[walt]

I have been taking Cymbalta for a few months now and I think I am going to die.

This all started a couple of years ago. I was having anxiety attacks, and it got bad to the point where I couldn't handle them anymore so I went to the emergency room at my local hospital. I was voluntarily admitted to the psych. ward where I stayed for a few days. There I was prescribed Effexor XR by the doctor who assured me that it was safe and that there were no side effects. I took the Effexor successfully for over a year before it began making me feel horrible. I tried to wean off of the drug (with help from a doctor), but was immediately overcome by the withdrawal symptoms (shocks, violent mood swings, depression, paranoia, etc.). It seemed hopeless as even lowering the dosage slowly incapacitated me with withdrawals so I decided to just get it all over with at once and I quit taking it cold turkey. I missed a week of work and had severe withdrawals, but I got to the point where I was functioning. The main problem was that the withdrawal symptoms weren't going away, I was just training my body and mind to function along with them.

Eventually it seemed hopeless so my doctor prescribed me Cymbalta to help with the withdrawals. After the first day of taking it it was almost like I was completely cured. It was great. I finally felt better. This was short lived however. I only felt better for about a month before the withdrawal symptoms came back hand in hand with more problems caused by the Cymbalta. I stopped taking the Cymbalta now and have been off of it for three days now. I fly off the handle over the smallest things and my wife can't stand to be around me (and I don't blame her). I am completely paranoid and do not trust anyone at all. I can't relax and I am getting worse every day. The shocks are really bad at this point. I will not take any more of these medications. I am not depressed (that's a lie; I'm depressed now because of the withdrawals). I can't control my emotions and have a hovering sense of complete dread and annihilation of my Self. I feel like I'm going insane although I know that I'm not. I am seriously going to die. I have to hide tears in my eyes at work. I can't go back to the doctor. I don't trust that they are trying to do what's best for me. I don't feel that I need to be on medications at all, and feel that I am being taken advantage of by money hungry doctors. I am afraid that I will never get better, and hate that my wife and eight month old son see me this way. My wife wants me to go back to the psych. ward. Last time I went there for anxiety attacks and they put me on a medication that wasn't appropriate (in my opinion) and has helped to debilitate me at points. I don't think very fondly of the hospital. My wife will eventually leave me. My thoughts turn to suicide constantly and I'm starting to rationalize it. I don't know what to do. I seriously want to die.

[walt]

I just went to the hospital for an evaluation just to please my wife. The doctor there basically told me that there are no side effects or withdrawals associated with Cymbalta and that I must just be depressed. I didn't get prescribed the Effexor XR for depression, and I'm not taking the Cymbalta for depression either. I pretty much waited for over an hour to see someone just to have her basically call me a liar. I tried to explain to her that there are definitely side effects and withdrawal symptoms and that I have been researching it. Her response was that you're only going to find the negative on the internet. Go figure. I feel a little better than when I posted earlier (believe me, not because of the doctor visit), but that's just how it is lately. I can't control my moods at all anymore...

[marbles]

Walt> I felt alot like you have .I feel better now but in the beginning, I was a mess. My husband was bewildered with me , my daughter couldnt understand and I had the feelings you did.I put trust in my psch. and after awhile I started to (feel) mistrust toward my psch.I go up toward cincinnatti to a psy.who accepts people on a 75 dollar for 15 minutes or will be in the network . The pschs,down here in Lexington Ky want their money for 50-60 min of 300 dollars laid out in front and then to be reinbursed by a insurance.You would think we was wanting cosmetic surgery !!!! In my eyes the pschs who are so greedy for money are considered ,,,GREEDY and by the oath they take as doctors to make people well ...I would rather spend a few bucks and go to a dr,MD....... and the other psch s who go along with a copay or payment plan are the ones that give you an eeri feeling. I just wish I was rich and knew of a good doctor who I would hire to take care of me and people who don`t want to be on a assemble line. I have NEVER spent an hour with a psychiatrist. Even when I was in the hospital for depression several years ago, a psch came around and asked a few questions and left,I am guessing 10 to 15 minutes.It was such a waste of time. You walk around and feel you are babysitted ..I just told them what they WANTED to hear and they believed it and I left.
Now after I have talked about the injustice for the people who can`t havve the posh psch`s,I want you to know it does get better. Yes I still get anxious and someday I might or might not get depressed,but I will worry about that then,In the mean time try to help yourself as much as possible when you feel better. At first I couldn`t do anything and felt hopeless, but the days past and one day I woke up and felt all the intense worry and depression fading away. I can live with and accept that I probally will deal with depression and anxiety but hopefully not in the extreme as when I took cymbalta....That in itself is a healing process and like a sore takes time to heal so do our minds.Let your mind rest right now and the rest will come. I was in the same spot as you once and now I am feeling so much more better. I still have more to do to reach the level I want for myself but that will also come in time.Pray to God or a higher force and never give up....I hope the best for you...shirl

