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Some Advice Please


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#1 1969

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Posted 14 January 2017 - 03:41 AM

Hello there,

I have been on cymbalta for about 3 years I think. It was prescribed for Fibromyalgia. The side effects have been getting worse and I want to stop taking it. I know how bad I feel even if I'm an hour or two late in taking the dose. I'm scared of withdrawing. I'm on 60mg. I've had both the generic and cymbalta brand.
What is the best way to get off it? I've read a bit about people taking out the tiny balls to reduce. Should I start by taking 5 balls out and see how that goes for a week? It's going to take ages isn't it? I've little idea how to go about it. My GP just said to drop to 30 straight away but I know that wouldn't be pretty ( just from how I've felt with withdrawal symptoms at various lapses in having them available).

I would appreciate your guidance. Thank you.

#2 gail

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Posted 14 January 2017 - 09:37 AM

Hello 1969,

Just wrote my post and it vanished into thin air, I hate that.

So I was saying welcome to the group. You know that many do pretty good in going straight from 60 to 30. There are exceptions. You may try this and see what unrolls then if it's too rough, you can always reinstate at 60. Most take out 2 or 3 pellets. Since you have the real brand, I would suggest that you use this one.

Others will be in to chime in later!

#3 fishinghat

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Posted 14 January 2017 - 09:59 AM

Hi 1969

 

Gail pretty much hit it. You can either start bead counting from 60 mg or try the 30 mg drop first. Most do that drop with little problem BUT if you are sensitive to just being a few hours late with your med then you might want to start bead counting from the 60 mg. Either way we are here for you.

 

Some things that have helped others is...

2000 mg omega 3 per day

500 mg of vit C per day

50 mg of Benadryl occasionally (helps the anxiety)

 

You can also talk to your dr about a prescription to either clonidine and/or hydroxyzine. Neither have withdrawal  but can help considerable with the withdrawal symptoms.

 

Let us know how you are doing.


#4 TryinginFL

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Posted 14 January 2017 - 10:38 AM

Welcome 1969!

 

You will find this forum helpful and find that we all have been there!

 

Good advice from Gail and FH - please keep us posted and come back with any questions you may have

 

We are here for you!


#5 1969

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Posted 14 January 2017 - 08:18 PM

Thank you Such quick replies Gail, Fishing Hat and TryinginFL.

A few months ago I inadvertently had a drop to 30mgs for 6 days when I was given the wrong dose from the pharmacist It was pretty bad with high anxiety, difficulty sleeping, irritability and teariness, diarrhoea and horrid head zaps whenever I moved my eyes. I should've checked the dose but thought that the problem was because I had a generic brand. Anyway....it was lesson in checking what I'm given !

Given that I know what will happen with the drop to 30 mg I will start with the bead counting. So if I take out 2-3 pellets, I do that until I don't notice any withdrawal effects and then take out a further 2-3 out etc? So is it likely to be every 3 or 4 days that I can reduce the beads or do most people need longer between reductions? This is probably a hard question too but how long might it take to get off this stuff? At this stage I'm not sure what is making me feel so unwell, whether it's the Fibro stuff or Cymbalta and I just want to be off it.

Thanks so much guys. I appreciate your input very much. What great work you are doing in helping people with this horrid drug ! Good on you and thanks so much. Cheers 1969.

#6 gail

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Posted 15 January 2017 - 08:24 AM

Hello 1969,

It goes like this, 3 one day, 6 the other, 9 and so on. You do drop everyday, if you hit a wall, just stay put for a while.

My brain cannot fonction well enough to do the math, our Einstein will do it when he wakes up.

#7 fishinghat

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Posted 15 January 2017 - 09:49 AM

"Given that I know what will happen with the drop to 30 mg I will start with the bead counting. So if I take out 2-3 pellets, I do that until I don't notice any withdrawal effects and then take out a further 2-3 out etc? So is it likely to be every 3 or 4 days that I can reduce the beads or do most people need longer between reductions? This is probably a hard question too but how long might it take to get off this stuff? At this stage I'm not sure what is making me feel so unwell, whether it's the Fibro stuff or Cymbalta and I just want to be off it."

 

Hi 1969

 

How many beads you drop depends on how many in your capsule. If I remember right you are on the brand name so around 320 or so. But you probably should count one capsule to see just to be sure.  Like Gail said, you remove 3 beads (around 1%) each day. If you start feeling significant withdrawal then stop until you feel good enough to hit it again, Your body will let you know. Don't try to push through it and "tough it out'. As you already know this can be a rough ride. I would say typically people take a couple weeks to figure out how fast they can drop without having to stop all the time to recover. Some do as much as 10 beads a day and others only 1 bead a day. It just depends on your sensitivity. The key thing here is to go slow. People frequently underestimate this withdrawal. Time and patience. Once you hit a rough spot and decide to pause it can take a couple days or a couple weeks to recover and start withdrawal again. Also, when you get down to the last few beads then you really need to slow down. For some reason they usually hit hard.

 

Keep us informed on how you are feeling and feel free to ask questions and/or just come here to complain.  We know what it is like.
 


#8 Raven72

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Posted 16 January 2017 - 09:27 AM

Welcome 1969,

 

It seems that the others have pretty much nailed it. The only other advice I have is that you just take your time and take it easy. If you ever need anything from any of us just let us know.


#9 1969

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Posted 17 January 2017 - 08:08 PM

Thanks guys.

I'm hearing "be patient". Shall do.

Thank you for the information.

I'm finding it a bit challenging to manage the bead counting/pulling the capsule apart without spilling etc. Is there any special technique to doing it or is just a matter of plowing on haphazardly ?

Day 3 of reducing and so far so good.

Cheers, 1969.

#10 fishinghat

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Posted 18 January 2017 - 09:40 AM

I would just pour a few into a dish (preferably a dark dish) and using tweezers take out the number of beads I need to get rid of and throw them away. The rest from the dish was put back in the capsule.


#11 1969

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Posted 03 February 2017 - 11:16 PM

Hi guys,
I am a few weeks in now. I haven't had any withdrawal symptoms and have been going down 10 beads a day. The only issue is that I feel quite flat. Given I've had no other symptoms which I have been sensitive to in the past I'm assuming it's not to do with the withdrawal. Counting out the beads sucks. Flat sucks. I'm up to taking out 110 beads as of today. On the way
Thanks for being there.

#12 gail

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Posted 04 February 2017 - 09:00 AM

Well 1969, that is GREAT! Lucky you, you have been blessed!

Thank you for this so positive update.



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