Here I am again....this is starting to become a blog for me.....good, cos I'm too lazy to do a diary....I am exactly at my 1/2 way mark...or just a bit over...down from 60 to 30....I guess I was hoping that by now the major symptoms would be fading, but no, new ones are popping up...
At the mo I'm dealing with dizzy head as soon as my head touches the pillow at night, followed by dizzy head as soon as I wake up & the nausea all day....to the point of wanting to vomit in the mornings...that kinda scares me cos I had breast cancer surgery last year & being paranoid about the cancer returning, I keep praying that these symptoms are only cymbalta withdrawal & not something else nasty going on inside my body....
I think possibly I should stabilize myself for a few days, but the stubborn part of me is saying, push through it...I am lucky in as far as you know I'm on holiday here in the US staying with family, so I have no stress at all & can sleep whenever I want...as opposed to being at home with the normal daily stresses of life...
I'm also taking a couple of Tylenol upon waking to chase off any headaches that think they may want to play with my brain....
To date I think the nausea is by far the worst symptom to deal with, as some days I can hardly walk straight....I guess it's been a couple or more weeks of dealing with that...
Please tell me it will pass soon...
Still no energy or any real motivation to do anything....lucky for me there's heaps of TV channels to watch here...lol
Anndi Journey
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Anndi
, Aug 18 2016 09:40 PM
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#32
fishinghat
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Posted 10 September 2016 - 05:25 PM
Do not try to force your way through it. The added stress only makes it worse. You really must take your time. By the way the wrost symptoms (usually) are the first 6 to 8 weeks after coming off. The slower you take it now the better you will have it later.
Time and patience.
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#33
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Posted 12 September 2016 - 03:58 PM
Yay.....2nd day of no symptoms...no nausea....I'm holding my breath & hoping they are gone forever...I fully intend to go super slow at the end, but for today it's so nice to not feel sick...
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#34
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Posted 15 September 2016 - 12:47 PM
This will bring a smile to your faces....still feeling great...no sickness, BUT....I went to see the Grand Canyon yesterday. Let me tell you, prob not the best place to be for someone who's afraid of heights & is withdrawing from Cymbalta.......my legs got a bit wobbly looking down but managed to stay upright...
What an amazing experience (the Canyon, not the wobbly legs)....
What an amazing experience (the Canyon, not the wobbly legs)....
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#36
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Posted 20 September 2016 - 11:15 PM
Update: still going ok. Some days still have an upset tummy & late at nite I get headzaps although only minor ones....
Still sleeping up to 10hrs but still going with that.
All in all ok...
Still sleeping up to 10hrs but still going with that.
All in all ok...
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#37
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Posted 25 September 2016 - 04:00 PM
Hey guys, got an out here question for you. I usually take my cymbalta in the morning. I usually feel groggy until late afternoon then I'm full of energy. I don't understand what you mean by cymbalta having a half life...I'm thinking, would I be better taking it at nite, then by morning I should be feeling more "alive" if you know what I mean....
Everything's going good. No real side effects now apart from still being able to sleep nearly 10hrs a day. That's really annoying...I'm onto vitamins, B12, omega & bit D which I take at night...
Everything's going good. No real side effects now apart from still being able to sleep nearly 10hrs a day. That's really annoying...I'm onto vitamins, B12, omega & bit D which I take at night...
#38
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Posted 25 September 2016 - 04:29 PM
Hello Anndi,
The half life of Cymbalta is about 12 hours. Meaning that if at 8am, you take 30 mg, at 8pm you will have 15 mg in your blood. And the next morning at 8am, you have 7.5 mg and so on.
Makes sense for you to take it at night since you feel groggy till the afternoon. Give it a try, I would. Tell us about it, and I am glad that things are going good in your weaning. To sleep 10 hours is a blessing, some of us would kill to get that! Keep on trucking!
The half life of Cymbalta is about 12 hours. Meaning that if at 8am, you take 30 mg, at 8pm you will have 15 mg in your blood. And the next morning at 8am, you have 7.5 mg and so on.
