27 replies to this topic

[gardenlady62]

I have been off cymbalta for 2 weeks now and the 'fun' is now beginning.  I am not a happy camper.  I was on 60 mgs. , started back in October.  Doctors put me on it as I went off Ativan.  Yup...I am also a member of Benzo Buddies.  Doctors prescribed all of this stuff and I am now suffering big time.  I was told that I was on such a small dosage of cymbalta and for such a small period of time that I "should be fine".  Well, this is what "fine" looks like.... bad headaches, unbearable chills that are quickly followed by unbearable heat/sweats....my head/brain feels like it is buzzing and working so slowly...sick to my stomach..very thirsty all the time..I even dream of drinking water! Very sad/weepy.. Is this what all of you have experienced?  I have been off of it for two weeks, but am now wondering if I went off it too fast...and if I should reinstate, how do I do this?  I went through hell coming off ativan (benzo) that was prescribed, thought that was almost overwith and now this.  I am so discouraged, but will continue to push through this and become med-free.  I am so upset with my doctors right now and the pharma companies. 

 

Another major symptom....my leg muscles are so sore..it is so hard to stand up, go up stairs, etc...also my knees are killing me.  Everything hurts!  I feel like I am being such a winey baby right now...

[gail]

Garden lady,

Do reinstate, it's not too late. You may try reinstating at 30 and see how goes.
No one told us either, the best molecule is what they said.

For anxiety, I will let Fishinghat continue with the possibilities. Just out of surgery here, I hurt all over.

[fishinghat]

Welcome GL

 

Coming off too fast (it should take 3 months or more) is risky. The FDA warns of possible suicidal thoughts, seizures and much more. I would agree with Gail. Reinstate at 30 mg and see if that is good enough for you to recover. It often is. Once stable then you should give yourself a week to get your strength back and start bead counting. By the way how fast did you taper?

 

By the way, I was a member of Benzo Buddies for several years and am a little surprised to hear of your difficulties getting off Ativan. They taught me water the titration method and I haven't had a problem coming off a benzo since. As a matter of fact I an now 70% of the 6 mg of Ativan that they put me on for the Cymbalta withdrawal and have had no symptoms at all. I came off clonazepam by pill cutting and that was terrible I have come off benzos 3 times since (including this one with no issues). Anyway just a comment.

 

Let us know what you decide and we will be here to help.

 

Some Omega 3 will help with the brain zaps. We recommend 2000 mg a day.

[TryinginFL]

Welcome GL!

 

There is not much I can add, but I will tell  you that I have been off this miserable poison for 3 1/2 yrs now...Yes, there really is an end to the suffering

 

Please come back with any questions you may have - there is always someone here for you

 

Liz

[gardenlady62]

Thanks for your support.  This was such a surprise to me (cymbalta withdrawals).  I had seen so many doctors/psychs during my benzo withdrawals you'd think they would have known better than to put me on something that was going to cause yet more withdrawals.  I have lost all faith in the medical world.  Anyway....I was on 60 mgs. and the psych nurse had me cut back 20 mgs. every two weeks.  I have been completely off the cymbalta for two weeks and then all this craziness began.  I am waiting to hear back from one of my docs, but I think what I am going to do is go back to 10 mgs (count the beads...though they aren't really beads, but rather 'pieces' of the med).  I'll stay there until my body gets a good break and then go down to 5.  I can take some withdrawals, just not to this degree.  Thanks for your help. Camellia

[gardenlady62]

fishinghat, The hospital did a phenobarb taper to get me off the ativan..it was done in 7 days.  Then went home and I went into severe withdrawals..almost took my life...back into hospital (psych ward...how humiliating was that?)...If I only knew then what I know now about ativan and cymbalta....this certainly has been no picnic! 

[fishinghat]

7 Days!!!  What idiots. There is even an FDA warning about rapid withdrawal and suicidal tendencies.  Soooo sorry you went through that.

[gardenlady62]

Decided to reinstate to 20 mgs rather than 10 mgs...still waiting to hear back from my doctor.

[Merete]

Good luck with the tapering, I hope your doctor is supportive and you can get on a better protocol. It has taken me 2.5 months to get from 60 to 30 mgs and I am staying there for a while to try to stabilize symptoms. Everything you describe is consistent with my experience. The fishoil/ Omega really does help though along with vitamin C. Epsom salt baths for the achiness can also help sometimes. Take care

[gail]

Decided to reinstate to 20 mgs rather than 10 mgs...still waiting to hear back from my doctor.

Good move garden lady!

[gardenlady62]

How long does it take to start feeling better again after reinstating the cymbalta?

[fishinghat]

Usually 2 to 4 days is plenty.

[gail]

With Fishinghat here. Fast. Garden lady, do update us. Thanks!

[gardenlady62]

Doctor says 20 mgs. for a week then start tapering from there....I'm having a pretty bad day.  Lots of anxiety/panic, headache, brain pain, tired.  My body/head haven't felt this bad in months.  I just want this feeling to go away...don't know what to do with myself...

