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Edema Feet And Legs


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#1 Sushio

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Posted 01 January 2019 - 08:26 PM

I’ve searched the internet and can find nothing on edema as a withdrawal symptom of Cymbalta. I was on 60mg for 4 months. It was prescribed for nerve pain. I underwent extensive back surgery and had no reason to continue taking it. When I told my physician I wanted to stop the medication I was told to take 40 mg for one week and then taper off to 20 mg for one week. During the tapering I was a little nauseous and had some vertigo, but nothing that was unbearable. Two days after taking the 20mg I started having edema in both feet. I took my final Cymbalta about two weeks ago. Initially the edema just involved my feet, but now it goes up to and includes my knees. I started wearing support/compression stockings, but they really don’t help much. Has anyone else experienced this...and if so, what can I do to relieve these symptoms. And how long does it take for the edema to subside? Any help is appreciated...the edema is very painful.

#2 invalidusername

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Posted 01 January 2019 - 10:11 PM

Hi Sushio and welcome to the site.

 

Fluid retention is not a common withdrawal complaint as you have already discovered through your own research, however there are some posts here which have mentioned it, and edema has been quoted a few times. One forum post covers some detail here to get you started;

 

https://www.cymbalta...dema#entry39481

 

Whilst I can cover a number of issues, this is quite a specialty which calls for one of our longer-standing members who will most likely reply in the morning - I am the night-shift while they are all asleep!! :)

 

In the meantime, you can use the site search function at the top right to search for posts mentioning fluid retention or edema, and there is quite a few.

 

IUN 


#3 fishinghat

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Posted 02 January 2019 - 08:17 AM

Welcome Sushio

 

IUN is correct, it is a common problem during withdrawal. If you did the search then you I am sure you will find dozens of such comments. This symptom usually lasts around 4 or 5 weeks but that varies a lot from person to person.

 

I have to head out to a dr appointment in a few minutes but when I get back this afternoon I will try and find out what members have done about this in the past.

 

Please feel free to come back anytime and we look forward to your posts.


#4 gail

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    5 months on cymbalta, scary side effects, to get help and to return the favor if I can.

Posted 02 January 2019 - 09:59 AM

Hello Sushio,

Welcome to the forum. These two other guys will help you through. You are blessed by not having the horrendous symptoms members have.

Did it help with the pain? I also had extensive back surgery, for the pain, I was given hydromorphone. Here in Quebec, I haven't heard of doctors treating such pain with Cymbalta.

Stay with us Sushio, we will help you.

#5 Sushio

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Posted 02 January 2019 - 12:07 PM

Thank you all for your responses! When the edema started the only thing that I had changed was the Cymbalta. Thank goodness I found a post from 2014 associating edema with Cymbalta withdrawal. Because it has progressively been getting worse and becoming very painful, I was getting concerned and decided to post to this forum last night. Shortly after the post, I received the first response...you are all a blessing! I look forward to further input...thank you again.

God-like, I am definitely blessed for not having the horrible withdrawal symptoms that others have suffered...maybe because I was only on the medication for 4 months. I don’t understand why this drug is still prescribed. I am about 2 months post surgery and all has gone well. I only have pain when laying down...when it happens it is quick and pretty strong. I am hoping it is part of the healing process. I was put on Cymbalta about 3 months prior to surgery, at that time I was having severe sciatica. The medication really didn’t help at all. The main side effect I noticed was decreased appetite...I had to make myself eat.

#6 fishinghat

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Posted 02 January 2019 - 02:02 PM

I am back from my drs appointment Sushio and will start working on the edema issues and see what other members have done for theirs. It will take a little bit but I will be back.


#7 fishinghat

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Posted 02 January 2019 - 03:35 PM

Well, Sushio here is what I found. About 25 members mentioned swelling/edema in legs and feet. Many were put on Lasix (a diuretic) for the swelling and most reported little improvement. Two did mention that it helped. Cymbalta is famous for causing sodium and potassium levels to be out of spec and this has been suggested as the cause of some of the swelling so you might wangt to check that out. Several members have had it determined they had low sodium and/or potassium during withdrawal and two of those with edema had that diagnosis. One thought it was from melatonin and when she stopped taking it the edema subsided. Probably a dozen members have had low sodium levels that contributed to miniseizures so I think it would be wise to have that checked. If you want further information on any of the items listed above let me know as I have a library of medical research related to Cymbalta.


