2 replies to this topic

[schmb01]

As I read through all of these posts, it's obvious that there are many reasons why we have been placed on Cymbalta or other antidepressants.

There are those who have occurances of depression, ranging from mild to moderate. Those falling into that group may find relief by making dietary changes, increasing excersize and activity, or using herbal options, such as St. John's Wort. I think that there are many in this particular group that have been handed a pill to make it better, when it maybe wasn't the best option for us.

There are those using meds such as Cymbalta for more off label reasons, such as pain management, without being aware of the repurcussions to our brains, and find ourselves far worse off than we ever were to begin with, and this would make sense, IF we do not have a chemical imbalance causing depression to begin with.

There are also those that have a chemical imbalance, and really do need antis to manage day to day life.

My point is, we are all so eager to get off of this drug, for whatever our own personal reasons are, that we may overlook that some of us really do NEED to be on an antidepressant. Just like people with heart conditions or other medical problems need their meds to manage those illnesses, clinical depression is an ILLNESS, not a WEAKNESS, and should be managed as such. I think that is the key reason why working with a knowledgeable doctor is so important. It worries me that because of this horrible withdrawal experience, that some of us may say "I want to be drug free" and refuse to consider another medicine. My feeling is that Cymbalta has a flaw in it's makeup, in that it only works on average for a year, before you start getting the "zaps", and it is typically increased in doseage, which just makes things worse. BUT, there are effective medicines out there, and I just don't want anyone to refuse to use an antidepressant, if they indeed need one. That is just exchanging one kind of hell for another.

I don't mean to ramble, and I hope I somehow conveyed what I was trying to. :oops:

[CarolinaGuy29401]

Hi. I think I tried to convey something similar but not quite sure how articulate I was in my first post. Balanced...

[Sarah J]

I think in my many postings that I tried to convey that too.

I just saw the new shrink again. She assured me that in my specific case, the 45 days of withdrawal that my previous shrink let me go through was not normal. The low dose of Celexa saved me and I am grateful. We worked on the plan today to wean me off correctly and see where that leaves me.

I don't mean to frighten anybody with my experience, but I was listening to my old doctor, telling me to "tough the withdrawal out, I was going to be fine". Well, I can't express enough how I wish I had gone for different professional help much sooner. Flashing lights, horrid crying spells, shaking for 40 days straight, constant confusion of what the "bleep" has happened to my brain, is not a reasonable withdrawal experience.

A little discomfort with withdrawal is reasonable to expect, we were taking a substance altering our brain chemistry. For everybody out there, more than a couple of weeks of the scary stuff, you really should get a second opinion that does not involve more Cymbalta.