[helpme2011]

sorry if this doesn't make much sense but i'm going through this hell and i can't see or think straight.
been on this stuff for 16 months ..been trying to get off it for the past 8 months. i am a single mum of a 16 month old.
tried every type of weaning and in the end, i couldn't cope with living everyday in a messed up daze.
i threw the remaining tablets down the toilet and vowed never to take one ever again.
day 4 cold turkey and i'm in a living hell.
i can't get out of bed, if i eat i'm throwing up.
constant flu like symptoms.. my whole body is in pain and the painkillers don't seem to be helping anymore.
the brain zaps are horrific.
everything is hurting. i have to wear ear plugs and sunglasses around the house as the light is hurting my eyes and any sound hurts too.
i feel like absolute death.
thank goodness my mum is looking after my daughter.
all i want to know is there anyone going through cold turkey and can i ask when does it start to get better?
4 days in and it's killing me.
please someone tell me it gets better soon??

[watchdog]

Hi there-
Wow..... where to begin. To start with, cold turkey is extremely difficult to do. Your brain has a chemical dependency from the Cymbalta, and when you stop taking it suddenly, it freaks out. First, find a medical doctor who will listen to you, and who will guide you through the weaning/detox process. I know you don't want to take the Cymbalta, but you may have to so as to get rid of, or lessen the withdrawl effects. My wife was on Cymbalta for two years.... anywhere from 60-90mg. It was hell. Once she (we) decided the drug was causing more problems than it was fixing, it took 6 months to get off the drug completely. She has been off the drug for almost a year now and is quite literally a new person. She reduced her dosage by 10mg every three weeks (or until the w/d symptoms were livable) until she got to 20mg (the lowest dosage I know of), and then after 3-4 weeks at that level, quit completely. It can be done.... it does get better. Let me know if I can be of service.

Watchdog