I was prescribed Cymbalta many years ago (when it first came on the market). It was recommended for severe fibromyalgia and mild depression and OCD. It was so very helpful with fibromyalgia, but I immediately began gaining weight and just not feeling like "me". But the pain of fibro was so horrible, I could barely function and Cymbalta, at the time, seemed like a godsend.
I was started on a high dose, but reacted badly and immediately went down to 60 mg (30 mg 2x per day). About 8 years ago I slowly went down to just 30 mg a day and it was very difficult. The lower dose took many weeks of adjustment. In 2012 I had open heart surgery and one of the bizarre "side effects" was that my fibro COMPLETELY disappeared! (Docs think it was being on the heart bypass for over 7 hours and somehow this may have caused a neural "reset" - lots more to that theory but not really my focus here). So then I was on Cymbalta just for mild depression/anxiety, and OCD.
I decided a few months ago that I was just sick of not feeling like "me" and after reading here and other forums, began a countdown of beads. As of last Tuesday, I had completely stopped the med. It was very tough at different points in the countdown but I was so happy to be off. I felt absolutely great for two days. But then I started crying at every little thing, and getting absurdly angry/upset very easily. I keep telling myself this will get better, but will it really?
My OCD was manageable before Cymbalta and is the least of my concerns. But the crying jags and anger are upsetting. To make matters worse I am under very serious stress with several projects and am not sleeping well. I will NOT go back on this drug. During the countdown when I had extreme symptoms, I would take 1/4 of a tab of the lowest possible dose of an anti-anxiety med. That was enough to get through the roughest days. But I don't want to do that too much as I truly want to be free of this med so I can figure out what's "me" and what is just a side effect of so many years on Cymbalta.
After so many years on this med, I'm really afraid that I may never really produce enough serotonin to feel healthy. But the answer isn't going to be to go back on the meds. My husband is very supportive and we have been married 40 years now. I just turned 64. Is there hope for me that things will level out? I have no suicidal thoughts and no brain zaps. Just the crying and feeling frustrated/tense/angry out of proportion to whatever aggravating thing occurs. I am maintaining - but just scared it will be like this forever.