[alkirk123]

Hi guys. I really appreciate this forum. I had been on Cymbalta for about 3 years, with a few other antidepressants preceding it. I've been off about 3 weeks now and am still having a pretty rough time (sorry, I have to be honest). There have actually been quite a few good things that I've noticed and I was wondering if anyone else was having the same experience.

1). My taste buds seem to have suddenly "come alive". Everything taste really good now. I also seem to have an abundance of saliva in my mouth. I hope that doesn't sound too gross.
2). My vision seems to be a little better.
3). I feel more physical affection for my children.
4). I'm not as sleepy during the day any more. (unfortunately, I'm not sleepy at night either)
5). My old personality seems to be coming back, sense of humor and all.

Hopefully, the withdrawals won't last much longer. If anyone has any help for those, I would greatly appreciate it. I'm trying to take St. John's Wort to curb the symptoms, but it's not helping much. My doctor wants to put me on Lexapro, but I am very leery about going on a new drug. Thanks or "listening". I appreciate all of you.

Alkirk

[nursedeborah]

Alkirk,
Here is the site with all theWow you sound like your doing great!!! How did you get off of it? Did you just stop?
Did you do a wean process? If not you don't know how very lucky you are!

Here is the site with all the withdrawl symptoms, so you don't think you weird or nuts, it helps to have them.


http://prozactruth.com/cymbalta.htm

Oh I forgot to Welcome you!

It gets better it just depends on the person, but it does get better. There are the ups, and downs.

Debbie

[MaureenV]

Alkirk, one cymbalta side effect is a dry mouth, and saliva plays such an important function in our mouth that I'm not surprised you've noticed significant changes.

The other one I can identify with is the lack of sleepiness. I was hanging out for bed from about 8p.m at night, now I'm surprised to find it's 10 - 11.00 before I'm thinking about it. I'm now having the opposite withdrawal problem of not being able to sleep, but I get enough to be able to function, so can't complain

regards, Maureen.

[alkirk123]

I weaned off pretty fast, which I'm sure was not the smartest thing. I had been taking 60mg for about 3 years. My doctor told me to cut back to the 30mg and then quit all together. I actually made my own 15mg capsules and took those for a week. I really don't think doctors know about the withdrawals with this drug and are not very sympathetic. I'm just so glad this forum is out there to help people.

I've been off about 3 weeks now. I'm taking Inositol supplements, Omega 3, a multi vitamin, St. John's Wort, Valerian. I'm really tiring of all the supplements! I'll keep everyone posted on my "state" and hope everyone else does the same.

alkirk

[MaureenV]

alkirk123 said:

I weaned off pretty fast, which I'm sure was not the smartest thing. I had been taking 60mg for about 3 years. My doctor told me to cut back to the 30mg and then quit all together. I actually made my own 15mg capsules and took those for a week. I really don't think doctors know about the withdrawals with this drug and are not very sympathetic. I'm just so glad this forum is out there to help people.

I've been off about 3 weeks now. I'm taking Inositol supplements, Omega 3, a multi vitamin, St. John's Wort, Valerian. I'm really tiring of all the supplements! I'll keep everyone posted on my "state" and hope everyone else does the same.

alkirk

Full marks to you for being able to stay off cymbalta from 15mg and trying to deal with the consequences. After reading all the advice here I did a snail's pace slow wean, but when at 10mg for several days (from 12.5) I had virtually no symptoms I thought it was safe to divide the last 10 into two, then drop it. Unfortunately due to the nature of my work, the brain zaps and associated tinnitus and sensitivity to noise meant I felt it necessary to dose up again, and I'm now taking 7.5mg.

This is despite starting 9 x 1000mg of Omega 3 per day on the day I took the second 5mg, so either it doesn't make much difference for me, or they were going to be even worse.



Maureen.

[nursedeborah]

Maurene,
Just remember that the withdrawl symptoms can still be going on even once you off the drug.
Knowing we are all differnt, and all one just never knows just how long this will keep happenign to
all of us.

