[tomitsu]

I just got through my first day in weaning off Cymbalta. I have been on Cymbalta for about 5+ years now consistently on 60 mg.
I came to realize that I was 42 and could no longer exist on Cymbalta. I started having more side effects since last year. It took me this long to take steps to wean off with the help of my doctor. Who does not like this drug.
He put me down to 30mg. To be honest I was scared!!!! I have been on this drug for so long and I have had withdrawl symptoms before from missing doses + reading all the horror stories ...I kept putting this off. Thanks to my husbands support I am on a road to life again!
I take mine before bed at 11pm and I as usual could not sleep. Eventually I fell asleep at 5am. BUT had my usual strange vivid dreams. They are always about fighting and strife. This one was snout me fighting off attackers and defending my home. Lots of action filled dreams...all very physical. Woke up around 8 am and Day one on 30mg felt good, I woke up with ease considering i only slept 3 hours.
I was mentally foggy for first waking hour. Then I had energy and good mood. Went to work and cognitively I felt okay. I felt a little foggy at times but I got work done. I got home late around 8pm and I was dead tired from not sleeping and had eaten dinner already. I went to bed which never happens no matter how tired I am. Insomnia has been one of my biggest problems. I took my 30mg and fell asleep and woke up about 4:00am today. I feel good and relatively normal so far. I will see what today brings and am looking forward to life without Cymbalta.

I decided to go down to 30mg and not do the more gradual approach because I just felt that I wouldn't have the withdrawl symptoms many describe. BUT I am only on day two......so we shall see how good my gut instinct is.

[koalagirl]

I'm so grateful to everyone who's posted their experiences. It helps to know others understand, as it's difficult to explain to friends and family, no matter how supportive they are. I've been on 60mg for a little over 2 years, for major depression and anxiety caused by workplace stress. I weaned off by taking 30mg daily for two weeks. I started feeling really unwell - headache, faintness, nausea, feelings like motion sickness when walking - after a week and a half on the 30mg, to the extent I had to go home from work, and I slept for 4 hours on arriving home. Four days later I stopped the Cymbalta completely. Over this time I had almost constant low-level nausea with recurring bouts of extreme nausea, upset stomach with pains including a strong heartburn, hot flushes and brain zaps. The latter I'd experienced occasionally whilst taking Cymbalta. They seem to happen most when I move my head, even slightly. I didn't connect that the symptoms were withdrawals - my psychiatrist had not warned me of any - and I went to a GP, who also did not make the connection and thought I may have a flu-bug. I was not able to work and took sick leave. It finally dawned on me, as the brain zaps became more frequent, that my malaise might be withdrawals, and I rang my psychiatrist and saw him next day. He said the symptoms I described to him were congruent with Cymbalta's possible withdrawal side-effects, although rare in his experience, and he's not had another patient suffering the level of symptoms I'm going through. However, he was able to reassure me that the worst of it should be over within 10 days or so. I'm now at day nine and the headaches, extreme nausea and upset stomach are tapering off. I've been having strong dreams about car crashes and other negative experiences. I've noticed I'm feeling a bit irritable at times. Definitely starting to feel improved overall, though. I'll post again when I'm feeling completely better. God bless.

[Amber0401]

Sigh @ these doctors and their lack of empathy for how much ppl suffer going off this crap. My father, aunts, uncles, and grandparents have all failed getting off this stuff because they can't get thru the withdrawal. "possible" withdrawal effects? Possible?!?!?! It's not possible it's definite. Drives me crazy what some of these doctors tell people. They should help ppl find a support group instead of acting like it's easy. Good to know ur feeling better at day nine though.... That gives the rest of us some hope!