13 replies to this topic

[LRD]

Hi there -

I'm a new member, this is my first post. I'm a 24 y/o male in Illinois. I've been looking to take myself off of Cymbalta for a long time because it's effectiveness in controlling my depression has decreased drastically after being prescribed to it for 4 years. About 4 months ago my dosage was doubled (from 60mg to 120mg a day) by a psychiatrist who schedules his appointments in 15 minute intervals (Read: doesn't really care about his patients or there problems, just there to write scripts). This did not improve my mood or emotional stability at all.

Anywho, I've always had trouble remembering to call in refills and this time I really blew it. I'm not going to get into the logistics of it, but my insurance won't cover the refill for 6 days. I can't afford to spend $360 on pills (cost of sixty 60mg pills without insurance). It seems I have no choice but to finally quit Cymbalta. Is it physically dangerous to quit cold turkey?

I also take 1.5mg of Klonopin nightly, so I'm not too worried about having seizures or anything like that. What are the other risks that cause most people on the board to recommend weaning? Is it the intensity of the withdrawals? If so, I've experienced the withdrawals before and I am currently unemployed and have no plans in the near future so, if the withdrawals are just particularly bad, I can just board myself up and sweat it out. I've prepared myself for it.

Somebody please let me know if I'm making a bad decision here. It's been almost 48 hours since my last dose and this is the least I've felt the withdrawals from all the other times I've screwed up refills.

Thanks in advance for your time.

[MaureenV]

Hi there -

I'm a new member, this is my first post. I'm a 24 y/o male in Illinois. I've been looking to take myself off of Cymbalta for a long time because it's effectiveness in controlling my depression has decreased drastically after being prescribed to it for 4 years. About 4 months ago my dosage was doubled (from 60mg to 120mg a day) by a psychiatrist who schedules his appointments in 15 minute intervals (Read: doesn't really care about his patients or there problems, just there to write scripts). This did not improve my mood or emotional stability at all.

Anywho, I've always had trouble remembering to call in refills and this time I really blew it. I'm not going to get into the logistics of it, but my insurance won't cover the refill for 6 days. I can't afford to spend $360 on pills (cost of sixty 60mg pills without insurance). It seems I have no choice but to finally quit Cymbalta. Is it physically dangerous to quit cold turkey?

I also take 1.5mg of Klonopin nightly, so I'm not too worried about having seizures or anything like that. What are the other risks that cause most people on the board to recommend weaning? Is it the intensity of the withdrawals? If so, I've experienced the withdrawals before and I am currently unemployed and have no plans in the near future so, if the withdrawals are just particularly bad, I can just board myself up and sweat it out. I've prepared myself for it.

Somebody please let me know if I'm making a bad decision here. It's been almost 48 hours since my last dose and this is the least I've felt the withdrawals from all the other times I've screwed up refills.

Thanks in advance for your time.

No one can really tell you if you're making a bad decision. Some people have not much difficulty dropping Cymbalta, but I don't think any of them have dropped cold turkey from 120mg that I've seen.

You can only take it day by day, and see how you go. If you badly want off this stuff, and you do start to get unbearable symptoms, you could try, once your prescription is filled, taking just 60mg and seeing if that alleviates the symptoms, and then wean down from there.

I don't know quite how your crazy system works there (hope you get what you all deserve in the near future) but many have found Prozac works well, and then it's much easier to wean off that.

Doesn't sound like your doctor's very supportive - I'd be looking for a new one. They may have some samples which can help you in the meantime.

Just hang around here, too, we all know what the symptoms feel like. No one can quite understand them like someone who's been through it.


take care, Maureen.

[Junior]

Hi LRD

Wow 120mg???????? That's a very high dose. I'm sorry you didn't find us earlier because the ineffectiveness you described is what many people call "poop out". It means you have built up a tolerance to the drug. You could also describe it as addiction but 'they' don't like to admit that so they argue that it's not addiction because people don't actually crave Cymbalta (and other anti-depressants) the same way they crave illicit drugs like heroin. But, the brain 'misses' the anti-depressants and takes a while to return to 'normal' functioning so if it's not addiction, I don't know what else you would call it.

In regards to coming off cold turkey. Definitely NOT recommended. Esp from such a high dose. I cold turkeyed off 60mg after being on it for only 19 days. I figured I hadn't been on it long, it should be ok. WRONG. I was ok for the first 3 days but on Day 4 I started getting severe upper abdo pain. I went to my Dr and told him it could be withdrawal but he tested for other things to be on the safe side, including gall stones! The tests found nothing. I had GI distress mostly - to the point where I could only eat very lightly at first but was gradually able to return to a more normal diet.

In addition, from the stories others here have told, c/t can bring on a whole host of symptoms ranging from panic attacks, to dizziness, mood swings and worse. The best method of weaning appears to be VERY SLOWLY, but I will leave it to others to explain.

I wish you all the best
Junior

[QueenTimely]

I wouldn't do cold turkey if you paid me, unless I really, really had no choice. When I weaned off a similar drug, I had severe symptoms for months. Here's my suggestion: Do you know your pharmacist well? Even if not, I'd try talking with him or her and explain the situation. Maybe print out some information from this site, say you made a mistake, it's the kind of mistake people with depression and on anti-depressants often make, say you really want to avoid the dramatic withdrawal symptoms many people have, and would they please, please, advance you some of your prescription until your insurance kicks in again. I've done those "loans" successfully. Be honest, solicitous and assertive. They are in the business of making sure people get the medications they need. Hope it goes well.

[LRD]

I wouldn't do cold turkey if you paid me, unless I really, really had no choice. When I weaned off a similar drug, I had severe symptoms for months. Here's my suggestion: Do you know your pharmacist well? Even if not, I'd try talking with him or her and explain the situation. Maybe print out some information from this site, say you made a mistake, it's the kind of mistake people with depression and on anti-depressants often make, say you really want to avoid the dramatic withdrawal symptoms many people have, and would they please, please, advance you some of your prescription until your insurance kicks in again. I've done those "loans" successfully. Be honest, solicitous and assertive. They are in the business of making sure people get the medications they need. Hope it goes well.

Is the similar drug Effexor? I was prescribed to Effexor XR for over two years, stopped cold turkey, and felt no withdrawals whatsoever. Granted, I was 17 at the time, so I never mentally 'acknowledged' the fact that I stopped taking it. When I was only taking 60mg (of Cymbalta), I would start getting brain zaps and becoming emotional after missing a single dose. I've missed 2 doses of the 120mg and right now I feel fine (relatively).

Last night was full of the cold sweats, but I've been getting those for weeks. A few other things to note: I mentioned that I take 1.5mg Klonopin nightly. I've also been taking 15mg of Remeron, 1000mg of Vitamin C, and a Centrum multivitamin since being prescribed to Cymbalta. When I realized I wouldn't be able to get any pills, I started taking Magnesium, Omega-3, and Melatonin.

Like I said, feeling okay so far. I will keep you guys updated. I know that if things get too heavy I can reason with the pharmacist and get a partial dose. I guess that's a good safety net to have. Thanks, everyone, for your advice. I will keep posting.

I'm very thankful that this board exists. I hope to someday become a "survivor" like many of you. I know that 120mg is a lot to come down from, but I think with the meds and supplements, as well as support from this forum, I am finally ready to be free from this drug.

[nursedeborah]

Is the similar drug Effexor? I was prescribed to Effexor XR for over two years, stopped cold turkey, and felt no withdrawals whatsoever. Granted, I was 17 at the time, so I never mentally 'acknowledged' the fact that I stopped taking it. When I was only taking 60mg (of Cymbalta), I would start getting brain zaps and becoming emotional after missing a single dose. I've missed 2 doses of the 120mg and right now I feel fine (relatively).

