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Trying To Taper - Not Going Well


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#31 gail

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Posted 24 March 2017 - 02:22 PM

Gail, 
 
Thank you Thank you Thank you. 
 
 I pray that we all conquer this horrible drug or what ever you want to call it inside us and live every day drug free someday.
 
Is it possible? Any help with this would be great!  
 
Gail, you are in my prayers and yes we do need all the prayers we can get!! I hope you have a great day!


Thank you TMC! This day is not too great. Perhaps tomorrow? Prayers for all.

#32 laurieboo

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Posted 24 March 2017 - 07:02 PM

i haven't started tapering from 30 and now i feel awful again. headaches, spacy, faituged and woke up crying..crying at the drop of a hat. does this sound like withdrawal? or maybe i need to be on 60mg of cymbalta forever. idk but this sucks. 


#33 gail

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Posted 25 March 2017 - 05:52 AM

Laurie,

These are withdrawal symptoms. They wax and wane all through the process.

It's up to you, for myself I would stay on the 30mg for a while. Do not taper before you have had five to seven day of relief. As our FishingBrain usually says, the point is not to find it comfortable but TOLERABLE.

#34 laurieboo

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Posted 30 March 2017 - 10:23 AM

I've finally stabilized on 30. It took 10 days. Most symptoms gone except for residual weaker headaches and insomnia. I'm terrified to start bead counting. may stay here for a little while longer.


#35 gail

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Posted 30 March 2017 - 12:41 PM

Hi Laurie,

Sure, do stay there for a while. Take a break!

As for bead counting, when the time is right, just start with 2 or 3 beads. You will be ok.

#36 laurieboo

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Posted 06 April 2017 - 07:41 PM

Thank you for the encouragement.

 

I'm still on 30...ugg..i feel horrible every day. nausea, headaches..i'm like..is this still cymbalta withdrawal..i thought i stabilized. this stuff is awful.


#37 fishinghat

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Posted 07 April 2017 - 08:04 AM

Eighteen days since you held at 30mg. You should stabilize though. It wouldn't surprise me if you took another week or so the way you react to this med. Time and patience.


#38 laurieboo

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Posted 08 April 2017 - 12:56 PM

Thank you....


#39 gail

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Posted 08 April 2017 - 02:54 PM

Hi Laurie,

Last week you had a stabalization period, it will be back.

Wax and wane is the name of the game! I know it's hard, minutes seem like hours, days like weeks, but it will pass eventually.

Hold on to hope! You are not alone. Come back anytime you need Laurie. We are listening and are here for you, remember!

#40 laurieboo

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Posted 23 April 2017 - 01:04 PM

It's not quite been a month on 30. I feel like i need to go back on this stuff or I'm not gonna make it. Emotional roller coaster, crying, many negative thoughts, ok at work but very hard to function after...so fatigued and terrible headaches and nausea every day. 


#41 fishinghat

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Posted 23 April 2017 - 01:17 PM

Laurie, there are several choices. First of all remember that this is not you but a chemical reaction in your brain.

 

You can take a few extra beads 5 or 6 and take them to help give you a little relief. You can also try and get some clonidine and/or hydroxyzine from your dr to help. They are non-addictive with no withdrawal. I might also suggest a good therapist who can teach you cognitive behavioral therapy to help you learn to control the emotional swings. They will teach you breathing exercises, how to control your heart rate, how to relax better, sleep better, etc.

 

Hang in there and be patient. It may be a few more weeks (lets hope not) but it will pass.


#42 gail

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Posted 23 April 2017 - 03:01 PM

Hello Laurie,

Different point of view here. The possibility of going back on 50 or 60mg, stabilize, then bead count real slowwwwwww!

Or cross taper with a long half life antidepressant like Zoloft or Prozac. My opinion is that since you already have Cymbalta in your system, it should kick in fast.

Fishinghat has had a good experience with hidroxizine and clonidine. Works on some.

All this being said because you did have a short period of stabalization and lost it.

