About a year ago I went off Cymbalta cold turkey because I no longer had insurance or healthcare and I couldn't afford the $130 a month to stay on it. I had been on it for 4 years. It worked well for me and mostly alleviated my depression. The previous 4 years I had been on Paxil which also worked well until it stopped being effective and I was switched to Cymbalta. It's been almost a year of no antidepressants and I'm in hell. My anxiety levels are through the roof. I've tried going back on cymbalta, paxil and celexa (all done under a doctors care) and find that I can't tolerate it. It just makes me feel so anxious. I'm a basket case. Has anyone else who has been off cymbalta for a long time experienced anything like this? What I don't know and am trying to figure out is if being on antidepressants for so long really messed up my brain chemistry and it is just taking this long to get back to some sort of normalcy or if this is just my depression coming back with a vengeance. It was never this bad before I went on antidepressants initially. I'm at wits end and just don't know what to think or do. Any feedback would be appreciated.[/font]
Long Term Effects
Started by freakedout, Apr 26 2010 02:20 PM
2 replies to this topic
#2
MaureenV
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Posted 26 April 2010 - 05:15 PM
About a year ago I went off Cymbalta cold turkey because I no longer had insurance or healthcare and I couldn't afford the $130 a month to stay on it. I had been on it for 4 years. It worked well for me and mostly alleviated my depression. The previous 4 years I had been on Paxil which also worked well until it stopped being effective and I was switched to Cymbalta. It's been almost a year of no antidepressants and I'm in hell. My anxiety levels are through the roof. I've tried going back on cymbalta, paxil and celexa (all done under a doctors care) and find that I can't tolerate it. It just makes me feel so anxious. I'm a basket case. Has anyone else who has been off cymbalta for a long time experienced anything like this? What I don't know and am trying to figure out is if being on antidepressants for so long really messed up my brain chemistry and it is just taking this long to get back to some sort of normalcy or if this is just my depression coming back with a vengeance. It was never this bad before I went on antidepressants initially. I'm at wits end and just don't know what to think or do. Any feedback would be appreciated.[/font]
Sorry I can't be much help; have you tried working with a professional to try to sort out the reasons for your depression and anxiety. Sometimes drugs are not the best solution.
I can't comment on the length of time you've been off, but I DO believe there's NO evidence that these drugs cause any permanent brain damage.
regards, Maureen.
#3
Junior
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Posted 02 May 2010 - 01:59 AM
About a year ago I went off Cymbalta cold turkey because I no longer had insurance or healthcare and I couldn't afford the $130 a month to stay on it. I had been on it for 4 years. It worked well for me and mostly alleviated my depression. The previous 4 years I had been on Paxil which also worked well until it stopped being effective and I was switched to Cymbalta. It's been almost a year of no antidepressants and I'm in hell. My anxiety levels are through the roof. I've tried going back on cymbalta, paxil and celexa (all done under a doctors care) and find that I can't tolerate it. It just makes me feel so anxious. I'm a basket case. Has anyone else who has been off cymbalta for a long time experienced anything like this? What I don't know and am trying to figure out is if being on antidepressants for so long really messed up my brain chemistry and it is just taking this long to get back to some sort of normalcy or if this is just my depression coming back with a vengeance. It was never this bad before I went on antidepressants initially. I'm at wits end and just don't know what to think or do. Any feedback would be appreciated.[/font]
Hi Freaked
I didn't see this post or I would have responded earlier. Apologies.
It's likely that going off Cymbalta C/t is the reason for your current issues. Unfortunately, there is only a small window of time (not sure what it is but a year would be too long) in which reinstatement works. This is also the reason for your inability to tolerate the drugs you mentioned. Your brain is still healing from the chemical changes made by Cymbalta.
The good news is that it should get better from here on. I've read of people who have major problems a year out who improve greatly over the next 12 months. You might find this site helpful http://www.paxilprog...display.php?f=7 There are a number of people there who have suffered protracted withdrawal.
Some of the recommendations I've heard are: stay away from Vitamin B as it ramps up the nervous system and can actually increase anxiety. Magnesium is a calming natural element. Supplements work for some but not for others. