Dizzy Nauseous Ufglff
#1
Posted 10 April 2015 - 06:59 PM
Apologies if this topic is posted somewhere else. Moving my eyes mashes me feel super sick, so I didn't read around a lot.
I've been on cymbalta for almost 5 years for RA & AS pain control.
I was only ever able to handle 20mg per day.
Two and a half weeks ago I tried the every other day thing and that didn't work. Then I reduced the little balls inside the capsul by 15 per day. I was still having severe nausea and dizziness, so I just quit again at 5mg.
It feels slightly better today. I'm taking vitamin C, drinking Lots of water, walking and swimming... It seems like it's in my eyeballs. I'm fine with my eyes closed.
All I can say is WTF?!?! I'm scheduled to start grad school soon... Anyone know how long this will last?
Thanks in advance, Erica
#2
Posted 10 April 2015 - 07:13 PM
Hi and Welcome Erica!
You've come to the right place! Am I correct that you are currently taking 5 mg /day? My first suggestion is to go back onto your 20mg until you are stable or perhaps even try 10mg to see if that works. Skipping the every other day thing was doing nothing but putting yourself in and out of withdrawal as this crap has a half life of only 12 hrs. Don't do that!
The best and easiest way to keep the withdrawal to a bare minimum is to reduce the number of beads slowly.... do you know how many beads are in the capsule? Are you on the brand name (Eli Lilly) or a generic? Are you taking any other meds?
There is a topic Bead Counting - How To Do It under Are You New Here? Please check it out and feel free to come back with any questions you may have. It appears that you are very sensitive to drugs so you want to take your time here - there is no race to the finish line. It just takes as long as it takes.
We have a member here who was only able to reduce by 1 bead each day and she had to stabilize at times before she could remove another one. It's OK! She is off the drug now and doing well!
You can do this and remember we are here for you! We have members here who can work out a schedule for you to use in down dosing.
I wish you the best - we want to help!
Liz
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#3
Posted 10 April 2015 - 11:15 PM
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#4
Posted 11 April 2015 - 06:50 PM
I have been off 30mg dose for one week cold turkey and feel awful. I am nauseous and my head feels so weird. When will this end? My doc said dose was low and didn't think I needed to taper. This stuff scares me especially everything I read. i am afraid to go back on a little but i feel so crappy.
#5
Posted 11 April 2015 - 07:01 PM
Welcome.
Cold turkey is not recommended by Eli Lilly-- perhaps your doctor never read the box notes. Cold turkey from Duloxetine can be the challenge of a lifetime; hopefully yours will be an easy one!
How long were you on 30 mg, and was it brand name or generic? Then we can talk about how long until it ends. You're going to be okay-- hang in there!
Thanks.
#6
Posted 11 April 2015 - 07:04 PM
Welcome musicalmom!
My initial reaction is to go back on the stuff until you are stable. You should feel better in a few days and then you can begin bead counting your way off.
This is a much more gentle way to do this and you are in control.. There is nothing worse than cold turkey - I did that off of 60mg in Jan. of 2014 - that was one year of hell! DON'T DO THIS!!
There is a topic Bead Counting - How To Do It under Are You New Here? - Please check it out. In order to help you, we will need to know how many beads are in a capsule and if you are on the brand name Eli Lilly or a generic. Please come back with your answers as we have members here who can help you to set up a schedule for weaning. The object is not to do this quickly, but comfortably.
Most Dr.s don't know squat about how to get off this stuff! They only know what the drug reps have told them - not much as they just want to sell the crap!
I wish you the best and please please feel free to ask any questions you may have. We are here for you!
Liz
#7
Posted 11 April 2015 - 07:51 PM
I just went back on last night at 20mg and I feel better already! I'm going to decrease one bead every day as long as I feel good enough doing that. Maybe more later. I was just too sick for the past two weeks trying the ways my MDs said. Good luck to you!
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#10
Posted 19 April 2015 - 11:15 PM
Hi everyone,
Apologies if this topic is posted somewhere else. Moving my eyes mashes me feel super sick, so I didn't read around a lot.
I've been on cymbalta for almost 5 years for RA & AS pain control.
I was only ever able to handle 20mg per day.
Two and a half weeks ago I tried the every other day thing and that didn't work. Then I reduced the little balls inside the capsul by 15 per day. I was still having severe nausea and dizziness, so I just quit again at 5mg.
It feels slightly better today. I'm taking vitamin C, drinking Lots of water, walking and swimming... It seems like it's in my eyeballs. I'm fine with my eyes closed.
All I can say is WTF?!?! I'm scheduled to start grad school soon... Anyone know how long this will last?
Thanks in advance, Erica
Hi Erica,
I was in grad school when I got off cymbalta too, so I know exactly where you're coming from. If you've been off for less than 2 weeks, I'd go back onto what ever dose you felt stable at and then reduce that dose by 10% once a month. Don't rush this stuff, it's too powerful to mess around with. You may wish to strongly consider consulting with a psyciatrist, and switching over to an equivalent dose of prozac, stablize for 2-4 weeks, and then taper the prozac instead of the cymbalta. Prozac has a LONG half life, making the transition much easier. But you must not wait too long to get back onto the drugs, because if you wait for too long, you may not be able to get back on the medication without suffering from a very serious adverse effect. I'd suggest checking out the website survivingantidepressants.org and asking this question over there, and reading some of their stickies.
Seems like you decided to follow the advice from folks on this forum, I think that's a wise choice.
Good luck, and let us know about your progress.
#11
Posted 20 April 2015 - 12:18 AM
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#12
Posted 22 April 2015 - 08:05 PM
Tonight I'm at -10 beads! After going back on I had some residual yuckness, but it's gone now. This super slow reduction seems to be exactly right for me. Thanks everyone.
Good job on the slow taper, I know how much of a pain in the ass it is to take out X number of beads every day, and discard the rest, etc., and I only wish I had done exactly as your doing or I might have managed to salvage my life.
I've read that the super slow reductions are best for preventing LONG term withdrawals, but don't be suprised if you still experience some residual yukiness when you go from 1 bead to zero.
Otherwise, good luck and let us know if you have any questions.
#13
Posted 28 April 2015 - 09:45 AM
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#15
Posted 28 April 2015 - 08:39 PM
I've decided to put off grad school until the fall. I have a few courses I can online over the time to prepare. Just don't want to start with a withdrawal in process.
I'm sleeping OK. About 6-9 hours per night. Listening to lots of relaxation podcasts and using a heating pad in the mornings.
Today I cleaned a whole big closet and did a bit if gardening. Life's OK!
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#17
Posted 03 May 2015 - 11:57 PM
I've upped my progression to -2 more beads each night. I'm at -26 tonight of 185, and so far I feel even better.
Peace out everyone!
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