3 replies to this topic

[Donnie1974]

Hi guys, I am a 35 year old male who has been on Xanax for nine years and cymbalta for a little over three years, well I was laid off in April of this year, I did have COBRA however, I was late on a payment and my plan was terminated. Anyway I ran out of both my cymbalta and Xanax, about four days ago and can not afford the cost of these medicines on my own while being unemployed, the Xanax xr 3mg is $130.00 and the cymbalta is over $200.00 for a months supply. I called my doctors office and explained my situation with them telling them that I lost my health insurance and if they would please, switch me to regular Xanax and maybe a cheap SSRI like efexor, so instead of paying over $300.00 for medicine I would only have to get about $40.00 together to get my meds. The doctors office response was NO!! I asked why and they told me since I owed the office $50.00 that the doctor would not call any meds in for me, so I called back begging and explaing to them how crappy I am feeling, to no avail they still said no and told me they could see me in about three weeks for a visit which would cost me $150.00, so I explained once again that I could not wait that long nor afford the cost right now. The withdraw has been bad, I'm out of it, I am extremly tired, shaky, scared, dis attached from my self and others, all I want to do I lay on bed, beer helps, but I know that is not the answer. I was so on edge the other day I overdrew my bank account by $40.00 so I could get a few beers and watch my phillies in the world series. The beer was a quick fix but does not work. I live in south Philadelphia, with my so called girlfriend and her son, who both have been extremly unsympathtic to what I am going thru, I was told yesterday day that she could care less and doesn't care, bc if I was so sick then I would be to sick to go drink a beer and she refuses to give me any money to get meds or see a doctor, even though I have spent my entire savings on her and her son in the past four months in the amount close to $17,000.00. I'm sorry if I am going off in a big tangent but I have no one to talk to, my girfriend does not want to be bothered, she rather spend every dime on her spoiled son then help me out of this pain, did I mention she is six months pregnant with my child. Well my parents don't talk to me anymore because of all the depression I have been going thru the past ten years, they tell me they can't handle it, so what does someone in my situation do? How do I get thru the withdraw? Will it kill me? Why am I so tired? When does it stop? I'm scared it's going to kill me. I feel so alone in all of this, I can't go to a hospital, because I know she will take everything I just bought to furnish this house, then I'll be homeless. The military won't even help, after I gave them close to 12 years service. I am open to any sugestions, anything please.!!!!! All I do is sit in the bedroom alone 24/7 taking my bloodpressure and praying that this withdraw which is getting worse by the hour will go away.

[nursedeborah]

Donnie,
Why can't you get medical coverage at the VA if you were in the military? My ex husband
just did, and he got out over 39 years ago!

I can't even fathom having to cold turkey both Cymbalta and Xanax! Just the Cymbalta
alone is bad enough! I am in recovery, and I was addicted to Xanax at onetime, so I
know what that is like to kick too! Not pretty at all.

You can go to the hospital, and she can't kick you out of your home or take your things.
That is against the law. You are going to need some kind of help.

How much Xanax were you taking a day, and did you say for how long?

Also you can get emergency medical so you can get medical coverage.

Withdrawls off Cymbalta are very brutal, and your going to need lots of support, but
no you won't die! It just feels like it at times.

Keep coming back.

Debbie

[Donnie1974]

Hi Debbie ,

I was on 3 mg of Xanax XR for about a year, before that I was on regular Xanax, about 5mg a day for about 8 years. I have two honorable discharges; however my last tour in the army guard I went thru extreme depression and the therapist I was seeing at the time requested a year leave from the military which I was granted, well in that year's time I got a DUI, so when I went back to the military and started to drill again I asked for a medical discharge, well the next thing I knew is they found out about the DUI and are trying to discharge me on the grounds of the DUI, so I won't be able to get a medical discharge, everytime I call my unit to find out what is going on I can't get a straight answer.

I know by the outlines of law she can not take anything or kick me out, but in all reality she can she is crafty enough to do so, she works for a law firm and her ex is a warrent officer in Philadelphia, she already told me how age could do it. I always dis the right thing, military, college, etc etc, yes I made some mistakes but what I am going thru now I have little fight left in me. I know in my heart she will take everything I paid for if I go to a detox. She already suckered me out of every dime I had.

As far as getting emergency medical coverage, I tried to get county assitance from Philadelphia and was denied because I am on unemployment.

[nursedeborah]

Hi Debbie ,

I was on 3 mg of Xanax XR for about a year, before that I was on regular Xanax, about 5mg a day for about 8 years. I have two honorable discharges; however my last tour in the army guard I went thru extreme depression and the therapist I was seeing at the time requested a year leave from the military which I was granted, well in that year's time I got a DUI, so when I went back to the military and started to drill again I asked for a medical discharge, well the next thing I knew is they found out about the DUI and are trying to discharge me on the grounds of the DUI, so I won't be able to get a medical discharge, everytime I call my unit to find out what is going on I can't get a straight answer.

I know by the outlines of law she can not take anything or kick me out, but in all reality she can she is crafty enough to do so, she works for a law firm and her ex is a warrent officer in Philadelphia, she already told me how age could do it. I always dis the right thing, military, college, etc etc, yes I made some mistakes but what I am going thru now I have little fight left in me. I know in my heart she will take everything I paid for if I go to a detox. She already suckered me out of every dime I had.

As far as getting emergency medical coverage, I tried to get county assitance from Philadelphia and was denied because I am on unemployment.

Donnie,
That's a lot of Xanax, and I just can't even fathom your having to do both at the same time. You will
need to really get some kind of help, even if it's AA or something. That's where I have been going
now for many years, and really need it going through the withdrawls of just the Cymbalta alone!

Like I said your not going to die, but coming off Xanax is not fun!!! I had to bake in the sun, and
being your in Philly, well that's out. I also was in AA when I was getting off that stuff.

Cymbalta is another beast altogether! Of all the street drug, RX's I have had to kick, this is the hardest
thing I have ever had to do, it so damaged me, and caused me to become someone I don't even know!
I don't have a life because of it.

I would at least try some AA meeetings, if you got a DUI, then sounds like you just might have a problem
with drinking, and using Xanax?!

You can do it if you want to change you life bad enough!

Debbie