 October 2010 - 12:25 PM, said:

I am 10 years sober, and I'm weaning off of 120 mg. I get down to 30 mg and I get too sick. I see my doctor on Thursday, and I'm not sure what the plan will be. But this stuff is terrible. I don't remember getting sober off of drugs being this tough. I get nausea's, anxiety ridden, dizzy, and I just feel bad. I'm glad to see a post from someone else who is sober. This week I've really thought about drinking and using because I have hurt so much. But you are giving me hope. I can't imagine how I'm going to feel once I got completely off this drug. Please let me know how you continue to do, and what you do to get through it. Thanks.

Hello!

I'm 3 days of cymbalta and having hideous withdrawal symptoms.
No idea how I'm going to make it through work tomorrow.
I stopped smoking +-3months ago - not as tough as getting sober, but the hardest thing I've ever done!
UNTIL I TRIED STOPPING THIS DAMN STUFF!! It's awful!

But, the payoff will be worth it, I'm 100% sure!! When it gets really tough I think of how awesome it'll be to not have to rely on it anymore -
No compulsive eating, chronic fatigue or lack of impetus to do anything! I can't wait!

Good luck to you both - we can all get through this! Stay positive and strong!

[cookie]

Dear JimScott:
Dropping from 30mg to 0mg is basically going cold turkey, which I´ve read from stories on this site is not the best option.

I was on 60mg cymbalta for 5 years. I have weaned slowly from 60mg to 7mg. I´ve had a long list of emotional and physical symptoms, but it seems they are milder/lighter than those from the people who stop cold turkey. I do not know how I will feel once I am completely off the med though. I do not know if I am going to have the same withdrawals as other people once I am down to 0mg.

I just do not agree with modern times, a pill blocking emotions to something as painful as loosing a family member. If you were feeling down when your father and brother died, I think it is a logical emotion to feel under those circumstances. I lost a sister at a very young age and I had the opportunity to cry and deeply feel the sadness and loss. I was never given a pill for that.

In relation to crying at TV commercials, I have that too. I do not think it is my emotions coming back –since I NEVER cried at commercial or movies. I think in my case is part of withdrawals and not having as much medicine as I was used to. The same with the short temper and rage. I was never an aggressive person so I just think it is part of withdrawals.

Please keep me updated on your progress

[jimscott]

NotWaving, on 31 October 2010 - 12:42 PM, said:

Hello!

I'm 3 days of cymbalta and having hideous withdrawal symptoms.
No idea how I'm going to make it through work tomorrow.
I stopped smoking +-3months ago - not as tough as getting sober, but the hardest thing I've ever done!
UNTIL I TRIED STOPPING THIS DAMN STUFF!! It's awful!

But, the payoff will be worth it, I'm 100% sure!! When it gets really tough I think of how awesome it'll be to not have to rely on it anymore -
No compulsive eating, chronic fatigue or lack of impetus to do anything! I can't wait!

Good luck to you both - we can all get through this! Stay positive and strong!

My wife is on every medicine known to man(opiates,xanaz...etc) and living in CA, legallized pot is every where. I was really considering smoking pot and throwing away 15 years of sobriety. I also know if I were to smoke pot or do any drug...I would be dead in weeks.
Today is the first day I feel like my old self...some what...I've done chores with out a major effort, I'm actually putting clean sheets on my bed.
Keep up the fight...it does get better.

[jimscott]

cookie, on 31 October 2010 - 05:35 PM, said:

Dear JimScott:
Dropping from 30mg to 0mg is basically going cold turkey, which I´ve read from stories on this site is not the best option.

I was on 60mg cymbalta for 5 years. I have weaned slowly from 60mg to 7mg. I´ve had a long list of emotional and physical symptoms, but it seems they are milder/lighter than those from the people who stop cold turkey. I do not know how I will feel once I am completely off the med though. I do not know if I am going to have the same withdrawals as other people once I am down to 0mg.

I just do not agree with modern times, a pill blocking emotions to something as painful as loosing a family member. If you were feeling down when your father and brother died, I think it is a logical emotion to feel under those circumstances. I lost a sister at a very young age and I had the opportunity to cry and deeply feel the sadness and loss. I was never given a pill for that.

In relation to crying at TV commercials, I have that too. I do not think it is my emotions coming back –since I NEVER cried at commercial or movies. I think in my case is part of withdrawals and not having as much medicine as I was used to. The same with the short temper and rage. I was never an aggressive person so I just think it is part of withdrawals.

Please keep me updated on your progress

Yea, I didn't even consider weeinig down further from 30mg until I found this site last night. And by that time I all ready had 15 days off of the junk.
And I agree with the "No magic pill" deal for hiding emotions. I had also seperated from wife during that same time. I know it sounds like a country song...My GP, who is a friend saw what I was going through and thought the Cymbalta would help.
BTW, I always cried at sad commercials...so it is/was a nice option to feel something/anything again.

[cookie]

I am in WEEK 32, since I started weaning slowly. New symptoms keep on showing. I am having pain in my right knee. It hurts so much it is hard to walk. (I took cymb for Depression not Fibromyalgia). Has anyone (who took the medication for Depression) experienced joint pain/knee pain when quitting???