Makes sense for you to take it at night since you feel groggy till the afternoon. Give it a try, I would. Tell us about it, and I am glad that things are going good in your weaning. To sleep 10 hours is a blessing, some of us would kill to get that! Keep on trucking!
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#39
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Posted 30 September 2016 - 04:21 PM
Update: ok, so I've switched from taking my tab at night instead of the morning...what a difference already. Waking up without the foggy head, feeling alert during the day, then I take it at 6pm...the brain zaps start around then. That's ok, coz I can sleep them off at night...All good..
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#40
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Posted 30 September 2016 - 04:52 PM
Hi Anndi,
Great news! What a relief that must be. I am happy that you could manage that. Looking good, you seem in good spirits! Update when you can.
By the way, you are the first that I know of, that takes it at night. We are so unique!
Great news! What a relief that must be. I am happy that you could manage that. Looking good, you seem in good spirits! Update when you can.
By the way, you are the first that I know of, that takes it at night. We are so unique!
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#41
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Posted 01 October 2016 - 02:40 PM
Hey Gail....it's sad that it has taken so many years to figure out. I always took it in the morning & was sluggish all day. Some mornings I'd drive in the opposite way to work, that's how groggy I was, actually some mornings I knew I was prob a danger on the road, cos I couldn't concentrate...
So, hopefully this will encourage others to try taking it at night....
Onwards & upwards...
So, hopefully this will encourage others to try taking it at night....
Onwards & upwards...
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#42
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Posted 06 October 2016 - 06:53 PM
Ok... got another question for everyone....still feeling really queasy every day & also I've noticed that everything I eat, just doesn't taste right. It's like my taste buds have gone haywire....everything has a sweet taste & makes me feel yuk. Anyone found this during withdrawl...???
Apart from that I'm ok. It's funny coz I'm now taking my tab at 6pm. And look out if I'm 5 minutes late, the brain zaps start....(they're still trying to control me)...
Apart from that I'm ok. It's funny coz I'm now taking my tab at 6pm. And look out if I'm 5 minutes late, the brain zaps start....(they're still trying to control me)...
#43
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Posted 06 October 2016 - 08:40 PM
Hi Anndi !
Many suffer from the nausea, but I can certainly concur on the taste thing...
Seems as though my taste and smell were affected and still have not regained them even after over 2 1/2 years. I never had a bad taste, just none at all and same with the smell. Many did return, however.
I have noticed that many foods that I used to like I cannot taste now...
Hope that this doesn't happen to you - it's amazing how many different and weird things we experience 
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#44
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Posted 14 October 2016 - 12:15 PM
Anndi, I'm glad you found a time difference that worked for you! When I was first starting on cymbalta, I would feel horribly nauseous right after taking it in the morning. But if I took it at night (hoping to sleep through the nausea) I would be WIDE AWAKE all night. Crazy insomnia. Ended up taking it between 12-1pm, and that worked for 7 years. Timing is definitely a "thing" with this drug.
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#45
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Posted 16 October 2016 - 03:22 AM
Ok guys, I have been back in Australia for 4 days & my tiredness is getting beyond a joke. I doubt if it is jet lag as I didn't feel like this going the other way.
I am going to bed around 8-9pm, sleeping until 6am, then I'm making sure I stay awake all day. I feel great in the morning, but by late afternoon I fade really super fast. It's just gone 6pm & my body is feeling so tired. I feel like my body is twice the size & I can hardly walk. I'm aching all over, especially my legs & lower back....
Serious, serious fatigue.....surely this can't go on for much longer...
I think I'm down to about 17mg....
Comments please...
I am going to bed around 8-9pm, sleeping until 6am, then I'm making sure I stay awake all day. I feel great in the morning, but by late afternoon I fade really super fast. It's just gone 6pm & my body is feeling so tired. I feel like my body is twice the size & I can hardly walk. I'm aching all over, especially my legs & lower back....
Serious, serious fatigue.....surely this can't go on for much longer...
I think I'm down to about 17mg....
Comments please...
