[ihatecymbalta]

A neurologist prescribed Cymbalta and a muscle relaxer to me about a year ago after I started having headaches that were literally causing my eyes to bulge out of their sockets. He also mentioned that I might look into changing jobs since the most likely cause of the headaches was job-related stress. The headaches went away within a few weeks; however, over the next several months, my boss mounted an unwarranted crusade to try and get me fired that I was eventually able to overcome due to some astonishingly stupid things she did and said after she was shocked to discover that I would actually stand up for myself (plus some really courageous coworkers and a lawyer). Towards the end of that nightmare, I started making some really stupid decisions that have all but wrecked my marriage.

Now that I'm determined to stop doing stupid things and have found a new job, I've stopped taking the Cymbalta. In addition to the zaps, sweating, and elevated heart rate, I'm now discovering how much my mood is being affected. In the past, I've been a yeller and have been known to throw and break things. Today, I found myself doing these things once again, but I realized in the midst of it all that I'm way angrier than I've ever felt in my entire life. Even taking a walk around the block didn't help calm me down at all. This isn't helping trying to make up for everything that I've done and said over the past several months (for which I only wish I could blame the Cymbalta).

The most frustrating thing is not knowing how much of this is me and how much is withdrawal (if any at all). Actually, the most frustrating thing is not knowing whether or not I'll have a marriage much longer.

[RickWC]

Did you stop cold turkey? How long has it been. Extreme rage is definetly a withdrawal symptom of stopping Cymbalta. If you are happy in your new job then I urge you to reconsider stopping cold turkey. The rage, mood changes, and physical side effects may well cost you your new job. I've read on this forum of people who have lost there jobs and even marriages due to Cymbalta withdrawals. There was even a guy several months back that was looking at prison time because he had accidently hurt his child in a Cymbalta withdrawal rage. For most people this may sound like a ridiculous excuse but I've felt this rage and I think if it had continued for long enough, I may have hurt somebody.