[TryinginFL]

GL,

 

At this time you need to be kind to yourself and get lots of rest.  It won't go on forever, honestly!  Just do what you are able to and if you don't do anything, it's OK!

 

I had terrible anxiety and never felt like that before in my life.  I took Alprazolam (Xanax) the whole time I was in withdrawal (at times more than I should have, but at that point did not care)

 

I am not advocating benzos here, just telling the truth.  FH has often mentioned  Clonidine and Hydroxyzine that have no withdrawal.  These do not work for everyone, however.  Have you tried Benadryl?  It has helped many to deal with the anxiety.  You can not use it all the time or it will stop working.

 

Please keep us updated!

[Merete]

Doctor says 20 mgs. for a week then start tapering from there....I'm having a pretty bad day.  Lots of anxiety/panic, headache, brain pain, tired.  My body/head haven't felt this bad in months.  I just want this feeling to go away...don't know what to do with myself...

[Merete]

My reply keeps disappearing so I will post it separately! Probably operator error as I fight with this darn brain fog myself. What I wanted to say was try to focus on some self-care activities. Even if you can't face going out somewhere make yourself some good food, have a warm bath, watch a favorite movie (one that does not upset you!). And know that you have a whole on-line community of support cheering for you as you battle this. It will get better!

[gardenlady62]

TryinginFL, I just stopped horrendous windrawals from coming off Ativan..had to be hospitalized,etc....I will never touch benzos again! 

[gail]

Doctor says 20 mgs. for a week then start tapering from there....I'm having a pretty bad day.  Lots of anxiety/panic, headache, brain pain, tired.  My body/head haven't felt this bad in months.  I just want this feeling to go away...don't know what to do with myself...

I would say,no bead counting till stabilizing at 20 or 30. Give it time. No use in bead counting if you are in a bad way. Count on Benadryl to help you through this phase. Tylenol Cold for brain zaps. you'll get there.

[fishinghat]

As Liz said "FH has often mentioned Clonidine and Hydroxyzine that have no withdrawal."

They are none addictive, no withdrawal, and can be very effective. Definitely better than benzos.

[gardenlady62]

Sorry I thought clonidine and hydroxyzine were benzos...I'm still not wanting to take anything that is a chemical right now.  I am feeling much better tonight than I have in the last few days.  Still have low energy, anxiety keeps rearing its' ugly head, headache, not hungry.I am pushing through all the crazy stuff and trying to stay busy.  I am grateful to have all of you on here to rely on for support.  I am so pleased at how quickly I get responses!  All the best to all of you

[fishinghat]

I understand. I am glad you are starting to get breaks in the withdrawal. Hang in there and keep us posted.

[gardenlady62]

Better today.  Some real moments of anxiety creeping in....how I hate that feeling....just get myself up and keep busy or distracted.  Still have bad headaches, nauseated.  Went to pharmacist to pick up cymbalta. I told him that inside the capsule were 'bits' of the medicine and I was wondering about getting capsules with beads instead. He told me there were "hundreds" of choices and he didn't know which ones were beads (rolled his eyes)...he also said that all I have to do is divide the pieces into two piles and take that...that was about 10 mgs. and that I don't need to take anything less than that as it isn't going to make any difference.  I almost started crying!!  What the heck!!  I was just looking for a little help and he made me feel like a crazy person.  This whole experience is so humiliating.  Sorry, I am usually more positive than this...this experience has not made a very happy person.

[fishinghat]

Unluckily there are a lot of medical people without a clue and that includes pharmacists. One thing you could do is go by the weight of the material inside your capsules. You would have to figure the average weight of the contents of your capsules and then weight out slightly less for your drops in dosage.

[bronxbomber]

GL, my muscles are my worst symptom right now. My right leg aches everywhere. It takes me 1-2 hours to stretch enough in the morning to be able to walk well enough to leave the house. The left leg has recently decided to ache almost as badly.

I'm sorry that your doctor and your pharmacist are idiots. Very few of them have been trained in withdrawal from antidepressants. In fact, my good friend who is a retired PA, but over 70, was surprised by the concept of such a slow taper. She is not an idiot, but was trained long before Cymbalta was developed. You haven't indicated the ages of these medical people you are/were dealing with, and I'd almost like to take a poll about the age of medical professionals who are, and who aren't, aware of these issues. Maybe fh has done some research into this topic.

In any event, I recommend stretching if you are still suffering from muscle soreness.

Good luck. This forum is a fabulous resource.

[fishinghat]

BB, Gl, good morning.

 

I know that many of our members have had success using Epsom salt soaks on there legs and feet to help with the aching. This gets the magnesium directly to the source of the muscle aches by being absorbed through the skin. You might try it. Let me know how it works.

[Merete]

My go-to solutions are Epsom salt baths and mint tea to sooth aches and calm the body and mind. The salts can also help with the itchy, crawly skin sensations. The only caution is if you have acute nerve pain (pins and needles or sharp stinging) in hands and feet then the warm salty water can make the feeling worse. I have been known to lie in the tub with my hands and feet in the air!

[fishinghat]

Now there is a picture!!   lol