24 replies to this topic

[Jenn4christ78]

Is it safe to cold turkey 60mg of cymbalta? I just joined this site. I have daily stomach pain/cramping and I know its because of cymbalta-this is why I want to STOP. It was prescribed to me for Costochondritis and Chronic Myofascial Pain Syndrome and Mild Depression. My naproxen helps already to take the edges off of my pains.....cymbalta isnt improving much-hence my desire to quit now. But Ive heard there is bad withdrawls? I am scared. 36yr old single mom to 6 children, 3 cats and 1 dog!

[gail]

Hi Jenn,

Welcome to the forum. Jenn, how long have you been on Cymbalta?

One week? Two months? Our answers will depend on that.
And are you on anything else besides the Naproxen?

A big family you have there. We will be able to guide you better with more details. Your age plays in favor for you here.

There is a safe method to get off this drug, as I said, more details needed. See you later!

[fishinghat]

Jenn, welcome to the site. I guess it depends on your definition for safe. Suicides are rare on cymbalta withdrawals but do occur. The withdrawal itself is horrific for most when going cold turkey. You do feel like you are going to die and many wind up going to the emergency room over the withdrawal. I would STRONGLY recommend bead counting.  It takes awhile but is much easier than CT.

[TryinginFL]

Welcome, Jenn!

 

Everything you have read is true - I went CT off 60mg - DON'T DO IT!!!

 

Please let us know the answers to the questions Gail asked and we will help you!  You have too much going on in your life to experience the horrible CT effects.  There is definitely an easier way to do this and it will keep you as comfortable as possible during the weaning.

 

Looking forward to hearing from you!

[thismoment]

Hi Jenn

 

Ditto to what's been said.

 

How long on Cymbalta?

Brand Name or generic?

How many beads in a capsule?

Can you find relief for your stomach pains?

[Jenn4christ78]

Hello,

Thank you soo much to all of you for responding so quickly and for caring so much! I am really lucky to have found you all!

I started cymbalta in October(so going on 4 months). It is the brand name Cymbalta. I was told to never open the capsules so I have no clue in the world what it looks like inside of them and how many beads there are. I am also on stomach coating medications as my Naoroxen is almost 800mg daily. Which if I do not take the coating meds, my stomach KILLS and puts me into a zone that leaves me bed ridden and not able to do anything Im in so much pain. The pharmacist wouldnt even give me my cymbalta in the very beginnkng because he said its way too "dangerous" to mix my naproxen with them and it can cause stomach bleeding and he needed an additional phone call from my doctor to give the "go". Which my phyciatrist did.
When I first began cymablata I had horrific ideas of hurting myself. One example was I stood outside a two story window of my home wanting to jump(but not really wanting to at ALL) with the soul purpose of just wanting to break my legs! I kept saying to myself this is crazy and ridiculous literally outloud to myself, but it was like someone was holding a remote control controlling my thoughts!!!!! I had to fight so hard to not do it! And previous to starting cym that never happened to me before!
So Im trying to imagine if I CT that things could go worse for me
So hence my idea to look for advice and support.
I told my phyciatrist what happend with the hurting myself ideas and he acted like it was completely normal :0
Ill get the stomach coating meds name to you if you need to know what its called.......

[TryinginFL]

Thanks, Jenn...

 

Your experience with wanting to jump is frightening.  You need to get off this stuff as quickly as possible but also as gently as you can.  Please just open a capsule and count the beads...yes, there are a lot of those in there!

 

Please come back to let us know how many - there is a way to safely wean off and we can help you! 

[thismoment]

Jenn

Here is a link to the caution:

http://www.drugs.com...1690-0,949-2273

At 4 months on, a CT withdrawal would certainly be easier than 4 years on. But having said that, it still will be a struggle. I would consider weaning off over 6 weeks or so-- listen to your body and let the severity of the WD symptoms guide your rate of reduction: if it hurts, go slower!

Naproxen is a powerful NSAID as you know, and surely your stomach issues are related to its interaction with Cymbalta. The action of your psychiatrist was irresponsible in my opinion. The pharmacist's concerns are warranted.

Of course open the capsule and count the beads-- by removing a number of beads from capsules as you go is the only way to wean off. The only other alternative is cold turkey.

We can give you guidance in weaning if you wish. Review the achives on Bead Counting.

Take care.

