Oh, I AM SO GLAD AND GRATEFUL THAT I HAVE FOUND THIS FORUM!!!
For the last few nights I have been unable to sleep, gasping for breath every time I dropped off, and having to sit up to breathe and sleep for 2 or 3 hours. This morning I thought I was going crazy. I had my first ever panic attack and that only made it harder to breathe. I had NO IDEA what was wrong with me. I started a list of my symptoms for a call to my GP: anxiety, panic, unable to breathe, terrible diahrrea, crying, itching, shaking. I started to pray for help, really quite frightened. I had several thoughts come to my mind. The first was to get my inhaler (not used since last winter for bronchitis). That helped me catch my breath. Then I had the distinct impression that I was in withdrawal, but from WHAT??? I checked my weekly pill case and realized that somehow I had failed to include the Cymbalta for this week. So now it is Wednesday morning and my last day of 60mg (30 mg twice a day) was last Thursday. I had been cold turkey since Thursday. Surprise!!
I have RA and fibromyalgia and the cymbalta was supposed to help with the fibro. I have been on it for about a year, and have felt lousy the whole time, and never really felt that it helped the fibro pain anyway. I am 62 and took early retirement because the RA was not controlled at all.
After doing some research about Cymbalta withdrawal, I finally found this web site. I called my doctor and had to leave a message that explained that I was cold turkey and quite freaked out by the intensity of the withdrawal, so much so that I wanted a taper plan because I am DONE with this toxin. Amazingly, the sweet nurse that called me back had gone through an almost identical experience a few years ago when she ran out of meds and the pharmacy was closed for Memorial Day. She was totally sympathetic and actually understood how frightened i was. She said that the doctor had suggested staying at 30mg for a few weeks and then stopping completely. She said that is was actually harder than that, and i might look for some better advice. I will definately use the counted balls process and take it slower if need be.
I am just thrilled with the love and support of other members on this site. You have made me feel that getting through this is possible. As I read some of your kind and positive message to each other, tears just rolled down my checks.
Thank you for a place where I feel understood and not judged. I may need your help as I go through this, but I have done many terribly hard things in my life before, and I will succeed with this.
Gramie