14 replies to this topic

[lucy]

HI
right about now I'm feeling lonely and "supportless" in my path from this nightmare withdrawl of "cymbalta"
I've been reading these blogs now for about 3-4 days and I'm really scared because within that time I haven't found anyone that has recovered from this nightmare of withdrawl.
have I missed something?
please respond

[Sarah J]

Lucy,

I too pretty much did not find "graduates". I am no longer taking Cymbalta, but did not have an easy time with withdrawal and hope that I can offer a few grains of wisdom.

1) Do not take doses every other day - the short half life of Cymbalta will make you begin withdrawals every other day. Simply put, this does not work.

2) Your doctor may possibly tell you to drop from 30mg straight to nothing. My old doctor did. I was on a horrible roller coaster they call Cold Turkey for 45 days before I finally went and found another doctor. They do make 20mg capsules. I don't know if a "compounding" pharmacy can make doses smaller or if you will have to do the eyeball or count the pellets thing.

3) If you tirate slowly down and are on no Cymbalta for over two weeks and are still really uncomfortable - this is not good. My new shrink says that you may feel uncomfortable for a few days, but if you feel like you are losing your mind, you need to go another route - see bait and switch tactic below.

4) Many people on this forum reported success with what I will call "bait and switch". Prozac doses when lowering your Cymbalta dose could be beneficial. Prozac, Celexa and Wellbutrin are the only anti-depressants where I actually know people who used them and went off, without losing their minds like I did off of Cymbalta. I did not know about this when I went cold turkey and wish that I did. My new doctor put me on a low dose of Celexa to balance me back out for a few days 20mg for 4 days and now I am on 10mg. Feel better, still on an anti-depressant, but my doctor says it should only be for another couple of weeks as I am doing really well with the very low dosage of Celexa.

5) Some people do come off of Cymbalta with no problems. Why can't you find their stories? I believe that you don't find their stories because they came off just fine and don't need to peruse the internet looking for answers as to what kind of truck hit them when they go off, because they had no adverse effects. I pray that you are one of those people.

6) If you experience terrible withdrawal symptoms after being off a few days and your doctor says "just go back on" tell them no. Going back on then trying to get off with result in the same withdrawal symptoms.

When I started looking for information, I wanted to find that graduate. The one who said everything was better in X number of days. I couldn't. I consider myself a former user of Cymbalta, but had to do so with the help of another anti-depressant, although very low dose, I will be a graduate when I am done with it all.

I did go cold turkey for 45 days from 30 mg after 3.5 years off of the stuff. Never had taken any other anti-depressant in my life and I am 40 now. After the first week off which was 50/50 - both good and bad, I knew that Cymbalta needed to never enter my body again.

Hope I have helped. Wish I could be the one to tell you - oh, it will be over in X days, but everybody is different with this stuff. My best wishes to you. Oh yeah, please don't try to do this by yourself and make your doctor listen. Print out some of our stories. The doctors are sometimes very mis-informed on how to drop down.

[lucy]

