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Will Withdrawal Harm My Unborn Baby?


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#1 Tinply

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Posted 12 May 2014 - 03:56 PM

Hi all, I was on 30 mg of cymbalta for 4 months for FMS and I found out I was pregnant a week ago, so I stopped the medication immediately until I could see my doctor, which is actually in a couple of hours. The first couple of days were okay, but the "brain zaps" started coming on, mixed with severe dizziness, and these zaps have spread to my face and ears. It's pretty bad. I don't see how there isn't a black box warning about withdrawal, considering I was on such a low dose for a short time, this is quite ridiculous.

 

I thought Effexor was bad, but that was much milder, and lasted only a couple of days. Any SSRI I was on, hasn't been nearly as bad. I was on ativan for a year, and the withdrawal from that doesn't even compare to this.

 

HOW IS THIS DRUG LEGAL IN ITS CURRENT STATE?

 

Anyway, will this harm my unborn child? I'm 5 weeks, 6 days. I can deal with this, as long as I know that baby and I will be ok in the end.

 

Speaking of which, I am calling Health Canada tomorrow. No way should stuff like this continue....

 

Thanks, all.


#2 fishinghat

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Posted 12 May 2014 - 04:04 PM

High Tinply. There are many who have come before you who have quite Cymbalta cold turkey because they found out they were pregnant. There is a lot of research that shows little or no danger from Cymbalta during pregnancy. Other research is not so encouraging. Some of the articles are;

 

http://www.ncbi.nlm....pubmed/23471302

No significant effect on fetus.

 

http://www.ncbi.nlm....pubmed/21359876

Low amount of cymbalta across placenta and in lactation.

 

http://www.ncbi.nlm....pubmed/23218163

Text not available.

 

http://www.ncbi.nlm....pubmed/23873363

No effects on new born health.

 

http://www.ncbi.nlm....pubmed/19809008

No effect on fetus, newborn at birth or during lactation.

 

http://www.ncbi.nlm....les/PMC3590601/

No significant outcome to pregnancies.

 

I know the manufacturer recommends stopping Cymbalta during pregnancy. There is also a group of lawyers who are looking into a possible law suit against Cymbalta for causing birth defects.

 

Just some info for you to think about.


#3 Wagtail

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Posted 12 May 2014 - 04:54 PM

As usual fishinghat you have come to the rescue of a damsel in distress. I didn't know how to answer or what to say to help " Tinply " & I scrolled down & there you were with your great advice...
You are irreplaceable my friend !!!!!!! .

#4 Tinply

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Posted 12 May 2014 - 06:03 PM

Thanks so much, fishing. I think I'll just put up with the brain zaps. They will last a few weeks or months, but the potential damage to the fetus can last a lifetime.

 

I mentioned to my doctor that I stopped Cymbalta cold turkey and the first thing he said to me was, "are you getting brain zaps?" Doctors KNOW about this! It makes me so angry. Doctor said apparently that withdrawal symptoms are extremely common, but assured me that they will go away and to take Omega 3 and my prenatal vitamins.


#5 thismoment

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Posted 12 May 2014 - 08:44 PM

Tinply

'Some' doctors know about this. Your doctor seems cavalier about how your withdrawal will go. You could have some tough weeks ahead, but hopefully you will have an uneventful withdrawal.

Best wishes. Please post your progress.

#6 Tinply

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Posted 21 November 2014 - 02:18 PM

Hi all,

 

Just wanted to update everyone as I almost forgot I had posted here.

 

The withdrawal lasted around 6-7 weeks and it peaked in intensity after the first 2 weeks, but gradually started getting better after that.

 

I thought I was going to die the whole time.

 

Fortunately, I'm still very much pregnant with a healthy baby girl (32 weeks!).

 

Cymbalta, imo, is a nasty, evil drug and should be avoided at all costs.


#7 gail

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Posted 21 November 2014 - 05:50 PM

Tinply,

Thank you for the update. A positive one for you both.
This will help other pregnant women in the same situation.

Such a short withdrawal! I am happy for you and the tiny one.



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