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withdrawl symptoms from hell from Cymbalta


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#1 nursedeborah

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    I am reallly trying to get off Cymbalta, and not having, well I am having nightmares even with the decreased does, and clanging in my head.

    I just found this site, and I really need help, I can't do this, I fear I willl never get off this brutal medication.

    Deboreah Wesson

Posted 25 January 2010 - 02:53 PM

Last summer my doctor put me on Cymbalta for the sypmtoms of depression from PTSD and pain from my neck and skull injury. It didn't do anything to help my pain but without my even realizing it, it really changed me. At that time, I was working out, eating very healthy and I watched how much I ate because of worrying about menopausal weight gain. A month after being on the Cymbalta I had put on at least 10 lbs. So I started eating even less and working out more. Still I continued to gain weight. Then I hurt my shoulder and was unable to exercise. The doctor increase my Cymbalta from 30 to 60. I kept blaming menopause and quitting smoking for the weight gain. I kept gaining and gaining.

Then my family started saying things to me as they noticed changes in my personality and behavior.
I wasn't really happy or depressed...I was just numb. I couldn't think clearly. I struggled to even get a couple hours of sleep at night. I stopped crying about anything. I stopped wanting to leave my house. I lost interest in things I used to enjoy, such as sex and exercizing. All of this and I really didn't notice until it was pointed out to me and even then I didn't really do anything about it.

When I started on Cymbalta I weighed 118 lbs and now at last check I weighed 150. I hardly eat anything. My husband watched me eat fresh veggies and fruit and yet I kept on gaining. I went on-line to read about what I could do with this "menopausal" weight gain and came across a woman that talked about gaining weight from taking Cymbalta and she talked about this numb feeling. So I dug deeper and oh my god I seen myself in everyone that talked about how they felt on Cymbalta. I showed it to my husband and asked him, is this how he see's me? And he said this described me exactly. What a wake up call. It's like I've been asleep to my life for these past months.

So I started to wean myself off 2 weeks ago which was a good thing because work comp cut me off and were not going to pay for it without a fight. I don't have that kind of money. I took my last pill on last Wednesday night. Holy crap have I been sick. Feels like I have the flu. Wasn't able to go to work last friday and here it is Monday and I am still too sick to go to work. Besides feeling physically sick, I feel these brain zaps or buzzing...my face tingles, my skins feels like it is crawling. I am light headed and dizzy. I can hardly sleep and when I do I have horrid nightmares. I am having hot flashes like I've never had before and then I'm so cold I can't warm up. I feel literally crazy. I feel highly adjetated and irritated over nothing. Noise drives me crazy which is not good because I have a 3 & 4 year olds in my house. I don't want to get dressed or leave my house. I don't want to talk to anyone because I feel like I don't make sense when I talk..yet I feel extremely lonely. It's hard for me to read for any length of time because it hurts my eyes and can't concentrate that long. The worst thing in all of this is that I think about wanting to die and I haven't felt like that since I was assaulted(that's how I got my neck and skull injury.

Are these things normal for me to be experiencing? How long will I feel like this?

Please don't tell me to go to the doctor because I don't have insurance but I most likely wouldn't go anyways. I just don't trust doctors. When I called and talked to my doctors nurse about all of my concerns she discourged me from stopping and even thought that just maybe I needed a higher dose instead. And that maybe I should come back in and see if I just needed a higher dose or another drug to go along with this one. Are flipping kidding me? I wasn't even depressed when I was put on this. I was just struggling with getting discouraged over living with pain the rest of my life.

Please if anyone has some suggestions to help me get through this, I would so appreciate it. I just want my old self back. I just want to feel normal again. Yes, the weight gain has been horrible but this is even worse.

Thank you in advance to any help or idea's you can give me. Lori



Lori,
You can't do this cold turkey! You think you feel awful now just wait!
It does get worse. I know you don't have insurance, but at least ask
you doc to give you samples to help you wean off this crap.

