[boot2]

Hi All,
Just wanted to post and share my story...not unlike the other stories i read...
First, even though i am going through the hell of withdrawel right now (and it is awful) i just want to say i was glad that Cymbalta helped me through a difficult time in my life...Last November, my leg went numb and i found it difficult to move it...then, the next day my other leg went weak, then my hands, then my digestive system went crazy, my whole body started twitching and cramping...all this very sudden and severe...i ended up in the ER and then the hospital for a week...i had contracted a CNS disorder called Guillen Barre which basically cause severe but temporary paralysis...without knowing what was going on with me and pretty sure i was gonna die, i was in non-stop panic mode until (thank God) my symptoms started relenting and i started PT to learn how to walk again...Cymbalta gave me the courage to go on. During an MRI scan at the hospital, i recieved another bad blow...i had a Pituitary Tumor...a large one....so i am glad Cymbalta helped me through this time... It helped with the neuropathy and twitches i had (have)... it stopped the PANIC/Worry in it's tracks...and, i would have never made it without it...now, since i am starting to have more severe side effects(tachycardia)from it, i decided was time to get off of it and i took a week off work...My doctor had me go from 60 to 30 and then 20 -each stepdown two weeks long...well, i got impatient and just did the 20 for two days then quit...he suggested a prescribed antihistimine to help control the withdrawel effects, but i turned it down and told him i'd try the benedryl...Day one wasn't so bad...Day two got tougher and Day three was much worse...brain zaps, dizzy , brain fog, twitches, cramps, sleepiness, and i am seeing things in my peripheral vision that aren't there-so, i am feeling pretty zany right now. We will see what day 4 brings me... The doctor told me in five days i would feel alot better...i am hoping he is right! He told me that Norepiphrine (sp) spikes cause the brain zapping and dizziness...i am wondering if dramamine might not help me more than the benedryl...what have others used to calm down withdrawels? i was thinking of doing the protocol in the Road Back...Anyone try this? Did it help you? you know what helps me? chocolate! i am not a big chocolate eater, but i was craving sweets during withdrawel and i found a bit and ate it...and immediately i felt better. i found if i combined chocolate (i am using unsweetened health food store kind now) and valerian- it feels like i am almost normal again...thought i;d pass that along.
thanks for hearing my story

[boot2]

Thanks Blake,
i am of the school 'That which will not kill you can only make you stronger' so, i realize even though i feel like i am walking on the deck of a sailboat with pounding waves, it ain't gonna kill me...but Vtachs can...oh vey...i am using healing meditation, hormone balance diet, yoga, exercise , fish oils, mega greens, cal-mag, vit E, and benedryl...still getting the brain zaps and body zaps, the runs and gastro cramps, but they are slowly getting better...i think i weaned off enough not to be stuck in bed for a week...you know, noone knows if brain zaps permanently hurt the brain...noone has studied this!!!!
i think docs just pass out pills too often without going over possible side-effects, pros and cons, ect...that is why i prefer holistic Md's...and noone but a neuro or pit tumor specialist should be passing me pills...which of course, my neuro did...but i think these things are over psychiatric training...i was seeing a counselor and she wanted to try holistic stuff to help me adjust to all my bad luck, -did i mention i had my finger amputated too>????? but, honestly, the Guillen Barre put me over the top...i am soo glad cymbalta got me to a place where i just didn't CARE....now, that i have adjusted and learned about these diseases, i am taking a pro active approach...and i need my brain for that.
Good luck with saying bye bye to anti depressants...

[dominiclondon]

Hello from London. It's 2am and I am unable to sleep so in desperation started trawling the net for information. I came accross this site! I am suffering all the side effects of withdrawal that you and others have detailed. I have never used a blog before - just shows how horrible this experience of withdrawal can be at 2am - all alone! Well, after 3 weeks of gradually tapering off, I became impatient and stopped completely about 7 days ago. I have now had two of the worst days and nights...dizziness (mild brain zaps), slight nausea, extreme tiredness in the afternoon, horrific nightmares (just woken myself up by screamimg!), irritable leg syndrome and now insomnia.
It's been so reassuring to find others also suffering and to read of others getting through it. I am going to try Benidryl tomorrow - as discussed on this website by others and maybe antihysthemines.
I am determined to hang in there...I really don't want to go through all of this again in a few months!
Good luck to you and all others reading this.
I'm going to see my doctor tomorrow!
Dominic

[boot2]

Day 5 Much Better, occasional brain, body zaps(sometimes bodywide) but less often-much like what MS sufferers feel with l'hermitage...you know ,i went from 60 to 30 and then down to 15 for one week before quitting, so i stepdown before quitting was just 2 weeks...i think i did this too suddenly and i think that is why the first couple of days were horrible, but i want to assure you Mate, it will get better and it will get better shortly...try some benedryl and fish oil along with 200 mg of vit E...try exercising...i know this sound ludicrous since you are probably so dizzy you can't stand, but somehow exercise makes the effects seem to disappear for awhile-maybe have something to do with better circulation and production of serotonin?
i definitely am going to call the neuro and recommend a book i have been reading called.ANTIDEPRESSANT SOLUTION...we are the quinea pigs and know more about side effects and withdrawals than are supposidly learned docs....which is a shame.

[dominiclondon]

Good to hear you are better. Me too! I also stopped completely after cutting down from 60 per day to 60 every other day, then to 60 every three days after about 2 weeks, then to nothing after 4/5 weeks. Still waking up at funny hours but now able to get back to sleep. Very mild brain zaps. Taking Benadryl and Piriton and keeping up my usual regime of gym and tennis. Now on day 9 without Cymbalta - so glad I did not give in to the withdrawal symptoms a few days ago. I was very tempted! I think I am through the worst...

[JamiNeesie]

Where have all of you guys been all this time!!????!?!?! Looking around on the net on the last leg of work and of course looking around to see if anyone else feels as crazy and terrible as I do, and I find this! I was on 60mg then went down to 30mg. I only did this for 2 weeks and went on vacation to sunny Florida and decided this would be a good time to completely stop. Discontinuing while on vacation was a great idea, but now I am back at work and back to real life, and am on day 10 with no med. I keep telling myself the worst is over, and I truly have to believe it is, but I am still getting those insane body zaps and it seems they are becoming more frequent as the days pass. I am almost feeling like I get a pound right in my chest every now and again. I can't tell if it's almost like a palpitation feeling or just the "zap" hitting me right there. Intestinal cramps and diarrhea have just started about 2 days ago. This is such a great experience isn't it?!!

[KathW]

I'm on about day 5 off cym, was on cymbalta for a year, last few months just 40mg a day.
I had a stroke and brain surgery. My recovery was full thankfully, except anxiety was diagnosed for my tingling and numbing sensations in right face, arm, and leg. Was put on the cymbalta , symptoms went away.
So Im trying to go off this stuff, I have a buzzing,ticking, in the back right of my brain, dizzy, tired, nightmares, depressed, just want it to end, so Ive read about the benedryl, I'll try it. But does anyone know when this will all stop, seems its so different for everyone, and why dont the doctors know any of this, my neurologist knew nothing about the withdrawal and what can help.