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#1 nhlady2006

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Posted 26 April 2016 - 12:44 PM

I was prescribed Cymbalta approximately one year ago. I was having problems with high blood pressure and was put on three blood pressure medications. I complained that the side effects from these BP medications were causing my legs and feet to ache. My doctor prescribed Cymbalta and here I am, one year later.

 

After seeing several doctors, it seems that the reason my blood pressure is so high is due to a tumor (pheocromocytoma) on my left adrenal gland. The tumor causes the adrenal gland to over-produce hormones that raise my BP. I have been through many diagnostic tests to confirm this and it looks as though my left adrenal gland is going to be removed in the very near future.

 

When I saw my primary care doctor last week for a physical, she felt that the Cymbalta (60 mgs) was not doing its job and switched me to Welbutrin (150 mgs). She stated that because the Cymbalta did not seem to be working, I could just "stop" the medication. I didn't give it much thought at the time.

 

My last dose of Cymbalta was April 19th. I took the first dose of Welbutrin on April 20 and it didn't agree with me at all. I was up all night long and didn't sleep for nearly 40 hours. When I called my doctor, she gave me a new prescription for 75 mgs of Welbutrin. I took one of those this weekend, and did not sleep. I have decided that I will NOT take Welbutrin because I can't function without sleep. Who can?

 

In the last five days, I have begun to notice some "funny" things happening to me. First, I feel very dizzy and lightheaded. Second, I am having what others have called "swishing." It's like my eyes are not focusing properly. Trying to focus on an object is a bit difficult. Third, I am itching all over my body.

 

I went to the internet to look into the Cymbalta and the possible withdrawal effects and was ASTOUNDED! If I had any idea about this poison being put into my body I would have never started taking it. Shame on Eli Lily!

 

So, I am now in my 7th day of cold turkey withdrawal. I will not go back on the Cymbalta. I don't think my doctor knew anything about the potential serious withdrawal effects of this medication.

 

I can live with the dizziness and lightheadedness. I can deal with the swishing. I can deal with the itching. For now.

 

What are the odds that this is all I will experience withdrawing from this poison?

 

I am glad to be here and hope that all of you will give me advice.

 

Cheers!


#2 fishinghat

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Posted 26 April 2016 - 02:25 PM

Welcome nhl

 

That is a common story unluckily even though the manufacturer has a black box warning on their Cymbalta.

 

Now for the odds....research estimates about 75 to 80% has significant withdrawal. We have noticed here that the severity depends on several things. How old you are (younger the better), weight, and how long you were on the drug.

 

I understand (although I don't agree) the Cymbalta for pain. It is approved for that. The Wellbutrin? No pain help there, was it to ease the withdrawal from Cymbalta?  Any ssri/snri that the dr will give you for the Cymbalta withdrawal would take 4 to 8 weeks to kick in. Normally we recommend bead counting over a 3 to 4 month period but if you can hang in there go for it.

 

I assume the dr put you on Clonidine to reduce the amount of adrenaline you are producing until your surgery. Has your surgery been scheduled yet? By the way many drs will prescribe a benzo (like valium, Lorazepam or Xanax) or an ssri/snri if the symptoms get too bad. Each of these have very nasty withdrawals as well. There are other options to try first but lets wait and see how you do. Maybe you will be one of the lucky 20%.

 

Hang in there.


#3 nhlady2006

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Posted 26 April 2016 - 04:08 PM

Thanks for the reply, fishinghat!

 

The details are... I'm 63 years old, overweight, and was on Cymbalta for about 9 months.

 

The Wellbutrin was given to me because my doctor didn't think the depression or the pain was being helped by the Cymbalta. Duh! I've been dealing with the blood pressure issue for nearly a year while doctor after doctor "looks into" my symptoms. Finally, an endocrinologist (after 5 months of testing) has determined that the tumor on my left adrenal gland is probably a pheocromocytoma and needs to be removed. No surgery date yet. I think I have every reason to be depressed after all I've gone through. The three BP meds that I am taking are only keeping my BP at the 170/80 level. I don't feel well. Palpitations, the sensation of adrenaline rushing all the time.

 

I figure since I've already been seven days without the Cymbalta, I can forge on. Like I said, I am dizzy, lightheaded, swishing and feeling out of sorts. For now, I can handle it. I just don't want another drug in my system.

 

Thanks for your support!

 

After finding out about the withdrawal hell of Cymbalta, you can be sure that nothing is going into my mouth without thorough research on my part!


#4 fishinghat

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Posted 26 April 2016 - 05:14 PM

nhl

 

If you don't mind may I ask what 3 bp meds you are on?


#5 nhlady2006

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Posted 27 April 2016 - 07:34 AM

Good morning, fishinghat:

 

I am taking 360 mg of Cardiazem, 40 mg of Hydralazine, and 1mg of Doxazosin each day.  They did try me on 2 mg of the Doxazosin but it made me feel drunk and they backed it down to 1 mg.

 

Do you also suffer from high BP?

 

Today is day 8 of no Cymbalta. I didn't sleep terribly well last night and kept waking and stirring. I still am feeling dizzy and lightheaded this morning and still having the swishing sensations. I also still itch a bit, but not bad. Overall, I feel as though I'm outside of myself looking down on me. Does that make sense?

 

I certainly appreciate your offerings.


