Help
it's been three weeks now-I found out I was expecting, so I stopped taking the Cymbalta. I was on 60 mg and went straight to zero, because somehow the prescription for the 30 mg pill didn't show up at the pharmacy and I didn't want to go back. It's been hell. First the vertigo, the crying spells. Now just this hopelessness and depression ALL THE TIME. The doctor said Cymbalta has a half life of 12 hours, so it should be out of my system. But it is not-there is such a thing as withdrawal. I feel completely unsupported by her. I just need some hope that this can get better. I didn't have a diagnosis of MDD, but Dysthemia, so the doctor saying that "this" is what she is treating me for, that severe depression, isn't true. How much longer will I wake up every day in the lowest mood feeling helpless and hopeless. Please help.
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The Pain Of Withdrawal
#1
eeurogirly 
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Posted 14 October 2011 - 05:10 PM
it's been three weeks now-I found out I was expecting, so I stopped taking the Cymbalta. I was on 60 mg and went straight to zero, because somehow the prescription for the 30 mg pill didn't show up at the pharmacy and I didn't want to go back. It's been hell. First the vertigo, the crying spells. Now just this hopelessness and depression ALL THE TIME. The doctor said Cymbalta has a half life of 12 hours, so it should be out of my system. But it is not-there is such a thing as withdrawal. I feel completely unsupported by her. I just need some hope that this can get better. I didn't have a diagnosis of MDD, but Dysthemia, so the doctor saying that "this" is what she is treating me for, that severe depression, isn't true. How much longer will I wake up every day in the lowest mood feeling helpless and hopeless. Please help.
#2
autimom4ever
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Posted 14 October 2011 - 06:49 PM
Hey....
I'm sorry you are going through this...
Although 1/2 life of Cymbalta is 12 hours, the chemical (neurotransmitter - serotonin and norepinepherine) change in your brain that takes effect takes a lot longer to
revert back to "your" normal....
Cymbalta's job is to help those neurotransmitters from not being "reuptaked" to the neuron before it.... (neurons are right next to each other and the chemicals/neurotransmitters) go from one to the other... sometimes these neurotransmitters tend to "lay" in the synaptic cleft (this is the space between neurons) or revert and go to the back neuron that it just came from.
Cymbalta helps your body make the best use of these neurotransmitters, and in turn, suppose to help our mood
This part takes awhile... cause your brain has "adjusted" to the way the medication has helped it adjust to....
I compare this to prednisone, which many know is a steriod..... Our kidneys also biologically produce a steriod from our adrenal glands (called corticosteriods)...
If prednisone is taken long enough, the body thinks that this "fake or oral" steriod is taken over and makes the adrenal glands stop making our biological steriods
Because of this, it is extremely advised to "taper" prednisone down to give the adrenals time to readjust and start making its own steriod..
Good luck
I'm sorry you are going through this...
Although 1/2 life of Cymbalta is 12 hours, the chemical (neurotransmitter - serotonin and norepinepherine) change in your brain that takes effect takes a lot longer to
revert back to "your" normal....
Cymbalta's job is to help those neurotransmitters from not being "reuptaked" to the neuron before it.... (neurons are right next to each other and the chemicals/neurotransmitters) go from one to the other... sometimes these neurotransmitters tend to "lay" in the synaptic cleft (this is the space between neurons) or revert and go to the back neuron that it just came from.
Cymbalta helps your body make the best use of these neurotransmitters, and in turn, suppose to help our mood
This part takes awhile... cause your brain has "adjusted" to the way the medication has helped it adjust to....
I compare this to prednisone, which many know is a steriod..... Our kidneys also biologically produce a steriod from our adrenal glands (called corticosteriods)...
If prednisone is taken long enough, the body thinks that this "fake or oral" steriod is taken over and makes the adrenal glands stop making our biological steriods
Because of this, it is extremely advised to "taper" prednisone down to give the adrenals time to readjust and start making its own steriod..