Posted by piceas on 28 April 2017 - 07:02 PM in ARE YOU NEW HERE? Words from the wise about Cymbalta
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,
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.

Posted by Xiaojie on 01 April 2014 - 12:29 AM in What are you feeling?
So what I'd really like to know is: Does the fluid retention ever disappear or am I stuck with it forever, and I just need to get used to it? As I've said before in other posts, my fluid retention isn't merely having swollen feet, hands, and ankles - it's edema of my entire body that began since quitting Cymbalta almost 6 weeks ago. I didn't have the edema to any degree when I was taking Cymbalta, and I have no history of heart/blood pressure issues. So I just. Don't. Get it...
The two stubborn ones I'm still contending with are the fluid retention and weight gain, both of which cause my bones and joints to ache constantly. The fluid retention isn't simply swollen hands and feet. It's edema of my entire body, the likes of which I have never experienced before. My legs feel so heavy when walking and standing, my lower back pain is so intense when standing that I cannot do it for more than 5 minutes at a time. Transition from sitting to standing position and visa versa is excruciating, too.

Posted by lady2882Nancy on 21 July 2013 - 06:02 PM in ARE YOU NEW HERE? Words from the wise about Cymbalta
The edema can be quite extreme for some. I couldn't even wear my normal shoes for a week or so. Then I found some fennel seed tea and that did the trick. One nice cup in the morning for a few days and that was the end of that.
I am going to buy some more next time I get to the health food store and try it for some of the other things that seem to cause edema for me to see if it helps.
Fluid retention seems to be the bane for women with all kinds of things.

Posted by lady2882Nancy on 14 July 2013 - 01:24 PM in ARE YOU NEW HERE? Words from the wise about Cymbalta
Hi 2dogmama
Yes I had the edema very badly. I used fennel seed tea to get rid of it and then a small daily dose of dandilion root tea each morning kept it from coming back

Posted by lady2882Nancy on 23 March 2013 - 11:21 AM in How to Find Support
Good news people. I found an easy way to get rid of that bloat and edema.
Better yet it is in most people's spice rack or the spice rack at a grocery store as seeds or ground.
Fennel seeds, they are most effective if they are ground but even a tea made with the whole seeds and allowed to steep for 15 minutes or so will bring relief. A cheap $10 coffee grinder will grind all kinds of seeds quickly and easily, just remember to keep ground products refrigerated as they quickly lose strength once ground.

The brain zaps, the muscle twitching, the edema (I lost 50 pounds in one weekend on Lasix), the potassium deficiencies, the neuropathy. The brain fog, the muscle jerks, the vertigo and dizziness, the relentless pain and the real show stopper, the inability to walk! I feel like I just crawled out of a 90 year old woman suit.

'cowboymom', on 12 Mar 2010 - 3:20 PM,
The brain zaps, the muscle twitching, the edema (I lost 50 pounds in one weekend on Lasix), the potassium deficiencies, the neuropathy.

Posted by needoffthisdrug0326 on 13 September 2018 - 06:39 PM
It's been about four and a half weeks now and I thought I'd give an update:
Swelling ankles and feet. ​This is slightly better. Still swelling some, but I actually have legit ankles most days, so yay.

Posted by sk8rmama24 on 19 April 2018 - 09:03 PM
My blood pressure, which was usually normal to the high side of normal basically jumped to stage 2 hypertension (I am getting readings near 144/95 often through-out the day) without passing go or collecting $200. Not a slow creep, but a rapid jump. Apparently there IS a reason I started having nosebleeds in the shower recently and I am pretty sure it has nothing to do with me being overweight. Not really sure if the swelling is causing the hypertension, or the hypertension causing the swelling, seems to be like a chicken or egg situation from what I have read so far. They are interrelated, but not always present together.

