9 replies to this topic

[bugbug]

I have been taking Cymbalta for 2 years and am so greatful for how it helped me with my depression. I have tapered from 30mg to 20mg in one month and now am completely off as of 5 days ago. I feel aweful. My head is spinning, I am crying over nothing, I have a very short fuse with my family, and I have to focus very hard to complete a task. How long should I expect these symptoms to last? I feel like I can't take it. This is so aweful...

[hhmomof3]

Just wanted to say Hello to you. I also joined today. I have only been taking Cymbalta for a few months. I switched to it after taking Lexapro for a little more than a year. I was still struggling with feeling anxious & having a lousy sex drive, so the doctor thought Cymbalta would be a better option for me. I SO regret that I didn't research this drug more before making the switch. I'm on Day 4 of quitting cold-turkey. Didn't plan to stop all at once and I realize tapering off would likely have been a smoother option. I simply forgot my Cymbalta the 1st day. The 2nd day, it was late afternoon when I remembered (normally took it in the AM) and I didn't want to mess up my sleep so I waited. Monday (Day 3), I decided I might as well just take this opportunity to give up the drug as I'd been considering. Now Day 4 and I feel crummy!

I can't offer you any answers as to how long this will last, but I wanted you to know you aren't alone. I pray for both of us that we get over these feelings SOON. (Not looking too promising the more I read on this site and others though )

[AJH54]

My friend who is decreasing dosage has been compaining of some of these. Does anyone suggest slowly getting yourself off, or going cold turkey? Is one easier?

[bugbug]

Thank you for your reply. I also stopped taking my Cymbalta after forgetting to take the dose. I was planning to stop in the spring, gradually decreasing the dose, but I thought "well, let's just do it now". Today is day 6. I had a bad night with sweating, nightmares, awake at 2am... spinning. I feel a little better (let me stress a little) than I did yesterday at this time. I still have the brain zingers and am dizzy. I find that loud noises are difficult to take. I am going to force myself to have breakfast and a productive day. I am nervous about tomorrow... I have to go to work.

I have done a lot of reading on other sites about people going through the withdrawl of Cymbalta. It seems that most people have the physical symptoms for 2 weeks and emotional for up to 3 months. One man decreased his dose on his own, gradually, from 20mg to 15 to 10 to 5 to 3mg.. It is not offered in these doses but he opened the capsule and created his own pills to taper. When he stopped taking 3mg his body was still having these side effects. So, I don't feel so bad going off the way I did. I am doing it, getting over this and moving on. I can assure you that I will tell EVERYONE who will listen how bad this feels. I work in healthcare... I will inform doctors, nurses, therapists... the public needs to be aware that Cymbalta is great while taking it an HORRIBLE to come off. Our bodies are addicted to the drug and we are going through withdrawls.

As one person said "Depression hurts, Cymbalta can help... just don't stop taking it".

[hhmomof3]

Just wanted to give you all an update. Day 5 and I feel MUCH better than yesterday. I took 1 Tylenol PM and 1 Bendadryl (because I've seen that it helps some people) at bedtime last night since I was desperate for a good night's sleep. It worked and I slept like a log. I would say my symptoms of dizziness & the "brain buzz" sensations are only about 20% of what I was feeling yesterday. Thank God!

I walked on my treadmill for 30 minutes today, took a multi-vitamin and ate a healthy lunch. My plan is to repeat the Tylenol PM & Benadryl at bedtime for 1 more night, then see how I feel tomorrow. Going to try to treat my body the best that I can while I'm "recovering" from the Cymbalta withdrawal. Oh, I'm also trying to watch what I say because I can tell that I'm easier to annoy. Don't want to turn into Crabby Mommy. Keeping my fingers crossed that there really is a light at the end of this tunnel.

[bugbug]

I have taken your advice and purchased Tylenol pm. I felt much better this afternoon after a little nap. I have less brain zaps and dizziness. As you are doing, I am focused on a healthy diet, excersize and not snapping at my family... so far so good. I am so clear that I want off of these meds and greatful for this website. Thank you for the support!!!!!

Good luck tonight and tomorrow. You're not alone!

I know this may sound strange but have you read "Eat Pray Love" by Elizabeth Gilbert?? I HIGHLY recomend it. She is really open about her depression and medication.

Hugs and support from me...

[Paige]

bugbug - I just wanted to comment on what you said about knowing someone who weened very slowly and to a very slow dose while making their own capsules. I did the very same thing and although I am having withdrawal symptoms they are NO WHERE NEAR as bad as they were when I had quit cold turkey. This drug is evil and there is really no way to get off of it easy and with no problems. The slow tapering for me was a lifesaver but I do know each person is different. If you have the patience to do the slow weening then I would highly recommend doing it. It makes the process a little longer but the symptoms are far less severe physically although I do believe the emotional symptoms are probably about the same.

[cymaddict]

Hello, I have been taking cymbalta for over 1 yr. It really did save my life. I was in such a dark place. Nothing in life was good. After 2 weeks of taking this I felt so much better. I could function "normally" again.
Now I am afraid to go off them. I did a really bad thing this past weekend as a matter of fact. I forgot my meds. I ran out at home and I get samples from my doc so I ws screwed! For 2 days I withdrawled, dizzy, headache, nausea etc. Thank god I got some on the second day of withdrawling or I would still be in bed. Yuck!! But, I was on paxil for 2 yrs after my daughter was born and had the same problem with that med as well. Not sure if there is any escape or if we are just going to be miserable one way or another. Oh well, good luck to all!

[wandap]

This was day 7 for me and I have to say it was better than 1-6. I'm beginning to see glimpses of myself in here at least. This site has been a lifesaver! I think any Dr. recommending people stop Cymbalta should give them the web addy as required reading! I won't say I wouldn't have made it without it but I'm glad I didn't have to find out. Some of the withdrawals are too weird to warn people about. And God knows nobody who has not experienced a 'brain zap' has any idea what we are talking about. This site is the best thing I've found on the web since my Springsteen friends and we've been going strong for 5 years. I don't think there is anyway to get off of this drug without having problems. If I had it to do over again, I would probably try weaning off but, here I am at day 7 so I guess the old saying is true, all's well that ends well.

[mother5590]

I have been on several sites and the weaning however slow does not seem to make any differance in whether you have side effects. I am at day 15 and still not doing well. I am hoping that it will start making a turn towards the right direction. I still am having lots of Brain ZaP, Buzz or whatever miserable thing it is. I just wanted to caution people about taking meds with these meds. I am hearing Tylenol PM and Benadryl I believe the PM has Benadryl in it. ( "diphenhydramine) but fortunately you can take it pretty large dose of Benadryl and get by with it. 50 is fine for an adult although I cannot even hold my head up when I do. I just wanted people to realize that many OTC sleep meds are Benadryl. I JUST WANT TO FEEL BETTER AND BE MYSELF AGAIN (whoever that might be)