[catastrophe]

First of all, I can't tell you how glad I am to have found this forum. I've been on Cymbalta for a few years and, after reading so many of your posts, things that I've chalked up to side effects of depression I can now attribute to the Cymbalta itself. I recently missed a prescription refill and, as I have had happen in the past, I was immediately met with arm and leg tingling and the dreaded brain zaps. It's like clockwork.

Anyway, in the last few months, I had been considering getting pregnant so I want to get off the drug completely but the vicious brain zaps drive me to take it again. I can live with every other withdrawl symptom but I have a creative job and I really need my mind to work. Can anyone share any remedies or supplements that you would recommend that specifically helped lessen the brain zaps? I've been reading the forum for hours now and found that some people suggested Omega 3 fish oil so that'll be first on my list for tomorrow. I plan to pick up folic acid as well. Did benadryl or motion sickness address the zaps enough that it's worth a try? I'm open to any other natural or non-addictive options.

The more and more I read, the more it confirmed what I already knew. I want off of this. I don't think I can get a fair assessment of my true psychological health until it's out of my system and I'm actually me again.

Thanks for any advice and I'm so glad that I'm not alone in all this.

[catastrophe]

Well, since no one else has posted, I thought I'd share what I'm taking now and how it's going in hopes that it may help someone else.

I've been taking 60mg for at least 5 years. I skipped 3 days of doses and had awful brain zaps and tingling in my arms, hands and right leg. I got my prescription and took my regular dose. The next day, I broke open the pill and split the granules equally into two doses so I'm getting around 30mg. Using some of the advice from this forum, I picked up a good prenatal multivitamin with a lot of folic acid (it was easier than buying two separate pills), omega 3 fish oil capsules, B vitamin complex, and vitamin D3.

Today is the third day of my dosage drop and I have no symptoms of withdrawal. I'm even sleeping better. Right now, my plan is to go a week on 30 mg, then a week of 15 to nothing. If it doesn't work, I'll try 7mg for a week before I go off completely.

We shall see...

[brainzaphell]

I got down to 10mg per day for 1 month. Within 1 day of stopping I started getting the headache. I have had the brain zaps for 8 days now. For some reason, they are barely there in the morning and get worse as the day goes on. Let me know if you find anything to help with them.

THanks

[MoniqueKim]

Quote

... I want to get off the drug completely but the vicious brain zaps drive me to take it again ...

Yes, this is me too!

Any luck with the supplements?

[heathermcfeather]

catastrophe, on 15 January 2011 - 02:28 AM, said:

First of all, I can't tell you how glad I am to have found this forum. I've been on Cymbalta for a few years and, after reading so many of your posts, things that I've chalked up to side effects of depression I can now attribute to the Cymbalta itself. I recently missed a prescription refill and, as I have had happen in the past, I was immediately met with arm and leg tingling and the dreaded brain zaps. It's like clockwork.

Anyway, in the last few months, I had been considering getting pregnant so I want to get off the drug completely but the vicious brain zaps drive me to take it again. I can live with every other withdrawl symptom but I have a creative job and I really need my mind to work. Can anyone share any remedies or supplements that you would recommend that specifically helped lessen the brain zaps? I've been reading the forum for hours now and found that some people suggested Omega 3 fish oil so that'll be first on my list for tomorrow. I plan to pick up folic acid as well. Did benadryl or motion sickness address the zaps enough that it's worth a try? I'm open to any other natural or non-addictive options.

The more and more I read, the more it confirmed what I already knew. I want off of this. I don't think I can get a fair assessment of my true psychological health until it's out of my system and I'm actually me again.

Thanks for any advice and I'm so glad that I'm not alone in all this.

I also take a prenatal vitamin as I had a folic acid deficiency. Maybe that's why my first step down hasn't been so bad. I don't know. I was on 60mgs a day for the last 1 1/2 years. I just went down to 30 mgs a day 3 days ago. So far, it hasn't been that bad, but maybe it's the folic acid? IDK, I read Catastrophe's post and thought it sounded about right.

[MoniqueKim]

heathermcfeather, on 22 July 2011 - 04:20 PM, said:

I also take a prenatal vitamin as I had a folic acid deficiency. Maybe that's why my first step down hasn't been so bad. I don't know. I was on 60mgs a day for the last 1 1/2 years. I just went down to 30 mgs a day 3 days ago. So far, it hasn't been that bad, but maybe it's the folic acid? IDK, I read Catastrophe's post and thought it sounded about right.

I too am taking a prenatal vitamin with EPA and DHA in it along with extra vitamin B-complex and DHA. They seem to be helping.

[chalky02]

How are you doing? Did you successfully wean off? I am down to 30 mg and may try the splitting granules idea to 15 mg per day , then 7 mg per day then
3 or 4 mg per day. I'm taking it slow as I 've been on other antidepressants since 1992 and I feel like a slave to it. If I don't try now I never will.