5 replies to this topic

[Junior]

I have been taking Cymbalta now for almost a year. The side effects are the worst for me. I have constant nausea which seems to be the ulitmate side effect. Once I skipped two days (over the weekend) because I forgot my pills at home and went out of town. The following Monday I was experiencing the craziest of all effects, "brain zaps". The best way to describe how that felt was a shivering electrical surge through my body. I am an elementary teacher and it was awful to have to teach in front of students and feel that way. I was embarrassed too because I thought no one would believe me. I thought I'd just have to take the Cymbalta forever because I never wanted to feel that way again. It was absolutely unbearable! Finally, today I worked up the courage to visit my doctor and ask to be put on Prozac which has worked for me in the past. (The only reason my former doctor switched me was because I was tired. He told me I was depressed. I switched to the doctor I have now and found out through blood work that I was tired because I had severely low levels of B12 and was diagnosed with BHe told me to stop taking the Cymbalta today and start taking the Prozac tomorrow. I expressed concern about the withdraw symptoms I had experienced and he stated, "There is no way you felt that from not Cymbalta for a day or two. It must have been something else." He then sent me on my merry way. I decided to speak with my pharmacist

Hi Natalie

Your former Dr is an idiot. Many people suffer wdl symptoms after missing just one dose. But then, it's not unusual to hear that a dr knows nothing about a/d withdrawal. We hear it so often. My own Dr didn't know either. I've been educating HIM!!!

Also, just being tired is not enough to Dx major depression. In fact, there are two major symptoms that must be present before that can happen (along with others) and being tired is not one of them! Your former Dr should have been ruling out other things before changing you to Cymbalta. I'm glad you found another Dr.

The best way to get off an a/d - doesn't really matter which one - is to wean slowly. The general recommendation is to reduce the dose by 10% then wait 3-6 weeks for any wdl symptoms to subside before reducing the dose further. Some people can go faster, some have to go slower. In the case of Cymbalta it means opening the capsules and emptying out some of the beads. Prozac can help with many of the wdl symptoms and make it easier so it wouldn't be a bad idea to start on that straightaway, but I'd still wean off the Cymbalta slowly.

What did the pharmacist say? From what I've heard, they know a LOT more than drs.
Regards
Junior

[Junior]

Hi,
I'am writing for a little support..I have been tapering off Cymbalta for a couple of weeks. I occasionally stop my taper, when i'am feeling better and usually after 2-3 days start feeling, brain contractions, nauseau and anxiety/palpatations. That's where i'am right now..felt intense brain contractions all day, then turned my head and felt a wave of nauseau, that hasn't stopped. I'am a few days away from being 1 yr sober from alcohol and opiates..That might be why i have a hard time taking my meds as prescribed. This feeling is awful, i've been crying all day and my brain is swimming so much, i can barely see. I feel like i'am going crazy and really depressed, i guess i would just like an aknowledgment..my boyfriend tells me to get over it and my dr. will probably just be annoyed if i call her..Thanks

Hi Corinne

You didn't say what your original dose of Cymbalta was or how quickly you have been weaning but it sounds like you are going too fast. The symptoms you describe are common in withdrawal and many find it easier to go very slowly.

If you Dr told you to do the 'every other day' thing, he /she is wrong. Far better to drop by 10%, wait 3-6 weeks, then drop again. It takes ages but allows quality of life while doing it.

As far as needing acknowledgement: what you are experiencing is very definitely real, and very definitely due to withdrawing from Cymbalta. What happens is that Cymbalta chemically alters the way your brain functions and it takes time for it to return to its pre-med way of functioning. That is why a slow, steady taper is best. It allows your brain to heal in smaller increments and is bearable.

Kind regards
Junior

[Junior]

Thank you Kaitlyn,
I met with my psych yesterday and told her about my symptoms(which included vomiting so hard it gave me a bloody nose) I mentioned this site and others and she still scoffed of my symptoms. Saying, "Well some people are just more sensitive than others" She told me to take 30 mg daily for one week and then 30mg every other day the next week. I guess i will try this regimen. Does the FDA know about the symptoms? Good luck to all out there, hope you feel that balance in your life!

Corrine

Many who have come to this board have tried the 'every other day' thing and ALL have found that it doesn't work. I strongly recommend dropping the dose in small amounts and then waiting until any wdl effects subside before reducing the dose again.

