My Journey Begins...
#31
Posted 17 July 2008 - 08:37 PM
Yesterday and today I have experienced many of the withdrawal symptoms I had during the first few days w/out Cymbalta. However, the severity was much less. On a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being the worst), my symptoms this time are about a 1...they were a 10+ during those really bad days I had over July 4th. My guess is that the Prozac was still helping with the withdrawal symptoms, so when I stopped that, they returned. However, they are not too bad, so I will stay off the anti-ds for now. My main complaints now are the sinus issues and being really tired again.
Even though I am tired, I still feel that my overall energy level is much higher now than it was while I was on Cymbalta. Even though some of my symptoms have reappeared, I still have the ability to think with a clear head and stay focused on a task. Since the symptoms are minimal, I am able to function pretty well. During my worst days of withdrawal symptoms, I could not function at all other than to go to the bathroom and eat. I really think the worst is over for me. Only time will tell, but I have a positive outlook now.
It's hard to believe I feel this much better in just a few short weeks. It does get better!!
#32
Posted 18 July 2008 - 08:53 PM
#33
Posted 18 July 2008 - 09:16 PM
The Prozac really seemed to help, I felt better while taking it. I may start taking it again tomorrow. Decisions, decisions...I can always restart the Prozac and stop it later on.
I wonder...did the Prozac just prolong my withdrawal or did it truly help with the severity of my symptoms?? I guess I'll never know for sure. But, I would like to hear from others who took Prozac during the withdrawal, and at what point did you stop taking it? I know everyone is different, but I'd like to hear from others what their individual experiences are.
#34
Posted 19 July 2008 - 09:09 PM
FYI: Over 100 new members have joined this site in the last 10 days...and I think this is just the "tip of the iceberg" that will sink Cymbalta!! If that many people are finding this site, just think about how many other victims are suffering alone (many people still don't have access to the internet). It baffles me that all of the official statistics say that only a tiny percent of patients are having negative effects!? I want to know how many MedWatch reports have been filed about Cymbalta.
#35
Posted 20 July 2008 - 08:23 PM
During the movie, he was sitting on my lap, and he turned to me and said "I love you Sissy." That just made my day!!
#36
Posted 21 July 2008 - 09:28 AM
I was started on 120mgs of Cymbalta last Sept and am currently down to 30mgs-I've used the tapering method for the last month or 6 weeks. Woz back with my doc last week and he said to take the 30mgs for 2 weeks and then stop..... I said no way-that I was slowly tapering like I had been doing and he said that was fine as it seems to have worked for me so far. I'm also taking lots of fish oil and Vit B complex each day and it seems to help. I'm hoping that by tapering like this (reducing few mgs each week) that the withdrawals will be less severe when the time comes to come off it completely. Not having nightmares at all since I went on lower doses thank God, and feeling tired which I don't mind as had terrible insomnia at higher doses.
I came off Effexor before without tapering-think I went to 37.5 or something to nothing and side effects were bad so hopefully having gone thru dat I can get thru this as Iam weaning a lot slower.......Has anyone used the tapering method and experienced withdrawals that are tolerable?
Keep the faith everyone.....please God nothing else will be so hard again..
#37
Posted 21 July 2008 - 01:23 PM
Re Prozac and tapering... I too am finding that Prozac makes life bearable; I have a tentative timeframe for tapering off Prozac, but I am not going to start it until I am reasonably certain that I am over the Cymbalta withdrawal syndrome. Currently at 15 mg of Prozac, and in five days I will go to 10 mg, stay there a week, then 5 mg for a week, then off. Since I have effectively no stressors in life right now, I think I'm as close to a 'control' as anyone. Essentially this will be a SSRI taper of three to four months. Energy is returning, but it's easy to overdo, since I have been mostly inactive for several months, or really two-three years. I wonder if any readers have experience with activity levels changing while coming off Cymbalta. I mean that immobility is self-perpetrating, and as the drug clears out, I would like to know whether users are finding more energy, which gets them moving, which produces endorphins etc. I don't think that I have seen any gym rats on here; certainly I never had aspirations that way. However, in the last three weeks, since about five weeks off Cymbalta, I have been catching up with long-overdue gardening, and had a good clear out of my pantry, and just last weekend I did a round of cleaning in one room that involved moving furniture. Since it has been three years since I last moved it, this was a major chore - but I finished it. Like you, I would like to hear detailed exeriences about energy levels.
#38
Posted 21 July 2008 - 09:11 PM
Hopefully, tomorrow will be better. I just have to take one day at a time right now!
#39
Posted 22 July 2008 - 08:20 AM
Lori.......Day 101 Cymbalta FREE!!!!!!!!
Day 14 Cigarette Free!!!!!
#41
Posted 22 July 2008 - 05:04 PM
Glad you found this site, but sorry to hear you are suffering! By any chance, have you posted on another site regarding Cymbalta?? Just wondering, because I found a site the other day and encouraged people to find this board. Regardless of how you found us, we are here to offer support and encouragement to those who need it during Cymbalta side effects and/or withdrawal. Read as many posts as you can...there is lots of valuable info on this board!!
