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Is there any SSRI withdrawal syndrome clinics or treatment centers?


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#1 livingdeadgirl

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Posted 26 February 2010 - 12:51 AM

Hello-

I'm at almost 3 wks. cold turkey withdrawal from cymbalta after being on it over 3 yrs. I'm still having severe withdrawal symptoms and have a very unsympathetic psych dr. I'm not sure I can make it any longer, but I know if I go back on it, I will never get off. The symptoms seem worse now at 3 wks than before!! I feel suicidal at times, but I have 2 rescue dogs and I won't let anything happen to them. I'm an orphan but I do have a boyfriend who is very worried and confused and a therapist who doesn't know much about ssri withdrawal but is trying to find out more to help me.

My question is, does anyone know of an inpatient treatment or detox center for getting off this stuff? I don't want to be put on another SSRI or SSNI-have been on most all of them over 10 yrs. All I can find is drug rehab/alcohol rehabs or the alternative, the holistic juice cleansing/colonic places.

Please help-I am really at the end of my rope here. Thank you!

#2 Junior

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Posted 26 February 2010 - 06:10 PM

Hi livingdeadgirl (interesting name!)

I don't know of any wdl clinics but I do know that the best way for you to deal with your current symptoms is to get back ON Cymbalta and wean slowly. This drug chemically alters the way your brain functions and it can take time for the brain to return to its pre-med state. A slow wean allows for quality of life and manageable wdl rather than the hell you are going through now.

You didn't say what dose you were on but after 3 weeks it's likely that your body won't need the same dose now. Maybe reduce the original dose by 10mg and see how you go?

As far as Drs, I'm afraid their lack of knowledge about SSRI /SNRI wdl is a common theme on these boards. Either they are in denial or drug companies just aren't revealing the full picture. The problem is, it's not how long it takes for the drug to be out of your system, it's how long it takes for your system to return to 'normal'.

Many people find they need to open the capsules and count the beads as they lower their dose. We can help you with that if that's what you would like to do.

I wish you all the best
Junior

#3 livingdeadgirl

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Posted 03 March 2010 - 03:04 AM

Hi livingdeadgirl (interesting name!)

I don't know of any wdl clinics but I do know that the best way for you to deal with your current symptoms is to get back ON Cymbalta and wean slowly. This drug chemically alters the way your brain functions and it can take time for the brain to return to its pre-med state. A slow wean allows for quality of life and manageable wdl rather than the hell you are going through now.

You didn't say what dose you were on but after 3 weeks it's likely that your body won't need the same dose now. Maybe reduce the original dose by 10mg and see how you go?

As far as Drs, I'm afraid their lack of knowledge about SSRI /SNRI wdl is a common theme on these boards. Either they are in denial or drug companies just aren't revealing the full picture. The problem is, it's not how long it takes for the drug to be out of your system, it's how long it takes for your system to return to 'normal'.

Many people find they need to open the capsules and count the beads as they lower their dose. We can help you with that if that's what you would like to do.

I wish you all the best
Junior



Thank you Junior for your info and help. It's the name of a Rob Zombie song and it really describes what I've felt like going through this Cymbalta withdrawal! went back to my psych dr. and he gave me Prozac to use as a week long taper, so I'm trying that. He said it's pretty effective, so I'm hoping that he's right! I was on 60mg. for over 3 yrs., at one point up to 120mg, then had bad side effects and came back down to 60mg. He's trying to get me to go on Effexor XR instead, but from what I've read, it's even harder than Cymbalta to get off. I'm going to try the supplement 5-HTP after that as it's supposed to be a natural serotonin neurotransmitter, and also Omega 3 and some other supplements I read about on the road back website. Today is day 2 of the prozac-I think it's helping with the zaps a little. Oh and making me hungry too-I think this one has a weight gain side effect? I'm still taking my clonazepam 1mg. day for anxiety and also my Adderall XR 30mg. day for my ADHD, but they don't seem to have any effects on the withdrawal at all but the withdrawal is certainly affecting how the medications work (they aren't, which is probably why I keep forgetting my password and am taking a really long time to type this). Are you still on a taper schedule?

thanks and good luck to you also!

#4 Junior

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Posted 03 March 2010 - 03:15 AM

Thank you Junior for your info and help. It's the name of a Rob Zombie song and it really describes what I've felt like going through this Cymbalta withdrawal! went back to my psych dr. and he gave me Prozac to use as a week long taper, so I'm trying that. He said it's pretty effective, so I'm hoping that he's right! I was on 60mg. for over 3 yrs., at one point up to 120mg, then had bad side effects and came back down to 60mg. He's trying to get me to go on Effexor XR instead, but from what I've read, it's even harder than Cymbalta to get off. I'm going to try the supplement 5-HTP after that as it's supposed to be a natural serotonin neurotransmitter, and also Omega 3 and some other supplements I read about on the road back website. Today is day 2 of the prozac-I think it's helping with the zaps a little. Oh and making me hungry too-I think this one has a weight gain side effect? I'm still taking my clonazepam 1mg. day for anxiety and also my Adderall XR 30mg. day for my ADHD, but they don't seem to have any effects on the withdrawal at all but the withdrawal is certainly affecting how the medications work (they aren't, which is probably why I keep forgetting my password and am taking a really long time to type this). Are you still on a taper schedule?

thanks and good luck to you also!


Hi Living

Many have used the prozac method and found it helpful. My concern is that a week may not be long enough, but I guess only time will tell.

I am not surprised that wdl is disrupting the normal mechanism of your other meds. Cymbalta down regulates serotonin and norepinephrine receptors on sending neurons (thereby preventing the reuptake of these from the synapse /gap between neurons) and it takes time for these receptors to up-regulate properly. Also, when you alter the levels of one or two brain chemicals, other adjust in order to find a new equilibrium. Hang in there, it will all settle in time.

Cheers
Juniro

#5 Junior

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Posted 03 March 2010 - 03:18 AM

PS - A year ago I went from 40mg Paxil to 10mg then 20mg of Lexapro... after a bad reaction I switched to Cymbalta. After only 19 days on 60mg I cold turkeyed off this - something I would NOT recommend..and was eventually forced to go back on the 40mg of Paxil to stabilise. I've been able to wean down to 20mg since then and I plan to sit here for a while due to job uncertainty. When that is resolved I will wean further. I'm also getting naturopathic support.



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