21 replies to this topic

[Madison1]

Hello to all...

 

I was here a little over a year ago after stopping Cymbalta abruptly. Long story short...I was on Cymbalta for 2 years and missed 3 days worth. I started having severe withdrawal symptoms (zapping, electrical zaps, numbness and tingling) and it started a whirlwind of doctors appts. My anxiety is and always has been medically related. I worry when something is wrong with me to the point of going crazy. Only when something is wrong and I don't know what is causing it. Anyway, my doctor at the time told me to just stop taking it (she had NO clue what was going on or anything about this poison called Cymbalta). She told me to stay off of it for a week and start Prozac. I had researched and knew that wouldn't be best so I started Prozac the next day and took it for 8 months. I then moved across country and had some very stressful things happen in my life and I ran out of the Prozac. I didn't have an established doctor so I just stopped taking it. I am very sensitive to these drugs. Prior to Cymbalta I was on Paxil and I've always had the worst withdrawal symptoms. 

 

A few weeks after stopping the Prozac I started getting Ocular Migraines. The only other time in my life I had these was when I stopped the Cymbalta. Then I started getting the cold feet, numbness in my foot again, my hand would go numb....all the things that happened before. For some reason I didn't put it together though. I thought it was my B12 being low so I started taking that. I can't believe I was so stupid I didn't put it together. I started feeling awful...like I was sick but didn't know why. I thought I had a sinus infection because I felt pressure in my sinuses, like behind my eyes and nose and my inner ear. For the last month and a half I went to 3 different doctors, and ENT, an allergist (I have no allergies at all) and the ER twice. I've been given more medicine than I can explain. They ruled out sinusitis after Claritin, 2 antibiotics and nasal sprays. Then a CT Scan of my sinuses and one of my head with contrast to rule out anything serious. I was told I had a migraine but the different migraine medicines didn't touch it. Nothing makes this pressure go away.

 

So last Saturday night I was laying in bed praying to God to make this go away and to help me figure this out. In the middle of the night I woke up and thought CYMBALTA & PROZAC!!! The next day I started taking Prozac again. It was one of the many medicines I was given but didn't take so I had it. I am on Day 5 now of the Prozac. I think that the Cymbalta withdrawal symptoms though are still present even though I haven't taken it in a year. When I stopped the Prozac it all started again. The doctors don't understand it, I'm going crazy from the pressure in my head/sinus/inner ear. It isn't a real headache but just pressure. Constant 24/7 Pressure for over a month now. My anxiety has been crazy, I'm tired like crazy, my stomach is messed up, I have some numbness in my feet again like before too. It helps my anxiety to read about others who feel the same way so that's what I do all day it seems. I have three children and I feel I'm not being my normal self and I feel so bad about that. It takes everything I have to keep the house going. Today I've just been laying on the couch. I wish I could go to my doctor and they take a test and say, yep you are suffering from withdrawal...just give it time and you will get better. I know there is no such test though so I just read and google to try to reassure myself. I've tried making an appt with a psychiatrist but there are no appts for months!! 

 

I'm at a loss and just so bummed. 

 

[TryinginFL]

Hi Madison!

 

We have never met, as I didn't find this forum until Feb. of this year at about 2 weeks off the crapalta.  I didn't even know that there was withdrawal until I found myself stuck right in it - cold turkey!  Talk about feeling stupid...

 

I am so sorry to hear of your terrible journey through all of this crap.  Since you recently stopped taking the Prozac, my thought would be that you are experiencing some withdrawal from that (I think I read somewhere that it is much easier to get off of than the poison drug, but there is still some withdrawal)  I can't speak from experience, since I have never taken Prozac, but I know that many here on the forum have used it during the C. withdrawal.

 

All of the physical symptoms you mention  sure sound like withdrawal to me.  Do you have any benzos that you can take, such as Valium, Xanax or the like?  I took and still do, Alprazolam (Xanax) - first for the terrible anxiety and now mostly for sleep issues.  I have been off the crap for almost 11 months now and the anxiety seems to have taken a hike, but the sleep issues persist.  I either can't go to sleep, or I wake up every 2 hours...    I also find that I tire very easily and cannot do everything that I used to.  I guess it just is what it is.  If it gets better that would be great.  If not, I'm at least OK enough to function again.

 

I remember during the first few months of withdrawal I thought I had allergies - was always stuffed up and couldn't breathe.  That is mostly gone now, too.  I also had stomach issues and occasionally still do - after eating, cramping and bloating and that can last up to 12 hours.  Sound familiar?

 

I strongly recommend the use of a benzo to help get you through this - you should be able to get a RX very easily from a regular Dr.

 

I wish you the best - please keep posting so that we can try to help you!  Feel free to come here to cry, rant, whatever!  We have all done it - this is a very safe place.

