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Is It Safe For Me To Drive?


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#1 Monkey

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Posted 26 April 2015 - 12:51 PM

I was in Cymbalta for almost 2 years (fibromyalgia, chronic migraines, arthritis, spinal stenosis, etc), but the benefits dropped off steadily after 6 months. Fear of setting off a string of migraine kept me on longer than I should have been given the usual side effects, but I wanted a personality back so I followed my doctor's clearly uninformed advice and tapered down from 60 over 4 weeks. After a few days I threw out my back and the meds I was on masked a lot of the symptoms until I wa completely off those meds and Cymbalta 1 1/2 weeks ago. I'm having the predictably debilitating zaps, dizziness, nausea, irritability, anger, etc. I'm a teacher and am trying to get through the end of the school year without losing my job by saying something I shouldn't. My major concern is driving. I have a 2-3 hour commute on a major city beltway. I also have young children to drive. Is this safe? Has anyone had a fainting spell or blackout behind the wheel?

#2 thismoment

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Posted 26 April 2015 - 05:26 PM

Hi Monkey

 

You're right in the thick of withdrawal now and it could be with you for the rest of the school year-- the end of June.

 

I don't know about blackouts, but I do know about lack of emotional control behind the wheel-- Road Rage!  I had that. Mindfulness and CBT helped me a lot, but not in the early months of withdrawal while I was still too scattered to apply myself.

 

I would also worry about fatigue because some nights may go sleepless. Hang in there. Only you can decide if you're a hazard on the road; sorry I can't help there.

 

Take care.


#3 fishinghat

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Posted 27 April 2015 - 03:01 PM

Monkey

 

Welcome. I agree with TM. I worry about you being heavily Please be careful.


#4 TryinginFL

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Posted 27 April 2015 - 05:10 PM

Welcome, Monkey!

 

My heart goes out to you....   the pain and the withdrawals.  I wish I had some advice for you, but I can only agree with TM and FH who are 2 of our best sources and have been here for a very long time.

 

I went cold turkey off of 60mg in Jan. of 2014 and I feel your pains and wish that I could make things better.

 

I wish you all the best - is it even possible that you could take the rest of the school year off?  It isn't much more than a little over a month, right?

 

Hugs and prayers,

 

Liz :hug: 


#5 Monkey

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Posted 27 April 2015 - 09:23 PM

Thanks for the advice and support. I agree, TM, that the fatigue is a problem. The zaps have been waking me up a lot lately. I have a teaching/specialist position in a very small private school. We don't have subs and cover each other's classes, and this school year I've had to miss school for my daughter's surgery, a death in the family on the other side of the country, my back injury, and tonsillitis (who knew adults could still get this?!). That is my long way of saying that I can take time off, but only if there really isn't a way to safely do my job. Of course that's a tough call.

By the way, I'm so grateful for the site for the Omega 3 recommendation. That seems to be helping, as is the support. Thanks and hope for better days ahead for all of you!

#6 FiveNotions

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Posted 30 April 2015 - 09:50 PM

Hi Monkey, I may have missed this in something else you wrote, if so, I apologize ... have you considered tapering down off the Cymbalta by bead-counting? It would allow you a good measure of control over those symptoms ... takes longer than cold turkey / rapid dose drops, but far, far better than feeling sick ... and possibly having a car accident ...

 

I did pass out while in withdrawal ... not, thank heavens, while driving or "out and about" ... keeled over in my apartment ... I went cold turkey from 60 mg for 7-8 (maybe 9) years ... not a smart thing to do, for sure ...

 

I'm very concerned about something happening while you have the children in the car ... they are too precious to risk it ...

 

I hope that you have the summer off, and aren't planning lots of activities ... you need all the rest and quiet you can get ... :)





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