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Stopping Cymbalta After Learning Of Pregnancy


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#1 goggles1

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Posted 14 October 2016 - 04:58 PM

Hi there. I am new here. I have been following these posts for a while and decided to write. I was on cymbalta for 8 months this year due to having some pain in regards to a virus that I had for over two years. I developed some pain in my neck and my lower back so my doctor switched me from lexapro to cymbalta 60mg. I just found out I am pregnant and of course, we were thrilled but I knew I had to get off the medication. My doctor told me to go down to 30mg for a week, then take it  every other day for 3 days. I was a little reluctant to do this but I didn't want the baby to be exposed to this god awful drug anymore than it needed to be. so, basically, I went cold turkey. this is almost my fourth week off the drug. I have had all the physical withdrawal symptoms- brain zaps, headaches, vomiting, nausea, neck pain, back pain, etc... the brain zaps are pretty much gone but now I am developing some pretty bad depression and detached feelings. I feel like I am living in a hole and cannot get out. I feel out of touch with time, reality and even myself.... its just a scary, panicky feeling I cannot get rid of. Tears come on easily. My first few weeks were not like this and now it seems the symptoms are changing... any thoughts on this? Should it be recommended that I go on a low dose of a more safer antidepressant or try and stick this out.... ? Are these common symptoms? Or do I have some underlying depression that really needs to be addressed? 


#2 fishinghat

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Posted 14 October 2016 - 05:48 PM

Welcome goggles!!

 

Those are classic Cymbalta withdrawal symptoms. I would say you have several options. First of all you can take a few beads out of one of your Cymbalta capsules, put it in an empty capsule and take it to give you some relief. Also, you can take to your dr about a prescription to either clonidine or hydroxyzine (no withdrawal with these) to help the symptoms while you recover. You could go on a low dose of another antidepressant like Lexapro, Prozac or Zoloft BUT they take 4 to 6 weeks to kick in and I would worry about the baby as well although they would probably be better than Cymbalta. Remember there is a lot of research out there linking antidepressant use during pregnancy to autism. The general thought now is that it does not cause it but increases the risk of autism.

 

These symptoms usually start getting better around week 8 to 12 and very slowly fade. It can be 8 months to 1 year or more to get back to normal while 6 months would be typical to feel fairly well recovered.

 

Keep us posted and don't hesitate to ask questions or just vent. That is why we are here.


#3 goggles1

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Posted 15 October 2016 - 03:25 PM

Thank you FishingHat for your response. Being pregnant with these symptoms is not easy. I am going into my 5th week without this drug and some days are some what "ok" and then I will get hit hard again with the physical symptoms... flu like symptoms, headaches, muscle pain, stiff neck, nausea... etc... is it normal for these symptoms to come and go? Do they get worse before they get better? Wish I would've been more educated in these withdrawal symptoms before getting on this medication. The first few months, it worked for my pain, but then I noticed, the pain got worse and I started having pretty bad muscle spasms on this drug. I am glad I am off but I feel like I have still a road a head of me. thanks again. 


#4 fishinghat

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Posted 15 October 2016 - 04:38 PM

These are typical symptoms. You are entering the worst part of the withdrawal now. The next 2 months will continue to ebb and flo with the physical symptoms easing and the emotional ones getting worse. You start getting breaks in the symptoms around week 12 but it van take 6 to 8 months to really get on your feet. It varies a lot from person to person though. I have seen those where it only lasts a few weeks and others where it drags on for a year or more. Lets hope yours is short.





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