[LillieBug]

I'm new here. I have gone cold turkey (27 year old newlywed (one week)female, and am horrified....I am having trouble typing (this is only day two, from 90 mg. for three years to 0mg).I am shaking, having the electrical shock sensations in my head, numbness in extremities and lips...confusion, agitation, severe dizziness, loss of words, stomach problems, sleeping too much, feelings of my heart skipping beats...and then gasping for breath...I can;t stop worrying that I am going to relapse into my disordered eating after I go off of it (IF I do...), this is the only medicine that has EVER helped my Bulimia and Anorexia. I am across the country from my Psychiatrist and waiting for my Husband's Insurance to kick in...I have been on many SSRI's including Effexor XR...that was the one that I was on the most...and it's withdrawal was not this bad. I am still on Klonopin at 1mg. a day 3x daily....it certainly is NOT helping right now...I am humiliated to be going through this on our one week wedding anniversary...I am lashing out, and feel helpless...I love my Husband, but he has very different views regarding medicating mental illness than I do...he thinks all meds are bullshit....I just would love opinions and some support. I am thankful that this site exists....I can't stop shaking...I'll try to explain myself better later...Also...I am a certified herbalist, and know what natural remedies would ease my symptoms, but can NOT afford them...would be happy to reccomend them to others one here that can afford them...I have to go for now...very shaky. Please...not too much terribly negative discouragement from going back on it...seeing as it saved my life as far as my eating disorders are concerned...Thanks again.

[madbookworm]

Bless your brave little heart, LillieBug! Three of my four children are older than you but I am in the same boat, except it seems like I'm having an easier trip - at least so far. I'm only on Day Two of cold turkey withdrawal. I simply had to stop because I was horrifically over-sedated. I literally could not stay awake for more than two or three hours, no matter what. I fell asleep while my three-year-old granddaughter and I were watching cartoons, and when I woke up, I found her happily snacking on dry cat food! That convinced me it was time to stop.

I have had balance problems while on Cymbalta, but they seem to be gradually clearing up now that I am off of it. I have had the itching that has been described, and use Benadryl gelcaps for it, and that seems to work very well. I have not had the "brain zaps " or other horrific neurological symptoms you describe.

I hope your recovery gets a lot better very soon!