[CarmenMarie]

Hi Everyone, my name is Carmen.

This is my fourth week of weaning off 60 mg of Cymbalta and I am feeling very alone and really struggling.

I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia 18 months ago after suffering intense pain, extreme fatigue, sleeplessness, vomiting, nausea and migraines for a year. The cymbalta really helped with the pain and I felt it was time to wean off to see if I could cope without it... My doctor lowered my dosage to 30 mg for two weeks, then 1 pill every second day for two weeks, then cold turkey. I'm on my fourth day without pills and I am debilitated by these 'brain zaps', hot flushes, nausea and weakness. I can't focus on anything, I feel like I'm about to pass out, I can hardly see straight and I can't make sense of or order my thoughts.

I don't know whether it's just my brain reacting to pain medication, or whether I have an actual allergy to some component in pain killers, but I have extremely painful episodes when I take any painkillers. This includes shaking, sweating, extreme weakness and pain, severe nausea and vomiting. During these times I will literally crawl around the house because I am too weak and sick to stand.

I believe my fibromyalgia was brought on my a mouth infection that turned into glandular fever when I was 19. I used to be a very busy person, and I was motivated by the constant stresses in my life. Since being diagnosed with fibromyalgia, I barely leave the house unless to go to the supermarket or to university as I just don't have the energy, and I am starting to feel depressed about this situation.

I am wondering how much longer I have to put up with these symptoms? I guess I am grieving the loss of my good health and a life I once had as a happy, healthy and robust girl.

Carmen.

[Imdone]

Carmen, I am 62 going on 21!! LOL

I think you came off Cymbalta too fast. A month may seem slow to you and your dr., but we have people here (me, for one) going down 1 mg/day or even less. Take a look around this site at the "bead counters". Here's a good link: http://www.cymbaltaw...h__1#entry20147

I personally don't believe in skipping days either. Let me tell you....the drs. think that we can come off this stuff fast, but it just doesn't work...you get side effects. I have had no brain zaps the way I'm doing it, but I have had fatigue, but it never lasts more than 6 hrs and then goes away. Temporary fatigue is a small price to pay for getting off this med. When I get too much fatigue I rest and slow down my weaning. I have a board meeting next week and I have to be at my best, so I plan to not taper next week, but hold steady at 70 mg until I'm past the big stress of that meeting.

I am really sorry to hear you got so ill and had such bad reaction to pain killers. Perhaps a naturopath could help you with this chronic condition and nurse you back to health. You are way too young to feel 60! Remember that the body and mind are POWERFUL healers, and I really mean that. Being as old as I am, I have seen it. You can use your mind to heal poor health. Check out "Love, Medicine and Miracles" by Bernie Siegel or "Creative Visualization" by Shatki Gawain. The first book for inspiration; the 2nd book for technique.

[Grace20]

The same thing happened to me. My post is "44 days without Cymbalta". A little below this one. I was never diagnosed with anything though, just in debt with medical bills, MRI's, etc. I turn 21 in like 2 months, and I could really care less. Cymbalta took a lot from me, I've been lost since I was 17. I can't believe this drug is still legal. Blows my mind.