Hi All,
First time I've ever posted on a forum. I just had to after googling 'edema and cymbalta withdrawal' and finding this site. I've been researching since I began having issues and this is the first time this site came up. I can't believe how uninformed my doctors are about this. Primary care physician and psychiatrist were clueless. The only advice my psychiatrist has is to take a different antidepressant, when my goal is to STOP those medications.
So here's my story:
Started taking Celexa in 2005 after being diagnosed with MDD. Took it until 2013 with only one break to see how I would do without it. Then had a severe episode ending up in residential mental ward. Was switched to Effexor which caused tachycardia and high blood pressure. After a year or so, I couldn't handle the racing heart and the high blood pressure was worrisome, so my NP switched me to Cymbalta. Still had the heart issue but not as bad, still with the high blood pressure. All these meds made me feel like a zombie, but I wasn't suicidal so I just thought that was how it was going to be. I have never been a fan of the meds but was scared to go off and find myself unable to cope. I finally decided I was tired of not caring about much and just passing through what felt like a meaningless life, so I decided I wanted to go off cymbalta. My new psychiatrist recommended I try Lexapro since the Celexa had worked. I agreed to give the lowest dose a shot.
I followed direction from my psych to drop from 60mg to 30mg of Cymbalta and start a 5mg dose of Lexapro, which I did on March 25.
I immediately began experiencing vertigo (expected that), grogginess, insomnia, fatigue, diarrhea, electric zaps in hands & feet, stiff joints, and a HUGE flare of carpal tunnel syndrome.
But then on March 27 my arms and legs began to swell. It got to the point that first week I could not fit into any jeans I owned, and could only wear one pair of very adjustable velcro shoes. I thought maybe it was from work, as I stand and walk all day and use my arms and hands extensively. I made an appointment with my PCP.
10th day of a 30mg dose, I still have severe edema. Wearing compression hose 24/7.
My psych tells me I can stop taking the Cymbalta, as it should be "out of my system" at this point. Her only reaction to the swelling is that I should see my PCP about it. I decided to stop the 5mg of Lexapro too. I had my suspicions about the edema being withdrawal related at this point.
Now ending week 5 and still swollen. Been on Lasix (diuretic) for 2 weeks, which has helped slightly. I'm taking 800mg ibuprofen every 8 hours to cope with pain. Carpal tunnel is so bad I wake at night because I'm crying in my sleep. I missed a week of work. Have had 2 complete blood panels done, kidney panel, EKG, leg ultrasound, all back normal.
Was prescribed nortryptaline today for nerve pain to help me sleep... funny that it is a very low dose of an old tricyclic antidepressant. Hopefully it will help me sleep and be able to work a little easier.
The good news is I actually feel a lot better mentally, except coping with the pain is sometimes overwhelming. Brain fog is gone, vertigo is minimal. I have no need for caffeine anymore.
My PCP is at a loss, she says if no improvement in 4 weeks more testing will follow. She had NO IDEA about withdrawal issues from Cymbalta, and obviously my psych doesn't either.
Sigh.
I'm going to drag myself to the dog park now, because my sweet, patient little dog is about to lose it... he hasn't had our daily walk in 5 weeks. Poor guy, I'm glad he still loves his mama.
