12 replies to this topic

[dkch08]

Hi. I am so happy I came upon this forum a week ago. I started weaning 2 weeks ago from 90 mg to 80 mg. tomorrow it have my doctors appointment to see my next step, which I've been reading all these posts on here because he has NO idea how to get me off. But he will prescribe me anything needed with my research, so in that I'm happy he's helping me. Anyways, I just went way back to beginning of weaning forum and a couple people said they took Prozac 20 mg with each dose of cymbalta and they didn't notice any withdrawal symptoms.
First ?
I'm currently taking duloxetine 60 mg at 7 am and then duloxetine 20 mg at 7 pm for depression and pain. Along with norco and Ativan. I read on here to try and get brand cymbalta, should if go back to brand or stay at generic since I've been on generic for 3 months? And the manufacturer of both brand and generic is torrent in michigan.
2nd ?
Should I ask my doctor for 20 mg of Prozac and take with my am dose and pm dose?
3rd ?
How would you do this because I am terrified...I have a 5 year old daughter who will be starting kindergarten in one month, I don't want her to see me going thru all of this.
Thanks in advance for anyone taking time to respond!

[dkch08]

Hi sorry I forgot a ?...haha
Also does anyone know how many beads are in the capsules that are manufactured by torrent? Jw, I'm worried to break one open and lose a capsule
Thanks again

[fishinghat]

Well first of all there have been people on here who have taken Torrent Cymbalta but I did a search and didn't find anyone mention how many pellets inside the capsule.

 

I think with the combo of Ativan and Prozac with a 10 mg/week wean would work well. Many on here have used Prozac, Lexapro or Zoloft to come off Cymbalta. They then wean off the replacement. With a longer half life it is an easier withdrawal. I can tell you that those who used 5 or 10 mg of Prozac had a lot less success than those who used 20 mg/day. Frankly, as slow as Prozac is to build in the blood I would not have a problem with the 20mg twice a day. BUT you will have to build up to that dose. Usually 5 mg for a week then 10 mg for a week etc.

 

Be aware Ativan is very addictive and can have a real bite when withdrawing.

 

Good luck and keep us posted.

[dkch08]

Thank you so much for your advice and help!

I know, I went from taking no medication in 2011(I had my 1st surgery for a flat foot) to taking 6 different medications in beginning of 2014(had total of 3 surgeries now because my 1st doctor cut the wrong bone and my foot has been broken this whole time). The upside to this is...in March I realized that I was a different person from all the medication this doctor put me on and I decided to cut back....Since March I already stopped salt tablets(6 a day), went down from 4 lorazepam a day to 1 a day, went from 4 norco a day to 1 1/2 a day, I tried to go from cymbalta 90 to 60 but I was doing way too much at once so I went back up to 90, I stopped meloxicam twice daily, and I was on a steroid twice daily I stopped.

I learned the hard way by doing too much too fast........that's why I'm so happy I found this discussion group. I'm staying on the 1 lorazepam a day and 1 1/2 norco and I am going to just focus on the cymbalta!

Again thank you so much for your help...you made my mind feel at ease

[thismoment]

Alternatively, you could consider a long-term, reportedly painless withdrawal regimen without piggybacking on another drug. Reduce by 10% and stay on that dosage for 3 weeks. Then reduce by another 10% of the immediately previous dosage. Continue that to 50% of the original dosage (about 6 months) then reduce by 10% per week of the immediately previous dosage to the end. Listen to your body and adjust the dosage as necessary to keep strong symptoms away.

You're done in about 15 months with relatively few symptoms.

[dkch08]

Thank you. TM.....I'm still debating which way to go...I want off cymbalta ASAP but I want to do it safe. I'm so nervous about having a brain zap or something in front of my daughter but I want to be back to normal because I feel this medication has made me almost absent from the past 2 years of her life even though I've never been away from her...if this makes any sense to you at all? I also have to get another foot surgery in 2015....I'm taking a year break from surgeries trying to get myself healthy again so I can be the best mom that my daughter deserves!!
Thank you again...everyone on here is so nice

[thismoment]

dkch

You have a great attitude and that's half the battle! Don't fear the brain zaps- now that you know about them- they're relatively painless and pass in a week. With ultra-slow-weaning you probably won't have a single one.
Be the person you want your daughter to become- emulation is her primary learning tool: she infuses who you are.
Take care my dear, there is no rush; do it for both of you.

[FiveNotions]

Hi dkch, welcome to a wonderful place with wonderful people .... I simply would not have been successful in getting off Cymbalta if not for the information and encouragement I received here ... I love your "can do" attitude, and that you've got a plan for how to do this.... also very impressed with how you've reduced your other meds and done it sensibly .... TM and FH are absolutely correct about the slow approach to getting of the C ... I did it cold turkey, as did several others here, and we made it through, but it was definitely the hard way to go ...

 

Keep us posted!

[TryinginFL]

Welcome dkch...   We're happy you found us!  You will find much caring support from wonderful people here!  I, like FN, did the cold turkey thing and only wish I had found this site sooner... it was very much like the trip to hell.  I know that you will come through this! 

 

I came on here miserable and thought I was dying, but the great support from everyone here helped me through as we will all help you!

 

Please keep us posted and feel free to ask whatever questions you may have and if you are feeling miserable, let us know!  There is always someone here who can help!

 

Wishing you the best!  Your attitude is admirable

[Carleeta]

dkch...Welcome. I see you have a little one who will be starting school very soon. Congratulations!  You appear to have done your homework on your own future health...Great! Try not to be terrified for there are wonderful, loving, caring, and knowledgeable members here who are always more than willing to help.

Fishinghat, and Thismoment have given their knowledge on your questions.. Others, as myself will be here to help to ease your terrifying thoughts.

Thoughts are with you...

[dkch08]

Thank you FH, TM, FN, TryinginFL, & Carleeta for your help and support...it means so much to me! I wish I could be on here all the time, but when I get 10 minutes to myself, it takes me forever to get my thoughts/ write one sentence.


Update from last night:

I spoke to my PCP about the 2 ways above of coming off cymbalta and we decided together that since I will be having to get another foot surgery coming January, that the best/ safest way would be to replace my Duloxetine 20mg that I take at night with Generic Prozac 20mg and continue to take duloxetine 60mg in am.

My PCP told me to take the Prozac at nite, do you guys agree or should I be taking in am?

Our main goal is too get me completely off cymbalta before I get surgery but I will probably stay on Prozac until after my surgery/recovery, then go from there.

[fishinghat]

Normally I do not recommend taking an ssri or snri at night as they have shown to be 30% less effective that way BUT I don't like the idea of taking them both at the same time as it increases the odds of serotonin syndrome.  Once you are totally off the Cymbalta you can always shift the Prozac to the morning.

 

By the way, sounds like you have a good dr. He is willing to work with you.

[dkch08]

Ok that you so much for your advice....and yes my PCP is great...I wish my 1st foot doctor would've never sent me to a pain clinic...I never wanted to go but he didn't believe me that I had pain and he wouldn't even give me just ibuprofen ( then 7 months later he finally agreed to give me a ct scan and realized my foot was broken the whole time.)..that's when I switched foot drs.

I know it was my fault that I trusted that doctor but I was so desperate to relieve my pain...I gave into taking cymbalta & Ativan. And the funny thing is that the cymbalta didn't even touch the pain and now I feel like I have more anxiety then I ever have.

Sorry if I'm blabbing...my daughters friend just got here....at least I got 5 minutes after cleaning up dinner to come on here and vent.....