4 replies to this topic

[Junior]

Hi,

I read a lot of people on 60 and 30mg. They all seem to reduce the dose and have a real hard time of it. I read a lot about Anger, Brain Zaps, Headaches etc.
I am currently on 120mg and was thinking i should go Colt Turkey. I am now not so sure that would be a wise choice. We do not have the 30mg available in Australia, or so i have been advised by the Docs.

How long will it take to come of such a high dose and what is the best way to do it. Should i cut down to 60mg a day for a few days or longer then 1 every 2 days then 3 and so on ?

From what i read i better buckle up i'm in for a rough ride.

Cheers
Rizen

Hi Rizen

You are right. It would be unwise to go c/t from such a high dose. I cold turkeyed from 60mg and would NOT recommend it to anyone. I suffered severe upper abdo pain, couldn't eat much and what I did eat had to be light / bland. I was able to slowly return to a normal diet but it took - can't remember now.. maybe 10 days. I was only ON Cymbalta for 19 days!

In terms of how quick / slow to do a wean - it's hard to say as everyone is different. The general consensus from another forum I go to (Paxil Progress) which applies to all a/ds is to drop 10% at a time and wait 3-6 weeks between drops. Some people can drop faster (I am one of them) and some have to go slower. As for the 3-6 weeks - it is about knowing when you are stable again. If you are still feeling withdrawal effects, then it is better to wait. You will know.

What a lot of people do is open the capsule and count the beads. You can either tip some out, or get some empty capsules (Maureen can tell you more about that when she gets back from her holiday- she is a fellow Aussie, as am I ) and put the beads in there. I'm not sure of the amounts, sorry, as I didn't wean (more fool me) but others here will be able to help you with that.

Good luck
Junior

[QueenTimely]

Hi -
1. Australia does have 30mg -- I use to take them.
2. I wouldn't even consider dropping from 60 - 30 without the experience of my doctor/homeopath. You shoudn't either. NO WAY.
3. You should not go in for the rough ride. It's not worth it, it doesn't work and it isn't necessary. Reduce by beads. Contact NurseDeborah.

[Rizen]

Thank you to all who have replied to my original post.

I need to put some items in perspective so you don't think I'm crazy or nuts or just plain stupid.

FACTS.
I have been on Cymbalta 120mg a day for almost 12mths.

I used to be a smoker, Very heavy if you listen to some people although i didn't think it was that bad. (apprx 25 - 30 Cigs a day @ 8mg)
(Sounds like a prescription in its self)

I was able to quite Cigs cold turkey and manage the effects by understanding what to expect and countering it myself. ( You see where this is going)

While on Cymbalta (What they don't tell you )
Not everything is in the information.
It will react differently to everyone, That i am sure of. It may cause further issues. Sex drive - Yes still had it. Just couldn't do anything about it. The inability to reach an orgasm was incredibly frustrating for myself as well as my partner (ex-Partner now).

I have been given an opportunity to loose weight which i can not do while Cymbalta is in my system.

All these things together have pushed me to go COLD TURKEY from 120mg / Day.

Day 1.
Nothing really of note. Mild headache.
Hard to sleep

Day 2
Headache - all day
Could not sleep
drank so much water

Day 3
Headache
Still trouble sleeping Constantly wake up with very dry mouth and nasty headache.
had no motivation to do anything and just lay in bed for most of the day
Drank more water.
Never ate all day until i went out to dinner (Forced)

** It seems to me that whatever it is doing to me it is dehydrating me, thus the headaches. I found that if i constantly drink ( Yes followed by the constant run to the loo for a pee because i drank so much ) seems to reduce the headache.

** I also found Sugar seemed to help me. If i ate sugary based foods it also reduced the headaches a bit. (Strange really considering sugar will also dehydrate you )

Day 4
Headache - I found this reduces when i eat and drink. (Good reason to eat and drink)
After a healthy dose of fluids (5 ltrs over a 2hr period) i still woke through the night (Had to pee) but was not quite as bad as prev. I have not had any 'Brain Zaps' as yet. But do have the weirdest feeling that my brain is floating in fluid and if i move it feels almost as if it is sloshing round. Sometimes i feel rubbery.

I do feel that my concentration is getting better that it was in the first few days.

My motivation is a little better and forced myself to go outside and do some gardening. The little bit of sun (As much as i don't really like the sun) did make me feel a little better.

Day 5 ( 25th Jan 2010)
Very mild headache that comes and goes.
Concentration levels are good.
Appetite - Very Good.
Brain - there still feels like it is floating sometimes.
10am - i have had Approx 2.5lt of water, 500ml apple juice, Kebab. and about to refill my water bottle again
Day 2,3,4 say me looking like Poo. I had huge bags under my eyes and generally felt like .. the same. This could be related to hay fever or allergy. Prob not. but the chance is there.

Generally today i am in good spirits and feeling quite well. i understand that there is a headache just waiting for its opportunity and with drinking so much water it seems to keep this at bay.

[Junior]

Hi Rizen

I hope things continue to go well for you. Who knows? You may be one of the lucky ones. But.. I feel I should warn you that I've heard of people getting off modern a/ds easily in the first instance, only to have major problems 6-7 months down the track.

As for your comparison with quitting smoking - I'm afraid it is just not the same. I've been a smoker and I also quit C/t but it was only the cravings I had to contend with, not withdrawal. Nicotine doesn't alter the brain to anywhere near the same degree that a/ds do. The reason for the withdrawal problems that many (most?) people experience is that it takes the brain a while to return to its pre-medication mode of functioning.

I won't say any more as I fervently hope you are one of the lucky ones and have little trouble in the future.
Good luck
Junior

[Rizen]

Hi Rizen

I hope things continue to go well for you. Who knows? You may be one of the lucky ones. But.. I feel I should warn you that I've heard of people getting off modern a/ds easily in the first instance, only to have major problems 6-7 months down the track.

As for your comparison with quitting smoking - I'm afraid it is just not the same. I've been a smoker and I also quit C/t but it was only the cravings I had to contend with, not withdrawal. Nicotine doesn't alter the brain to anywhere near the same degree that a/ds do. The reason for the withdrawal problems that many (most?) people experience is that it takes the brain a while to return to its pre-medication mode of functioning.

I won't say any more as I fervently hope you are one of the lucky ones and have little trouble in the future.
Good luck
Junior

Today is the 5th March and it has been weeks since i have had any Cymbalta.
When i first got over the initial headaches and thirst i was fine for a while. Had soem good days and some bad days. The good days far out numbered the bad.
Today is a bad day and currently the bad days out number the good days and the bad days are getting worse.

If you are thinking of going cold turkey or coming of Cymbalta make sure you are ready. Once you start to go down it is a slippery slope and hard to come back from. i can not make a decision at the moment and feel myself filling with dark and angry thoughts. Back to square 1. where i was years ago.
This is not me.

Come off it slowly and then have something else ready if you need it. Refer to your local GP or specialist.

Rizen