Weaning off and completely confused. Will it get better?

Hi Kati

You didn't say what sort of weaning schedule you've been on but knowing what Drs usually suggest, I'd lay odds that it's way too fast. All the symptoms you've described are withdrawal.

To fill you in, Cymbalta changes the way the brain functions and it takes time for it to return to its pre-medication way of working. If you quickly reduce or suddenly stop the meds, you find that it hasn't had a chance to adjust - hence all the symptoms. This website lists the wdl symptoms and is a handy reference http://www.prozactru...om/cymbalta.htm

You said that you were going to try being without Cymbalta from now on - I would recommend the opposite! It is better to go back on a higher dose and stabilise, before weaning more slowly. It is not a race. It is just better to allow the brain to heal more slowly while also having quality of life.

It's up to you but please just think about what I've said
Regards
Junior

Hi
I am experiencing the same problem. I have been taking Pristiq for 1 yr and half. I recently asked to switch to Welbutrin because I gained 30lbs while taking Pristiq. The doctor is weaning me off now but I feel like I am going through hell. I was on 100mg and then he had me take 50 mg for a week and then 25 mg for a week. I am on the 25mg and I cannot function. I feel like I have the flu. I have hot flashes, dizziness and nausea. He told me the medicine shouldnt be doing this but I know that it is. He told me to go back to 50 mg for a while but I hate to do that because I am just going to suffer from this again when I get to 25mg. I asked if he would call in some nausea medicine for me. I just took the first pill so we will see if it helps. I feel like I am suffering from motion sickness. I hope things change because I can't deal with this while working.

Christy

Hi Christy

Every time I read of a rapid weaning schedule it makes me angry . I've heard SOOOOOOOOOOO many stories now and Drs just don't seem to realise how long it takes people to adjust to not having these drugs in their system. Actually, it's not how long it takes the drug to be out of the system, its how long it takes the brain to return to its pre-med way of functioning.

With that in mind, I would recommend that you DO go back to taking 50mg. You might even need more in order to stabilise. You could then wean more slowly. The general recommendation is to reduce by 10% each time and wait 3-6 weeks to stabilise before reducing further.

Good luck
Junior

Actually Stacy Junior DOES know what she's talking about. Just because you're doing a slower wean than your doctor recommends does not mean that you are doing a SLOW WEAN. I spent 10 weeks going from 20mg to zero, and yes, had withdrawal symptoms each time I dropped 1 - 2 mg, but very mild, just enough to remind me that doing a bigger drop would cause bigger withdrawal symptoms. I would then wait until they had gone before doing the next drop.

It's not difficult at all to do small drops with the capsules/beads: hundreds of people have followed what they've discovered on here and divided up their doses using clear gelatine capsules.

Taking the beads with any sort of food (and I hope to God your doctor didn't recommend this) is a very, very bad idea. The beads themselves are the slow release component of Cymbalta - any damage to the beads before they make it to your stomach alters the absorption rate. If people are desperate, they should take the beads off a spoon and swallow very carefully with water, then wash out their mouth. The thicker the liquid you're using, the greater the risk of beads getting caught in teeth etc.

30mg is only the smallest dose in some countries, such as Australia. (If that's where you are, you can get the empty gelatine capsules at Chemist Warehouse.) The US has a 20mg capsule. You're right that it makes it damned difficult for those not 'in the know' to wean off safely.

You CAN reduce your withdrawal symptoms to no more than annoying, IF you are able to spend longer coming off the drug.

regards, Maureen.

Junior:

Sorry to be so blunt but you have no idea what you are talking about. No matter how slow you go, you will still feel the withdrawal symptoms. They may not be AS intense, but believe me you will feel them.

Excuse me? I never said there would be no withdrawal effects. I was just giving some general info to someone who asked.

As for your slow wean, going from 90mg to 15mg in 3 1/2 months may not be as slow as you think. The general recommendation is to reduce by 10% of your current dose, and wait 3-6 weeks before reducing further. I've actually known of people to reduce their paxil dose of 0.5g each time and still suffer withdrawals.

Get your facts right before you criticise. For example, do you know how these drugs alter brain function? I do.

Junior

Hi Junior.

thanks. I know it is important to do it very slowly, but the whole problem is that I have so many awful side effects just TAKING the drug, that I just HAD to start weaning off. Taking it makes me feel worse than these withdrawal symptoms, that's why I feel I don't have a choice but got through it. I'm vey carefully listening to my body and what it is saying. I'm having bad days and better days, the side effects at the moment are mainly the terrible dizziness and flu-like symptoms. I have given myself time off to go through this, I really need to get this out of my system! At the momnet I'm taking 15 mg every day, never knowing wether I feel better having taking the dose, or worse.
Apart from the side effects, I feel lighter and more grounded ( I know, sounds unlikely ) and am trusting my body and instinct. I am also a lot less emotional now. I just want this poison out of my system!!!!!!!!!

Kati.

Hi Kati

It's your body and you have every right to do whatever you feel is best for you. Just be aware that it's not getting Cymbalta out of your system that is important here, it's allowing your body to return to the way it functioned before Cymbalta. Let me explain: neurons communicate with each other via chemical messengers called neurotransmitters. Sometimes the receiving neuron is slow to take up the neurotransmitter so the sending neuron takes it back (reuptake) and effectively recycles it. Cymbalta works by down-regulating the serotonin and norepinephrine receptors on the sending neuron, which means these chemicals stay in the gap between neurons (synapse) longer. This then gives the receiving neuron more time to process the serotonin and norepinephrine.

Now.. when the drug is removed, these receptors need to up-regulate and this doesn't usually happen instantly. In addition, there are over 50 different neurotransmitters in the human brain. If you alter 1 or 2 of these, others will adjust their levels accordingly in order to help the brain find a new equilibrium. Naturally, if you cease the drug, these levels will change also.

All of the above is the reason for withdrawals and why a slow wean is recommended. It gives the brain time to adjust more slowly. If you cease the drug suddenly, as I did (after only 19 days and would NOT recommend it to anyone) you are basically throwing the brain into chaos. My own situation was compounded by the fact I'd been on other a/ds prior to trying Cymbalta.

Obviously listen to your body, but I would recommend a steady dose, taken daily, rather than the every other day thing you are doing now. Simply because those receptors don't know whether to upregulate or not!

Kind Regards
Junior

I fell so much better knowing I am not the only one that is going through this nightmare. I was trying to go off cymbalta an go with natural, because of the weight gain Oh MY Goodness! What have I got my self into and does anyone know how long does it take? I feel like I really am going through a bad bad thing and want it to stop. I thank everyone for their coments,but does any one know how long does it take? I took 30mg and then went down to half by open the capsuel and poored 1/2 out not that I'm recomending that it didn't work I hate this feeling. I have been off for 7 days and I'm still feeling dizzy and lost. I know someone has to know the best thing. I feel like a zombie. Thank you!

Hi Jodie

At this point you have two choices:
1. You can continue - although it will be tough for at least the next week, or
2. You can go back on the 30mg, stabilise, then try weaning more slowly.

My recommendation would be the latter.
Kind regards
Junior