 

Liz 

[Madison1]

Hi Liz,

 

Thank you so much for replying. I love this site and have found it to be of much comfort for me. I think I may be withdrawing from Prozac or it may be Cymbalta still or maybe both. I don't know for sure and unfortunately won't ever know for sure. I am currently only taking the Prozac and my Vitamin B12 (and my birth control). I haven't asked for anything else. I go to the doctor again on Tuesday. I don't have much faith in doctors in regard to this. I have found out everything from my own research and Dr Google. This site/forum has helped. I've spent most of today reading it to help me. My biggest fear is that this pressure in my head is from "something terrible that wasn't seen on the CTs" and it isn't just withdrawal. I repeatedly read about others that have the same symptoms to reassure myself. I know that is silly and likely my anxiety but it helps me get through the day. I just want to feel good again and be a good mom. 

 

Today will be Prozac #6 when I take it so hopefully I just haven't given it enough time yet. I read the posts I made here last year and I wrote that it took almost two weeks for the symptoms to subside.

 

Thank you again for replying. It means a lot. 

[TryinginFL]

Madison,

 

I agree - don't think that the Prozac has fully uploaded yet - hang in there!!  

[Madison1]

Thank you! Just having someone else agree helps. 

 

Also, I'm with you on the sleep issues. I'm either so super tired or I lay in bed and can't fall back asleep. I'm glad that you are better than before. That gives me hope.

[Clara]

Madison1, I too have the sinus, eye, facial pressure . It comes and goes. I was thinking maybe it was season, weather change related, but I think now Cymbalta related. It seems at times my brain even feel swollen. Not in pain, just pressure and it is maddening.I just keep praying for healing from all this mess and keep moving forward as best as I can! God bless dear one! I will add you to my prayers!

[Madison1]

Last night I went to the ER because I couldn't take it. I wanted an MRI but was told my CT scan w contrast was perfect. I was given an ativan and some pain medicine and torodol (sp?). I came home feeling slightly better but woke up this morning with such pressure in my head and ears. It's like I'm underwater in the deep end of the pool or my head is being squeezed at the temples. I'm panicking thinking is this withdrawal or something worse.

I got a prescription for ativan and naprosyn. My husband is going to get it now. I hope I don't end up w side effects from the ativan too.

I'm tired of living this way 😞

[TryinginFL]

Madison,

 

I'm so sorry to hear of this.  My thoughts are that this is still some withdrawal.  If you feel it necessary, have more tests run by your Dr., but in most cases there is nothing found.

 

I suggest that you take these 2 meds that were prescribed and give it a little more time.  Unfortunately, it seems that all we do is try to have patience with this monster - and for some, it goes on longer than for others - we are all different.

 

Please keep posting to keep us updated with your progress.  Hang in, girl - we will keep trying to help!

 

Liz

[BelaLugosisDad]

Let's try and find out what it isn't.

Don't panic, I am an extremely extreme case and had I caught this early I wouldn't be in the trouble I am in now.

Ask a doctor to try indomethacin for NPDH.
Apply pressure to your occipital nerves and see if it hurts more.

If both NPDH and occipital Neuralgia, let's talk again.

I started out with the symptoms and patterns that you are describing and am now 8 months and $1.3M into this journey as a hospital inpatient. I am really hoping I am unique. I do have 2 tumours as well, they are not the cause of my pain.

[DoneWithCrap]

Thank you for posting. I hope you feel better soon.

Sorry I can't offer any helpful advise other than you are not alone.

[Flossy]

Hi there
I have been going through the horrors of trying to get off cymbalta for 6 months now. I was very conscious of not taking the benzos for sleep problems as I am worried about creating another addiction, so as an alternative for sleep I am taking melatonin, it's very safe, works a treat and I don't wake up feeling groggy or hungover! I do take benzos if needed during the day still. I started on a frightening 180mg per day of cymbalta, I have weaned to 60 and was unable to reduce anymore due to withdrawal symptoms not getting better even after 6 weeks. I then made an appt with an addiction specialist, he told me that I had to sit at 60mg for a min of 2 months as my brain has not had time to adjust to such massive drops, he then told me he is going to give me 5-HTP (natural seretonin) which will reduce withdrawal and then slowly take me down over a long period of time. Has been 1 hell of a time but I now have some direction. Hope this helps! 😊
Ps I buy melatonin from the website iherb, the brand I take is called NOW foods! You can also buy the 5-HTP there as well but it MUST NOT be taken with cymbalta unless under full medical supervision due to the possibility of seretonin syndrome!

[TryinginFL]

Flossy,

 

Thanks so much for the update!  I'm sorry that you have been going through this for what must seem forever

 

It is wonderful that you have found a Dr. who can help you with this...   Most of them are useless, as you know.

 

You were really on an enormously high dosage and I want to congratulate you on your tapering - you are doing a great job!

I wish you the best and it sounds as if this Dr. is really going to help you - YAAAY!

 

Please keep us posted as to your progress - I know it will be a long road, but we want to help and are always here to listen!

 

Liz

[Clara]

Yay flossy! You're on the right track and got a good doc! I am elated for you! Keep us posted!