Good luck
Junior

[nursedeborah]

Thank you Kaitlyn,
I met with my psych yesterday and told her about my symptoms(which included vomiting so hard it gave me a bloody nose) I mentioned this site and others and she still scoffed of my symptoms. Saying, "Well some people are just more sensitive than others" She told me to take 30 mg daily for one week and then 30mg every other day the next week. I guess i will try this regimen. Does the FDA know about the symptoms? Good luck to all out there, hope you feel that balance in your life!

Corinne,
Doctor's dont have a clue how to get anyone of this drug, and what she told you is WRONG!
I am in recovery too, have been for many years, and this has nothing to do with anything
but this drug. It has been reported to the FDA by thousands, and they have had to change
the information on the package, on the info on the inserts of the sample bottles.

This drug is addictive to your brain, so when you don't let it have it for a day, it's
just like a junkie would be, it only wants a fix. So then you take that does the next
day, and start to feel a bit better, only to not take it the next day.

We are the one's who have been educating the doc's on, and about this med. Some now do
believe us.

The best know method there is, is the slow wean, and that to just remove 10 beads from
your dose every 2 weeks, until your done. There is a new site that is saying to take a
year to get off all of the kinds of drugs ssristories check it out, and the other I
always give out is http://prozactruth.com/cymbalta.htm This one has so helped me to
know all I am going through is just the withdrawls of this drug.

If you need anymore info, just ask and other will help you. Talk to Maurene, and Junior,
as we have been here a very long time. That's not to say other's don't have good input,
but most do not know how to get off of this drug.

Also there is a FDA report here if you look on the main borad under news I think, but also
please report this to them yourself. The more people who complain the faster we can get this
drug taken to civil court, and do something.

Debbie

[MaureenV]

Thank you for replying. I found your responses very helpful.I am just so bewildered that the psych profession doesn't know more about these symptoms!
I'am going to taper this the right way and be done with Cymbalta for good.

Thanks Kaitlyn and Junior for making me feel heard!

Good to hear! The professionals don't know because they should be able to rely on the information provided by the drug companies (and usually can). Sadly for those of us who've had to go through this, many professionals have had patients come off the drug with few problems, and because Cymbalta is relatively new on the market, it's going to take time before EACH AND EVERY professional comes across enough patients suffering for them to realize that it's a big problem.

Unfortunately, until proper tests are done, the facts are all anecdotal. You would need to take thousands of people on (3g) 60mg for more than a year, then split them into groups and do the different withdrawal methods in order to find out what the real percentages are.

I can't see that happening!

regards, Maureen.




p.s. There HAVE been a VERY FEW posters here who haven't had much problem with the alternate days method, but I have not seen a single one who has had success that way, who previously had problems when skipping doses, trying to withdraw etc. My guess is they're the lucky ones who wouldn't have had too much problem whichever way they went. So just take that into account if you read any of their posts. I'm not thinking of anyone in particular - those people only made a few posts anyway, because they really didn't need the support.

[nana]

Hi,
I'am writing for a little support..I have been tapering off Cymbalta for a couple of weeks. I occasionally stop my taper, when i'am feeling better and usually after 2-3 days start feeling, brain contractions, nauseau and anxiety/palpatations. That's where i'am right now..felt intense brain contractions all day, then turned my head and felt a wave of nauseau, that hasn't stopped. I'am a few days away from being 1 yr sober from alcohol and opiates..That might be why i have a hard time taking my meds as prescribed. This feeling is awful, i've been crying all day and my brain is swimming so much, i can barely see. I feel like i'am going crazy and really depressed, i guess i would just like an aknowledgment..my boyfriend tells me to get over it and my dr. will probably just be annoyed if i call her..Thanks

corinne,,
i have never had the thing with the brain,but sure a forgetful alot.. i don't drink and never have i do smoke and would like to quit but don't think the time is right with getting off of cymbalta ..i do take a nerve pill maybe every 2 or 3 days or at night.. i feel shakey and have upset stomach alot..but the shakey part i'm not sure if its from the cymbalta because i have it alot,, but have been on this stuff for about 3 years i think could be longer.. so hang in there you will make i just know you will,,my name is donna