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I Tried Weaning Once - It Was Very Discouraging


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#1 wishididnt

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Posted 26 January 2016 - 06:15 PM

HI everyone - I'm brand new here. I'm a 29 year old male, and i started taking cymbalta 2 years ago after a serious construction (pipe laying) accident, which almost resulted in the loss of a leg. I was in the best shape of my life, moving up in the company, happy - life was good. Being layed up had me down in the dumps. I started to doubt myself, lost confidence, and i was scared. My job was dangerous. I had avoided a few bad accidents before this one, and I didn't want to go back. I was very good at my work, and it was my career. My whole life.. I loved it. Being so confused, scared, and devastated at the time, my case manager suggested to my doctor that I be put on Cymbalta, and he agreed. I had no idea what I was getting myself into. Cymbalta never did anything for me. I was just in a bad situation, and obviously Cymbalta (60 mg at this point) won't do anything to fix that. So, after about a year I told them that I wanted to get off the drug. The doctor put me on a weaning schedule of one month. HA! After reading this forum even a little bit I realize how ridiculous that is. My side effects were brutal. The most noticeable was this intense rush of dizziness literally every minute with a constant lethargic fog in between. I am currently managing a resort, which includes a restaurant/ATV and snowmobile rental service, cabins, and a campground. I don't know what to do at this point. I feel like i'm stuck with this drug that I have no desire to take. I can't do this job and experience these withdrawal symptoms at the same time. Are there any dietary options to help with these side effects? Any other ideas? Thanks so much for taking the time to read this. Any help would be much appreciated. 


#2 gail

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Posted 26 January 2016 - 07:20 PM

Hi IwishIdidnt,

Welcome to the forum and weallwishwedidnt just like you!

Dietary options? Can't help you with that.

First thing to do is to bead count your way down. No cold turkey please, unless you wish to witness what hell is like...

Generic or Cymbalta? How many beads in your capsule? Now, we will wait for your answer and help you to a smoother and controlled withdrawal if you wish that. See you later!

#3 fishinghat

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Posted 26 January 2016 - 08:12 PM

Welcome WID

 

There aren't any easy answers. Vit C at 500 mg/day, stay hydrated, omega 3000 mg/day. No cure but it will help some. Best bet is the bead counting at a very slow rate. Maybe 1 or 2% a month decrease. Like Gail said...Generic or Eli Lilley. How many beads. Get yourself back on a normal dose til you stabilize and then do the bead counting.


#4 lady2882Nancy

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Posted 26 January 2016 - 10:47 PM

Hi iwishididnt

 

Patience and slowly is the way with this drug. The bead counting way is the only way to minimize side effects and if you do it slowly enough you can be darn near symptom free so you will be able to keep working while reducing. The biggest thing is to be on a brand that has the little beads in it and not the ones with the big beads. Counting those little beads in one capsule while frustrating gives you an idea of how many are in each mg.

Typically one starts by reducing by no more than 1% or by a set number of beads. After that it is just a matter of paying attention to how your body and head feels each day so that you do not drop by too many beads or mgs at once. Sometimes you have to stay at the same dose for awhile to feel good again.

Keep in mind that it can take 3 to 5 days for withdrawal symptoms to start so you may need to go back up to the previous dose to stabilize again. The first signs of dizziness or flu like symptoms you are familiar with so you are ahead of the game there but they do start very gently when bead counting down.

Also those last few beads are the hardest to get off of and can take quite a while. There was a man on here that I was in contact with for quite a while and he was stuck at 5 beads for months. He was very frustrated with that but eventually managed to do without them.

A little advice from me. Do not throw any of those little beads out but rather get some of the empty capsules you can get at a health store or pharmacy and make your own capsules up with the beads you remove as you go along. That way you do not have to buy so many pills during the bead counting. If you can not find any capsules then save them in an air tight container and you can mix them with applesauce or whatever when you get down to the lower number of beads.

 

Take care of you and be well

 

Nancy


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#5 equuswoman

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    In the future want 2B off Cymbalta! The physicians are no help. Looking for understanding, support & encouragement as I know this is a difficult process. Want 2 be of help 2 others who will find this site looking for same things as I.

