7 replies to this topic

[pq112570]

I was on 120mg of cymbalta for over a year had to stop taking it this past friday. Its Monday and I'm starting to cry alot and have brain zaps. Please help need to know what to expect next and how long before it gets worse?
Can anyone help me how long before symptoms get worse already having brain zaps and uncontrollable crying. Please help me understand how much worse the symptoms could possible get?

[Doob]

I was on 120mg of cymbalta for over a year had to stop taking it this past friday. Its Monday and I'm starting to cry alot and have brain zaps. Please help need to know what to expect next and how long before it gets worse?
Can anyone help me how long before symptoms get worse already having brain zaps and uncontrollable crying. Please help me understand how much worse the symptoms could possible get?

Hey PQ,
Doob here I have been cold turkey for 13 days now. Cold Turkey is not the easist way to go. I was only on 60 but have gone thru hell trying to get off this stuff. I have been going thru the brain zaps and crying. You may feel joint and ab pain, muscle pain and cramps, Very serious Zaps and headaches. The may be the toughest thing I have ever done.
There is hope wether you ween yourself down or go cold turkey. I have been feeling great the last few days. Still have some brain zaps and headaches but they are getting better. I have not cried in 5 days (Makes me want to cry with happiness).
Aches and pains are almost gone. And zaps and headaches are managable. I was a little hard on myself as I did't take any motrin or pain killers.
Hang in there. Close family will hear your cry.
Peace
Doob

[pq112570]

Hey PQ,
Doob here I have been cold turkey for 13 days now. Cold Turkey is not the easist way to go. I was only on 60 but have gone thru hell trying to get off this stuff. I have been going thru the brain zaps and crying. You may feel joint and ab pain, muscle pain and cramps, Very serious Zaps and headaches. The may be the toughest thing I have ever done.
There is hope wether you ween yourself down or go cold turkey. I have been feeling great the last few days. Still have some brain zaps and headaches but they are getting better. I have not cried in 5 days (Makes me want to cry with happiness).
Aches and pains are almost gone. And zaps and headaches are managable. I was a little hard on myself as I did't take any motrin or pain killers.
Hang in there. Close family will hear your cry.
Peace
Doob

Thank you so much it helps to here that others have made it through it. I'm just really scared right now. Scared my family and my boss at work won't understand the withdrawal process. It's hard to tell you boss your withdrawing from something so I am trying to tough it out at work however its getting harder. Any suggestions on how to tell my boss would be great.

[Doob]

Thank you so much it helps to here that others have made it through it. I'm just really scared right now. Scared my family and my boss at work won't understand the withdrawal process. It's hard to tell you boss your withdrawing from something so I am trying to tough it out at work however its getting harder. Any suggestions on how to tell my boss would be great.

Share this website with them. When I showed my wife that this is what I am going thru, she understood better why I was complaning and why I acting the way I was. It's an eye opener.
Hang in there and use the support that is out there. Sometimes it's not easy to verbalize. But it always helps to share what you are feeling.

Doob

[Junior]

I was on 120mg of cymbalta for over a year had to stop taking it this past friday. Its Monday and I'm starting to cry alot and have brain zaps. Please help need to know what to expect next and how long before it gets worse?
Can anyone help me how long before symptoms get worse already having brain zaps and uncontrollable crying. Please help me understand how much worse the symptoms could possible get?

Hi PQ

Can you get samples from your Dr? 120mg is a high dose to go c/t from. I went c/t from 60mg and would NOT recommend it to anyone. If possible it would be better to get back on a lower dose and wean from there.

If that is not possible, most people find that the worst passes in about 2-3 weeks although there can be up and down symptoms for some months.

Cheers
Junior

[Doob]

I am 37 days off Cymbalta and one of the only symptoms I still have are the
occassional Brain Zap. I also worry that it is a permanent damage. Only time will tell.
Keep an eye on our community here. If we can't help each other who will?
Doob

[MaureenV]

I am 37 days off Cymbalta and one of the only symptoms I still have are the
occassional Brain Zap. I also worry that it is a permanent damage. Only time will tell.
Keep an eye on our community here. If we can't help each other who will?
Doob

If it's any consolation Doob, I haven't seen anyone here saying that the brain zaps have not eventually completely disappeared.

By the time I started tapering properly, I was able to get by with 20mg and wean down from there, which took me 10 weeks, dropping about every four days. The last drops were 1mg at a time, and even then, the brain zaps, although mild, lasted nearly weeks.

The only comment I'd make, although I'm hesitant to sound negative, is that those who've gone cold turkey seem to be far more likely to suffer a recurrence of symptoms down the track a month or two. I'm just saying this so you know that even in those cases, they do pass again I haven't seen anyone here with permanent symptoms.

regards, Maureen.

AND WELL DONE!

[maddie]

I am now really confused. I was on Cymbalta 30mg for 5 weeks and was then increased to 60mg for approx 4 days. I began to have horrible vertigo and balance problems...it was a weekend and couldn't reach my doctor, so I stopped taking cymbalta cold turkey. At first I had a horrible headache and the dizzyness brain zaps and balance problem and horrible dreams. That was 10 days ago, and all that I have left of that today is very bad fatigue and the buzzing and brain zaps and some slight off balance feelings...but less than they were. I didn't have mood swings at all. As a matter of fact, today I am in a great mood. I'm only concerned that the really bad stuff could still be coming to get me. What a horrible medication. Good luck to all who are struggling with getting off of "the devil med".