Last night was full of the cold sweats, but I've been getting those for weeks. A few other things to note: I mentioned that I take 1.5mg Klonopin nightly. I've also been taking 15mg of Remeron, 1000mg of Vitamin C, and a Centrum multivitamin since being prescribed to Cymbalta. When I realized I wouldn't be able to get any pills, I started taking Magnesium, Omega-3, and Melatonin.

Like I said, feeling okay so far. I will keep you guys updated. I know that if things get too heavy I can reason with the pharmacist and get a partial dose. I guess that's a good safety net to have. Thanks, everyone, for your advice. I will keep posting.

I'm very thankful that this board exists. I hope to someday become a "survivor" like many of you. I know that 120mg is a lot to come down from, but I think with the meds and supplements, as well as support from this forum, I am finally ready to be free from this drug.

Newbie,
First of all it says "DO NOT STOP ABRUPTLY" see if your doc will give you
samples until you can get your meds refilled.

Withdrawls and side effects, like the sweating can be the same, if you look
at the site I discovered that many of the withdrawls were also some of the
things I was having the entire time I was on the crap.

Also, I owuld never go from 120 mg to 60 mg, that is just to big of a decrease.
Another thing, for most the real withdrawls don't start until around the 6- 9 th
day. After all we are all different, but that's pretty much what I have seen.

You act as if you have been through withdrawls before, this is nothing, and I mean nothing
like anything you have ever gone through. I am in AA, but also recovered drug addict, I have
come off the worst of the stuff out there, and would do so again compared to this on going
nightmare. I do think it has done some real damage to me, but then again I just won't know
until I get off it 100 %.

They say it takes from 6 mo. to 2 years or longer for people to get through the withdrawls,
and even longer for some.

If you don't want to be in bed and not able to get out of it at all, and I really mean that!!
for a very long time, then do not do what you doing!!!!

We will show you step by step how to do this, just let us know if you want the help, still
here to support you no matter how you do decide.

Debbie

[LRD]

After having 3 of the most vivid, realistic, and terrifying dreams I've ever experienced, and sleeping through a phone call for a job interview... I've decided to stop this experiment and continue chasing the blue and green pills. Next time I'll know to taper off... hopefully I can find a doctor who is open to the idea. Thanks for all of your advice, guys.

[MaureenV]

After having 3 of the most vivid, realistic, and terrifying dreams I've ever experienced, and sleeping through a phone call for a job interview... I've decided to stop this experiment and continue chasing the blue and green pills. Next time I'll know to taper off... hopefully I can find a doctor who is open to the idea. Thanks for all of your advice, guys.

Newbie, after experiencing a few days already off the drug, can I suggest you try taking just 60mg per day and see how you go??

You may find that's sufficient to alleviate many of the symptoms as you body has already started to adjust to life without Cymbalta. If it's not enough, you can always go up again, but if you start at 120mg now, you've got a long way to come back down.

Further, if 60mg isn't enough, you don't need to do the full jump to 120mg. You can buy empty gelatine capsules and open a 60mg and turn it into two x 30mg and try taking 90mg.

That's what I'd be doing anyway, knowing what I do now.

Ain't hindsight wonderful?

keep in touch,

Maureen.

[Mark]

Im new here as well. I can no longer afford this drug either. Im on day 5 of coming off cold turkey. The only thing i have at the moment is the eye movement weirdness. It's semi tolerable and i hope it doesn't get worse. Im tired of cymbalta. It has worked for me, but i just cant afford it anymore.

[nursedeborah]

Im new here as well. I can no longer afford this drug either. Im on day 5 of coming off cold turkey. The only thing i have at the moment is the eye movement weirdness. It's semi tolerable and i hope it doesn't get worse. Im tired of cymbalta. It has worked for me, but i just cant afford it anymore.