I lived alone when I was put on this crap, and everything you said I
had, and more. It was so awful, and it will take time for you to
recover from this drug, what it's done to you brain, and I believe to
our bodies too. The last one is just my opinion as I just was diagnosed
with sleep apnea last Thursday, both kinds, obstruction, and also my
brain is not sending a signal for me to take a breath in my sleep.

You can also get this drug for free from Eli Lilly, heck they want to
give it out! There is also a drug program on the Montel Williams Show,
but it does the same, it just has you contact each drug company to get
the drug for free.

If there is anything else I can help you with let me know. You will
get help, and make it through this.. It's just withdrawls right now,
and your brain is addicted to this stuff, and wants a fix.

Debbie

#2 Junior

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Posted 25 January 2010 - 06:13 PM

Hi Lori

You didn't say what sort of wean you did but the odds are that it was wayyyy too fast. And yes, everything you described is withdrawal. You are not crazy. Not at all. Some people can get off a/ds easily but most can't. Most find they need to do a SLOW taper - usually over several months - and still have difficulty along the way. I'm sorry to be the bearer of "bad" news but it is better that you understand what is happening to you.

You CAN recover by either going cold turkey or doing a quick wean, but as you're discovering, life is just hell while going through it. Why not take Debbie's advice and get yourself some free samples? That way you can do a slow wean, giving you quality of life along the way, and a much greater chance of long-term success. The general consensus from another forum I go to (Paxil Progress) is that the drops should be no more than 10% each time, and that one should stay on a dose for 3-6 weeks to stabilise before decreasing again. Of course, everyone is a little different, some can drop faster, some need to go even slower - but this method seems to work a LOT better than weaning quickly.

As far as your distrust of doctors - YOU ARE NOT ALONE!!! I've been posting here and at the other forum for several months now and it still astounds me how little the medical profession knows about how addictive modern a/ds are, and the difficulties people are having in coming off them. One wonders just how much the drug companies actually tell them. Gahhh...

Well, I hope that helps.. even if just a little
Good luck
Junior

#3 LILLY

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Posted 26 January 2010 - 10:33 PM

I am having the same symptoms you are and my life has been completely disrupted while trying to get off this drug. By the time I found this forum, I had already been off it totally for a week, the weaning schedule which I was given was apparently way too quick. I started on 90 mg and dropped to 30 with no problem (took about 4 weeks for that phase), but then was given the every other day crap and all this started. Psych md offered Prozac as a fix, but I got totally angry and fired her. Come to find out last week, my Internist knows more about getting off this & is offering me more help and support. The not sleeping and hot flashes, chills and night sweats were driving me crazy, My doc asked did you have these problems when you were in menopause and did anything help? I finally remembered taking a supplement called Estroven which I bought at walmart. I do believe the key ingredient that helped was Black Cohosh. This was about 10 yrs ago. For 1 week I have been back on Estroven Night Support, I chose it because it has the most Black Cohosh and also valerian root. My night symptoms are much better, I have not woken up soaking wet, & feel like I am sleeping better over all. I still have chills and milder hot spells, but nothing like before. I tried benadryl for the brain zaps, and think it helps a little. I am still afraid to drive because of the brain zaps and vertigo, but do feel like they have lessened. I am determined that I will not go back on any SNRI. I have taken Tricyclics & SSRI's and never had a withdrawal problem with any of them. This is my 5th bout of major depression. They all helped with the depression, including the Cymbalta, but this drug is not worth the effects of getting off. Good luck to you and everyone else out there who is going through this. I hope this makes sense, I tried rereading what I wrote, but can not tell right now.

#4 Junior

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Posted 27 January 2010 - 03:42 AM

Hi Lilly

Sorry you have been having a hard time with this. And yes, your post makes lots of sense :(

Although you were taken off Cymbalta too quickly, the Prozac that was offered to you may well have helped. I've known of several people who have found that it eased their withdrawal considerably. It still could actually, since you are still 'in' withdrawal (feeling withdrawal symptoms). Another option, since you are only a week out, could be to go back on a low dose of Cymbalta and give yourself a week or two to stabilise before tapering off more slowly.