THANK YOU, SISTER SARAH IF I MAY?
YOU ARE A CARING INDIVIUAL,TO TAKE THE TIME,TO TALK TO ME.
I AM ASHAMED TO SAY THAT I AM "NOT" UNDER THE ADVISE OF MY DOCTOR TO STOP CYMBALTA. AS A MATTER OF FACT, HE THINKS I'M STILL TAKING MY "PRISON INTAKE" OF 200 MG OF ZOLOFT A DAY, I HAVEN'T BEEN TAKEING ZOLOFT FOR PROBALLY CLOSE TO 8 MONTHS? ALONG WITH 60MG OF CYMBALTA FOR MY ANXIETY. I'D BEEN ON ZOLOFT NOW FOR ALMOST 10 YEARS, AND HAVE BEEN ON CYMBALTA FOR I THINK MAYBE CLOSE TO 1 YEAR NOW.
WHY DID I STOP THE ZOLOFT? BECAUSE I WANTED TO GET OFF ALL DRUGS EVENTUALLY.
NOW I'VE STOPPED THE CYMBALTA. TODAY MAKES DAY 7.
MY SIDE EFFECTS
DAY 1-2 NONE
DAY 3 TO PRESENT HEAD ZAPS EVERY OTHER SECOND ESPECIALLY WHEN I MOVE MY HEAD
STARTING ON DAY 4 TO NOW MAJOR THROWING UP!
OTHER SIDE EFFECTS SWEATING AT NIGHT BETWEEN DREAMS I'LL WAKE UP ALL WET WITH SWEAT ON MY CHEST. I "DO" SLEEP WELL I HOPE THAT DOESN'T CHANGE.
TODAY, I "WILL" BE LOOKING FOR A COUNSELOR OR PHYCHIATRIST TO TALK TO, ABOUT ALL OF THIS, BECAUSE WHEN MY MD FINDS OUT I'VE STOPPED ALL MEDS HE'S GOING TO DROP ME LIKE A HOT POTATO.
I KNOW THIS MOVE MIGHT SEEM EXTERMELY IRRATIONAL TO MOST, BUT IT WAS EITHER NOW OR NEVER.
ALL OF YOU OUT THERE,LIKE SARAH ARE MY FAMILY NOW, BECAUSE NOT EVEN MY HUSBAND COULD UNDERSTAND WHAT IT IS TO BE A MENTAL CASE SCREAMING FOR AN "OUT"
I WILL MAKE A VOWEL "RIGHT NOW" THAT WEATHER I MAKE IT OR NOT I "WILL" LET YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY IF I "GRADUATE" YOU ARE NOT ALONE, "I'M "NOT" ALONE AND I KNOW THAT NOW. ALOT OF "LOVE AND ENCOURAGEMENT" FROM MY HEART TO YOURS!

[schmb01]

Lucy, I'm with you! I'm also on another support board for my medical condtion, and we will have new people come and join, and they get so much care and support, and some of them are lucky, and the meds they are on help, or they go into remission and feel great, and POUF, they are gone! While I understand that they are relieved, they fail to realize how much hope their success gives to others, and how important it is to pay that original support back to those who are scared, and where they were at one time. I have vowed there and here, to be one to stay and help others once I can call myself a graduate of this poison!

I do encourage you to find another doctor/psychiatrist that you can work with, because if your doctor just drops you because of this personal choice, then you don't want him anyway. Now, he would be right to perhaps "scold" you for doing this on your own, as any caring doctor should, but you don't just give up! I didn't tell my doctor either for the 1st week, and while I know he was annoyed with me, he still was and is there to offer me help in doing this.

You are not alone, and maybe we can be one of the "graduating classes" of the summer of 2008!

[lucy]

That sounds like a wonderful goal. thank you!

[Sarah J]

Lucy,

I do encourage you to try to find another doctor if your current one is not supportive. And I do understand what is like to not want to take your medications. I think that many of us who post here have tried to stop without telling their doctor. Like I said, I hope that you are one of the people that can stop Cymbalta and be off in a few days without any bad effects. Do not be ashamed that you are trying to find a way to be healthy.

60mg of Cymbalta is a long way to drop and it is a very powerful anti-depressant. I hope that today you are able to find help from your doctor, you may find that he/she is supportive of you more than you know. Drop you? Your doctor is supposed to be there to HELP you.

Let us know how it works out for you and hope that you feel stronger today. And glad to know that you were sleeping, I was one of those people while on Cymbalta that could not hardly sleep. Now that I am off, I sleep pretty regular and sympathize with those of you who can't.

[lucy]

HI BROTHERS AND SISTERS
I JUST WANTED YOU ALL TO KNOW THAT I AM STILL CYMBALTA FREE.
FOR THE PAST 3 NIGHTS NOW, I'VE HAD TO TAKE MOTRIN TO FALL ASLEEP.
I NEVER THOUGHT I'D SAY THAT, BECAUSE I'M A HEAVY SLEEPER.
I'M STILL THROWING UP EVERYTHING I EAT. I HATE THAT!
I HAVEN'T POST FOR A WHILE BECAUSE THE PAST FEW DAYS HAVE BEEN VERY NAUSEAOUS FOR ME. "BUT" WITH A HIGHER POWER ABOVE,WATCHING OVER ME I KNOW I COULD DO THIS. I HAVE TO, I KNOW AFTER 10 YEARS MY BODY HAS HAD ENOUGH!! I HATE ZOLOFT, I HATE CYMBALTA! I WILL GRADUATE!!!!!!!!!!
TAKE IT EASY EVERYONE, I THINK ABOUT ALL OF YOU, EVERY DAY. YOUR NOT ALONE, I'M NOT ALONE.
YOUR WITHDRAWL SISTER, LUCY :|

[schmb01]

Hang in there Lucy, we can do this! I have still had trouble sleeping too, and it is awful, but we have to keep hanging in there!