I am glad you didn't hesitate to go back on some to help you!!! That's being kind, and loving to yourself.

Your a good egg( means really neat person)

Take care, here for you if you need me,
Debbie

[MaureenV]

Thanks Debbie, I appreciate the comments.



Maureen.

[alkirk123]

Hey guys,
Well, in spite of all those positive things I listed about coming off Cymbalta, I'm having a really hard time. I'm thinking about going on about 15 to 30 mg again and starting to wean back off all over. I can't stand these feelings: Chills, Insomnia (it's 12:54 am my time), extreme nervousness. I've got kids to take care of. Any suggestions??

Bless you all!
alkirk

[MaureenV]

alkirk123 said:

Hey guys,
Well, in spite of all those positive things I listed about coming off Cymbalta, I'm having a really hard time. I'm thinking about going on about 15 to 30 mg again and starting to wean back off all over. I can't stand these feelings: Chills, Insomnia (it's 12:54 am my time), extreme nervousness. I've got kids to take care of. Any suggestions??

Bless you all!
alkirk

How did you find your week of 15mg? I was only on 60 for about 10 days, so had no problem with 30; only started to have problems once I tried alternating days. Went straight from that to 15mg per day and withdrawal symptoms stopped.

THEN, couldn't even drop from 10 to zero over three days without feeling dreadful on Monday and couldn't even work. Am now taking 7.5mg per day, so I expect to have to get down to one bead before dropping it (that will take me to about 2020).

just kidding.

If I were you, and you have the caps, and you've done this before, I wouldn't hesitate.

The 'nervousness' stuff was what really got to me - the fact that I can't actually get my head around the other symptoms and manage them properly, even though mine are much less than many others are going through.

All power to them, they're tougher than me.


Maureen.

[alkirk123]

My doctor has prescribed Buspar to help with the nervousness. Has anyone tried this before? Thanks!
alkirk

[nursedeborah]

Alkirk,
Just another example of how much the doctors don't know what it's like getting off this crap.
if he thinks Buspar will even touch the anxiety, he has got to nbe kidding!!!!! Most doc are
giving Klonipin, or Xanax! This is total hell getting off this stuff. It was to help with people's
anxiety, but what happened to so many of us was that it so increased it we couldn't get out of the
house.

Well coming off it is compared to that of kicking Oxycotin!!!! No it's harder, am in recovery for
many years, and the drugs I came off many years ago just tokk a few days, and I was done.

This keeps going on, and on, even after you have slowly weaned off of it. Some still have the
WD for up to 6 months or longer. One guy who was off it had them for 87 days, we just are all
different.

The only thing that seems to be true is that most have severe withdrawl symptoms!!!!!

I was one of them, and finally just couldn't hang, and read here, and else where the Prozac was
the best drug to help with the withdrawl symptoms. I started it 9 days ago, and I feel more like
my old self that I have in over 4 years. I still have a ways to go, I am finally at 25 mg, but I
am not in a race. Enought damage, and pain have I had to go through, so now it's time to be
goood to myself, and this is what I call adding the Prozac. Not here to prove I am tough, just
want to get off it as easily as I can, and the least painful..

Try this site http://prozactruth.com/cymbalta.htm

If you ever need help I am always here.
Debbie

[nursedeborah]

madtabby,
Welcome, and that's great to hear how your doing! You sound like your making real
good progress, and not having any major withdrawl symptoms. Your very lucky, and
I wish I would have been so lucky as you.

I had such a hard time, and finally had to get on Prozac to help with the withdrawl
symptoms, and it helped me so much. I was avle to go from 4o mg to 30 mg, and
after 9 days dropped it to 25 mg.

It has only been 2 days on the new dose, so I don't know yet what will happen, and
I do get scared with each decrease, but also know I have the option of adding a few
more beads if I need to.

That is the greatest thing I found from this place was how to decrease at my own
confort level.

Keep up the great work,
Debbie