[Barbara]

I have been on Cymbalta, 30 mg. for about 1 month. The first week I was high as a kite, no pain, giddy. Then I leveled off, then went down to all the symptoms that I later found out when I googled side effects of Cymbalta. I am going to go off but haven't decided how yet, cold turkey or gradually. I was on a small dose of Zoloft before I went on Cymbalta and don't know whether to go back on that when I do the withdrawal. The doctor put me on Cymbalta for bad arthritis. It took away the pain but gave me side effects. I'm glad I found this site. I didn't know so many others were having problems with Cymbalta.

[Anxiousmom]

I was on cymbalta for 7 months and have been off for 22 days the withdrawls have been horrendous. I have had brain zaps, tremors, sweats, nauseau, dizziness, shocks, disorientation, everything. My doctor tried to put me on pristiq but I felt sick so I went off then they gave me ativan, made me sick, they offered lexapro, paxil, zoloft, zevella, etc. but they all have made me sick. I wish you a lot of luck. I pray that your withdraws aren't as bad since you haven't been on it to long. Take care.

[txgirl888]

My heart goes out to you all trying to get off Cymbalta. My experience has been horrific. I have been off now for two weeks and feeling awful. I can't even talk about it. The main thing I wanted to say is something I just found out about a couple of months ago. Everytime I think about it I get sick. I shared some of what was happening with my holistic dentist. She told me that antidepressants don't raise serotonin levels....they don't. They just use whatever amount of serotonin is in your body and keeps it at the receptor sites in your brain. Again, it DOES NOT RAISE YOUR SEROTONIN LEVELS!!!! S

[txgirl888]

txgirl888, on 03 October 2011 - 06:27 PM, said:

My heart goes out to you all trying to get off Cymbalta. My experience has been horrific. I have been off now for two weeks and feeling awful. I can't even talk about it. The main thing I wanted to say is something I just found out about a couple of months ago. Everytime I think about it I get sick. I shared some of what was happening with my holistic dentist. She told me that antidepressants don't raise serotonin levels....they don't. They just use whatever amount of serotonin is in your body and keeps it at the receptor sites in your brain. Again, it DOES NOT RAISE YOUR SEROTONIN LEVELS!!!! S

Sorry, it's still me, txgirl888...i accidently hit a key before I was finished. As I was saying, your serotonin levels are NOT raised. So what do you think happens when you go off? Well, if you have super low Serotonin levels then you will get symptoms of that and that is what happened to me. Do some research about symptoms of severely low serotonin. Did my doctor ever tell me this? NO! It's so disappointing. The other thing I suggest is going to someone who can test you neurotransmitter levels. I am having that done now but haven't gotten the results back. Did anyone ever do that before that put me on Cymbalta?? Maybe Cymbalta was the worst drug on the planet for me. I can't believe all this really. These doctors give you drugs and have no idea at all what your brain chemistry is. Also, look in to 5htp. I am also taking that now and it is helping somewhat. Until I get the results of my neurotransmitter test I won't be able to go further with balancing my brain chemistry which undoubtedly was royally screwed up by Cymbalta. Best wishes.

[txgirl888]

Another thing to look into is the gut issue. many neurotransmitters are actually produced i the gut/small intestine, I think. You can have tests done to see how your gut is functioning. I truly wish you all the best. I am very anxious to get my test results back. By the way, my sister was on cymbalta for two years, 60mg, and weaned slowly and had little side effects. I was only on 20mg and it's been a nightmare, so everybody is different. But interestingly, my sister had her neurotransmitters tested after withdrawaling from Cymbalta and guess what? Her Serotonin was low...and dopamine was high...so maybe cymbalta also increases dopamine in the brain which is very bad if there's too much. AGain, it's so negligent in my humble opinion that doctors can just give these drugs and really have no clue what it will do to people in the long-term....it's UNBELIEVEABLE!!!! And they do it every day....do your research, gets some tests and get better. Hang in there!! We will all get better together!!!!!

[txgirl888]

txgirl888, on 03 October 2011 - 06:42 PM, said:

Another thing to look into is the gut issue. many neurotransmitters are actually produced i the gut/small intestine, I think. You can have tests done to see how your gut is functioning. I truly wish you all the best. I am very anxious to get my test results back. By the way, my sister was on cymbalta for two years, 60mg, and weaned slowly and had little side effects. I was only on 20mg and it's been a nightmare, so everybody is different. But interestingly, my sister had her neurotransmitters tested after withdrawaling from Cymbalta and guess what? Her Serotonin was low...and dopamine was high...so maybe cymbalta also increases dopamine in the brain which is very bad if there's too much. AGain, it's so negligent in my humble opinion that doctors can just give these drugs and really have no clue what it will do to people in the long-term....it's UNBELIEVEABLE!!!! And they do it every day....do your research, gets some tests and get better. Hang in there!! We will all get better together!!!!!