As for this being your 5th bout of depression - I know how you feel. I've had 5 in my lifetime as well :( I also suffer GAD. It's not fun, is it?

Kind regards
Junior

#5 QueenTimely

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    I am currently on Cymbalta after many years of other drugs including Zoloft, Wellbutrin and Effexor. I had a terrible experience coming off of Effexor that resulted only in my going back on, then changing to Cymbalta. I feel, at this point, that the drugs are causing as many problems as the initial depression did, and am looking at the possibility of coming off but am living this year in rural Italy and need some real support in considering this possibility and its consequences.

Posted 27 January 2010 - 06:03 AM

Hi Lori -
You are in the right place, as am I. I was weaned off Effexor "slowly" but was extremely ill for months, losing 8 kilos from diarrhea, anxiety and loss of appetite. Great for my figure, bad for my life expectancy.

Now I'm coming off Cymbalta. My strategy involves homeopathic support and so far it's working well. But I believe that for the most part, only consumers know how to come off medications. Do what you have to to stabilise: increase your dosage a bit, use some homeopathics (prescribed by a qualified practitioner) or try some Prozac. But then: use the NurseDeborah approach (this website) and take your time so it works.

Good luck

#6 nursedeborah

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    I am reallly trying to get off Cymbalta, and not having, well I am having nightmares even with the decreased does, and clanging in my head.

    I just found this site, and I really need help, I can't do this, I fear I willl never get off this brutal medication.

    Deboreah Wesson

Posted 27 January 2010 - 02:26 PM

I am having the same symptoms you are and my life has been completely disrupted while trying to get off this drug. By the time I found this forum, I had already been off it totally for a week, the weaning schedule which I was given was apparently way too quick. I started on 90 mg and dropped to 30 with no problem (took about 4 weeks for that phase), but then was given the every other day crap and all this started. Psych md offered Prozac as a fix, but I got totally angry and fired her. Come to find out last week, my Internist knows more about getting off this & is offering me more help and support. The not sleeping and hot flashes, chills and night sweats were driving me crazy, My doc asked did you have these problems when you were in menopause and did anything help? I finally remembered taking a supplement called Estroven which I bought at walmart. I do believe the key ingredient that helped was Black Cohosh. This was about 10 yrs ago. For 1 week I have been back on Estroven Night Support, I chose it because it has the most Black Cohosh and also valerian root. My night symptoms are much better, I have not woken up soaking wet, & feel like I am sleeping better over all. I still have chills and milder hot spells, but nothing like before. I tried benadryl for the brain zaps, and think it helps a little. I am still afraid to drive because of the brain zaps and vertigo, but do feel like they have lessened. I am determined that I will not go back on any SNRI. I have taken Tricyclics & SSRI's and never had a withdrawal problem with any of them. This is my 5th bout of major depression. They all helped with the depression, including the Cymbalta, but this drug is not worth the effects of getting off. Good luck to you and everyone else out there who is going through this. I hope this makes sense, I tried rereading what I wrote, but can not tell right now.


Lilly,
Hi I just got back, I now have sleep apnea. Just was dx last Thursday.
I have both kinds, and have no doubt that the second kind I have is due
to this drug Cymbalta!

You have already heard it from a couple of people that you came off this
drug too fast, but I will add WAY TOO FAST!!!!! I would be crawling out of
my skin, and yes having, thinking, and feeling all the you are.

Please know that's what this drug does to you when going through too fast of
a withdrawl, cold turkey too. This is unlike anything that has yet to be made.
Effexor was at first the one know to be hell to get off, and this has topped
it, and then some.

I am not going to get into all the medical terms, but will just let you know
your brain is addicted to this stuff, and your in heavy duty withdrawls right
now, and these can last 6 mo to 2 years, or longer even on a slow wean, just
nothing compared to what your going through. It also doesn't start to get that
bad until the 6-9 day after the decrease.

