17 replies to this topic

[butterfly854]

Hi there,
I have been on 60 mg of cymbalta for about 8 years. I am also on lamictal and generic ritalin. Per my doctors suggestion I am going to wean off cymbalta. For the last year or so I have been ccompulsively picking my skin., creating scabs and then picking them until I scar. With withdrawal from cymbalta make this compulsion worse?

[Flossy]

Hi
I too have been picking to the extreme on cymbalta, particularly my head, I'm 6/7 weeks into withdrawl, it's not better nor worse! I never thought of it as self harm until someone suggested it, I guess it is, but extremely satisfying. I've had to take antibiotics for infections in my head that's covered by hair. Very odd I know but I don't plan to do it, it just happens!

[butterfly854]

Well thats good it didnt get worse, I guess. I wish I could just do my scalp (how pathetic to say that) since it's easier to cover the scars. I have scars all over. I almost like getting a mosquito bite since I can itch it untilit bleeds. Ugh. I didn't realize cymbalta could be the reason for my lethargy and no motivation. I am really nervous about going off it though because I'm bipolar 2 and this med combo stabilized me for several years.

[FiveNotions]

Butterfly and Flossy ...  I'm not sure about this, so I'm going to do some research to confirm ... but isn't what you're describing sometimes part of "OCD" ? Did your docs say anything about the cause?

 

I take Wellbutrin for depression, and if I recall, I read that Wellbutrin is also prescribed for OCD behavior like picking/scratching, etc. .... Wellbutrin acts to enhance dopamine in the brain ...

 

Cymbalta acts on serotonin primarily, and norepinephrine to some extent ... I'll see what I can find about serotonin and OCD behavior ...

 

Fishinghat or ThisMoment, do you have anything on this?

[fishinghat]

These activities are the result of habits we develop when under stress for a long time. Some beleive that these are realted to akathisia. Some people blink all the time, some stutter, tap their fingers or toes, etc. Some therapists are very good at redirecting these habits to things that are less injurious and less visible to others. Obsessive/compulsive actions are usually an extension of anxiety.

 

I wish I could help.

 

BOOM I just  got FNs response on my screen. She beat me to it. lol

[TryinginFL]

Welcome, Butterfly!

 

We're happy to have you join us - this is a very caring, supportive and safe place.  You can say anything and ask any questions and not be judged.  You will love the people here!

 

We have some here who are very knowledgeable about the combination of certain drugs but I, unfortunately, am not one of them!

 

I see that FN has already chimed in here and can help you with the wonderful research she does on these particular problems.  Fishinghat and ThisMoment are also great founts of knowledge.

 

Wow, they are so quick they have both responded while I have been typing this - proof positive that you will always have someone here to answer your questions and offer their support!

 

We are all here for you and please feel free to post anything you are feeling, or any questions that you may have.  We all care and will try our best to help you!

 

Please hang in there!   

[butterfly854]

Wow, thanks for the fast reply and welcome! My doc just called in a rx of 30 mg, half my dose! I know that is way too fast and read up on the bead counting so I will do that on my own. I started skin picking about a year ago when I was home after neck surgery. Must have been stress related. It's gotten better than it was then, but still a daily habit. I think it is kind of ocd related, but luckily I don't have other symptoms of ocd. Thanks so much for the encouragment! It is greatly appreciated!

[FiveNotions]

FH and TM, since 30 mg is all Butterfly's doc rx'ed.... do you think she could take 2 capsules, to get the full 60 mg dose... then count down from the 2 capsule/60 mg level?

 

Better yet, how about insisting that her doc put her back on the full 60 mg, so she can bead count down properly?

[fishinghat]

I like your second idea better FN. Her dr will probably think it is no big deal but we can at least give him a chance to do the right thing.

[butterfly854]

Ha, lucky for me my mail order pharmacy does 3 months at a time, so I still have 2 months of 60g which I will be counting down with.

[brzghoff]

Hi there,
I have been on 60 mg of cymbalta for about 8 years. I am also on lamictal and generic ritalin. Per my doctors suggestion I am going to wean off cymbalta. For the last year or so I have been ccompulsively picking my skin., creating scabs and then picking them until I scar. With withdrawal from cymbalta make this compulsion worse?

just saw this. if you didn't pick before the C, then its the C. it is known for that as well as other OC behaviors. 

[aoibhell]

ironically, a Cymbalta scrip was supposed to help my ocd tendencies and skin picking, but it has only seemed to have made it worse. I've read that on addition to all the other 3838358584 side & withdraw effects, itchiness is yet another one. I really don't need much of an excuse to fall back into the picking... lucky me- now I'm tearing apart my skin worse than before.

