Help
The last 3 1/2 years I was on Cymbalta. The reason I say "was", is because I have been free of it for almost 4 months now! I never thought I could do it. Withdrawal from this medication is horrendous, I feel for those of you who have experienced all of the symptoms that make a person feel absolutely crazy! When I decided to get off of Cymbalta I talked to my Dr. & did it VERY gradually, much slower than he advised, because I had done this twice before with Paxil and was also a mess, so I new a few days, for me, just wasn't enough. I was on 90mg, I went down to 60mg, for about 3 weeks, then 30mg for 3 weeks, then off the medication. I had not heard of making your own capsules and counting the beads, otherwise I would have done this and made it even more gradual. I knew to expect the actual "normal" withdrawal symptoms. The most common for me, are brain "zaps", light headedness, figity, headaches, disconnection from reality (somewhat of a "floating" feeling).... this had always lasted 6 days to the "T"!! So this is what I expected with the Cymbalta. I spent at least 9 days with SEVERE "brain zaps" and all of the others I said I had had before. I literally thought it would NEVER stop!!! After this I went through 2 weeks of feeling "ok", but not myself. Next, 2 weeks of severe depression and anger...I would wake up in the morning and watch TV for an hour and go back to bed, I was sleeping all day and all night, this was the most scary feeling, I had never felt this weak before and no matter what i tried to think about I couldn't pull myself out of this "slump". I knew it was from not being on my medicine and hoped it would pass, like the other symptoms/withdraws.....it did, to an extent. I then dealt with a few weeks of extreme disconnection from reality,my husband, my family, my friends, & yes, even my dog!!! I was snapping and yelling at everyone, extreme anger spouts had taken me over!! I have never been an angry person, what was happening to me? At this point my husband was really starting to wonder, if I had made the right choice.
Now bringing you up to date, as of what I'm experiencing now, after being off of the drug for almost 4 months..... ANXIOUS...WOW!!, that's the only way I know how to put it. I have only had one full, blown, panic attack and luckily my husband was with me and able to help me to the car, until I could pull myself together and return to the family function we were at....talk about embarrassing!!!! And guess what??? It was precisely 3 months after being off of the medication, that this happened to me again. The difference? I didn't run back to the Dr. I have decided to take this in my own hands, with the support of my family, especially my sister, and beat it once and for all with alternative methods, rather than prescribed drugs.
My opinion of Cymbalta would be that unless you want to be on it the rest of your life, which I don't recommend, then DON'T use this drug.....It has ruined so much for me and I am still so angry that this type of medication can even be given to people. I feel as though it has changed my whole body chemistry! Like I'm not even close to being the same as I used to be, which is hard to remember because it has been ten years of continuous meds.
There IS life after Cymbalta.....I am still learning how to deal with each day, one at a time. I am still VERY irritable, angry, and have problems with compulsive thinking, or ruminating on issues. I can't "shut my brain off" at night to fall asleep. This is why I'm awake @ 1:30am writing on this forum!!! I have visited several therapists, to try and help with the process of eliminating anxiety and depression without Cymbalta and even a group session that I only went to once, after part of an hour and a half was a class of medications and how " we all needed to take them our bodies are in crisis"!,this is what they were telling people in this group, after they had assured me this program would 100% support someone trying to live without the meds! But the first thing they say is, "well maybe let's just try a low dose of your medication to get you through this time". AAAHHHHH I want to smack them all!!!! I'm there to get their help WITHOUT the meds and I always make that VERY clear and before I know it, they are trying to convince me to go back on them. I swear these people have never dealt with the withdraws and everything else that goes along with getting off of this drug and how it literally changes who you are!! I even had an MD try to tell me there are some "safe meds" on the market that are proven to be ok to take while being pregnant!!!! (As this was a concern of mine in the future) I laughed right in his face...seriously!!
Every day gets a little better and I have visited a wellness center near me and this is the most amazing thing I have ever experienced in my life!! They are positive, helpful, & 100% supportive. They gave me hope again that I will succeed!!!
I've read others advice, struggles, & also some overcoming the drug!!! This makes me so happy that some are able to do it, but so sad that it has made it rather impossible for others to get off of. It's not right that a prescribed drug can control one's life like this. Cymbalta should be destroyed!!!!
I feel loads better after sharing...some of my story, the important parts, I guess. I am willing to email with anyone needing support, answers, or just someone to talk to about getting off of Cymbalta. Let me tell you, if there is a side affect, I've dealt with it!!!!!
NOTgivingUP!!!!
