Jump to content



Photo

Finished Tapering Off - Lots Of Emotions - How Long?


  • Please log in to reply
4 replies to this topic

#1 SLBradford

SLBradford

    Newbie

  • Members
  • Pip
  • 3 posts

Posted 07 March 2017 - 01:45 AM

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.


#2 fishinghat

fishinghat

    Site Partners

  • Active Members
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • 13,869 posts
  • LocationMissouri

Posted 07 March 2017 - 09:27 AM

Welcome SLB

 

Unluckily this is a typical situation. Sad. You will not be at this forever. Do you have an anti-anxiety medicine you still lean on? If not my suggestion is to take a few Cymbalta beads on the worse days. With time you will not need them. Another choice is to use Benadryl which is an antihistamine with anxiolytic properties. It can't be used every day or it will poop out on you but is good for flare ups. Be cautious as it may make you sleepy.

 

Hang in there, this is the worse part. It may take 2 months or 8 months to fade out but it will get better.


#3 SLBradford

SLBradford

    Newbie

  • Members
  • Pip
  • 3 posts

Posted 09 March 2017 - 01:12 AM

Thank you. I do have an anti anxiety med that I can lean on in emergencies. So far, I'm holding back on that and trying to let myself stabilize as much as possible. Thank you for the tip on Benadryl. Things are so very stressful right now that I'm sure that isn't helping. When I get teary I can take a deep breath and remind myself that it is just the meds withdrawal and it WILL get better. But the anger is tough because it just flares up so out of the blue. I'm sure most people are completely unaware I'm even struggling but it feels SOOOO big to me! Well, I'll just keep forging ahead and hopefully I will be able to look back at this in a few months and just be grateful to have survived without ACTUALLY biting off someone's head! :)

 

I feel very fortunate compared to some of the stories I've read of people who have the brain zaps and many other distressing symptoms. After so many years on the med, the days I feel good have been just a wonderful gift. To feel genuinely, down to my core happy is something I haven't experienced in many years.

 

Thank you again for replying! 


#4 SLBradford

SLBradford

    Newbie

  • Members
  • Pip
  • 3 posts

Posted 14 March 2017 - 01:29 AM

Well, getting into a couple of weeks out and I am feeling like I'm going bipolar. Never every been like this in my life. Literally one minute I feel wonderful and happy and the next I am sobbing. I can't get my sleep cycle regulated and am feeling so stressed out. My poor husband feels like he is walking on pins and needles around me as I swing wider than a saloon door in the old west. I haven't taken Benadryl yet but will tomorrow. I've been avoiding my anti-anxiety meds because when I use the tiniest amount to survive these swings, as it tapers off I feel terrible. While sobbing on the couch this evening I told my husband I just don't know if I can do this. When I feel good, it feels SOOOO good. I honestly don't remember feeling this many emotions in years - and certainly not as happy as I have felt (almost euphoric at times). But then I swing the other way. God help me if there is a tender song or ad. I am scared to death I am going to fall apart at work. Not giving up - but if it gets worse I'm not sure I can make it. I'm not even sure what "making it" would even look like at this point.


#5 fishinghat

fishinghat

    Site Partners

  • Active Members
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • 13,869 posts
  • LocationMissouri

Posted 14 March 2017 - 08:00 AM

First of all this is a very common withdrawal effect that can last anywhere from 3 months to 8 months. You may need some help with this. You could start with Benadryl to give you some occasional help but it can not be used all the time as it will poop out on you. Also you could speak to your dr about hydroxyzine and/or clonidine which can also help. They are not addictive and have no withdrawal.





0 user(s) are reading this topic

0 members, 0 guests, 0 anonymous users