[happy123]

I am in need of some positive advice / succsesful stories of weaning off Cymbalta. I began Cymbalta 4 month ago after weaning off lexapro. I began becoming extremly constapated and gained a lot of weight. I descicded my life is in a better place, and I have the tools. Anyway, I weaned off unders doctors watch for 3 weeks. Last Tuesday 7-12 was my first day Cymbalta free. I have been so so so so sick. Called out of work Thurs and Fri.Was hoping by Monday which is tomorrow I would feel better. Have been taking Omega 3 fish oils, magnesuim supplement,and these multi vitamins. Trying to eat well. Today is day 6 and still have reallly realllly bad dizziness, nausea, hot flashes then cold spells extremely short tempered,anxier, scary thoughts, and crying! When will the physical symptoms at least get better??? I do have to work tomorrow and will do anything to feel back to me. Aby advice please...

[Nurse1963]

Hi Happy123. I am nurse and was put on Cymbalta for chronic hip pain about 1.5 years ago. I made the decision to go off it. I also took Effexor years ago and cold turkey'd it. Wow. Not a fun 3 weeks but I did it.

I weaned my Cymbalta for 2 weeks and and took my last pill on 7/11/11. Today is day 8.

The most important thing I can tell you or anyone on here is this: Just know that everything you are feeling is related to the stopping of the Cymbalta and YOU WILL FEEL NORMAL AGAIN. I am sick, nauseated feeling. Kind of motion sick. The "electrical volts" in my head have pretty much stopped. I get some when drifting off to sleep.

I posted on my Facebook that I feel like I am in my first trimester of pregnancy, hung over, but drunk, coming down with the flu, premenstrual with a brain tumor. (Nurse humor)

I will ride this out. My family knows what is going on and support me. The nausea and feeling motion sick is the worse. I have cried over the IronMan competition, the Golf tournament, being unable to find my way to drop off my daughter at a pool party, to literally crying on demand. I have taken my daughters head off and been snippy at work. Last night I was crying and laughing at the same time - mostly because this is rather absurd to be going through.

Once you recognize it - you can deal with it better because you know it is just your brain readjusting its chemical uptake. It will normalize.

The good news: In three weeks I am no longer constipated, my sex drive is back, and it no longer takes forever to obtain an "O". I have also lost a few pounds. I will take all four of those!

What am I doing to feel as good as I can:
1) Do not eat big meals. Makes me feel sicker I have noticed. I eat small and easy simplet things.
2) don't drink alcohol. It is like drinking with the flu. I have no desire for anything. Makes my head more "swimmy"
3) I drink lots of ice water. It just taste good
4) Don't not eat. Having a low blood sugar makes you feel worse so eat.
5) I am going to work. I feel crappy if at home or doing my norm. I just move slower. I have made a few people aware that due to some medication changes that I might cry, growl, or look drunk.
6) Get your sleep. Rest.
7) Excercise - I see a trainer and went this am anyway. It did help me a bit.

I hope this helps you and some others. It is temporary. You can do anything for a while - kind of like childbirth - as you know it will all end soon enough and you will feel sooo much better after being off the medication.

Good luck and hang in there!

[Nurse1963]

I meant to add that you should feel pretty normal in about 3-4 weeks post stopping the medication. I did not want to add another med to come off of this med so I am just riding the waves.

[gladtobefree]

I have been off of Cymbalta for three weeks now. For me it got noticeably better in week three. After two weeks of truly debilitating bran zaps and visual disturbances, short-fuze and emotional roller-coaster moments, things are starting to get better.

The bran zaps are still present, but noticeably less painful, shocking and disturbing. My visual distortions are almost all gone. My headaches are gone. My mood is much better. My dreams aren't as vivid or disturbing as they were in the first week. I am having meaningful, patient moments with my family again and now I feel much more connected with them and what they are feeling.

I went from 60mg to 30 overnight and stayed on 30s for two weeks. I went cold turkey off the thirties three weeks ago.

I started Cymbalta for symptoms of Gulf War Illness, and they have all returned, now that I am off the meds. I chose to get off Cymbalta because I was concerned about possible liver damage, as I am a beer maker and enjoy my product.

If you can barely read this through your headaches...it gets better. Sleep, eat, rest and repeat for 2 and a half weeks and see where you are, by then, you should notice that the withdrawls, while still present are getting less severe. Good luck!