#46
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Posted 16 October 2016 - 07:22 AM
Hello Anndi,
The only comment I can make is about my experience with jet lag.
My mom used to live in Spain and I went often. When I got there, I had at least 8 days of feeling nauseous, not myself. But when I came back to Canada, no jet lag at all.
Any sight of kangaroos?(lol)
The only comment I can make is about my experience with jet lag.
My mom used to live in Spain and I went often. When I got there, I had at least 8 days of feeling nauseous, not myself. But when I came back to Canada, no jet lag at all.
Any sight of kangaroos?(lol)
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#48
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Posted 17 October 2016 - 05:09 AM
Lol Gail. No kangaroos at my place but just up the road there are....
I feel like I'm whingeing all the time....sorry about that. I know we all want these withdrawl Symptoms to be over sooner than later...I'm just SO impatient....
It's almost like a box of chocolates, you never know what symptom you're gonna get next....
I feel like I'm whingeing all the time....sorry about that. I know we all want these withdrawl Symptoms to be over sooner than later...I'm just SO impatient....
It's almost like a box of chocolates, you never know what symptom you're gonna get next....
#49
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Posted 26 October 2016 - 06:56 PM
Hey everyone...UPDATE...I'm now down to 100 beads from 575 whatever that equates to...
I've got a question & I'll try to explain the best I can. I have arthritis which fortunately doesn't hurt & apart from my fingers swelling, it's ok...my mum also suffered from arthritis & fibromyalgia. Now for the past week I have had severe pain in my lower back. Ok walking, but if I sit, I can hardly get up. I know people take cymbalta for fibromyalgia & I'm now wondering if I have it in my lower back & whilst on Cymbalta it has masked the pain.
I'm still going thru flu like symptoms & still generally tired, tired, tired. It is driving me nuts. At least I could function while on cymbalta, now I just feel an absolute wreck. I have so much to do around my house (spring cleaning) & I just can't do any bending.
I went to my Dr when I returned & he was most impressed with the "bead counting" method, although he prob thought I was nuts counting them out every day. He would not have suggested that... Amazingly he had never heard of that method...
Sorry to be a wet blanket but I'm seriously over this crap.
I know I'm probably being paranoid, but last year I had an encounter with breast cancer, surgery followed by radiation. Now Everytime I feel sick I wonder if there's more wrong with me apart from the withdrawal symptoms. My very supportive friends say that I've been to hell & back (the fatigue was awful) & now dealing with the fatigue from withdrawl. It's almost a double whammy. It's very difficult for me as I have always been super active, go, go go. Now I'm a train wreck in slow motion. I just want to be me again....
On a positive note...I was watching the news last night & there was a terrible accident here where 4 people lost their lives at a Theme Park....I cried, yes, actually cried. Haven't done that in years...at least I'm getting emotions back....
Here endith Annie rant for the day...
I've got a question & I'll try to explain the best I can. I have arthritis which fortunately doesn't hurt & apart from my fingers swelling, it's ok...my mum also suffered from arthritis & fibromyalgia. Now for the past week I have had severe pain in my lower back. Ok walking, but if I sit, I can hardly get up. I know people take cymbalta for fibromyalgia & I'm now wondering if I have it in my lower back & whilst on Cymbalta it has masked the pain.
I'm still going thru flu like symptoms & still generally tired, tired, tired. It is driving me nuts. At least I could function while on cymbalta, now I just feel an absolute wreck. I have so much to do around my house (spring cleaning) & I just can't do any bending.
I went to my Dr when I returned & he was most impressed with the "bead counting" method, although he prob thought I was nuts counting them out every day. He would not have suggested that... Amazingly he had never heard of that method...
Sorry to be a wet blanket but I'm seriously over this crap.
I know I'm probably being paranoid, but last year I had an encounter with breast cancer, surgery followed by radiation. Now Everytime I feel sick I wonder if there's more wrong with me apart from the withdrawal symptoms. My very supportive friends say that I've been to hell & back (the fatigue was awful) & now dealing with the fatigue from withdrawl. It's almost a double whammy. It's very difficult for me as I have always been super active, go, go go. Now I'm a train wreck in slow motion. I just want to be me again....