[Madison1]

Hi everyone....instead of starting a new post I thought I'd just bump my old one. Here it is another year later. A little over 2 years ago I started this post. Again around September of 2016 I started feeling the tension headaches again. Part of me thought it was seasonal, something to do with the change of the weather or humidity...I tracked it and there was no significant change in the barometric pressure. Maybe humidity and temp but not sure that was the cause. I again started thinking, could this STILL be from Cymbalta and Prozac and serotonin? Turns out low serotonin causes tension headaches, craving carbs and sweets and always being tired even after a good night's sleep. I really think that the doctor that had me go from 30mg to 60mg in one week and then stop cold turkey, messed me up. It's been almost four years and I'm still having these lingering problems. The 20mg prozac helps but then I skip a day here and there so it was messing up my body too even though there is a long half life. 

 

I looked into taking 5HTP with the Prozac but I've read that isn't a good idea. I have an appt with my dr (a different one) on March 8th and I'm going to discuss upping my Prozac. These headaches, eye issues, etc really zaps my quality of life.

[fishinghat]

Hi Madison

 

I am sorry to hear you may have residual issues with the Cymbalta withdrawal. I would agree with your assessment of the situation. Research has shown that in most cases of withdrawal from psych meds it really takes the nerves a good 2 years to settle down. Now that doesn't mean you won't feel better during that 2 year period but that flair ups can happen easily. Things like, alcohol, caffeine, pain pills, solvents (like paint, varnish, etc) and other central nervous system stimulants/depressants can cause a relapse in symptoms. Just food for thought.

[Madison1]

The only thing on that list I drink is coffee and I do love that! haha  I don't drink alcohol at all and the strongest thing I take is ibuprofen sometimes. Thank you for replying, it means a lot to me. It's been about 3 1/2 years but I think I may have really messed things up by playing with the prozac dose too. That and going from 30-60 and then cold turkey on the cymbalta. I just don't think its a coincidence that I have the same symptoms as before....the head pressure, tension headaches, anxiety and getting depressed. It fluctuates though. For a couple of months in between I was okay. I've had all of the tests done so I'm of the conclusion its nothing serious and has to be the SSRI's because I've always been sensitive to medicines. I also learned that I have to be my own "doctor" as far as research and knowing my body. Too many doctors have done me wrong in this and not believed me. 

[tfaff]

Hi Madison1, I am new here and slowly reducing, now at 25 mg of Cymbalta.
I started having headaches for the first time in my life after starting on Cymbalta. Mine seem to be affected a lot by humidity too, but I really believe they are a side affect of the Cymbalta. Thanks for updating, it is helpful to hear maybe what to expect in the future, when I finally get off of this garbage.

[Raven72]

Hi Madison,

I don't believe I was here when you were here last. I have been here for almost a year now. I stopped cold turkey from 30mg on 4/1/16. It has been a rough road. My road too seems be getting bumpy again. I wish you luck and please keep us updated.

Raven

[Madison1]

I have a bit of an update....so last week I requested my vitamin B and D levels be checked again. Last year my Vitamin D was an 18, which is very low. I didn't take it seriously and didn't take my vitamins daily. After much research I realized a lot of my problems could be related to a Vitamin D deficiency. I was tested and while my B12 is perfect now, my Vit D is 22 after me supplementing for two weeks. It likely was lower than that two weeks ago. So I'm not on 4000iu of D daily and will recheck in 2-3 months.

 

The interesting thing is I saw a doctor I had only seen once before for something unrelated. I liked her so I wanted to go back to her. I told her my whole Cymbalta story, Paxil, Prozac...crazy symptoms...head pressure, electric shocks, numbness, depression, etc. and her face changed. She said that she was personally on Cymbalta for neuropathy and got headaches so she stopped cold turkey a year and a half ago. She said it was the darkest place she'd ever been and that she would never prescribe that garbage. I've been to about 11 doctors over the course of this and not one has understood or believed me about Cymbalta. SHE DID! She said that what I'm still feeling is likely still that of the Cymbalta messing up the chemicals in my brain. She agreed the Prozac masked/masks the withdrawal symptoms too. There is no real way to know if its that or the low Vitamin D causing these symptoms but it is so nice that a doctor actually got it. 

 

Although I know nothing major is wrong with me (life threatening) I still get these mini panic attacks. The only thing that makes me feel better is reading that others feel the same. I'm just tired of feeling crappy off and on now for about 3 years. 

[gail]

You're right Madison. To read that others are going through the same shitty thing makes us feel like "Hey, I am not alone going through this".

[fishinghat]

Super post Madison. You MUST stay with that dr. What a winner. There is so much data on these issues out their but the drs are so overworked that can't keep up with the new information. My GP works from 7 AM to 4 Pm seeing patients and then stays to around 7 PM completing paperwork 5 days a week. She says the ONLY time she has to study is after 7PM or on weekends. There are over 300 medical journal articles published each week. They just can't cope. Especially with the lack of drs.  The hospital organization she is part of currently has over 70 openings for physicians. What a sad situation.

[Madison1]

I think that the only reason my doctor knew anything was from personal experience. She couldn't believe the doctor that told me to stop cold turkey. She only researched it because of her experience. She said even she had an MRA done even though she knew it was the Cymbalta. She said, you are not crazy to think the way you do. 

 

I'm happy to have found a doctor that understands. I'm just bummed today because its one of those days where I'm tired of feeling bad.