[Jenn4christ78]

Ok thank you to everyones advice!! I am definitely NOT going to cold turkey anymore like I had wanted to, after all of the information I am recieving from here.
I am seeing my phyciatrist this week and I am going to make it clear I want off and see what advice he has for me to get off the 30mg once I am down to that. And if its any form of a cold turkey approach I will then do the counting beads method.
I will update all of you kind people when I figure out what I am going to be doing.
Thank you so much again.

Sincerely
Jenn

[thismoment]

Hi Jenn

 

Methods often recommended by medical workers (GPs or psychiatrists) are either some version of a steep Step-Down, or an alternating step-down regimen, which are as bad or worse than cold turkey. An example of a steep step-down would be dropping from 30 mg to 20 mg. An example of an alternating step-down regimen would be 30 mg for three days/ then 20 mg for two days/ then 30 mg for two days/ then 20 mg for three days.

 

Step-downs are used successfully in long-term programs, like a 10% reduction every 4-5 weeks (where the 10% is 10% of the fore-going number). This takes a long time as you can calculate, but it is virtually symptom-free.

 

The simplest way to wean off is by reducing an additional  percent or two each day and levelling off as required to keep symptoms manageable. Here's an example: If your capsule contains 300 beads-- Day one remove 3 beads, close the capsule and take it. Day two remove 6 beads, close the capsule and take it. At that rate (1%) you'd be done in 100 days. 2% per day= 50 days; 3% per day= 33 days. And so on. Adjust as symptoms dictate.

 

Take care.

[Clara]

Take care of you, jenn! Love your screen name btw! Bead count slowly! You have expert advice from the ones who've been there, and they'll lovingly steer you in the right direction. With your big fam', it's vitally important to do this with the least w/d symptoms! Love, hugs and prayers for you! Keep us updated! We're here for you!

[Jenn4christ78]

So hello dear friends......HUGE SIGH
So now Ive had a confirmation of my instincts that my esophagus and stomach has been damaged due to the mixing if 750mg naproxen daily and cymbalta. So i had to stop both suddenly because even swallowing water is painful to the bottom of my esophagus (between breast bone between my breasts)....feels like food gets squished and sharp pains trying to fit through. Every time i took my cymbalta (dr told me to take it (my 60 mg) once daily for 5 days then every other day for 4 days then stop all together. So I did the 5 days, but the pain is so excruciating I had to cold turkey the remaining 4 alternating days.
So now my head feels like its being crushed by a giant robot and in th grocery store it looked/felt like a dizzy zap of the grocery store spinning for about 4 seconds.
Now that I had to quit all my meds my costochondritis and myofascial pain syndrome pains are full fledged and now add withdrawl symptoms, damaged stomach and esophagus and I am most likely pregnant!!!!!!! A tubal pregancy is at high risk in my case also.
So please those of you who believe in prayer please pray for me!!! That this hell will end and if im pregnant that my baby will live and be placed naturally amd safely in my womb!
I cant write anymore my head is going to literally explode
Sending my love to everyone
Jenn

[TryinginFL]

Awww, Jenn...

 

So sorry you have to go cold turkey here.  Your Dr.'s instructions of day on and day off would have put you there anyway - C. only has a half life of 12 hrs, so you would be going in and out of withdrawal during that every other day thing.  The Dr.s don't know anything about this withdrawal!

 

What you are now feeling - the dizziness - is part of the withdrawal and there will be more symptoms to come.  I gather that you are quite young and that will be in your favor - hopefully you will be able to get through this more quickly than us older (over 50) peeps. Also the fact that you have not been on it too long is also helpful.  Just be prepared for more to come...

 

Please try to sleep whenever you are tired and drink lots of water.

 

If you are pregnant, all the more reason to get off this crap.  As you know, what is meant to be will happen - you have my thoughts and my prayers.

 

I hope that you are not working, because you need time to heal.  I wish you the best and please come back often to keep us posted.

[ZappAlta]

You may be allowed to take Pepcid ask your Dr  (as you mentioned you might be pregnant)    Gaviscon -mylanta you could try to neutralize the ph from erosion symptoms you are feeling- I would also recommend an intestinal probiotic but to be safe ask your MD

[Clara]

I'm praying for you jennforChrist78! I have been having similar issues and have been off Cymbalta over a year! Don't give up! The doctors will find out what's going on and be able to help you! Coldturkey w/ds are hard, but you are young and will make it! Take care of yourelf and heed the advice of TFL, Fhat and Fivenotions! They won't steer you wrong! God bless you with His peace!