On a positive note...I was watching the news last night & there was a terrible accident here where 4 people lost their lives at a Theme Park....I cried, yes, actually cried. Haven't done that in years...at least I'm getting emotions back....
Here endith Annie rant for the day...
#50
fishinghat
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Posted 27 October 2016 - 08:19 AM
My wife has had several back surgeries (5) and the lower back pain and difficulty when standing sounds like a herniated disc but that is just an educated guess. Elevated pain in the joints, muscles and such are fairly common during withdrawal. On the flip side you are doing really well with the bead counting. Hang in there.
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#51
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Posted 30 October 2016 - 06:05 AM
Today I figured out (approx) that I'm down to 17mg (95 beads).....Do you think I should slow down abit or when do you think I should do it....
I'm just asking coz you guys said near the end you can hit a brick wall...I should be done in approx 20 days.
I'm just asking coz you guys said near the end you can hit a brick wall...I should be done in approx 20 days.
#53
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Posted 21 November 2016 - 04:24 AM
Fishing Hat, you were right....I ended up having a CT Scan & yes have a herniated disc at L5 pressing on the sciatic nerve....I am so over it all...it has been recommended that I have a cortisone injection...it's just something else to deal with...I want it fixed & I want it fixed NOW...lol...I'm such an impatient person...I just want my body back to normal. I put on 5kg whilst in the States & need to get it off, so I'm doing some walking, but the pain is right down into the foot.
I'm down to 20 beads & have decided to only take out 1 per day herein, so another 20 days...
Have to admit I still feel like crap generally, still no energy, it's just not me.
The CT Scan also revealed arthritis in L1,2,3,4,5. I asked the Dr if whilst I was on cymbalta ( as it's prescribed for pain) has been masking all these crazy aches & pains...he didn't know & said the only way to find out was to go back on it.
I have to be honest here, I think I was feeling far better within myself while I was it.
I'm a "time urgent" person....don't have time for these endless withdraw symptoms....
I'm down to 20 beads & have decided to only take out 1 per day herein, so another 20 days...
Have to admit I still feel like crap generally, still no energy, it's just not me.
The CT Scan also revealed arthritis in L1,2,3,4,5. I asked the Dr if whilst I was on cymbalta ( as it's prescribed for pain) has been masking all these crazy aches & pains...he didn't know & said the only way to find out was to go back on it.
I have to be honest here, I think I was feeling far better within myself while I was it.
I'm a "time urgent" person....don't have time for these endless withdraw symptoms....
#54
fishinghat
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Posted 21 November 2016 - 09:40 AM
A cortisone shot is standard to take down any inflammation and pain. However if the disc is herniated then more than likely some discomfort will return. I like to get things fixed promptly myself and would consider a discectomy to remove the protruding disc and be done with it, I certainly would not go back on the Cymbalta. Studies have shown it is only successful in controlling pain in about 50% of the cases. Lyrica and tramadol are both more effective than Cymbalta and do have withdrawal but it is generally considered less severe.
#56
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Posted 01 December 2016 - 12:49 AM
Stupid computer. Anyways my leg feels shorter than the other. I'm down to taking 10 beads per day, will do that til next week & then down to 5 for a week & off.
Seems like weaning off cymbalta has bought out some unwanted nerve pain, not only in my back, but my lower leg & also what I suspect is carpel tunnel in one of my hands.
Of course now I'm wondering has the cymbalta been masking nerve pain. I've always had numbness & tingling in my hands, but this is coming on with a vengence. I wake up at nite in alot of pain in my hands.
So....anyone got an info on nerve pain & cymbalta...be very interested in any info anyone has.
Tiredness not too bad now. Some days I'm good & some days not so good....
O...the journey continues.....thanks guys, hope you are all well....
Seems like weaning off cymbalta has bought out some unwanted nerve pain, not only in my back, but my lower leg & also what I suspect is carpel tunnel in one of my hands.