[iliao93]

Walt, my doc said the same thing to me. We can't count on them to assist us in this! I took Cymbalta 4 years at my doc's insistance. When I complained it made my pain and everything worse he upped my doseage! I wasn't even given it for depression, well only secondary. I was given it for the pain of FM. Well now I'm a week out Cymbalta free, and it's is going not so bad. Had pretty good start for about 5 days and then the last 2 days have been hell! Now this evening I'm starting to feel like I can function again. I know this is going to be an up & down battle for a while! You need to try and understand that too. Each time you go down and back up it's a little better...really! You can do it Walt! We are here for you and you will make it! Read the posts here and at : http://www.CymbaltaSurvivors.Com/
I know sometimes reading is hard, but it will help you understand what to expect so you aren't taken by suprise. Lots of good info on what you can take in the way of supplements etc to ease your struggle. There are things you can do to help your self!
Anything we can do for you ...we are here!

[walt]

I thank all of you for your inspirational comments. I was really messed up at work yesterday when I posted my first post. I had to leave because I was beginning to cry uncontrollably for no apparent reason. This is really up and down. I can feel great and five minutes later want to end it all. I kind of expected the suicidal thoughts to come out of this, but my mind rationalizing suicide is pretty scary. This seems to get progressively worse. My wife seems to understand more and was shocked yesterday when we left the hospital that the doctor wouldn't listen to a word I had to say. When the fear, panic, anxiety sets in it gets bad. I asked my MD for Prozac as I've read that it helps with the withdrawals from Effexor and Cymbalta. Today will be my first day with it. I know that Prozac is no angel of a drug either but people don't seem to have a real tough time getting off of it and my goal is to be off of these chemicals completely. I would gladly take the anxiety attacks back than deal with these feeling I've acquired now from these drugs...

[Attorney_Victim]

Walt,
I'm sorry to hear you have had such a bad experience! The Prozac should definitely help! How much relief you get from the Prozac seems to depend on what dosage of Cymbalta you were on...the higher the Cymbalta dose, the higher dose of Prozac you will need. I used Prozac to help with my withdrawal, and then stopped it after about 5 weeks. I wish I had stayed on it for another month or so. But, I was so anxious to be "chemical free" that I think I rushed things a little.

The good news is that the Prozac helped and I didn't have any withdrawal problems when I stopped the Prozac. Prozac is very different from Effexor and Cymbalta because it has such a long "half life". Effexor and Cymbalta have two of the shortest "half lives" of the antidepressants. That is why you start feeling funny right away if you miss a dose.

Please check in with us at www.CymbaltaSurvivors.com and let us know how you are doing.

[iliao93]

Walt, you do sound better....today....right now...me too! Isn't it good? Let's try to savor the feeling and try to remember it when the next down hits! The downs will get less down and the better will last longer as we go along....that is what we have to hold in the back of our conscious selves for when we need it. Doing that exercise works! So really enjoy the "good" feelings, explore every aspect of what it is and how it feels. Don't waste any little speck of it worrying about how long it will last. It's sort of like trying to squeeze a handful of water, right When we do that kind of thing we're missing the experience! So glad your wife is with you and is willing to be by your side in this. When you can, and your having the down swing...try to describe it to her...like with the good feelings....you want to shine the light of "knowing" on the enemy ! You can take the power from it. Get what I'm trying to say.....power up the good moments....drain the not so good! Tell me what you think and how this works for you after you have had some time to try it out. This is a war and can be won battle by battle, we just have to find the right wepons for the fight :!:

