Hey everyone!
First off, I just wanted to say it's so refreshing to have found this website. It's so good to know that I am not the only one who suffers through these withdrawal symptoms. And they suck! About 3 or 4 years ago, I came off of Lexapro and weaned onto Cymbalta, which was pretty much brand new at the time. I was going through a lot of emotional stress, including disabling panic attacks and severe depression. My therapist and psychologist worked with me to safely get me on the drug. I had some typical symptoms going on it, dry mouth, some gastrointestinal issues, etc.
In the past few months or so, I decided it was time to come off finally. First, it is expensive. Second, it has side effects that I hate. Including intestinal problems ( I think it may have made me sensitive to beer and some malt drinks), possible liver complications, higher blood sugar and pressure....etc. It is a rather unhealthy drug to be on, let alone come off of. And after being on pyschiatric drugs for years, I personally would like to be off of them and be "free" in a sense. So I'm coming down from 60mg/day. I started about 2 months ago. From 1 60mg tablet a day, to 2 20mg tablets a day (spaced 12 hours apart). I felt the effects right away, within a day or two. I begin to feel an altered state of conciousness, sort of as though I am in a dream state. It's always a very brief moment, then snaps back to reality. I also feel sort of lighthead or out of it...it's very hard to describe. I bet there are a couple people out there that know of what I'm speaking, but it's super difficult to put into words. I didn't feel too many "brain buzzes" unless what I just described is it. I feel the depression and anxiety taking over, for sure. Perhaps not as bad as if I went cold turkey, but life seems to suck in every way.
My biggest issue so far is the cardiac ones. I feel heart palpitations several times an hour. It's as if my heart skips a beat, jumps...etc. In addition, I definately have shortness of breath and some tightness in my chest, as well. And to be quite frank, it's pretty scary. I have just decreased my dose again to 20mg tablet, once a day, 1/3 of where I started. I've only been down for a day and a half, but I can feel the palpitations already. Last decrease they eventually went away, and I know they will again. But...it's scary! Has anyone else had bad heart issues? I see so many topics about brain buzzing and other stuff, but anyone else having palpitations as their major symptom? Any tips as to how to relieve it? I've done breathing and exercising...etc, but anything else??
Good luck everyone. We're gonna make it through, we really are. Stupid Cymbalta
~Mishka
Mishka,
First off you made a huge decrease to start with! What we all have been taught to do here is a
very slow wean. The brain is addicted to this drug, and by going down in such lage amount's it
causes the withdrawl symptoms. Yes I have head of Heart Palpitations, and if you look at the
withdrawl symptoms you will see this is on there. This can cause high/low blood pressure, there
are other heart related issues as well.
First of all are you having any anxiety at all? This can cause those too. Anxiety can cause many
of the same symptoms of one having a heart attack, but you need to have this checked out, and just
call your doc to be on the safe side. This is a dangerous drug. http://prozactruth.com/cymbalta.htm
that's the site with all the withdrawl symptoms!!!
What we do here is only decrease 1 mg per every 2 weeeks, so that = 9 beads out of your 60 mg caps.
I think I would just start back over as 40 it not working for you at this time.
Also be aware that doc's do not know how to take people of this, or know of all the withdrawl symptoms!!
I had them diagnosis me with so many different things, until I finally figured it out that it was just
the Cymbalta causing everything.
If you need anything at all just ask!!! Keep posting, and read lot's of the other post's too!
Good Luck, you can do this much easier!
Debbie