Mark,
This is not a drug you can just go cold turkey!!! You have to do a slow wean.
We are all reallly here for a reason, and let me tell you it is only day 5 and
one does not usually start to get the withdral symptoms until day 6.

We are all different too! So maybe you will get lucky, God I sure hope so for
your sake!!! If not there are several ways to get this med so you can do a slow
wean.

Let me know if it start's to get too bad, you don't want to let the withdrawls
get out of hand. I only know what mine were like, and others, so just be on the
look out. Also here is the site of withdrawl symptoms http://www.prozactru...om/cymbalta.htm

Take care, and keep us posted!

Debbie

[Mark]

Mark,
This is not a drug you can just go cold turkey!!! You have to do a slow wean.
We are all reallly here for a reason, and let me tell you it is only day 5 and
one does not usually start to get the withdral symptoms until day 6.

We are all different too! So maybe you will get lucky, God I sure hope so for
your sake!!! If not there are several ways to get this med so you can do a slow
wean.

Let me know if it start's to get too bad, you don't want to let the withdrawls
get out of hand. I only know what mine were like, and others, so just be on the
look out. Also here is the site of withdrawl symptoms http://www.prozactru...om/cymbalta.htm

Take care, and keep us posted!

Debbie

Thanks Debbie.

For me, i think this is the only way. I cant afford the pills. And im not sure i really want to be on them anymore. Ill just have to try to power through it. Ill let you know how im feeling tomorrow.

Mark

[nursedeborah]

Thanks Debbie.

For me, i think this is the only way. I cant afford the pills. And im not sure i really want to be on them anymore. Ill just have to try to power through it. Ill let you know how im feeling tomorrow.

Mark

Mark,
I see that I gave you the wrong site! it's http://www.prozactru...om/cymbalta.htm

You can get free meds rigjt from Eli Lilly by just calling them! Also you can get the
samples from your doc until the other arrives. I just wanted to you to know you can
get this for free, just in case it gets like it was for me for over 4 months, now that
I have 6-7 days of sheere bliss!!! I feel so like I did before I ever had to take anything!

Always trying to be of service,
Debbie

[Mark]

Mark,
I see that I gave you the wrong site! it's http://www.prozactru...om/cymbalta.htm

You can get free meds rigjt from Eli Lilly by just calling them! Also you can get the
samples from your doc until the other arrives. I just wanted to you to know you can
get this for free, just in case it gets like it was for me for over 4 months, now that
I have 6-7 days of sheere bliss!!! I feel so like I did before I ever had to take anything!

Always trying to be of service,
Debbie

I appreciate the advice. I will just see how it goes. Ive been ok today, just seem to be on edge anger wise.

Thanks!

[nursedeborah]

I am in the same situation... my husband changed jobs and new insurance doesn't start til January. And then at that point his new insurance requires a $2400 deductible on medical care and prescription before any benefits are paid so it's basically like having none at all!!! So I can no longer afford my Rx either. I went to pick up a refill of Cymbalta and birth control yesterday and it was $340!!!! Needless to say I decided then and there I was done with this drug that isn't even helping me anymore. Fortunately I only took 20 mg a day so I am crossing fingers this does not suck as bad as when I went off during my pregnancy. I am, though, beginnig a new Rx of fluoxitine (generic prozak) which hopefully will help my depression AND withdrawl. And the fact that it's a generic makes it waaayyy more affordable. I just called my doc and explained the situation and requested the new Rx and his nurse called it in right away. I have 4 20 mg capsuls left and he wants me to taper by taking it every other day for 2 weeks, but it's not even worth it since I refuse to pay for even half of that Rx price. Cold turkey + Prozak it is for me!

Good luck to all the rest of you! Wish I had known how awful this crap was before I asked to try it a few years ago.

Crazy Mama,
I wish you all the luck in the world as the way you doing it does work for a very samll amount
of people.
We will all be here to support you in anyway we can.

Debbie