[walt]

Thanks again for the encouraging words. I'm on day two with the Prozac, and I have to say I'm feeling optimistic as of now. It seems to work fairly well for the ups and downs of it, although it doesn't do anything about the dizziness and shocks (which I pretty well learned to deal with after stopping the Effexor). They seem to be getting worse and now I have more problems which may or may not be related to the Cymbalta (I'm still completely paranoid so it's hard for me to tell). I'm EXTREMELY itchy on my elbows, knees, face and neck and my sinuses are kind of burning. I also feel like I can't get enough sleep (on the plus side of that is that now, when I do sleep, I dream; I forgot what it was like to dream and didn't even know it; my dreams now are extremely vivid). I seem to be tired all the time, and it's really hard to get up in the morning lately. Has anyone else experienced these new issues, or am I just being paranoid?

[iliao93]

walt said:

Thanks again for the encouraging words. I'm on day two with the Prozac, and I have to say I'm feeling optimistic as of now. It seems to work fairly well for the ups and downs of it, although it doesn't do anything about the dizziness and shocks (which I pretty well learned to deal with after stopping the Effexor). They seem to be getting worse and now I have more problems which may or may not be related to the Cymbalta (I'm still completely paranoid so it's hard for me to tell). I'm EXTREMELY itchy on my elbows, knees, face and neck and my sinuses are kind of burning. I also feel like I can't get enough sleep (on the plus side of that is that now, when I do sleep, I dream; I forgot what it was like to dream and didn't even know it; my dreams now are extremely vivid). I seem to be tired all the time, and it's really hard to get up in the morning lately. Has anyone else experienced these new issues, or am I just being paranoid?

Hi again walt I'm back on the down swing today...but I kinda expected it! All the symptoms are familiar to me with the exception of the sinus problem Don't think I remember anyone mentioning that one, but still it could be a new one to add to the ever growing list :? Then again it could be the start of an infection or something else. I'd keep my attention on it in case it is the start of an infection,letting them go can be miserable and you may need to treat it! Try some moisturizing cream for the itching as what we're going through can cause dry skin. That's about all I have in me today..pretty worthless with these withdrawals dragging me around. I did take a warm long bath...the profuse sweating is awful along with the ache's, that did seem to help but made me more exausted.

[sumer]

Yes Walt--it can all be part of the Cymbalta withdrawals. Cymbalta does not allow the mind or body to completely rest (you only drop to level 3 sleep the whole time you're on cymbalta).
When you begin withdrawing....your body is already exhausted from months of not "achieveing level 4 of the sleep mode". Naturally all of us that withdrew from Cymbalta are so physically exhausted....and mentally (and emotionally) are minds have also not rested.

I itched all over and had hot sensations for 6 weeks.

Yoga and walking can can ground you.

go to: http://cymbaltasurvivors.com this site can give you supplement/diet information

Blessings....Sumer

[sumer]

This was information" Greybeard" taught me last month. It's helped my research and is the truth.

AN ANSWER TO WHY WE WERE SO EXHAUSTED ON TOP OF ALL THE OTHER WITHDRAWALS.

"Cymbalta never lets us reach beyond a level 3 sleep while taking it, this is one of it's "mechanisms of action" Eli-Lilly claims to not fully understand. So the whole time we are on the drug, for you about 6 months, we are not able to reach REM sleep. This REM sleep is the body's repair time, so all of that time, for some people years that they were on the drug, and none of us have been able to do any repairs. This is why getting that deep sleep is important right now. "

[walt]

Effexor must do the same thing. I don't remember dreaming for a really long time. I'm actually enjoying it. It's definitely one of the positives I'm looking out for.

