[TracyAC]

Hi

Thanks so much for this forum - I did some reading here before I tapered off so I thought I'd share my experiences so far. I started taking Cymbalta about six years ago for depression and ended up at 60 mg per day. On Cymbalta I experienced occasional brain zaps (never could figure out the trigger) and heavy heavy night sweats although my depression lifted. During this time I was tested for some autoimmune stuff (have a positive ANA) but ultimately diagnosed with an aggressive normal tension glaucoma that is attacking the central vision in my left eye. I decided to come off the Cymbalta for a couple of reasons - I wanted to see if I could be drug-free and also to see if the cymbalta was masking anything auto immune related. I don't have closed angle glaucoma so I assume cymbalta was not a factor in the glaucoma.

I transitioned off by going from 60-50-40-30-20-10-0 over seven weeks. Originally I was going to go from 10-5-0 but I was doing okay on 10 and decided to go cold turkey from there. Ugh. I'm on day two of nothing and I have had SO many zaps today. I've also been pretty weepy - not at inappropriate times or anything but just a little excessive y'know? I am also on edge - taking offense at things that normally wouldn't faze me. Haven't gotten depressed yet but I did have a HORRIBLE irritability when I had my period two weeks ago. Felt like I could (figuratively) my best friend's head off.

So that's where I'm at. I don't want to go back on to five because I feel as though that train has left the station - anyone have an opinion on that?
Thanks again
Tracy

[outamymind]

Hi Tracy. I can relate!

I'm off nearly 6 weeks now & doing really well but up until now......OMG!!

The rage & over emotion were out of control in the first few weeks of being clean. My poor husband lol. Lucky he's tough.

I'm not a doctor (somehow in this instance I think that's a good thing) but it appears to me as long as your system has an iota of Cymbalta in it it's happy. When you take it away it throws a tantrum. So for me, & this is only my take on it, the sooner you rid yourself altogether & tough out the withdrawal, the better. Im taking lots of natural stuff too like UDO 3, 6 & 9. It seems to have helped ease the rage & discomfort of withdrawal.

I wish you all the best in your journey off this poison

[Pinklady]

Hi outamymind,

Well done for getting rid of the cymballta! I'm off 9days now and I'm in hell! Nausea vomiting crying at tv commercials! Feeling dizzy nO concentration- I'm off cold turkey, and was soo happy to read that someone has been able to come off and eventually have no side effects- good for you
I'm determined to not put any more into my body, I'm just hoping I can return to normal sooner rather than later but you have given me a glimmer of hope that it's possible! Thank you, good luck