Rage Feelings

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Rage Feelings

#1 Marcia

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Posted 02 February 2012 - 06:08 AM

Its been almost two weeks since I stopped taking cymbalta. Not knowing how long the residual effects of this evil med takes to subside makes determining if it is my depression or the medicine that is causing these feelings. My already difficult relationship with my daughter is worsening by the day. I feel terrible that I swore at my dog for being a dog while out on our walk this morning. I feel like a house of cards ready to collapse. The brain zaps, vertigo, whooshy feelings in my ears, head pressure continue as well. I thought they were subsiding but have come back with a vengeance. I was given another medication to use but am deathly afraid of taking yet another medication that at best minimally helps with depression. Being sensitive to medications has always been a problem.

I am afraid of losing it. There is no one to help me if I can't work and support myself. I am the one helping everyone else (brother's Guardian (disabled b/t schizophrenia, daughter on disability for bipolar and fibromyalgia,) I work as a nurse... so I need to be together and there is no room for effing up. So what I need to know is how does one determine if it is me having a rage problem or if it is potentially the withdrawals from the cymbalta. Any similar experiences from anyone? I can reasonably determine the brain zaps and other similar problems as I do not have them otherwise but the rage feelings no idea, I have always had a short temper to one degree or another which has not been helped by antidepressants, maybe even made it worse.

I don't know what to do.

marcia

#2 autimom4ever

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Posted 03 February 2012 - 08:32 AM

Marcia,

I, too, am a nurse....

I decided to stop Cymbalta (for anxiety) after taking 60 mg a day for 5 years.
This was back in October.

I weaned... 40 mg for 2 weeks, then 20 mg for 2 weeks, then 0.

I've been at 0 cymbalta since the end of October.

The withdraw was "he##". Rage is the worst of them... I called it extreme irritability. It was awful.
Along with nausea, dizziness, the constant feeling of panic, some tremor, inability to get words out and some times of disassociation (I ran through 2 stop signs during this withdraw - not know I did it until I looked back and saw I did it). All this was so hard while trying to continue to work...

OTC dramamine was my life saver. I took it at least once a day and as much as 3 times a day.

I would say this lasted for about 2 months....

I'm dealing with something new now that I think Cymbalta has some degree of responsibility for.... PAIN... Pain that I never had before starting cymbalta and that I think cymbalta "masked" for who knows how long.... Pain that, if I knew was there, I would have taken steps to find the cause. All the doctors I have seen agree that cymbalta could have masked it all these years...

When I started the wean process, I started noticing lower back pain that radiates around to the right hip and inguinal area. It's a "burning" type pain.
I've been to Ortho, Neuro, and now going to a spine specialist. I've had a L/S spine MRI (normal). I've gone to PT and Chiro. I've had a coxxyx injection which did not work. Today, is yet another MRI (pelvis). I'm going broke dealing with this. I refuse to take the narcotics. Tramadol is a "sister" of cymbalta so I'm terrified of that medicine. Neurotin makes me fall asleep (can't work and take this one) and flexeril does not work (neither does any of the NSAID's).

Needless to say, I'm ANGRY..... This might be a lifetime thing that I DO blame on Cymbalta. I hope your withdraw is just limited to your brain slowly returning itself to it's normal state....

Again, during those horrible "rage" times, dramamine (the 50 mg dose) really helped.

Becky

#3 Marcia

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Posted 04 February 2012 - 08:29 AM

Thank you Becky, I will certainly try the dramamine. I have had back pain for years, since you are nurse you know how that goes. It was bad while I was on cymbalta but what struck me is that, pardon for being too open but my low back PT has gone backwards since coming off the cymbalta since now I have to work on the kegals for incontinence. I know this is because of cymbalta as I believe urinary retention was an issue while I was on it. I am sorry you are in such pain. I hope you can resolve some of this, it can be very hard to do our jobs as nurses with all these issues going on. I have found fish oil helps with joint pain for me. Maybe if you could find a therapeutic pool(temp about 90 degrees) that would help. I hear ya about going broke. I have been going for massages, and now trying Quantum Touch and self hypnosis to help me lose the weight I gained on cymbalta. Take Care Becky and feel better.

#4 Amber0401

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Posted 05 February 2012 - 12:10 AM

Hi Marcia,
I just wanted to let you know that you are not alone with your feelings of rage. I myself struggle a GREAT deal with holding back anger towards pretty much everyone and everything I see. I am 25, have been on Cymbalta for 5 years and followed a weaning process of 60-30-0. I am on day 2 of 0mg and fact is that this sucks. It seems to help me just to know I am not crazy and yes there are people out there who are even experiencing withdrawal symptoms as bad as hallucinations. I am thankful I have not experienced that so far. But I do experience a GREAT deal of anger. Usually my rage will stem from something minor that just for no reason gets to me and makes me feel like I have this ball of energy inside me I cant get out. Like I need to scream or break something to feel better and this is VERY unlike me and comes and goes as it pleases. Ive had to hold back smashing my cell phone or a TV remote. Also even a simple touch from my boyfriend at the wrong time or in the wrong place makes me want to punch him in the face even if hes being nice lol.....poor guy. So I COMPLETELY understand how you feel and no its not you. Best thing to do is just know your not alone and let close friends/family know you dont mean it. I find that since I've explained to them what I'm feeling they handle it MUCH better. As for work I am struggling as well to play nice in office politics. Best thing for me is to recognize when I'm about to rage and go outside for 15 minutes and have a smoke or CHOCOLATE! Chocolate makes everything better

Something about being outside in the sun and breathing in some fresh air and watching the trees blow in the wind really helps me calm down and realize I'm being silly. Sounds pretty simple I know but as stupid as it may seem just try it one day when you're at work and see if it helps

Amber

#5 Marcia

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Posted 07 February 2012 - 05:24 AM

Tried the dramamine. Well to say the least as least I had an office day and was not out on the road seeing patients. Very sedating and i had brain zaps galore. some pretty scary ones. I will only use this med if I am at home and have no plans to go somewhere. I went to bed when I got home at 630p and slept until my alarm went off at 445a! I think I must be sensitive to all medications.

Marcia

Marcia, on 04 February 2012 - 08:29 AM, said:

#6 Marcia

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Posted 07 February 2012 - 05:29 AM

Thanks Amber for sharing your experiences and advice. I think taking "fresh air breaks" at work is a great idea. I need to do that anyway! Hopefully for the both of us the rage feelings pass as the medications gets out of our bodies. I think doing the deep breathing exercises helps as well! and btw way chocolate is always a cure for what ails ya!

Amber0401, on 05 February 2012 - 12:10 AM, said:

Amber

#7 julbug

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Posted 07 February 2012 - 04:22 PM

Hi
I just saw this after I posted my RAGE..I wish we could all sit down together or talk on the telephone...ANYONE remember the telephone? It was attached to the kitchen wall we used it to communicate with yur neighbor/girlfriend to listen and be 'there'????

Im on the edge of a cliff..with rage, anger and if I had a gun I would just go out in the garage and shoot myself. I dont want to make a mess in the house...lol

I think I felt better when I was withdrawing. I had NO depression. I look in the mirror and I HATE the face that stares back at me. I dont know why. I hear a voice that says..kill her.