#6 fishinghat

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Posted 27 April 2016 - 09:29 AM

Sounds like withdrawal to me. It also sounds like you are doing better than expected so far. Interesting choice of medicines. The one I am sort of curious about is the Doxazosin. I was of the understanding that it can raise adrenaline output (al most alpha blockers) but after reading a lot of the med journal articles I find that those three drugs are the standard for treating the HP associated with your condition. One research article indicated (see bellow) that about 34% of the patients had only moderate success with Doxazosin due to an increase in adrenaline and noradrenaline (also known as norepinephrine). So overall it sounds like your dr is doing the right thing.
 
It is a alpha blocker. There are two different sites in the nerves that accept adrenaline (also known as epinephrine), They are the alpha and beta adrenergic receptors. Doxazosin blocks the use of adrenaline in the heart alpha sites and reduces blood pressure. But alpha blockers typically also block the alpha receptors in the frontal lobes of the brain and causes the brain to signal there is a lack of adrenaline and increase its production, as this article explains

Zhonghua Yi Xue Za Zhi. 2005 Jun 1;85(20):1403-5.

[Effects of doxazosin mosylate and phenoxybenzamine in preoperative volume expansion of pheochromocytoma: a comparative study in 38 cases].

Pan DL1, Li HZ, Ji ZG, Zeng ZP.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To compare the effects of doxazosin mosylate and phenoxybenzamine in preoperative volume expansion of pheochromocytoma.

METHODS:

Phenoxybenzamine 30-240 mg/d was given orally to 38 patients of pheochromcytoma for 3 weeks. After the blood pressure was restored to the primary level before taking phenoxybenzamine, doxazosin mosylate 2-8 mg/d was given orally for three weeks. If the maximum dose of doxazosin mosylate (16 mg/d) still failed to achieve efficient blood volume expansion then phenoxybenzamine was added till completely efficient blood volume expansion was achieved. The effect in volume expansion and side effects were observed with the criteria including decrease of blood pressure to less than 120/80 mm Hg and restoration of the microcirculation imaging to normal.

RESULTS:

All the patients got complete volume expansion after taking phenoxybenzamine with tachycardia occurring in 23 of them and postural hypotension in 13 patients. In the 25 cases mainly with increase of norepinephrine before medical treatment doxazosin mosylate was completely effective in 18 cases with their blood pressure < 180/140 mm Hg; and was partially effective in the other 7 cases with their blood pressure > 180/140 mm Hg of which 2 suffered from postural hypotension. Doxazosin mosylate was partially effective in the other 13 cases mainly with increase of both norepinephrine and epinephrine. The total efficiency rate of these two medicines was not significantly different (chi(2) = 18.05, P > 0.05). The side-effect rate of doxazosin mosylate was significantly lower than that of phenoxybenzamine (chi(2) = 324, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS:

Doxazosin mosylate has a lower complete volume expansion rate and side-effect rate as well for patients of pheochromocytoma. Pheochromocytomas with mild or moderate level of blood pressure are indicative of the use of doxazosin mosylate.

 

Hang in there and keep us posted that is how we all learn about this beast of a medicine.


#7 nhlady2006

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Posted 27 April 2016 - 09:54 AM

You are amazing! Are you a physician or just what we call "a well informed patient?"

 

Thank you for the info on the doxazosin.

 

I just got off the phone with my primary care doctor. She is the one that put me on Cymbalta and also the one that took me off of it, cold turkey. She tried to give me Wellbutrin last week and it didn't work as it kept me perpetually awake. She says "I can't just NOT let you take an anti-depressant. I'm going to start you on Effexor The Effexor will help with the withdrawal symptoms of the Cymbalta." I told her I didn't want to take anything. She said she would phone the prescription in. My body, my choice. I won't take it.

 

I think I'll take two pencils and stab myself in the eyes! Hahaha


#8 fishinghat

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Posted 27 April 2016 - 10:29 AM

Boy can I understand that feeling. lol

 

I have become an informed patient over the years but I also have a Master's in physiology (although that was back before God made dirt). lol  I also served 2 years during Vietnam as an army nurse (if you can call it that) in an ICU.


#9 Clara

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Posted 27 April 2016 - 11:33 AM

You da man, f'hat! First I've heard of your service! A huge salute and a hearty thanks for your service! God bless!~nhlady2006, hang in there! Lots of support and great info from fishinghat and others!!!!


#10 nhlady2006

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Posted 27 April 2016 - 11:54 AM

Hi Clara: Thanks for the words of encouragement. I think I'm going to need them. : )


#11 nhlady2006

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Posted 27 April 2016 - 11:59 AM

And now I will call you, very politely, Mr. Fishinghat!

 

It sounds like we are of the same generation and are both older than dirt and born before electricity was invented! : )

 

Thank you also for your service to our country. It's the war no one wants to talk about. I wonder when they will start talking about it?

 

I am trying to work while going through this withdrawal. So far, so good, although I noticed at lunchtime that my brain felt full, as if it could not take in any further stimulus. I normally like to have a CD playing and I had to turn it off and listen to nothing. Weird!


#12 nhlady2006

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Posted 28 April 2016 - 08:48 AM

Just wanted to report that I am feeling MUCH better today. I slept well last night and woke up feeling refreshed. I am still a bit lightheaded and a tad dizzy and it still doesn't feel that my eyes are focusing as they should. I JUST FEEL BETTER THAN I HAVE THE PAST FEW DAYS. It's now day 9 of no Cymbalta.


#13 janieM

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Posted 28 April 2016 - 12:48 PM

Hi..new to this site...thank you all for the amazing info and support.  nhlady2006, we can do this!  I am currently day 3 cold turkey...so you will be my inspiration!


#14 fishinghat

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Posted 28 April 2016 - 02:12 PM

Go to it ladies. We are here to help in anyway we can.





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