11 replies to this topic

[ThisBetterPass]

I've graduated to getting these over the past week. When did some of you start getting these and did they occur near the end of your taper? They seem to come out of the blue and are not brought on by anxiety. Just having them obviously sparks it though.

[TryinginFL]

TBP,

 

I don't know if I can be of much help here, as I've had these on and off, but only occasionally, for years.  For me, this had nothing to do with the coming off the poison.  I might add also, there is nothing wrong with me, thank God!

 

I remember reading about others who have suffered from these, however, and have had testing but find out that they are fine.  You can always check with your Dr. to ease your mind.  I especially remember Kathy mentioning these frequently.

 

Other than this symptom, how are you doing?  I hope that you are seeing some improvement, no matter how little.  It does seem that we get rid of one thing and something else pops up to take its place.  Honestly, it DOES get better!

 

Be well and God Bless

 

Liz

[ThisBetterPass]

I've done a basic search on this site and it did ease my mind somewhat. Mine aren't nearly as frequent as what others have reported. The EKG and echocardiogram I had 11 months ago (during the throes of Alprazolam withdrawal) were normal.

My current taper dose is at 30 beads (3.25 mg). I'm also going to make sure I'm not skipping the magnesium supplement as I have been recently.

[ThisBetterPass]

I've done a basic search on this site and it did ease my mind somewhat. Mine aren't nearly as frequent as what others have reported. The EKG and echocardiogram I had 11 months ago (during the throes of Alprazolam withdrawal) were normal.

My current taper dose is at 30 beads (3.25 mg). I'm also going to make sure I'm not skipping the magnesium supplement as I have been recently.

[kathyms3150]

Hi TBP,  I've been off the poison for just about 5 months. Like Liz mentioned I experienced a lot of heart related issues including palpitations. My doctor did an EKG which was slightly irregular but I had a stress test and my heart is fine. I know how unsettling the palpitations are, they especially bothered me when I was laying down. I did sort of taper off the C, but probably too quickly and I had them while tapering. For me they were worse the first three months after I was off the C, then they gradually subsided. They didn't seem to be related to anxiety but of course they brought on anxiety. I'm sorry if my post isn't the most encouraging, but you said your palpitations aren't as frequent as other people, so hopefully yours won't get worse. It's easier said than done but while you're having them try to relax and know that they will pass. Hang in there. 

[FiveNotions]

TBP, I definitely had them ... I'd have to check my notes to be sure when they were ... but I want to say somewhere around the 2-3 month period ... maybe a bit earlier ... I'd notice them when trying to sleep ... the magnesium ... chelated ... helped tremendously ... it also helped with the muscle twitches/spasms I was getting non-stop ...
 
If you're taking magnesium, and haven't checked this already, take a look at the chart FH posted months ago ... much to his/my/our surprise, chelated magnesium can have some interactions with various meds ....

https://www.cymbalta...s/?hl=magnesium

[iammiserable2014]

Wow..I'm so glad someone wrote about this. I've been having the heart palpitations really bad the past week or so. It's pretty scary, it kinda feels like there's something heavy on my chest at the same time, and makes it a little harder to breathe.
Like I have to take a lot of deep breaths. Ugh! This stuff is such a nightmare.

[FiveNotions]

Hi iammiserable, the palpitations are due to the change in serotonin levels in our brains as we come off Cymbalta ... the crapalta keeps the serotonin level in the brain artificially high ... serotonin is a key, if not the key, neurotransmitter in the brain ... deeply involved in the CNS, and the CNS regulates the heart ...actually, the CNS regulates every body system .....

 

so, screw with serotonin, and every one of our bodily systems is likely to get screwed with ... which one "acts up" at a particular time depends on what part of our brain is noticing the change in serotonin level from lack of Cymbalta ... the issues sort of "travel around" and show up as different "withdrawal symptoms" during the entire process ...

 

it's like a string of Christmas tree lights, with different bulbs loose/blown ... ya' just never know which ones are going to "light up" on any given day ...

[brzghoff]

i associate heart palpitations with the anxiety that is a common symptom of withdrawal. sometimes anxiety doesn't present as fear/worry. it just manifests as a physical symptom such as shaking, sweating, rapid heartbeat and palpitations. same as depression, sometime its not about feeling sad, we just feel the physical sensations such as fatigue, physical pain and what i call the "walking through water" sensation. it is not uncommon for doctors to suggest anxiety as the cause of those physical symptoms when all other possibilities are ruled out. of course, you must get checked out to rule out the other potentially serious possibilities. 

[iammiserable2014]

Hi FiveNotions....hmm. That's pretty interesting, thanks for explaining that in detail about the serotonin.
It definitely makes sense. Because it totally feels like, every day there's a new withdrawal symptom to deal
with. Yuck. It truly feels like this will never end.

[ThisBetterPass]

My palpitations are under control with the Magnesium.  FN, thanks for the info about any possible drug interactions.  

Yesterday turned out to be a pretty good day overall with doing the main Thanksgiving gathering at a relative's house.  Holy cow, you blink and all the nieces and nephews are pretty much starting college since the last time seeing them!

 

Today I was supposed to travel up to see my in-laws for their Thanksgiving. As extended family, they are the stress-free bunch.  Unfortunately, I used up all my mojo yesterday and am feeling it now.  Thank God I have an understanding husband.    

[FiveNotions]

Hi TPB, glad to hear the magnesium is giving you some help / relief ... another form of it, Epsom salts, can be a big help with the muscle twitches and spasms that some of us get ... restless leg syndrome ... on steroids ... I soaked in hot Epsom salt baths pretty frequently for a while ... the magnesium is able to cross the dermal (skin) barrier ... gets right into the muscles, "transdermally" ...

Here's a link to an excellent post about serotonin that Brzghoff made the other day ...

https://www.cymbalta...eps/#entry52296

the more we understand about how our brains work, both "under the influence" of Cymbalta, and while "coming off" of it ... the better ... it helps us take a step back from what our bodies are feeling, our emotions are doing, etc ... and realize that it's not "us" it's the drug/brain chemistry mix ... and that, at least for me, gave me the ability to sort of "sit back and watch" as my body and brain went through the worst of the withdrawal/discontinuation/adjustment phase ... and it helped me explain, objectively, to my friends (ok, friend, singular) ... who were baffled and frustrated by me and how I was acting/feeling ... but, don't even bother to try this with your docs ... they don't like to have "informed" patients ... they derisively refer to us as "citizen scientists" ... and they don't like to be told reality is contrary to what they learn from their beloved drug co reps ...