You're right, you are not alone!

[help4m3]

Hello im new to this too, i am only 15 as well...i had had an infection like this before to vyvanse, except my doctor over-prescribed me on wayyyy too many meds. My parents started to worry because every appointment we would walk in and he would have no clue what meds i had been on and how old i was. i dont have a spouse to lean on and my parents are hard at understanding. I was put on cymbalta only on january 19! and i am stopping it...i cant take it...my chest compresses and my body feels like crap. i have threatened suicide and for this to be going on is ridiculous. For the FDA to not give a crap about what this drug is doing is absurd. We need to get a petition going or something. I told m parents i wanted to sue my doctor for making me go through this. I have no friends, i cant hang out, i play sports and now i cant because i feel so bad. ALL I WANT TO DO IS DIE! it is so frustrating!!!

do people really get over this?? because i dont find that alot of people do get over it....i am toying with the idea of taking this medication and weening off REALLLLY REALLLLLLLYYYYYYYYY slowly, but i doubt this will help. i am in so much pain i hate it. i want this medication to be banished and never prescribed again. if anyone has any advice whaat so ever PLEASE PLEASE SEND IT! MY EMAIL IS AVAILABLE! i would appreciate it greatly.


thanks

[lucy]

DEAR HELP4ME3,
PLEASE LOOK @ THE 2 POSTS I WROTE YOU.
SINCERELY, LUCY

[floridaSun]

Hello Lucy,

My story is like many others. I went to my doctor because I have neck pain due to disc problems. Doctor puts me on a drug
called "Cymbalta" and tells me nothing about withdrawl or side affects. I even checked Cymbalta's site before taking. Supposedly as they advertise on TV etc., it is an antidepressent but seems to advertise more in the "stop pain" category.

Last Thursday I had a procedure to try and eliminate the pain that had gradually increased since September. I thought...."how will I no if the pain was fixed by surgery if I am taking what, I was told, was a pain inhibitor? My last Cymbalta pill was last Wednesday 3/13/08. On 3/15/08 I noticed that I was having allot of zapping in my brain. I was dizzy and felt sick. I had not slept well and kept blaming it on day light savings change. By Saturday night I was unable to blink my eyes or hear ANY noise without feeling as if someone was running there finger nails accross a chalk board.

I kept thinking this would be gone the next day. Instead of getting better it got worse. My head feels like it is going to explode, it actually hurts to touch. I can not drive and must not try and walk around, because it exasperates the symptoms.

I decided to go on line and look up "Cymbalta side effects". As I looked at all the postings I felt totally betrayed by my Doctor. I was never told that this Drug would cause such misery. I have been on this for almost a year. When I went for my annual check up I asked the Doctor why have I gained 25 lbs. when I barely eat anything. Her response was get more exercise. For my entire life I have had very low colesteral and now my test are off the chart!! Now another drug is added "Crestor" to get the colestral down. Again, I asked the doctor why the weight, why do I sweat ALL the time? Finally, after taking this for over 8 months, she states matter of factly that "Cymbalta" can do this. That is the sub and substance of my knowledge of "Cymbalta".

Right now it has been 4 nights without sleep. I just want to lay down and get some rest but the zapping will not stop.

I still have not been able to figure out how long this is going to last. It has gotten so bad that I have my family and friends checking on me to make sure my mind has not gone completely wacko.

Praying that tomorrow will be a brighter day. Once I am strong enough to get all of this documented I am going to provide my "SO CALLED DOCTOR" with the real facts on "Cymbalta". Funny how those drug sales reps always get in to see the doctor before I can. Doctors get kick backs from the pharmysotical companies for pushing there drugs. The only difference between them and the guy on the corner is that they are legal. It is all about money otherwise they would do some research before giving out samples and then writing perscriptions.

