7 replies to this topic

[QueenTimely]

I'm just wondering: has anyone actually contacted Eli-Lilly itself to ask for help with weaning? I know they have a financial interest in keeping consumers buying the stuff, but I met a pharmacist who works for another company and she said that they would want to be contacted by people with problems, and that they can't actually officially register complaints on websites as consumer complaints. I wonder what they'd have to say.

[nursedeborah]

I called them and they were very interested to hear about my discontinuation symptoms. They actually logged it in their safety report. Unfortunately all they could tell me was to follow my physician's instructions. They are not allowed to give medical advice. They did tell me to have my physician call them, which she didn't. Her advice was to go down to 30 mg every other day for a month then stop, which I have already tried and failed miserably. She didn't even know they made a 20 mg. I took 20 mg for a month (after convincing her to write a script for it) and I am 5 days without any Cymbalta. This is actually the 2nd time I have tried. Same symptoms (brain zaps, irritability, lack of concentration, crying jags, diarrhea) but not as bad - yet.

Ama,
I didn't doubt they would be receptive with all that's being said about this drug, and also how they
have covered up so much information. Also that the Pharm Rep's know alll about the withdrawls, but
don't tell the doc's.

Due to the FDA they have had to change many things on the labels, TV commericials, info on the sample
inserts, and more.

Just curious did you just drop from 20 mg to nothing? That is still called cold turkey, so I hope
your ok. I know for me, and countless others it didn't hit us until the 6 th day, but you sound
like you doing better than most. Did I understand you right?

Take good care,
Debbie

[Krazy Kid]

I took C up to 60mg last July, went to the lower dose 2 months ago to every other day weeks ago, and took my last one last Friday, on day 6 and I get surges like what you guys call the "Zaps". My emotions are fine and have been. However, i'm restless at night. Sleeping like, so I feel like taking an ambien so I can crash out at night. I'm going to try that tonight. However, I'm happy to get off of C. because I can have more energy during the day. Seems like I couldnt get out of bed in the mornings when I was on it. I'm still dealing with the muscle tension, but could be me not exercising or doing yoga. But this Brain Surges SUCK so bad. Can wait for them to stop.. Seems like they are getting worse. thereGoing on a week now, so I can deal with it now, but if it doesnt stop in another week. I am gonna be worried... I would hope that this isnt going to be for the rest of my life...
Please advice if there is a solution... I overheard from someone to try Omega3 they read it in a book?! Ever heard of that??
Thanks,
TwitchyGrl in Indy

Hey there TwitchyGrl! I have heard the Omega3 thing too, but did not know about it when I tried, twice before, to get off of Cymbalta. I am on my third attempt, armed with tons more information, and thinking I have a good plan. LOL! Thought that last time too... but both times were cold turkey tries, as my gp is not aware of the awful w/d symptoms. So I am making my own w/d plan and will share it with him, although I am not asking his ok, just more of informing him of what I am doing. Anyway, I am close to Indy myself, and was thinking of hand delivering to Lilly my journal of what it has taken me to get off this drug, and also giving them my bill for the apothecary pharmacy to make the ween down doses, in excess of $75! since they do not offer anything lower than 20mg., and as we all know, you cannot go from 20mg to 0mg without some serious withdrawl. I have a good friend that works at Lilly, and was thinking of asking him who I should talk to there about this situation, and maybe try to make an appt. to go in and see them. You are more than welcome to come to that appt. with me!! May make a better impression if 2 go vs just 1...??? IDK, but it has been a rough last year for me, and the majority of my issues have been trying to get off this drug. (was originally put on it after my father passed away, and had a car wreck the year before that, so doc thought "2 birds, 1 stone" with the depression from dad passing and the pain from the accident.) Didn't help the pain at all and only so so on the depression. I am new here and just getting the hang of posting etc... so if this doesn't post right, I apologize in advance! ) Let me know if you may be interested in a personal trip to Lilly. Hope things are going OK for you now!! KrazyKid (in Indy)

[MaureenV]

Hey there TwitchyGrl! I have heard the Omega3 thing too, but did not know about it when I tried, twice before, to get off of Cymbalta. I am on my third attempt, armed with tons more information, and thinking I have a good plan. LOL! Thought that last time too... but both times were cold turkey tries, as my gp is not aware of the awful w/d symptoms. So I am making my own w/d plan and will share it with him, although I am not asking his ok, just more of informing him of what I am doing. Anyway, I am close to Indy myself, and was thinking of hand delivering to Lilly my journal of what it has taken me to get off this drug, and also giving them my bill for the apothecary pharmacy to make the ween down doses, in excess of $75! since they do not offer anything lower than 20mg., and as we all know, you cannot go from 20mg to 0mg without some serious withdrawl. I have a good friend that works at Lilly, and was thinking of asking him who I should talk to there about this situation, and maybe try to make an appt. to go in and see them. You are more than welcome to come to that appt. with me!! May make a better impression if 2 go vs just 1...??? IDK, but it has been a rough last year for me, and the majority of my issues have been trying to get off this drug. (was originally put on it after my father passed away, and had a car wreck the year before that, so doc thought "2 birds, 1 stone" with the depression from dad passing and the pain from the accident.) Didn't help the pain at all and only so so on the depression. I am new here and just getting the hang of posting etc... so if this doesn't post right, I apologize in advance! ) Let me know if you may be interested in a personal trip to Lilly. Hope things are going OK for you now!! KrazyKid (in Indy)

