Does Everyone Suffer Horribly From Cymbalta Withdrawal?

#1 JenBR

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Posted 20 August 2011 - 06:01 PM

Hi,

I have been on 60mg of Cymbalta for 9 mos and wanted to get off as the med didn't work for me. My doctor told me to go down to 40 for a week and then to 20 for a week and then go completely off. I have been on 40mg for 5 days now and have some anxiety and headaches. But from all I have read online I am currently in a state of panic and fear because of the tortuous hell the withdrawal has caused. Is this inevitable for everyone who withdraws? Do some people experience mild to moderate w/d effects or can I just expect to go virtually insane for months to come?

#2 cookie

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In the future I would like to stop cymbalta

Posted 20 August 2011 - 06:17 PM

JenBR, on 20 August 2011 - 06:01 PM, said:

I experienced severe withdrawals. However I have been on the medication almost 6 years. I don´t know if taking into account you were on the medication for such a such time withdrawals will be lighter. I am not a doctor. But have you considered tapering doing 60mg, 50mg, 40mg, 30mg, 20mg, 10mg?
Cymbalta also comes in 30mg presentation. 50mg (by taking a 30mg + 20mg pill).
I weaned slowly for a year. It got particularly difficult once I reached 20mg. So I didn´t drop from 20mg straight to zero, but did it in different levels.

#3 Imdone

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Posted 21 August 2011 - 10:17 AM

I have weaned from 90 mg to 60 mg over 30 days (1 mg/day) and the only withdrawal symptoms I have had are bouts of fatigue, which I treat with getting more sleep.

For a painless way to get off, see: http://www.cymbaltaw...f-off-cymbalta/

Cookie may be right that it gets worse as the dose gets lower.....I don't know...I'm not there yet.

Went from 90 mg to 0 mg in a 90 day taper. Unfortunately went back on Cymbalta and am now tapering the last 30 mg at -3 mg per week.