Posted 27 January 2016 - 05:47 PM

Hi and welcome to the forum. I had to slowly wean off of this nasty drug. It took me over 4 months to rid myself of it. It was a very slow process but you can do it and the ppl here can help. Hang in there. TheEquusWomn


#6 fishinghat

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Posted 27 January 2016 - 06:45 PM

Hi EW

 

How is Hershey?


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#7 equuswoman

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Posted 28 January 2016 - 08:30 PM

Hi EW

 

How is Hershey?

 

Hi fishinghat

Hershey is quite fat and sassy lol and he looks like a woolly mammoth as he begins to as we say "fuzz up" beginning in September. He will keep this fine winter coat until come spring and then it's such fun when he begins to 'shed'.... fun as in when I groom him I can't tell you how many horse hairs I eat!

But he's worth it as  you know. This winter has been quite warm for SweetHomeAlabama but not as far as I'm concerned as I don't like or do well in the cold. How are you my sweet friend? Well I hope.

Hugs darlin' :hug:


#8 fishinghat

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Posted 28 January 2016 - 08:52 PM

Hanging in there EW. You take care and God Bless.


#9 kmrekl217

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Posted 14 February 2016 - 03:50 PM

HI everyone - I'm brand new here. I'm a 29 year old male, and i started taking cymbalta 2 years ago after a serious construction (pipe laying) accident, which almost resulted in the loss of a leg. I was in the best shape of my life, moving up in the company, happy - life was good. Being layed up had me down in the dumps. I started to doubt myself, lost confidence, and i was scared. My job was dangerous. I had avoided a few bad accidents before this one, and I didn't want to go back. I was very good at my work, and it was my career. My whole life.. I loved it. Being so confused, scared, and devastated at the time, my case manager suggested to my doctor that I be put on Cymbalta, and he agreed. I had no idea what I was getting myself into. Cymbalta never did anything for me. I was just in a bad situation, and obviously Cymbalta (60 mg at this point) won't do anything to fix that. So, after about a year I told them that I wanted to get off the drug. The doctor put me on a weaning schedule of one month. HA! After reading this forum even a little bit I realize how ridiculous that is. My side effects were brutal. The most noticeable was this intense rush of dizziness literally every minute with a constant lethargic fog in between. I am currently managing a resort, which includes a restaurant/ATV and snowmobile rental service, cabins, and a campground. I don't know what to do at this point. I feel like i'm stuck with this drug that I have no desire to take. I can't do this job and experience these withdrawal symptoms at the same time. Are there any dietary options to help with these side effects? Any other ideas? Thanks so much for taking the time to read this. Any help would be much appreciated. 

 

Hi, Wishing I Didn't.

I too tried weaning off once. It was a three month long disaster. Once my new insurance kicks in, I'm going to try weaning again, this time doing the bead counting method.

Some things I tried when I weaned the first time: tea tree oil under my nose (for some reason, the smell was calming), getting outside and taking walks, writing about it. I've also heard that Omega 3s are helpful. Whatever you do, eat as well as you can.

Good luck to you!


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#10 katrand65

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Posted 16 February 2016 - 09:08 PM

Hi Wishing!

 

I can take a long time and be a very frustrating experience to wean.  I have finally weaned down from a 60 to a 30 mg (started in Nov 2015). My doctor is on board with the bead-counting and is ready to call in a script for 20 mg when I am ready.  She also suggested that I start taking 5HTP (an amino acid that helps with serotonin production) as I am weaning off from now until I am totally off the Cymbalta.  5HTP is available through Amazon, iHerb, and probably at GNC or other vitamin stores.  You may want to check with your doctor or use an on-line drug comparison site that will tell you if there are any contraindications to combining your existing prescriptions and supplements with 5HTP. 

 

You may find the book "The Mood Cure" helpful.  It addresses the underlying diet and medical causes (for me, hypothyroidism) of pain (both mental and physical).  I have found it to be very useful in understanding and learning about natural and dietary means of treating that pain. The book also references 5HTP, as well as other supplements, as being helpful for people weaning off of antidepressants.

 

I wish you the very best of luck and perseverance in getting off this lousy drug!    


#11 lady2882Nancy

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Posted 17 February 2016 - 12:17 AM

You have to be careful taking 5HTP at the same time as Cymbalta or any other SNRI or SSRI as you can end up with Serotonin Syndrome which is potentially fatal. Anyone planning on taking it should only take it under a doctor's supervision and it better be a doctor that fully understands that 5HTP is the same as any other SSRI antidepressant, 


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