OK......I said enough. Any advise?

Jan

[schmb01]

Jan, you need to contact your doctor, or another doctor right away. You didn't say how much you were taking, but as you are finding out, cold turkey is a horrid way to get off of this, and you were wise to have family check on you. What may work is going back to your last lowest dose, say 30 mg, take that for a week, then slowly begin to remove portions of the granules and wean yourself down. That is what some of us did. Others were given low doses of another anti, such as Celexa or Prozac during the weaning process, to help.

It isn't safe for many people to go cold turkey, and the physical symptoms can be just as uncomfortable as the mental. If you feel up to it, please read some of the other posts, under "weaning" to see what has worked.

Take heart, it can be done, yet you will have some very difficult days and nights for awhile. I tell you this so you will know what to expect, and understand that you are not losing it, you aren't weak, but you are withdrawing from a psychotropic med. I spent quite a few nights unable to sleep, feeling very scared, but finding some solace here knowing that others have experienced it too. I take an Omega 3 supplement made by Nordic Naturals which seems to be helping, and I drink chamomile tea, which helps me relax at bedtime.

Still, you need to let your doctor know what is going on, and if he/she is unwilling to help you, then ask family or friends for a referral, or go to the ER and let them know what is going on. You can take the edge off of the misery.

Babby

[lucy]

Hi my, withdrawl, brothers and sisters,
I joined this board on march 10th 2008, and when I did, I had been off cymbalta freshly, approximately, 3 days.
I was desperate for support and answers! Answers that would make me feel better!! I had gone all through this site and other sites, looking for someone "ANYONE" THAT WOULD SAY THAT THEY "GRADUATED" from throwing up, brain, (head) zaps, craziness in temper, sleepless nights and more, and to my disappointment sadly, I couldn't find any.

"I'M A GRADUATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! A GRADUATE INDEED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Today "IS" THE FIRST DAY OF NO BRAIN ZAPS!

I was determined that I would be able to come to all of you, with this news.

You too will be a "graduate" you just have to be determined that your "NOT" GOING TO BACKSLIDE back to those wicked pills.

Read all my blogs on this site, I "WILL" continue to visit this site, Because of what I've been through I'll always be a withdrawl sister, your sister, because I understand what your going through!

sincerely, LUCY

[Jennie]

Hello,

I think I can call myself a graduate. I was on Cymbalta for 2 years and 3 months.
My maximum dose was 60mg for 1 1/2 years - then 40mg for 7 months (tried to get lower last Summer but had a relapse) 30mg for 4 months and now off for 10 days. I was thinking about getting off it for a while...prescription expired and during some travel away from home forgot to take it and just decided I may aswell continue. The first 2 days were fine - day 3 the horrible brain zaps, flu like symtoms and tingling hands and feet hit. I took 3 days off work. I used Omega 3 DHA supplements which I will continue......and also used Hylands Motion Sickness Homeopahtic formula and Calm Spirit chinese herbal formula. I got outside and did some gentle gardening - this seemed to help with the brain zaps.
The last two days the withdrawal symptons have really subsided - I am thinking of going for a run tommorrow! and best thing is that my mood is great : )
I am not doling out any advice here - it seems like a wiser chocie to taper slowly with MD supervision - just wanted to share a positive outcome.

[schmb01]

I am so glad that many of you feel like you have graduated from the horror that is Cymbalta, and I pray that you continue to feel good. Now, not to be a "downer" here, but please keep in the back of your mind that you may get a few kicks in the behind from this stuff.

I felt really good for a week, no zaps, I was actually starting to get some sleep, and thought, "Wow, I've made it!" Then, this week began. The zaps are back, although much milder, and I'm back to almost full insomnia again. Granted, I don't get out and exersize and do much from a physical perspective, but still, I'm not feeling so great this week.

I'm only sharing this so that no one is surprised or bummed out if some of the withdrawal stuff returns. It kind of set me back on my heels, but, I've decided that it will take as long as it takes, and I will enjoy the good days, and manage the bad.