Good luck
#3
cookie
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- In the future I would like to stop cymbalta
Posted 16 October 2011 - 07:27 PM
eeurogirly, on 14 October 2011 - 05:10 PM, said:
Hi everyone,
it's been three weeks now-I found out I was expecting, so I stopped taking the Cymbalta. I was on 60 mg and went straight to zero, because somehow the prescription for the 30 mg pill didn't show up at the pharmacy and I didn't want to go back. It's been hell. First the vertigo, the crying spells. Now just this hopelessness and depression ALL THE TIME. The doctor said Cymbalta has a half life of 12 hours, so it should be out of my system. But it is not-there is such a thing as withdrawal. I feel completely unsupported by her. I just need some hope that this can get better. I didn't have a diagnosis of MDD, but Dysthemia, so the doctor saying that "this" is what she is treating me for, that severe depression, isn't true. How much longer will I wake up every day in the lowest mood feeling helpless and hopeless. Please help.
it's been three weeks now-I found out I was expecting, so I stopped taking the Cymbalta. I was on 60 mg and went straight to zero, because somehow the prescription for the 30 mg pill didn't show up at the pharmacy and I didn't want to go back. It's been hell. First the vertigo, the crying spells. Now just this hopelessness and depression ALL THE TIME. The doctor said Cymbalta has a half life of 12 hours, so it should be out of my system. But it is not-there is such a thing as withdrawal. I feel completely unsupported by her. I just need some hope that this can get better. I didn't have a diagnosis of MDD, but Dysthemia, so the doctor saying that "this" is what she is treating me for, that severe depression, isn't true. How much longer will I wake up every day in the lowest mood feeling helpless and hopeless. Please help.
What exactly is Dysthemia?
#4
eeurogirly
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Posted 17 October 2011 - 03:29 PM
Hi!
It's sort of a low level of depression that is always lingering. Then sometimes a person could have Major depressive episodes, which I always get I come of a medicine. Today is Monday and I am back at work, supposed to do my job. But all I want to do is hide away. Taking time off is not an option...I am doing the best I can, it's just so depressing right now.
It's sort of a low level of depression that is always lingering. Then sometimes a person could have Major depressive episodes, which I always get I come of a medicine. Today is Monday and I am back at work, supposed to do my job. But all I want to do is hide away. Taking time off is not an option...I am doing the best I can, it's just so depressing right now.
#5
crysinpink
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Posted 17 October 2011 - 09:49 PM
I have been coming off 60mg myself over the past 5 weeks, during this time i have HAD to wean! I saw my doctor about it and he gave me the following advise in which i have followed.
WEEK ONE and TWO of coming off Cymbalta.
Have one tablet at the same time every SECOND DAY instead of daily.
During this time i experienced the following
- head spins
- heart palpitation ( nearly all day every day)
- helium head i called it, the feeling of your brain being filled with helium is the only way to describe the feeling
- confusion of what i was doing and bad train of thought
- bottom lip quivers
- accelerated emotions up / down / down / down / up
The first two weeks was hard but i had depended on this chemical for the last 18months of my life and it has terrible long term side affects.
ok WEEK THREE
Have one tablet at the same time every THIRD day.
During this time i experienced the following
- Head spasms still but not so severe
- I was a hundred miles an hour! Spoke extremely fast, couldn't sit down, super hyperactive
- Body waves, whole body would feel as though it had been on a gravitation festival ride and all my central gravity was off balance. only every now and then though
- Dry mouth happens again, just like when i first started.
- became more hungry more often
- DO NOT DRINK WHILE COMING OFF CYMBALTA! you end up with very mixed emotions and get severely intoxicated with a very small amount of alcohol
- SEX IS SO MUCH BETTER - I had trouble having orgasms while on cymbalta, no that there is not so much in my system i can experience them quicker and harder.