Here is what I would do, go back on 30 mg ASAP

30 mg = 270 beads
20 mg = 180 beads
10 mg = 90 beads
5 mg = 45 beads
1 mg = 9 beads

Just start with the 30 mg, and start taking out 10 beads every 2 weeks until done.
Yes that's a long time, but it lets you function, live a normal life. It's hard
enough to come back from all the damage that has been done, it takes time for the
brain to rewire, for everything to start functioning like it did prior to this drug,
and all the other antidepressants.

To me the others were nothing to get off of, but this is just a different MONSTER!!

You can do this. If I did it, ANYONE CAN!!!! I am now at 35 bead, and started my slow
wean on Aug 31, 09.

If you have anymore questions please just ask me.

Debbie

#7 River Gal

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    After one year on cymbalta at 60 mg, I want to try to wean off again (after trying before and "failing.") The first wean, I was put on 30 mg for two weeks, and then told to stop. It was horrible. The withdrawl was evil. After withdrawls ended, after another month, I relapsed again (panicky, nervous), and was put back on Cymbalta again. I have been on it for over a year now, and was told by my Psych I have to be on drugs forever since I "failed twice". I don't buy it. I am going to see a new doctor and want to talk about weaning very s l o w l y, plus practice a depression-fighting diet, vitamins, etc. etc. I'm not sure if I can do this alone - I guess this is why I'm here. Looking for people with similar experiences who can relate, who UNDERSTAND Cymbalta withdrawl, and who have been through it before.

Posted 01 February 2010 - 03:04 PM

Last summer my doctor put me on Cymbalta for the sypmtoms of depression from PTSD and pain from my neck and skull injury. It didn't do anything to help my pain but without my even realizing it, it really changed me. At that time, I was working out, eating very healthy and I watched how much I ate because of worrying about menopausal weight gain. A month after being on the Cymbalta I had put on at least 10 lbs. So I started eating even less and working out more. Still I continued to gain weight. Then I hurt my shoulder and was unable to exercise. The doctor increase my Cymbalta from 30 to 60. I kept blaming menopause and quitting smoking for the weight gain. I kept gaining and gaining.

Then my family started saying things to me as they noticed changes in my personality and behavior.
I wasn't really happy or depressed...I was just numb. I couldn't think clearly. I struggled to even get a couple hours of sleep at night. I stopped crying about anything. I stopped wanting to leave my house. I lost interest in things I used to enjoy, such as sex and exercizing. All of this and I really didn't notice until it was pointed out to me and even then I didn't really do anything about it.

When I started on Cymbalta I weighed 118 lbs and now at last check I weighed 150. I hardly eat anything. My husband watched me eat fresh veggies and fruit and yet I kept on gaining. I went on-line to read about what I could do with this "menopausal" weight gain and came across a woman that talked about gaining weight from taking Cymbalta and she talked about this numb feeling. So I dug deeper and oh my god I seen myself in everyone that talked about how they felt on Cymbalta. I showed it to my husband and asked him, is this how he see's me? And he said this described me exactly. What a wake up call. It's like I've been asleep to my life for these past months.

So I started to wean myself off 2 weeks ago which was a good thing because work comp cut me off and were not going to pay for it without a fight. I don't have that kind of money. I took my last pill on last Wednesday night. Holy crap have I been sick. Feels like I have the flu. Wasn't able to go to work last friday and here it is Monday and I am still too sick to go to work. Besides feeling physically sick, I feel these brain zaps or buzzing...my face tingles, my skins feels like it is crawling. I am light headed and dizzy. I can hardly sleep and when I do I have horrid nightmares. I am having hot flashes like I've never had before and then I'm so cold I can't warm up. I feel literally crazy. I feel highly adjetated and irritated over nothing. Noise drives me crazy which is not good because I have a 3 & 4 year olds in my house. I don't want to get dressed or leave my house. I don't want to talk to anyone because I feel like I don't make sense when I talk..yet I feel extremely lonely. It's hard for me to read for any length of time because it hurts my eyes and can't concentrate that long. The worst thing in all of this is that I think about wanting to die and I haven't felt like that since I was assaulted(that's how I got my neck and skull injury.