Should you cross taper, choose an SSRI. We may diverge on opinions, means more choices between which you might give a try. We are here for you in this time of indecision.

#43 laurieboo

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Posted 27 April 2017 - 06:45 PM

Thank you for your encouragement..you have no idea how much it helps. No one knows i'm going through this. Doc is unsympathetic. 

 

I used to take a sliver of  mirtazapine (like quarter or less of a 5mg tab..i'm so sensitive) to help sleep (and it supposedly boosts the effects of cymbalta). The past few nights i've take a tiny bit..and I think that has curbed the headaches and nausea (not sure if that's coincidence or not)..but at least it helps with the insomnia.

 

now .i'm trying to figure out if this is related to withdrawal or not..i've been having digestive issues it seems (stomach hurts right after i eat)...headache and nausea. not sure.


#44 fishinghat

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Posted 28 April 2017 - 08:13 AM

Glad to hear you are dealing with things Laurie. Hang in there.

 

The digestive issues is a classic sign of Cymbalta withdrawal. One of the neurotransmitters that Cymbalta controls is Serotonin and while found in the brain the most common occurrence is in the digestive tract. These issues usually last around a month orso. I remember living off of pepto and Imodium during that time.  lol


#45 laurieboo

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Posted 08 May 2017 - 09:35 PM

Just saw the doc today. he laughed and said no way am i still experiencing withdrawal symptoms. he said he's had people stop cold turkey. Said i'm in < 1% of people if i'm having symptoms. sad.


#46 gail

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Posted 09 May 2017 - 05:17 AM

Hi Laurie,

Statistics show that between 20% and 30% will have a harsh withdrawal.

You might have Dr Hat send your doctor the REAL%. Those lovely docs are, at times, are so confused about facts.

#47 TryinginFL

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Posted 09 May 2017 - 01:31 PM

Either tell him to read his info w/this drug or change docs...

 

Many of us have changed docs several times


#48 BJnFL

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Posted 10 May 2017 - 04:13 PM

Laurie -

 

Not to be rude, but screw your doctor! He clearly doesn't know what he is talking about or doesn't care. Don't let anyone make you feel as though you are crazy or "sad", you are not. You are part of the "a lot more than 1%" of us who have been made a prisoner to duloxetine by doctors who really have no idea what they are giving people.

 

You are taking a generic equivalent with a different time release formula than Cymbalta or even other generic equivalents. So when you decide to start tapering again, I would suggest you to go slow because just one of the pellets in the generic you are taking is nearly 10% of your current daily dosage. You may even want to go back to the 60 mg dose and start again from there going more slowly, like a pellet every week or even every 2 weeks - just take your time and remember that it isn't a foot race, although believe me, I understand the desperation to get off this stuff!

 

I was forced by doctor negligence to go cold turkey from about 45 mgs (I had been tapering from 90 mgs (taken for 6-7 years) over about 3 months) about 6 weeks ago, and I am still struggling with withdrawal symptoms - but I have to tell you that I do feel a little better each day now (with the exception of the digestive upset - this is a tough cookie I have to say!) and I feel a mental clarity I haven't felt in years. So keep hanging in there, it will get better. 


#49 laurieboo

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Posted 12 May 2017 - 08:52 AM

thank you BJinFL. your words keep me going. 


#50 NikkiLee94

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Posted 24 May 2017 - 10:23 AM

I am tapering as well. Went from 60mg to 30. Now I am pouring out around the same amount of beads from my 30mg capsule each day. I feel like I have the stomach bug. Headaches that feel like the type of headache you get from dehydration after a day or two of throwing up, upset stomach, hot cold flashes, excess sweating, feeling like I'm about to throw up all day long, feel sick after eating, dizzy... Is there any vitamin or supplement that helps with feeling sick like you have the flu or stomach bug?


#51 fishinghat

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Posted 24 May 2017 - 12:53 PM

I know I lived off of pepto, Imodium and antacids. Several people have mentioned Dramamine. Be careful though as it should not be taken with certain other medicines.





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