WEEK FOUR AND FIVE
During this time i experienced the following
- Not so much feeling like im on speed anymore, still have moments of hyper activity but not as often - more settled and normal feeling
- I did have a very depressing day on Saturday where i was at home depressed laying on my floor for hours and then needed a cuddle so badly i cuddled a wall corner, this lasted 1/2 a day then i had to have a shower and push through it, feeling empty can be a friend because you are so use to it, but i pushed myself out of it and put on some music and got a friend to come around.
- still a little giddy in the brain area but im kind of use to it now
- heart palpitations perhaps 3 - 4 times a week but not scary ones
During Cymbalta i really needed it and it was a great anti depressant for me, my chemical imbalance was leveled out and now coming off it we just need to be patient enough for our bodies to start producing the serotonin itself. Alot of positive affirmations, exercise and good company is the best advice i can give to anyone that is about to , or is coming off this drug. It is something i would compare to a drug addict coming off of a heavy drug, it is very similar, we have the same brain altering chemicals everyday for months, years etc, then eventually we try and get off it so we too go through withdrawals. This is the hardest thing i have ever had to do and you WILL experience horrible depressive days, sad days , lonely days, but just stick to your weaning system and eventually you will not need them anymore.
It has been about a week since i have had my 60mg Cymbalta and I am going to try and stop them all together now.
If any drastic changes happen i will let you all know.
If you have any questions, and i am not afraid to share , please email me websterjadecrystal@hotmail.com.
Thanks and I hope this helped. xo
WEEK ONE and TWO of coming off Cymbalta.
Have one tablet at the same time every SECOND DAY instead of daily.
During this time i experienced the following
- head spins
- heart palpitation ( nearly all day every day)
- helium head i called it, the feeling of your brain being filled with helium is the only way to describe the feeling
- confusion of what i was doing and bad train of thought
- bottom lip quivers
- accelerated emotions up / down / down / down / up
The first two weeks was hard but i had depended on this chemical for the last 18months of my life and it has terrible long term side affects.
ok WEEK THREE
Have one tablet at the same time every THIRD day.
During this time i experienced the following
- Head spasms still but not so severe
- I was a hundred miles an hour! Spoke extremely fast, couldn't sit down, super hyperactive
- Body waves, whole body would feel as though it had been on a gravitation festival ride and all my central gravity was off balance. only every now and then though
- Dry mouth happens again, just like when i first started.
- became more hungry more often
- DO NOT DRINK WHILE COMING OFF CYMBALTA! you end up with very mixed emotions and get severely intoxicated with a very small amount of alcohol
- SEX IS SO MUCH BETTER - I had trouble having orgasms while on cymbalta, no that there is not so much in my system i can experience them quicker and harder.
WEEK FOUR AND FIVE
During this time i experienced the following
- Not so much feeling like im on speed anymore, still have moments of hyper activity but not as often - more settled and normal feeling
- I did have a very depressing day on Saturday where i was at home depressed laying on my floor for hours and then needed a cuddle so badly i cuddled a wall corner, this lasted 1/2 a day then i had to have a shower and push through it, feeling empty can be a friend because you are so use to it, but i pushed myself out of it and put on some music and got a friend to come around.
- still a little giddy in the brain area but im kind of use to it now
- heart palpitations perhaps 3 - 4 times a week but not scary ones
During Cymbalta i really needed it and it was a great anti depressant for me, my chemical imbalance was leveled out and now coming off it we just need to be patient enough for our bodies to start producing the serotonin itself. Alot of positive affirmations, exercise and good company is the best advice i can give to anyone that is about to , or is coming off this drug. It is something i would compare to a drug addict coming off of a heavy drug, it is very similar, we have the same brain altering chemicals everyday for months, years etc, then eventually we try and get off it so we too go through withdrawals. This is the hardest thing i have ever had to do and you WILL experience horrible depressive days, sad days , lonely days, but just stick to your weaning system and eventually you will not need them anymore.
It has been about a week since i have had my 60mg Cymbalta and I am going to try and stop them all together now.
If any drastic changes happen i will let you all know.
If you have any questions, and i am not afraid to share , please email me websterjadecrystal@hotmail.com.
Thanks and I hope this helped. xo
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