Are these things normal for me to be experiencing? How long will I feel like this?

Please don't tell me to go to the doctor because I don't have insurance but I most likely wouldn't go anyways. I just don't trust doctors. When I called and talked to my doctors nurse about all of my concerns she discourged me from stopping and even thought that just maybe I needed a higher dose instead. And that maybe I should come back in and see if I just needed a higher dose or another drug to go along with this one. Are flipping kidding me? I wasn't even depressed when I was put on this. I was just struggling with getting discouraged over living with pain the rest of my life.

Please if anyone has some suggestions to help me get through this, I would so appreciate it. I just want my old self back. I just want to feel normal again. Yes, the weight gain has been horrible but this is even worse.

Thank you in advance to any help or idea's you can give me. Lori


#8 River Gal

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    After one year on cymbalta at 60 mg, I want to try to wean off again (after trying before and "failing.") The first wean, I was put on 30 mg for two weeks, and then told to stop. It was horrible. The withdrawl was evil. After withdrawls ended, after another month, I relapsed again (panicky, nervous), and was put back on Cymbalta again. I have been on it for over a year now, and was told by my Psych I have to be on drugs forever since I "failed twice". I don't buy it. I am going to see a new doctor and want to talk about weaning very s l o w l y, plus practice a depression-fighting diet, vitamins, etc. etc. I'm not sure if I can do this alone - I guess this is why I'm here. Looking for people with similar experiences who can relate, who UNDERSTAND Cymbalta withdrawl, and who have been through it before.

Posted 01 February 2010 - 03:07 PM

Lori,

What you are feeling is the withdrawl. I experienced it previously when I cut down from 60 to 30 mg for two weeks, then off. (As prescribed by doctor.) I too, thought I was going nuts and will never cut down that quickly again. I also mistrust my doctor. I had to go back on, back up to 60 because it was so ugly.

I'm trying again - trying to taper slowly. But even tapering slowly by 10 mg every couple of weeks has caused me problems. I also have two small children and can't imagine going through what you are cold turkey while caring for little ones. I'd suggest getting some samples, SOMEHOW if possible, and taper down slowly. It's not worth the pain you're going though!!!

#9 Junior

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Posted 01 February 2010 - 04:17 PM

Lori,

What you are feeling is the withdrawl. I experienced it previously when I cut down from 60 to 30 mg for two weeks, then off. (As prescribed by doctor.) I too, thought I was going nuts and will never cut down that quickly again. I also mistrust my doctor. I had to go back on, back up to 60 because it was so ugly.

I'm trying again - trying to taper slowly. But even tapering slowly by 10 mg every couple of weeks has caused me problems. I also have two small children and can't imagine going through what you are cold turkey while caring for little ones. I'd suggest getting some samples, SOMEHOW if possible, and taper down slowly. It's not worth the pain you're going though!!!


Hi River Gal

It's good that you are tapering more slowly this time. As you have discovered, it seems that many doctors have no idea about the withdrawal from, not just Cymbalta, but all modern anti-depressants.

However, if you are still finding the withdrawal symptoms too severe, you may need to go even more slowly. Another forum I go to (paxil progress) recommends no higher than a 10% drop then waiting 3-6 weeks before dropping it again.

Good luck
Junior

#10 Junior

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Posted 22 March 2010 - 02:56 AM

Hi Robin

Unfortunately the medical profession doesn't seem to 'get' the reality of modern anti-depressant withdrawal. Many people are told to either just stop taking it (even the drug companies themselves don't recommend that!) or to do the 'every other day' thing, which doesn't work either.

What dose were you originally on and what has your tapering schedule been like?

Kind regards
Junior

#11 Junior

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Posted 14 April 2010 - 10:57 PM

Joan, I understand you want to get off Cymbalta quickly and your reasons are certainly valid, but please consider reinstating and weaning off slowly. This drug (indeed all anti-depressants) alters the way your brain functions and going cold turkey not only brings on a litany of wdl effects, but can also be dangerous.

I wish you all the best
Junior



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