I was prescribed Cymbalta (I took the generic) about 3 years ago. It was given to me for fibro and also to help with my anxiety and depression. It helped a lot for the chronic pain. But it made me very flat emotionally and fatigued all the time. There wasn't a day I didn't nap at least once. I also gained over 30+ pounds. Being only 5'3, it made a huge impact on my body. I have cycled through many different antidepressants and anti-anxiety meds. I also suffer from hypertension. I've been treated for it since I was 28. Very hard to tell if it's a side effect of anxiety or a cause of it. I also suffer from ADD.
About a year ago I decided it was time to get off all of these damn medications. I was just taking stuff to mask symptoms and causing others. My blood pressure was constantly yo-yoing and i felt miserable all the time. I was down to two pressure meds, an anti-viral, and Cymbalta. My highest dose was 120mg. About a year ago I went down to 60mg. I honestly don't recall any withdrawal symptoms then.
June 30 I started 40 mg, July 6 I started 20mg and July 13 was my last dose. Two days later, hell started.Some days I feel like I am turning a corner. But then the next day I am right back to where I was a few days ago. I use an app called Daylio to track my mood and symptoms. My top ones are:
- trouble concentrating
- brain zaps / wooshes
- headache
- vertigo /dizziness
- anxiety
- restlessness
- speaking difficulties -
- irritability - very easily angered
- visual disturbances - floaters
- nausea
- prickling sensation - head to toe
- ear, jaw and sinus pain
- body aches
- diarrhea
- feeling cold - primarily on the back of my neck and shoulders
And then I found this site. I am glad I found a place where there are people going through the same thing. But then I got even more depressed because apparently, I haven't even gotten to the worst of it.
And of course because I don't look sick, people around me think that I am just a crybaby and lazy. And it doesn't help that I can't even articulate how I feel because when I talk, I replace words and it is a struggle to make a coherent thought. I can't fathom it getting worse or living like this for a year.
I have a follow up with my doctor next week. But I am not hopeful she'll be able to help and will probably just try to put me on something else