[FiveNotions]

aoibhell, first, welcome to the forum! You're one of "our gang" now   The others will be arriving soon to welcome you and chime in with info and suggestions ... what you're dealing with can be dealt with!

 

First, some questions ... the answers will help us help you ... Who prescribed it to you -- shrink, gp? how long have you been on the Cymbalta? What dose? Is it the brand or a generic? Was it prescribed for just the "picking" or other things? What other meds are you currently taking?

 

My thought is that you're getting waaay too much serotonin in your system ... not quite enuf to bring on full-blown serotonin syndrome, but enuf to increase your ocd stuff, not help it ...

 

I think it might be wise for you to get off this poison ... BUT do not quit cold turkey (ugly way to do it, I know from experience ...need to taper/bead count slowly) ... and not until you've read a lot here, talked with us, and developed a solid, sensible plan for how to do the tapering ...

 

ThisMoment posted something I think might be very relevant to the "picking thing" on another thread the other day ... I'll try to find the link and put it here for you ...

 

TM said that Cymbalta, and too much serotonin, can cause "hypomania" ... stuff like excessive drinking, compulsive shopping, etc. .... essentially, OCD compulsion behavior ... (for example, I drank like a fish, spent insane amounts of money doing online shopping for stuff I didn't need.)

 

I'm so glad you found us ... keep posting!

[buntbean2]

I too have been dealing with obsessive skin picking for years now.  I'm a stressed out, anxious, perfectionist that wants perfect skin so I'll pick, scrape, scrub, and basically ruin my skin in order to get it.  While in Maine for a month, with no well lit bathroom mirror, my skin cleared up and looked great.  I pulled out my magnifying mirror yesterday and decided to pick at blackheads for an hour.  Somehow during the picking I feel less anxious but the guilt, shame, and disgust goes on for days afterwards.  I've been on the best acne medications but my dermatologist finally said if I don't stop picking at tiny things it will never get better no matter what I do.  I have severe dry eyes with meibomian gland disfunction so I need the magnifying mirror.  I've always associated the picking with getting the mirror but I was also put on Cymbalta at that same time.  HMMMM!?!  I know pain and anxiety are my triggers.  My husband (at my request) hides the mirror.  I have to have a problem with my eye in order to get it.  Sadly, I never stop at the eye.

[brzghoff]

there is a reason for feeling less anxiety while picking - you are mentally engaged in an activity that requires focus. concentrating on a task distracts you from the anxiety. that's why practicing mindfulness is so effective. 

 

 

Somehow during the picking I feel less anxious ...

[thismoment]

brz and bb2

 

I believe that to be absolutely correct. It's first-gear mental engagement: simple, engaging, some focus required, and there's an instantaneous feedback loop! Other examples might include Spirograph, knitting, sanding wood, and polishing something.

[FiveNotions]

Years ago, when I was active in 12 step programs (which reminds me, I need to make a thread about my experience at NA a few months ago), I met a young woman who described herself as a "cutter." She also picked her skin, and said that she enjoyed the sensation of pain, I think she said it was because it was the only emotion she could feel.

 

I went home and looked it up on the net, and read that pain can be a focal point and thus a temporary anxiety relief ...

 

I'll see what I can find now, and will post it here.

[buntbean2]

Thank you for the responses.  My eyes get so bad it feels like I'm blinking shards of glass so I HAVE to do something distracting.  I clean, garden, cut wood, etc to take my mind off of it but sometimes I think because the picking hurts and distracts it helps (temporarily) shift my focus.  It disgusts me that I do it and I'm really up on the self-loathing right now.  

 

Today is 4 weeks off Cymbalta but yesterday was fantastically horrid.  My eyes were the worst they've been in months.  My anxiety, and inability to focus had me truly worried.  I  needed to drive myself to a rheum. appointment and I prayed I'd make it there.  I had to lay down to rest my eyes when I got home.  When I got up they were no better and I had a complete emotional breakdown.  My husband was very supportive (he had to see the same doctor later in the day and the nurses told him how bad my eyes had looked).  We decided together I needed to take a clonazepam for the pain.  Thankfully, it calmed me down and I slept great.  Today is better but not great.  I decided to skip work again.  I never thought after 4 weeks I'd still be such an emotional wreck.  If only the doctors had put me on pain medication for my pain 9+ years ago instead of first treating the depression caused by the pain.