[Jenn4christ78]

I am overwhelmed by the love and support of this group! THANK YOU to all of you who have taken the time to respond to me!!! Xoxoxoxo
I have read everything and am taking everything into account. I am glad that I know to expect more possible symptoms now, and the symptoms etc I am so far experiencing is "normal"(although not a good normal!). I appreciate each and every one of you and I really hope for all of us that we get 100% free from health issues and horrible symptoms one day. I am 36 years old (btw) turning 37 in April......I will definitely keep you all posted as I go through this which I am greatful for to have this option.
Today I felt really heavy depression trying to put its heavy self on me, but I managed to shake it off and try to keep doing housework(which was hard as the room was spinning!) So perhaps that it also a symptom getting off of cymbalta, I dont know? But Im trying to have faith that this is a great decision to get all these meds out of my body. And Im fighting it one day at a time.
Regarding the preggos with all my heart I wish that it remained and was in utero(I got a tubal ligation 7 years ago biggest regret of my life not being informed the cost to reverse it($10,000 cdn) as it was for me a safe solid way to not get pregnant for a little while to have a break(as I had 6 pregnancies back to back basically and Ive always wanted 10 children) I know Im not the average mom who is happy with 2-4 kids, but hey that is what makes me-"ME" right? But I agree what is meant to be will be and what is not wont be...........so sorry to get off topic its just all a part of what Im going through.

Sincerely,
Jenn

[Jenn4christ78]

On average..............people who get the dizziness/spinning thing(which I am getting seems worse day by day)......how long do withdrawl symptoms stay daily before they begin to fade and go away for good? Weeks? Months?
What have peoples experiences been here?
It feels rather scarry.
When I look left everything spins in my head that way and keeps going for a few seconds.
I feel like Im suppossed to be bed ridden. :/
But I cannot as I have a household of 6 people&animals to care for!
Is there a light at the end of this tunnel?! I really hope so!

Sincerely,
Jenn

[thismoment]

J4C78

 

I encountered GI and reflux-related issues in discontinuation. From time to time I still get waves of nausea especially when I overeat.

 

How long before the dizziness (upon standing up, turning the head, tying shoelaces etc) goes away? You are off less than a week after 4 months on, so I would say it will take some time-- perhaps a few more weeks-- to get to a point where the wooziness isn't so prominent. Following your short time on Cymbalta, the repair and recovery shouldn't take too long-- but you will have to tough it out for several weeks before you start to see some broad-scale relief. 

 

Discontinuation doesn't end abruptly, it just slowly fades like a long flu. Some days you will enjoy a few hours of reprieve, and some days you will be totally symptom-free. Then after a while small symptoms might appear in little waves-- days or weeks apart. Then after some more time you won't think about it at all. Engaging distractions are beneficial, and because you are a busy mom I think that helps. 

 

The light at the end of the tunnel is detected in those first moments when you actually forget about discontinuation-- you just get engaged in an activity and you stop thinking about your symptoms for a moment-- that's first light! The more mental bandwidth that is occupied by other things, the brighter the light becomes.

 

I'm one of those people who believes that nothing is meant to be, and further-- everything that occurs has prior causes.  Everything you do and say affects the future-- moment to moment you are constructing the future; you become what you pay attention to.

 

There is hope precisely because we can alter the future with everything we do in the present. We can make the future better than the past, and we do it by practicing those behaviours and brain states that we wish to become permanent. We do this for our own brains, and this is also how we build the brains or our children. Things we practice (good and bad) become the default mind state.

 

You can do this! Stay strong!

[fishinghat]

I agree with TM. Mine took around 4 or 5 weeks to end the dizziness.

[Jenn4christ78]

Thank you again for your detailed explanation. Sigh I cannot imagine going through this for another day The dizziness is SO BAD I cannot even hardly walk or run errands outside as its like the world is spinning within my head. The nausea isnt normal nausea....its like the feeling of my stomach being utterly inside out, leaving me to feel like vomitting but nothing ever comes out :/
I am so trying hard to be strong, but it really is very hard.
Thank you for your support. I really need to have my life back.

