[loopy]

I will not bore you with my psychological history but will say I have been on Cymbalta for about 3 years. I started at 40 mg and have never had to up my dose to feel better. My main two side effects have been weight gain and memory loss. I would like to see how I operate off Cymbalta. If I am severly depressed, I will resume with the medication and live with the side effects. However, if I can cope, now that my life is very stable, I would rather do so without medication.

I cut down to 20mg about a week ago and have started with my first dose of 10mg this morning. (basically I just opened the 20 mg capsule and separated out half of the pellets) Although the halfing process is not an exact science, it seems a better option than going from 20 mg to 0 mg.

My main symptoms of withdrawal have been the following:

itchiness
fogginess
dizziness
nausea
palpitations
short fuse

I have not tried the benadryl yet but will if my negative symptoms increase. What has helped with some of the withdrawal side effects has been drinking tons of water and not doing thing that require me to focus, balance, or move my extremeties too quickly. Though the best relief for the side effects took me by complete surprise. If I ride the stationary bike at the gym, the fogginess, dizziness and nausea subside during exercise and for several hours afterward. I notice I seem to be sweating more than the others doing similar exercise but just tell myself I am ridding my body of all of that medication.

Questions
1) Is anyone else making smaller doses from the 20 mg and does it seem to help?
2) How long should I stay on each dose before decreasing again?
3) Has anyone noticed a weight drop or better memory after completely kicking cymbalta?

Thanks for any additional guidance you may provide

[loopy]

Houdi,

I am curious why people are buying additional capsules instead of putting the medicine back in the same capsule as they open and close pretty easily?? Thanks for the tip on not crushing the pellets though. I didn't know that. I can't believe you lost weight on Cymbalta. If that were the case with me I would still be on it. I might not remember how much to take because of no memory left but I'd be skinny with no memory!!

[loopy]

I stopped all Cymbalta about two weeks ago. I feel like most of the major symptoms have subsided except I still have nausea and a dizziness if I move my head too fast. The nausea has gotten worse in that it is all the time so I'm thinking maybe I have a middle ear infection and this is not related to my withdrawals.

The sudden rage thing is starting to get a little better. It seems like in the first few days of no medicine is when I could be set off the easiest. The smallest thing could make me feel such rage. I actually could feel it in my head when I was at my angriest. The sudden anger is still present but not nearly as severe and I think things may be leveling out. I can't believe how easily tears come again. I cried in Walmart after reading a birthday card I was picking out for my daughter, while singing a Trisha Yearwood song, even while watching an episode of wife swap. It not that I am more sad, just more easily moved.

My goal of getting off the Cymbalta was to have my memory return and to lose some of the weight I have put on since taking it. I have actually gained weight since coming off Cymbalta but I am hoping that is temporary. Much like you hear about heroine addicts craving sugar I have been compulsively eating in the evening time and craving sweets all day long. Its weird because I don't usually eat sugar and consider it to be like a poison. I'm taking that bull by the horns before my body becomes dependent on it. One thing that looks better is my face. It was so puffy the whole time I was taking the medicine and I chalked that up to my weight gain. Although, as I stated, I have gained weight my face is much thinner. I have heard when you are pumping your body with too much medicine your face will bloat up I just didn't realize it had happened to mine.

My insomnia can only be relieved with my good friend Red Wine or a Lunesta. That's about all I have to report at this stage and I know this was a bit rambling but I just wanted to share my experiences regarding my first couple of Cymbalta-free weeks. I will check back in again soon.