Hi Krazy Kid,

keep in mind that you don't have to pay for someone to make the smaller doses for you. The vast majority of us have bought clear gelatine capsules and made our own. We're only doing what the pharmacy is charging you for.

regards, Maureen.

[Krazy Kid]

Hi Krazy Kid,

keep in mind that you don't have to pay for someone to make the smaller doses for you. The vast majority of us have bought clear gelatine capsules and made our own. We're only doing what the pharmacy is charging you for.

regards, Maureen.

Hi Maureen! I know... have been contemplating doing that, as the compounding pharm is just going to estimate the amounts, and when they get smaller, you can't really estimate them. I have changed my mind about my first weening plan. I am gonna do a 10% every 4 or 5 days. Should be off by the end of Sept! Have made my first few doses... man is it tedious! maybe I should take an Adderall one day and just do them all! LOL! Just kidding! I know better than to add something strange into the w/d process. Went from 60mg to 30mg about a week ago, and gonna give that another week to 10 days to stablize. Have had some slight symptoms, but the worst is this God Awful headache that I cannot get rid of!! It has been constant since the second day at 30mg!! But I know it will get better once it stablizes!! I know this place has helped me understand why I did not succeed the last 2 times I tried, and gave me tons of info on how to ween and be successfull, finally! But I still want to see someone in person down at Lilly! If nothing else, to let me get my frustration out, and aim it at the responsible party!

Thanks for your support! Definately helps when in the mist of the weening process!!

Krazy Kid (41 year old female)

[MaureenV]

Hi Maureen! I know... have been contemplating doing that, as the compounding pharm is just going to estimate the amounts, and when they get smaller, you can't really estimate them. I have changed my mind about my first weening plan. I am gonna do a 10% every 4 or 5 days. Should be off by the end of Sept! Have made my first few doses... man is it tedious! maybe I should take an Adderall one day and just do them all! LOL! Just kidding! I know better than to add something strange into the w/d process. Went from 60mg to 30mg about a week ago, and gonna give that another week to 10 days to stablize. Have had some slight symptoms, but the worst is this God Awful headache that I cannot get rid of!! It has been constant since the second day at 30mg!! But I know it will get better once it stablizes!! I know this place has helped me understand why I did not succeed the last 2 times I tried, and gave me tons of info on how to ween and be successfull, finally! But I still want to see someone in person down at Lilly! If nothing else, to let me get my frustration out, and aim it at the responsible party!

Thanks for your support! Definately helps when in the mist of the weening process!!

Krazy Kid (41 year old female)

Fantastic news - you'll succeed now because you're prepared to be flexible and are determined to beat this drug at its own game.

A few of us have discussed the headache in the past. As someone with a dodgy fluid balance (less than perfect pituitary gland) the headache (for a few of us) felt like a dehydration headache, but it wasn't. After 40 years of problems I'm pretty expert at determining my level of hydration, and in fact drinking more did nothing to alleviate it. It felt like my head was in a vice, an ongoing tight pain, rather than any of the other sorts of headaches.

The other weird thing was that the times I did resort to paracetamol, it actually did nothing for it. One night it was bad and I resorted to a Mersyndondol, which usually works like a dream for me, still nothing.

At least those of us who've withdrawn from this drug can say we've had some unique experiences. Not much consolation, huh?

keep in touch, Maureen.

[QueenTimely]

Thanks for everyone's responses, particularly Ana about contacting Eli Lilly. I'm sure they can't give medical advice, but would think they could point us to some studies or "information" about weaning. Anyway, thanks for sharing.

[eribear117]

Oh god I'm so glad to know I'm not alone here. I've been on some form of antidepressants since I was about 16, and after 5 years, I'm ready to try to live without them, because I'm freakin' tired of feeling like a zombie...even if it's just a slight feeling! So I was switched to Cymbalta in December, and over the past few weeks have quickly been weaned off of it. Well thank you doctor, because obviously it was way too quick. I've been having brain surges but didn't realize what they were until tonight. THEY SUCK. Stupid and annoying but about a million of them a day. I have terrible headaches...I've always had headaches but not like this! And also moderate pain in my abdomen and diarrhea. I seriously just typed in a bunch of random things into google and stumbled upon this...and so glad I did. Will all of this go away? Is it tied to being over-tired at all? Anything I can do to help it move along? Side effects are ridiculous.