2 replies to this topic

[mentalpatient]

I work for a large financial institution in town, and a few weeks ago someone took a header off of the roof of our building (55 stories).

At the time, I didn't know how to react? I tried to rationalize it like everyone else around me - maybe his wife left him, or maybe he found out that he had cancer? But then I thought, maybe the guy was on some kind of anti-psychotic medication and he stopped taking them?!

Here is the reason I bring that up.....

Personally I have been taking Cymbalta for 3 years - 39 months to be exact.

I started to take it because I have "Generalized Anxiety Disorder - G.A.D"

I have taken Prozac 1998 - 2001 (made me gain 50 pounds)

and Lexapro 2003 - 2005 (made me numb and indifferent towards the world - comatose)

So I started Cymbalta, because it was new on the market, and if you believe the commercials it was supossed to be the cure to all that ails me - right?

In the 3 years that I have been taking Cymbalta (60 mg), I have NOT been able to miss even 1 dose...! The withdrawal symptoms (headaches, brain zaps, intestinal cramping, diarreah, nausea, vomiting) all would rear their ugly head if I did miss a dose. My wife told me that heroin addicts have the same symptoms..!

I even lost my job and my health insurance 2 years ago, and had to start getting it for free off of my neighbor (who works for a shrink), as I couldn't afford the $150 a month for the pills.

So back to the jumper......

The day this guy hit the pavement, was the day that I decided that I had to take myself off of this stuff. I am 38 years old, and I cannot take this stuff the rest of my life, and I fear the long term effects of a pill that I can't even miss for one day - I take 60mg a day.

SO - I called my doctor and he said to try and take one every other day - which I have done now for 3 weeks - this wasn't too bad and I was surprised. My effects were minimal - present, but minimal.

However this week, I tried to go all week without my little blue and yellow enemy. I took one Monday and went all week....then today happened (Friday).

I was under a little bit of stress at work - nothing I haven't been able to handle before - but today was different - I flipped the F__K out. I walked into one of my bosses office and told her that I can't do my job anymore..! Long story short, I left my building today (not off of the 55th floor, I have thought about it every day for the past 4 weeks) but with an escort from my bosses, bosses, boss.

He walked me down the street to my wifes building so I could get home safe and told me all aboout how his wife had similar problems, but after a week in the pysch ward and by starting to take Wellbutrin, she is now fine...

Here is my dilemma - do I go back to taking my dose of Cymbalta and continue to pay the $30 a month co-pay and hope that it helps me keep my job, and zones me out to the effect that nothing in the world bothers my anymore - i.e. someone can splat themselves from 600 feet on the sidewalk at rush hour, and we should just continue to make our clients money, or do I continue to fight these withdrawl symptoms and get my old life back?

BTW - the Cymbalta never helped me with my G.A.D - I still get panic attacks. I feel that all the drug companies want, is for us to build a "legal" addiction to their pills. They are just like the bank I work at, greedy - they care more about $$ than their fellow man.

Thanks for reading - please share your thoughts, it is 3:12 AM where I am at now, and I can't sleep....

[mentalpatient]

Just wanted to give a brief update.

Started to work with a NEW doctor and she told me that I was going about my "tapering off" all wrong. She didn't suggest that I take 1 60 MG tablet every other day - instead she took me off of it 60, 40, 30 over the course of a week and added 20 mg of Prozac. She said the the Prozac has a longer half-life and stays in your system longer - not to mention I can get it for $4 a month at my local pharmacy as it is in generic.

So far, so good..! Haven't had a Cymbalta since Friday (4 days) and no withdrawal effects...

[MaureenV]

Just wanted to give a brief update.

Started to work with a NEW doctor and she told me that I was going about my "tapering off" all wrong. She didn't suggest that I take 1 60 MG tablet every other day - instead she took me off of it 60, 40, 30 over the course of a week and added 20 mg of Prozac. She said the the Prozac has a longer half-life and stays in your system longer - not to mention I can get it for $4 a month at my local pharmacy as it is in generic.

So far, so good..! Haven't had a Cymbalta since Friday (4 days) and no withdrawal effects...

The prozac works well for lots of people withdrawing from Cymbalta.

Good luck with the rest of the journey.


regards, Maureen.