8 replies to this topic

[Jessica7654]

Hi! I'm new to this forum, and everything I've read so far is scaring me to death! I've been on 60mg of cymbalta for roughly 7-8 years. Recently I decided I wanted to come off it because it didn't seem to be working as well. My dr prescribed me 30mg for 30 days and I'm also taking 150mg of Wellbutrin. I didn't notice much difference (if any) with the decrease in dosage. The plan was to stop completely after the 30 days were up. I've now been completely off cymbalta for a little over 1 week and I feel awful! I'm irritable, depressed, having the "brain zaps" and just feel all around bad.

After reading a lot of these posts I'm really freaked out about how long this is going to last. I absolutely do not want to have to take it again and I don't want to be dependent on this stuff. I came off Paxil a long time ago and experienced the same thing, but I don't remember how long it lasted. I feel bad for my boyfriend as he is the one having to endure my mood swings and depression. I'm sure I'm a joy to be around right now. I just want to know if there is a light at the end of this tunnel! Has anyone come off this drug and felt normal again? Please help!!!

[lady2882Nancy]

Hi Jessica

 

The good news is that many come off this drug and feel normal again. The bad news is that sometimes it takes awhile. It is very much an individual thing with many variables including your age, how active you are, how much you can exercise while withdrawing (make no mistake, you are withdrawing from this medication) and the things you do to improve your recovery.

 

Keeping active and exercising helps even if it is just walking daily. Supplements such as Omega 3 3000mg a day (1000mg with each meal) helps with the zaps, Magnesium, calcium, vitamin B are all very helpful. Most of all drink lots of water and I mean lots, the more the better.

 

Recovery from this can take anywhere from 4 to 12 weeks depending on your individual set of variables.  You will find that there are many stories of that take much longer to recover but that is mostly because these are the people that stay here on the forum to help those that join later. Many recover in the shorter period of time and stop coming to the forum and go on to live their lives so don't worry not everyone has the long drawn out suffering.

 

Keep a positive frame of mind. Another bit of good news is that you are already half way through the worst of the withdrawals and should be enjoying some better days by the end of the second week, somewhere between 14 to 18 days for most.

 

Deal with any symptoms as they arise and talk to your doctor. Slowly the medical profession is getting to find out that these SNRI antidepressants aren't as easily discontinued as the SSRI antidepressants but they are learning.

 

Take care of you and be well.

[TryinginFL]

Welcome Jessica!

 

So happy that you have found this forum with many helpful and supportive people!

 

First, let me say that your Dr. is an asshat - telling you to stop the crap drug cold turkey!  Some of us have done this and I DON'T recommend this method!

 

My suggestion would be to go back on the 30mg until you feel stable and then bead count your way off.  You are currently in cold turkey withdrawal as this drug has a half life of only 12 hrs and you are in withdrawal the day after you stop taking it.  There is a section on Bead Counting - How To Do It under Are You New Here?  I suggest that you check it out!  There is no need to put yourself though this hell when there is an easier way where you are in control and can take your time.  There is no time line here - it just takes as long as it takes and the object is to remain feeling OK throughout.

 

Should you take this route (and I strongly suggest that you do!) we would need to know if you are on the name brand (Eli Lilly) or a generic and the number of beads in the capsule.  Yep, that means taking the capsule apart and counting all of those nasty little suckers in there!  Then come back with the count, and we can help you in working out a plan to wean while keeping as stable as possible and where you are in charge.  We have members here who are wonderful at working out weaning procedures!

 

And...    Please, if you decide to use the bead counting, go back onto your 30 mg until you feel stable for about a week or so. Then you can start to count your way down.

 

Please come back to let us help you!  We're always here for you

 

Liz

[gail]

Jessica,

I do agree with Liz. I would go back on the 30, wait to be stable and bead count from there. It can take a few days to get stable, don't wait to long to reinstate if this is what you wish.

Either way you do it, we are here for you!

[lady2882Nancy]

I'm not sure the purpose of reinstating a med when a person is more than a week off already.

This would cause the person to have withdrawal and start up symptoms at the same time after all the physical body has already flushed the med out and what remains is the effects on the brain.

 

I can see trying a half dose, in this case about 15mg of Cymbalta, or different SSRI to see if that helped but they would still have to load as I am constantly reminded. To go all the way back to 30mg would not be that pleasant at more than a week off.

 

Either way this med can be difficult to come off of for some as I discovered and easy for others as it was for my brother - go figure. He has just a bit of nausea and dizziness for a week or two, lucky bugger.

[Jessica7654]

Thanks for the replies. It's been a little over 3 weeks now without it and I'm still not feeling top notch. I am stil having some brain zaps though not as bad. Mainly I just feel depressed and irritable all the time. I'm currently taking 300 mg of Wellbutrin. I know starting that can have side effects, which I have experienced. I've been on it for about a month now so I wouldn't think my feelings would be from that. I'm looking for a new doctor at this point who can get me feeling normal again.

[thismoment]

Hi Jessica

It's not surprising that you are still getting symptoms after just 3 weeks off Cymbalta following your long-term exposure of 7-8 years. The brain zaps will fade away in time and the rest of the symptoms will fade and you will no longer pay attention to them.

Right now the best you can do is find some engaging interests to distract you from self-analysis and self-critique. You just have to put in the time and allow the healing to take place. I wish I could give you an accurate timeline, but I can't.

I wish you all the best.

[Jessica7654]

Thanks. I'm trying to hang in there. I hate feeling sad all the time and I know it has to be no fun for my boyfriend who has never experienced this. Thanks for the support!

[fishinghat]

Jessica

 

I hope your boyfriend sticks it out with you. Support is so important. You might have him read some of the other posts so he realizes it is just not you. Like TM said after 6 or 7 years these withdrawal symptoms usually stay harsh for 3 or 4 months and some can still be hanging on after 6 months or more. This is a nasty medicine with lasting effects.