Posted by trish49682 on 05 September 2016 - 09:53 PM
I am having many symptoms spoke about on here anxiety, swelling bad in legs and feet, joints hurt. I have a strong water pill I can take it isn't phasing it much.

Posted by mrs301 on 25 May 2016 - 08:14 PM
And, my allergist put me on Lasix, which does absolutely nothing for the swelling.

Posted by ThisBetterPass on 13 September 2014 - 11:56 PM
I'd say the swelling is about 2/3 of what it was like last night. Yesterday was rough but today was better.

Posted by ThisBetterPass on 13 September 2014 - 02:52 PM
One rare one for me that popped up is ankle swelling.

Posted by K8EQ on 31 March 2014 - 01:54 PM
I'm thinking of just foregoing the 15mgs and cold turkey the rest of the way. For those of you out there..........there IS light at the end of the tunnel isn't there??!!! Will the swelling in my knees EVENTUALLY go away???

Posted by DinCA on 01 August 2013 - 05:10 PM
She kept pushing me on losing the weight but nothing was happening. and she didnt believe me that I was trying. then I was also having problems with some swelling. Now after about a month of being off it...the swelling is AWEFUL. I thought I was gaining weight really fast too but when I took something for water retention...I actually fit comfortably into a pair of pants that I thought I had not only out grown but totally OVER grown so far this time, at least, was from the water retention.

Posted by tazzie on 21 July 2013 - 04:48 PM
I also have swelling but am hoping it will remedy itself. I was only taking 30 mg a day. I am on my 10th day without the Cymbalta

Posted by buzzbuzz on 21 July 2013 - 08:32 AM
I had swelling in my extremities when in the throes of withdrawal. I couldn't get my wedding rings off. I was 2 to 3 pounds heavier for almost 3 months. I took my last few little cymbalta mini-pills (bought empty gelatin pill capsules at the health food store) this past March and I had horrible w/d symptoms for three months!

Posted by truckprincess on 02 January 2013
Think the sinuses are still a bit off but does seem as though the swelling is getting better.

Posted by Kattin on 10 November 2010 - 05:46 PM
Also was having swelling in legs, ankles & feet. Not sure if that was from Cymbalta, but put on lasix and pottasium, so will see what happens.

Posted by mysticcherokee on 17 October 2009
Sleep probs worse and swelling in feet. Increased the melatonin to 6 mg, after stopping the elavil. swelling wouldnt go down. Little balloons left and right of ankles.Feet hurt, and sides started swelling. Ceased all supps. Sleeeeeep bad. Swelling going down. Reintroduced one days melatonin, swelling up.

Posted by Houdi on 11 August 2009
I had pain and swelling in my feet and hands during withdrawal. These were one of the last symptoms to leave my body. Took lots longer than 4 weeks for me to shake.

Posted by nossri4me on 16 October 2008
I also had a recent weight gain (after recently losing 12 pounds) and had the weirdest fatigue, backache and hand and foot swelling for a four day stretch last week.

#8 fishinghat

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Posted 02 January 2019 - 03:47 PM

Almost forgot. Several of these members had corresponding increases in blood pressure as well so you might see if that is the case.

#9 Sushio

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Posted 02 January 2019 - 06:15 PM

Wow, God-like.....thank you so much! You are such a huge help and blessing! This forum is a life saver to many people...it’s good to know you’re not alone and going crazy with some of these symptoms. Thank you again!

#10 fishinghat

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Posted 02 January 2019 - 06:39 PM

Thank you for the kind words Soshio but the name is fishinghat. The website gives titles to those who post the most. Trust me I fall a little short on the title god-like. lol

If you try any remedies we would like to know the outcome so we can help others. Also let us know how long it lasts as well.

Feel free to come back anytime.

#11 invalidusername

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Posted 02 January 2019 - 06:43 PM

Trust me I fall a little short on the title god-like. lol
.

 

You seem to have forgotten when Gail saw you in your mankini not so long back... :)

 

Yes - please keep us updated Sushio - and will be happy to hear how things improve for you.





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