[TryinginFL]

Jenn...

 

Regarding the nausea - have you tried ginger?  Of course ginger ale can help, but you might try the candied ginger (usually found in the Asian food section in the supermarket), regular ginger (just chew on it) or even the spice - directly out of the container. You can sprinkle some in your hand and lick it off (sounds gross, but it works!).  You can also try ginger tea. Many members have tried these and found them helpful - it will also help to keep your food intake to just soda crackers, mashed potatoes, oatmeal, and other similar bland foods.

 

Hang in there - you can do it! 

[thismoment]

Jenn

Yes, try supplements and OTC meds-- but if you are really concerned that your nausea is off-the-charts go to the doctor or indeed go to the ER. Get it checked out.

Withdrawal can be diabolical in its ability to mimic many diseases-- but you never know. If the nausea (or any symptom) is preventing progress, check it out.

[FiveNotions]

Jenn, first off ... do you know yet if you are pregnant? That makes a difference, a huge difference ... and could be part of your nausea ....??

It also would determine, possibly, whether or not you can use some of the OTC remedies I'm about to mention .... Dramamine, Nyquil and/or Robitusson cough syrup ... I used the latter two, as well as ginger, but not Dramamine ...
 
But Nyquil and Robitusson are not good ideas if you have to take care of children or drive .... Dramamine would likely be safer ... but I don't know if any of these are appropriate if you're pregnant ...
 
here's a link to a discussion of these "remedies" from the archives ....
 
https://www.cymbalta...mine#entry53935

what you've got is full blown vertigo ... I had it, and it lasted a couple of weeks, then faded ... but, I'd been on 60 mg of the crap for 7-8 years, and I'm in the "over 60" age group ... all of which are factors in a longer, harder withdrawal/discontinuation process ...

Is there any way that you can arrange for someone, a friend or family member, to help you with childcare and household duties so that you can have time in bed to rest? As sick as you are, rest is essential, and I'm concerned that you really aren't safe to drive or care for your children in this condition.

Hang in there ... it does get better ... please keep us posted on how you're doing!

[Jenn4christ78]

Hello friends,

Thank you for all of your helpful suggestions and ideas to help me get through this. I have tried a few of the ideas.....and unfortunately they have brought no comfort or relief. But hey at least I tried!
The dizzyness and electricity zaps to my brain are the hardest. Nausea and being severely irritated for no reason stands out to be haunting me daily and way more than usual.
My goal is to keeo fighting this crap. Praying and hoping it will all leave my system.
I was on for 4 months and I counted today realizing its only been 12 days Ive been off. It feels more like Ive been dealing with these horrific withdrawls for 8 weeks!!!!
I am just thankful I have a connection to you all, so at least I know Im not alone and others have endured this crap and have survived to have it over with.
Im scheduled to see my phyc on the 20th of Feb. He will most likely be upset I didnt go on the switch meds I was to take while getting off the cymbalta......I dont want any more meds!
Regarding my stomach I am on meds for stomach ulcers caused from the combo of my cymbalta&naproxen mixed. Thats it.
Regarding pregnancy I have to wait a couple more weeks to be sure if I am or not.
Thanks for listening.
Love Jenn&6

[thismoment]

Hi Jenn

 

I understand what you are going through. The duloxetine is long gone from your system (99.9% gone after 5 days). You are in discontinuation and your brain is in a state of trial-and-error self-repair; it is seeking to establish equilibrium in the absence of the drug. Don't worry, things will calm down.

 

Sorry to hear about your ulcers. As I mentioned on January 18, it is well-known that duloxetine and non-steroidal anti-inflamatory drugs (NSAIDS-- like Naproxen, Celebrex, Ibuprofen etc) can cause bleeding when prescribed together, and there is a strong caution with regard to their interaction.

 

It's my guess that you will be out of the woods by the end of February, and well on your way toward your new life. The brain zaps only last a week or so, and while they're a pain from ear-to-ear when they happen-- they DO go away!

 

I understand the desire to "keep fighting this crap", but it also works to just accept it. You can't change it, and fighting won't make it go away any faster-- it will just elevate stress and it's evil twin-- anxiety. 

 

The best you can do is get rest when you can, walk a lot if you are able, eat sensibly, lay off the booze, and find distractions to take your mind away from self-analysis and self-criticism.

 

Take care.