I lost my medical insurance and with it, my Cymbalta scrib. That was about 3 weeks ago and I'm still barely functional with brain zaps and their headaches, low energy, irritability/anger. I'm afraid I've done permanent damage to my brain and that this is how it will be from now on. The brain zaps are the same as when I tapered off Effexor years ago and that went away, but 3 weeks and it's not any better scares me. Also, I'm shocked by the number of doctors who have never heard of brain zaps.
Need reassurance
Started by PDXgreg, Oct 13 2009 12:33 PM
4 replies to this topic
#2
nursedeborah
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- I am reallly trying to get off Cymbalta, and not having, well I am having nightmares even with the decreased does, and clanging in my head.
I just found this site, and I really need help, I can't do this, I fear I willl never get off this brutal medication.
Deboreah Wesson
Posted 13 October 2009 - 12:55 PM
Greg,
Welcome, I am sorry it took you so long to find us! I can't even begin to tell you
how sorry I am that you even have to be here, but the good thing about this place
is that you will get so much information as to what'a really going on with you, and
also things that you can do to help!!
Three weeks sounds like a long time, and one would think you would be past
the withdrawls, but you also had to go cold turkey as well, and that is even
more brutal that how some of us have learned how to do this by decreasing
slowly.
Is there a possibility that you could ask your doc for samples? At least that
way you could stop all this insanity, and pain your going through.
You will learn here that you brain is addicted to the drug, and has to be tappered off
slowly, and even doing it that way is painful for some of us here. It is also hard with
each decrease too. That is why being able to control your own weaning progress at your own
pace is just what we have found is the best way to do this.
Some do, do this cold turkey as it is called, and just live through the hell, then start back on it
as it becomes to hard, others don't and ride it out. It all just depends on you, and what you can
tolerate.
We don't know how long this will last. I have heard from 6 months to 2 years, yeah awful to think
about. Just know that there are things one can do to help even with that.
Read lots of posts, check out cymbalta withdrawls, nutrition. Just keep reading others posts!
You willl make it, and we are all here to support you.
Debbie
Welcome, I am sorry it took you so long to find us! I can't even begin to tell you
how sorry I am that you even have to be here, but the good thing about this place
is that you will get so much information as to what'a really going on with you, and
also things that you can do to help!!
Three weeks sounds like a long time, and one would think you would be past
the withdrawls, but you also had to go cold turkey as well, and that is even
more brutal that how some of us have learned how to do this by decreasing
slowly.
Is there a possibility that you could ask your doc for samples? At least that
way you could stop all this insanity, and pain your going through.
You will learn here that you brain is addicted to the drug, and has to be tappered off
slowly, and even doing it that way is painful for some of us here. It is also hard with
each decrease too. That is why being able to control your own weaning progress at your own
pace is just what we have found is the best way to do this.
Some do, do this cold turkey as it is called, and just live through the hell, then start back on it
as it becomes to hard, others don't and ride it out. It all just depends on you, and what you can
tolerate.
We don't know how long this will last. I have heard from 6 months to 2 years, yeah awful to think
about. Just know that there are things one can do to help even with that.
Read lots of posts, check out cymbalta withdrawls, nutrition. Just keep reading others posts!
You willl make it, and we are all here to support you.
Debbie
#3
PDXgreg
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- Experiencing debilitating Cymbalta withdrawal and need reassurance I won't always be like this, that they will plass
Posted 13 October 2009 - 03:58 PM
Thanks, Debbie. It's reassuring to know others have made it. Six months to 2 years! At least that's not permanent (my big fear). This is like having the flu with all the aches, debility and stupified brain...that's what I thought was going on until I made the connection with the brain zaps ("ching..ching..ching"). I will read the nutrition advice here to see what needs to be done. I get some relief from ibuprofen and green tea.
#4
nursedeborah
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- Members
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God-like
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- why_joining:
- I am reallly trying to get off Cymbalta, and not having, well I am having nightmares even with the decreased does, and clanging in my head.
I just found this site, and I really need help, I can't do this, I fear I willl never get off this brutal medication.
Deboreah Wesson
Posted 13 October 2009 - 06:47 PM
PDXgreg,
I am so glad that what I said helped. I am still having a hard time when I do a
new decrease.
I just hope that somehow you can get some of this drug, and slowly wean yourself off it
as it only gets worse doing it cold turkey, unless you don't have to work, and can just stay in bed.
Onething I did find out here is that Prozac does help with the withdrawl symptoms, and I finallly
had to go for it as I just couldn't take being so freaked out, and so tired, amoung many other
withdrawl symptoms, nightmares, can't sleep, sweating, abdominal pain, headaches, and more.
Let me know what your going to do. If I didn't give you the site for withdrawls here it is
http://prozactruth.com/cymbalta.htm
We can to this together.
Debbie
I am so glad that what I said helped. I am still having a hard time when I do a
new decrease.
I just hope that somehow you can get some of this drug, and slowly wean yourself off it
as it only gets worse doing it cold turkey, unless you don't have to work, and can just stay in bed.
Onething I did find out here is that Prozac does help with the withdrawl symptoms, and I finallly
had to go for it as I just couldn't take being so freaked out, and so tired, amoung many other
withdrawl symptoms, nightmares, can't sleep, sweating, abdominal pain, headaches, and more.
Let me know what your going to do. If I didn't give you the site for withdrawls here it is
http://prozactruth.com/cymbalta.htm
We can to this together.
Debbie
#5
Junior
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Posted 14 October 2009 - 03:04 AM
Hi PDXGreg
It's not permanent but it can take a while for you to get through the withdrawal. Basically what happens is that the A/d creates changes in the way your brain functions - Cymbalta down regulates both serotonin and norepinephrine receptors on the sending neuron, thus making more of these chemical messengers available for uptake at the receiving neuron. It is my belief that the changes to serotonin and norepinephrine also trigger changes to other neurotransmitters in order for the brain to find a new equilibrium. This is why some people have side effects when going on an a/d in the first place and why they disappear over time. In withdrawal, this process is reversed and it can take quite a while for the brain to restore itself to its pre-med state.
Don't be discouraged though. The human brain is an incredibly 'plastic' organ and can either regenerate what it has lost or create new pathways. I belong to a Paxil withdrawal forum and some of the stories people have told there are just amazing.
Good luck
Junior
It's not permanent but it can take a while for you to get through the withdrawal. Basically what happens is that the A/d creates changes in the way your brain functions - Cymbalta down regulates both serotonin and norepinephrine receptors on the sending neuron, thus making more of these chemical messengers available for uptake at the receiving neuron. It is my belief that the changes to serotonin and norepinephrine also trigger changes to other neurotransmitters in order for the brain to find a new equilibrium. This is why some people have side effects when going on an a/d in the first place and why they disappear over time. In withdrawal, this process is reversed and it can take quite a while for the brain to restore itself to its pre-med state.
Don't be discouraged though. The human brain is an incredibly 'plastic' organ and can either regenerate what it has lost or create new pathways. I belong to a Paxil withdrawal forum and some of the stories people have told there are just amazing.
Good luck
Junior
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