I have been on 30 mg of Cymbalta for fibro pain for only 3 months.
I am stopping Cymbalta because I still have pain and fatigue to the max. I'd rather just have fibro symptoms.
Dr. says every other day for 1 week, then every third day for the next and then quit. Problem is I am outta money and down to 2 pills. Pharmacist suggested take 1 pill, skip 3 days then take the last. After taking 30mg a day, I skipped 2 days and was going to try to go 3 but I'm feeling like I have shakey vision when looking right or left, pressure headaches, dizziness and general crappiness. Not sure how else I can wean off this. I'm kinda nervous reading what I have here.
Am I better off to just quit cold turkey rather than space my last 2 pills out? I have not been on it very long nor at a high dose. Are my chances of withrawl symptoms less?
Really sorry I started Cymbalta. Any help you can offer is massively appreciated!
Patti
Hi Patti,
sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but no, judging by how you're already feeling, you're not going to feel better soon unless you can get your hands on some Cymbalta.
Whatever you do, don't take the whole 30mg - that's just taking you right back several days; the withdrawal symptoms you're experiencing are your body trying to adjust to the lack of Cymbalta - if you take the full dose again, you have to go through those three days again. All you're doing is postponing things.
Are you in the US? I'm assuming you are by your comments. If so I believe doctors usually have samples, or Eli Lilly are happy to provide samples with your doctor's o.k.
Another alternative is to get a prescription for Prozac - the generic varieties shouldn't be too expensive. Many people find that taking prozac during the withdrawal period alleviates many of the symptoms.
If none of the above are any use, even the two capsules that you have can help. You can open them and divide the contents: as per Angie's suggestion today you could have four days IN A ROW of 15mg by putting half the contents of each into half a capsule and stuffing the end with a bit of bread.
Whatever you do, don't try alternate days - it just doesn't work with Cymbalta.
You could divide your remaining 60mg into smaller doses (e.g. 6 x 10; 12 x 5mg etc) but that would mean buying clear gelatine caps to put the beads in. It is NOT recommended that you take the beads on their own, BUT this is because it's important they get to your stomach without being damaged. (The gel capsule part breaks down within two minutes in your stomach.) If you do end up taking the beads on their own, DO NOT add them to food, dissolve them in water, crunch them in your mouth etc.
FYI There are 270 beads in a 30mg capsule.
regards, Maureen.
