7 replies to this topic

[butterfly854]

Or is cymbalta one of the worst? Also, what is a brain zap? Just starting to counts beads to wean off…

[fishinghat]

Well BF, Usually each drug in a certain group has similar withdrawal symptoms but different severities. For example benzos. They all give you digestive issues, anxiety etc during withdrawal BUT the difference in intensity is due to the half life. A drug with a short half life will normally give you the worse withdrawal. Obviously a drug with a short half life like Ativan (12 hours) will leave you system a lot faster than a drug like valium with a 40 to 50 hour half life. With the ssri/snri the ones with the shortest half life like Effexor, Cymbalta and Paxil have very bad withdrawals. The longer half life ones like Lexapro, Prozac and Zoloft are easier to handle. There are many people who have such horrible Cymbalta withdrawal they simply can't handle it so they change to something like Zoloft and wean off of it instead.

[butterfly854]

Thanks Fishinghat,

 

I am quite nervous about discontinuing Cymbalta eventually since I've been on it for about 8 years.  I am 33 and went through my roughest time about 8 years ago when I was finally diagnosed with Bipolar 2.  I now take Lamictal, Cymbalta and generic Ritalin. This drug combo really seemed to stablize me so it's scary thinking about switching it up.  But after much researching I now suspect that my lethargy, lack of motivation and not to mention weight gain are related to Cymbalta and not the depression which I always chalked it up to.  I would love it stopping Cymbalta would increase my energy.  My doctor recommended weaning off Cymbalta since I had a hypomanic episode several months ago, which was the first one in a long time. 

[Amybc7]

The brain zaps are very daunting and scary ....but I think part of it is dreading experiencing one.  At least for me.  

 

For the most part, I have only experienced them when I've tried to reduce beads too fast.  As I'm getting lower (13 beads left and counting) - I notice them popping up more but we've grown a relationship...hahah.  It's like "pop" - and I recognize it - give myself a minute to realign myself - and keep going.  

 

I would compare it to the sensation you have when you are dozing off and suddenly wake up.  Annoying.  Disconnecting and disturbing.  

 

That's my take on it anyways...  

[DoneWithCrap]

Hi Butterfly,.
You will know a brain zap when you have one. Have you ever seen a baby get startled and it looks like all the muscles in their body jolt in an instant? Well that is what my brain will feels like during a "zap". In my case it will happen by any sudden (sometimes not so sudden) movement or visual stimulus like moving my eyes. It isn't painful really, just makes me hyper vigilant to avoid them.
Hopefully you can taper down slowly enough that you won't have them but if you do, listen to your body and don't decrease your dose as fast.
Best of wishes for a smooth journey

[gail]

Or is cymbalta one of the worst? Also, what is a brain zap? Just starting to counts beads to wean off…

 

Never had brain zaps, one of the lucky  ones.

 

Has Renée said, you will recognize it when you have one.

[thismoment]

If you taper off very very slowly you will likely not experience brain zaps.

[Tinker]

I agree with This Moment on this one. When I tried cold turkey I was zapping every time I moved. Now during the bead reduction process I haven't had one zap yet (fingers crossed - 5 beads left!) They can be quite anyoing if anything so hoping you are also one of those lucky ones.