Of course now I'm wondering has the cymbalta been masking nerve pain. I've always had numbness & tingling in my hands, but this is coming on with a vengence. I wake up at nite in alot of pain in my hands.
So....anyone got an info on nerve pain & cymbalta...be very interested in any info anyone has.
Tiredness not too bad now. Some days I'm good & some days not so good....
O...the journey continues.....thanks guys, hope you are all well....
#57
fishinghat
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Posted 01 December 2016 - 09:27 AM
Cymbalta is frequently prescribed for arthritis, fibromyalgia, peripheral nerve pain, migraines, etc.
Many on the site who have been taking it for pain report heightened pain when withdrawing which usually moderates some after the withdrawal.
Remember the last few beads have the greatest withdrawal symptoms. If things go too bad for you don't hesitate to go back to your previous dose (eg. 10 beads) and then reduce more slowly.
You are doing great and I respect you patience. Hang in there.
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#58
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Posted 11 December 2016 - 12:29 AM
Hey guys, I've hit the wall.....
Finally my sciatic pain is subsiding, but still nagging just a tad. I have been taking 20 beads a day as I felt the need to stabilise for a week or two....
Mentally I feel seriously like crap....this is how it goes..
Crying, at the drop of a hat.
Feeling terrible guilt about whether I have done enough raising my boys, whom I might add have turned out amazing young men.
Slight suicidal thoughts.
Wander around the house most days, going from to room, trying to decide what to do with myself.
NO MOTIVATION FOR ANYTHING.....
Don't want to talk/see anyone....
My body feels like a lump of lead..
Have been going for walks, they don't make me feel any better, I'm just scared of totally seizing up...
I had a long talk to my Dr last week. I told him I don't want to feel all these aches & pains (that possibly the cymbalta has been masking) & to be quite honest I felt heaps more alive on antidepressants than off them...My arthritis is never going to get better...
It's all about quality of life for me. I don't have time to sit around for a couple of years waiting for all these symptoms to go away...
It's obvious to me I am depressed & I need something to get me through life... Anyways, he has given me a prescription for Lexapro.
I have not filled the prescription yet as I can't even make the decision on whether or not to take them...
What say ye all....
Finally my sciatic pain is subsiding, but still nagging just a tad. I have been taking 20 beads a day as I felt the need to stabilise for a week or two....
Mentally I feel seriously like crap....this is how it goes..
Crying, at the drop of a hat.
Feeling terrible guilt about whether I have done enough raising my boys, whom I might add have turned out amazing young men.
Slight suicidal thoughts.
Wander around the house most days, going from to room, trying to decide what to do with myself.
NO MOTIVATION FOR ANYTHING.....
Don't want to talk/see anyone....
My body feels like a lump of lead..
Have been going for walks, they don't make me feel any better, I'm just scared of totally seizing up...
I had a long talk to my Dr last week. I told him I don't want to feel all these aches & pains (that possibly the cymbalta has been masking) & to be quite honest I felt heaps more alive on antidepressants than off them...My arthritis is never going to get better...
It's all about quality of life for me. I don't have time to sit around for a couple of years waiting for all these symptoms to go away...
It's obvious to me I am depressed & I need something to get me through life... Anyways, he has given me a prescription for Lexapro.
I have not filled the prescription yet as I can't even make the decision on whether or not to take them...
What say ye all....
#59
fishinghat
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Posted 11 December 2016 - 04:38 PM
Lexapro is a fine antidepressant. Having said that, your current situation could be a return of symptoms or simply withdrawal. You would need to stabilize longer to tell. I would stay at your current Cymbalta dose for another 4 weeks, if no improvement then I would consider the Lexapro. Now 4 weeks may not be enough to make you feel great but you should feel better. The only way to tell if withdrawal or old symptoms is time. Withdrawal will very slowly fade away and return of symptoms will remain the same or get worse with time. It is just a matter of what you can handle. If things are too bad just do the change to Lexapro. By the way, you are right, the every other day thing is not a good idea.
Please keep us posted on how you do.
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