Don't try to treat yourself with stuff, like I mentioned the 5HTP...there is something called serotonin syndrome where the body can have too much serotonin; you have probably heard of it.... just go to a professional who can try to get to the root of the problem if that is what you really want, which I am assuming you do.

[jlm]

I have been in such a funk for so long! Now that I know it isn't "just me" and my "issues", I think I am going to need a lot of help with this! I am 59 and been on Cymbalta for almost three yrs. (90 mgs) On it for PTSS, fibromyalgia, pain from other health issues that also led me to more depression. I thought I was getting more depressed and was simply going to live in a miserable hole till I died! (when asked if I was suicidal, I say no, because my husband killed himself and I would NEVER do that to the people who love me...but "dead sounds good"...)I just happened upon this site (a few days ago...)looking for a way to wean off, due to finances. Wow! I have to thank you all for giving me a glimmer of hope...which I had NONE of! Now, I am just trying to let all of this sink in, but my brain fog doesn't allow me to retain much. I have a Dr. appt. in a few days and I want to learn as much as I can about all of these "issues" that have been debilitating me for three yrs.!! I believe I will have to take notes...OMG! THANK YOU!!!

[outamymind]

Sorry to say Jim but I don't believe there is an easy way to wean off this poison. My on experience - 60mg for 2.5 years, 30mg for 3 weeks & then drop it all together - hasn't helped. I had some symptoms as mentioned here by others in the first drop which knocked me off my feet. Doc said the next step would be much easier. SURE! Well he needs educating, as do most doctors prescribing Cymbalta.

You've certainly done it tough but sad to say you're going to have to keep on fighting. I'm on day 13 of being "clean" & still getting horrid brain zaps, aches & pains, mood swings, irritable bowel, disturbed sleep, etc, etc, etc.

A guy from Ireland wrote some time ago after 3 weeks he started to feel human again. I'm hanging onto this & roughing it out. I do have great support from my husband & my boss thank goodness. Not sure where I'd be without that understanding. I'm not very nice atm.

Here's hoping we all start to feel better soon. You sound like a very strong person to have already come this far. Don't give up.

[jlm]

outamymind, on 04 October 2011 - 04:38 PM, said:

Sorry to say Jim but I don't believe there is an easy way to wean off this poison. My on experience - 60mg for 2.5 years, 30mg for 3 weeks & then drop it all together - hasn't helped. I had some symptoms as mentioned here by others in the first drop which knocked me off my feet. Doc said the next step would be much easier. SURE! Well he needs educating, as do most doctors prescribing Cymbalta.

You've certainly done it tough but sad to say you're going to have to keep on fighting. I'm on day 13 of being "clean" & still getting horrid brain zaps, aches & pains, mood swings, irritable bowel, disturbed sleep, etc, etc, etc.

A guy from Ireland wrote some time ago after 3 weeks he started to feel human again. I'm hanging onto this & roughing it out. I do have great support from my husband & my boss thank goodness. Not sure where I'd be without that understanding. I'm not very nice atm.

Here's hoping we all start to feel better soon. You sound like a very strong person to have already come this far. Don't give up.

Thanks for responding...I am soooo not looking forward to coming off this crap! (Just to clarify...the name isn't Jim...its jLm...I am a woman, but strange that Jim is the name of my husband that killed himself...)
I am about to find out how much my doctor knows about this stuff tomorrow...

[outamymind]

Sorry jlm. Eyesight is not what it used to be. I'm really sorry it raised the trauma of yr husband again for you. Please forgive me. Please also forgive my angry attitude towards this drug & these uneducated doctors. I'm still coming off & I guess it's hard to hide sometimes. I'm hoping your doctor is not one of these & can really help you. Good luck. Thinking of you 

[txgirl888]

jlm, on 04 October 2011 - 01:38 PM, said:

I have been in such a funk for so long! Now that I know it isn't "just me" and my "issues", I think I am going to need a lot of help with this! I am 59 and been on Cymbalta for almost three yrs. (90 mgs) On it for PTSS, fibromyalgia, pain from other health issues that also led me to more depression. I thought I was getting more depressed and was simply going to live in a miserable hole till I died! (when asked if I was suicidal, I say no, because my husband killed himself and I would NEVER do that to the people who love me...but "dead sounds good"...)I just happened upon this site (a few days ago...)looking for a way to wean off, due to finances. Wow! I have to thank you all for giving me a glimmer of hope...which I had NONE of! Now, I am just trying to let all of this sink in, but my brain fog doesn't allow me to retain much. I have a Dr. appt. in a few days and I want to learn as much as I can about all of these "issues" that have been debilitating me for three yrs.!! I believe I will have to take notes...OMG! THANK YOU!!!

Get your neurotransmitters tested!! These medications do not get to the root of the problem. Go to www.pharmasan.com and maybe they can direct you to practitioners in your area who can get you vital testing to know what is really going on. Good luck!