Remember...you will get through this...it does get better!!
#42
Posted 22 July 2008 - 06:35 PM
I'm feeling down today because I don't feel very good at all. Although my head is still clear, my energy level is very low, almost as low as when I was on Cymbalta. I definitely do not feel as good as I did when the Prozac first kicked in. But, considering Prozac stopped working on my depression in the past, it may have already plateaued.
Any thoughts??
#43
Posted 22 July 2008 - 07:34 PM
I do need to improve my diet...I'm a junk food junkie!! I still haven't felt the Prozac "kick back in"...but, I don't think it was a good idea to stop it when I did. I think I just manged to confuse my body more. I'm going to start a multi-vitamin to help with the diet issue, that may help increase my energy level. I have "food issues" (though not Anorexia or Bulemia thank goodnes) so I also plan to address my poor diet habits in therapy. Thanks for your thoughts!
#44
Posted 23 July 2008 - 05:02 AM
Just a question for Irish-if you don't mind me asking was it for depression you took the Cymbalta?
I'm currently down to 30mgs as well and from what I can see you are currently down to about 4mgs. Well done to you-what sort of side effects did you have-I reduced from 35mgs to 30mgs since last Thurs and could defo feel the withdrawals-waking during the night, bit low, decreased appetite, losing weight I had gained from it-YES, also lots of kinda boils on my scalp and around the hairline. I will stay on 30mgs for another while but think I will start reducing slower than previously as know it will be hard. Came off Effexor 2 years ago from lowest capsule and it was horrendous so hoping that by tapering this time it will be somewhat easier!!!
Thanks
#45
Posted 23 July 2008 - 12:10 PM
#46
Posted 24 July 2008 - 08:35 PM
I decided to transition my daily "health journal" offline. So, I will not be journaling my daily progress on the site anymore. However, I will definitely keep reading and posting!
The people on this site have been a tremendous help in my ongoing struggle with Cymbalta, and I truly thank you all! I might not be alive if I hadn't found this site when I did. We must all continue to take good care of ourselves and provide support for others who are fighting to rid themselves of this Cymbalta poison! Also, we must do everything we can to make the public aware of Eli Lilly's disregard for public safety regarding Cymbalta side effects and withdrawal.
#48
Posted 26 July 2008 - 09:24 AM
Also yesterday afternoon and evening I experienced heart palpatations. They were pretty intense and it happened several different times...although no one "episode" lasted more than a couple minutes. But then later last night, I sort of turned into a "raving lunatic" while talking to my sister. I started talking about some paranoia type stuff...I recognized I was doing it, but I couldn't seem to control it. I even told her that I knew I sounded crazy. I just really wasn't making any sense (to myself or her).
I'm going to give it a couple more days, but if I don't stabilize by then, I'm going back to the dr and getting off the Prozac too. This is crazy!! I'm very glad to be off the Cymbalta, but now it's a constant roller coaster of emotions and symptoms. And I don't know whether it's the withdrawal or the Prozac causing my current issues.
#49
Posted 26 July 2008 - 02:32 PM
Starting today, I did step back down to 20mg of Prozac (only took the 40mg a couple days). Maybe if I can get that leveled out, it will help. I know that the changing of doses isn't good for me, so now I will stay with 20mg until my doc advises otherwise.
#50
Posted 27 July 2008 - 08:41 PM
#51
Posted 30 July 2008 - 06:27 AM
To all of you who are just starting the withdrawal, please know you will get through the nightmare, you have my word on that, and to all of you, you are on my mind and in my prayers.
Lori
#52
Posted 24 August 2008 - 03:03 PM
I stopped all antidepressants, with the permission of my dr, to get a baseline for my depression. It had been almost 8 yrs since I started taking them, and I wanted to know how I felt without them. So far, so good. I know it is still very early in the process, but I'm hopeful. If I start feeling depressed again, I am willing to take something (after researching it). But, I will always stay away from drugs that are new to the market.
After my Cymbalta experience, I have done a lot of research, and I have learned that the FDA approves new drugs and medical devices very quickly!! As long as the drug company says it is okay, the FDA takes their word for it! Then, a few years down the road, after patients have reported all the bad effects, the FDA might take a second look at the product! I don't have much faith in the FDA since they continue to approve Cymbalta for new uses! Scary, but true!! So...I will no longer rely on my doctors and the FDA to protect me. I will rely on my own research. When lots of other people report the same negative effects about a product, that is a huge red flag!!
The important thing is, I feel good! My life is not perfect by any means, but at least I face each day with a clear head. For those of you who are suffering through the worst of withdrawal...hang in there!! It does get better!!
#53
Posted 24 August 2008 - 09:21 PM
#54
Posted 24 August 2008 - 11:46 PM
Be Well,
Bobbie
#55
Posted 28 August 2008 - 10:21 PM
#56
Posted 01 September 2009 - 07:54 AM
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