[marbles]

Walt I also itched alot while on cymbalta.I first thought the cat and dog had fleas but noone else itched...just me . Every morning I wanted to literally brush my back and neck as it itched so much.Now I am on celexa and the itching is now on my neck. It comes and goes . When I am more anxious it starts itching but not as bad as cymbalta. I can`t say I am thrilled with celexa, and I soon want to go back on the drug which worked the longest for me....zoloft.I need something that works with everything and ocd.... which zoloft was very good for that. I do not have ocd bad just enough to not be able to get something off my mind and after awhile I am exhausted with the worry.
The celexa also makes me sleepy and I feel my metabolism slowed down.How can a person feel up and ready to go if their metabolism is like a snail? To me it defeats the purpose in which I want to be productive and not gain weight and add extra issues that will just top the other burdens I need to work on....shirl

[walt]

I gained a lot of weight on the Effexor and Cymbalta. I weighed 130 lbs. and was really skinny when I started taking them, and am now up to 185 lbs.

The itching has gone away now, but the mood swings are bad again. I cried this morning before I came to work. It seems I have no self left. I am all gone. I can't be happy at all anymore, no matter how hard I try.

[walt]

i basically just broke down in my boss's office. he is very understanding about all this but i feel like i've missed too much work already. i am at rock bottom and i don't know what to do. my wife is taking me to the psych ward to get blood work and stuff. i think i'm going to stay there because i'm not feeling well enough to trust myself. i feel that i've completely lost my mind.

[iliao93]

walt, you do know what is best....your self confidence will return. Please come back and let us know how you are...I for one will be concerned to know your ok! I've been meaning to post to you and apologize for not getting on sooner. I'm not a doc but did want to share my experience from the 25th when I had the most horrible night of my withdrawals ever. On that night I started taking one half of a ten mg. flexaril. That is the only thing I have started doing different, all my symptoms have been gone just a slight ringing in my ears still & very slight edge of zaps when I'n very tired and in bed . I think I have been just a smidge superstitious about mentioning it. I have been able to sleep in bed again, haven't since I started Cymbalta...I would wake up in such pain all over if I did manage to sleep at all. I've had to sleep in a recliner for years! I even was able to go grocery shopping with my husband again. The amazing part, well one of them...I wasn't flat on my back for days after. I was able to even help put the groceries away. I've been cooking every day and doing a bit of cleaning :roll: So...I've had five(5) days of wonderful symptom freedom! I'm still reserving my judgment on if it's done or not...I know from other's experiences this can be a tricky & sly drug to withdraw from...I do know I'm going from a very sad, practically bed ridden being to one who now is beginning to live thier live once more. There is a lot of wreckage left to deal with in the wake of Cymbalta use...but I'm begining to deal with it. Even better I'm starting to feel like I'm capable of dealing :shock: I wish if any of you out there have been given a prescription for flexaril, from your doc try taking a five(5)mg dose a bit before bed time for a few nights...an experiment of sorts....and share if it had any effect on your withdrawals? Please....I'm not saying go out seeking flexaril :!: Just only if you have already been prescribed flexaril :!: Even better if, like me you haven't been taking it for a while. I have a running perscription for muscle spasms...thanks to a bad back and Fibro, so I don't ususlly take it unless my back is out. When it is I take the whole ten mg. and keep myself knocked out usually for several days. I do remember my rdoc saying flexaril allows you to reach stage four sleep. I'm thinking maybe this is what is making the difference? I do also remember Graybeard saying Cymbalta inhibits your ability to reach deep sleep..... If any of you try this experiment, please share your results.

[poppylvr]

Dear Walt
I hope you read this after you get home from a psychiatric hospitalization. I work as a psych nurse in a free standing hospital. I work on the lock down unit for the "severely and persistently metally ill". We provide a safe place for people with all kinds of psych illnesses to begin to get better.
I hope you found the help you need and some time in the hospital may be just the thing to get your feet back underneath you.
May you recover quickly.

[iliao93]

I'm really disgusted with this spam!!! Even more disgusted with the fact that the folks who run this board don't care about this board and the people on it! It is a waste of our time to have a notification about a new post only to discover garbage. Obviously they startrd and continue this board to make money through the advertising. I wouldn't even be suprised if they were doing the spam themselves.