Coming Off Cymbalta

I have been on Cymbalta for 3 years now and have been up to 120mg per day, but am now down to about 30mg per day.

 

When I started taking Cymbalta the effects were dramatic, fainting and dramatic weight loss. I cannot say really what it did for my mood as many other things were changing in my life which were certainly going to have a profound effect on my mood no matter what I was taking medicinally.

 

However, I have suffered from debilitating fatigue for years prior to taking Cymbalta (I have Ankylosing Spondylitis which I assumed was the cause) but over the years since taking it this seems to have got worse to the point were I can do very little but go to work and sleep but as I teach I have to be able to work in the evenings and I just cannot. So work has been neglected as has my house (I live alone) is an absolute pigsty.

 

I have a new GP and he has suggested a new AD as the Cymbalta is not working, he prescribed Venlaflaxine but I have been on that before and it just turned me into a Zombie ie no emotions etc, which I have to say Cymbalta did not do.

 

In prep for any change in meds,  I stopped taking the Cymbalta two weeks ago. I know it is not the suggested method here but I figured I would get most of the brain zaps etc out of the way when I was off for Spring Break.

 

However what I have not been read for is the fatigue. I didn't think my fatigue could really get any worse than it was, I was wrong. For instance, today I had my haircut and then needed 3-4 hours sleep, go up, started to tidy a desk and halfway through I had to have another 3-4 sleep. But it is not just the fatigue it is an inability to be able to focus on a task or even motivate my self to try anything. 

 

It is now Thursday evening on my Spring Break and I go back to work on Monday, I have loads of marking to do and I have no idea how I am going to be able to even start it.

 

Is this normal for Cymbalta withdrawal? How long before I see any improvement?

 

My GP told me that it has nothing to do with withdrawal as stopping Cymbalta would give me more energy and there are no withdrawal symptoms. Mind you this is the same GP who questioned why I had been prescribed Cymbalta in the first place as it is "old". I told him I had been prescribed it as I was told it would help my depression and the back pain. He told me it was not used to help manage pain....

Hello Ridley,

Wow, the fatigue is quite a thing to deal with. It was there before and getting worse now.

Lack of focus, motivation are related to this. And I'm surprised that this is the only symptom. Looks like you could be in the 35% or so that have minimum withdrawal. You did cold turkey, but as I said, some can do it with minimized symptoms.

How long? We don't know that. I would continue, and not reinstate as we usually recommend. Unless it gets real nasty. We'll talk about it if this should happen. The key is not to be comfortable, just to be tolerable. Don't expect sunshine!

Should you desire to go on a different antidepressant, Zoloft and Prozac and Lexapro are suggested because of their long half life. Thanks for posting and see you soon!

Wow, the fatigue is quite a thing to deal with. It was there before and getting worse now.

Lack of focus, motivation are related to this. And I'm surprised that this is the only symptom. Looks like you could be in the 35% or so that have minimum withdrawal. You did cold turkey, but as I said, some can do it with minimized symptoms.
 

 

Thanks for the reply.

 

Do you mean the fatigue is "normal"?

 

Minimum? Really? I pity those that are on a full withdrawal..you have my sympathy.

 

OK i know you cannot say 2 weeks or 30days etc but a ball park would be good "about a month" etc would be helpful.

Yes, fatigue is real normal specially when fatigue is already in the picture.

Keep us posted!

Welcome Ridley. How long it will last varies. Some have it only a couple weeks and some a year or more but the average is 6 to 8 months until you get back to being decent. I agree with Gail. Yours is very moderate. I do have one suggestion. You can open a capsule and count the beads inside. Just for example lets say there is 300 beads. You can put 50 beads back in the capsule and take it. That should ease the symptoms some. You may have to play with this some to find the quantity that brings enough relief. Gail is right. Don't try to feel great just tolerable. Whenever the symptoms get too much take another dose (eg 5 mg) but not more than once a day. With time you will be able to use less Cymbalta during those bad spells. Who knows, maybe you will only need 2 mg to take the edge off.

Yes, fatigue is real normal specially when fatigue is already in the picture.

Keep us posted!

 

Shows how much my GP knows, (together with seemingly not knowing it is used for pain relief.)

 

And the lack of motivation also?

 

The problem with all of these symptoms is that they are the same as depression as are the side effects listed as present with AD.

Welcome Ridley. How long it will last varies. Some have it only a couple weeks and some a year or more but the average is 6 to 8 months until you get back to being decent. I agree with Gail. Yours is very moderate. I do have one suggestion. You can open a capsule and count the beads inside. Just for example lets say there is 300 beads. You can put 50 beads back in the capsule and take it. That should ease the symptoms some. You may have to play with this some to find the quantity that brings enough relief. Gail is right. Don't try to feel great just tolerable. Whenever the symptoms get too much take another dose (eg 5 mg) but not more than once a day. With time you will be able to use less Cymbalta during those bad spells. Who knows, maybe you will only need 2 mg to take the edge off.

 

Thanks for the reply.

 

I hope this doesn't last 6 months, I won't have a job if it takes that long.

 

I would prefer to not take it anymore, at all.

 

I tried quitting smoking by cutting down, it didn't work for me. I tend to succumb if I have just the one IYSWIM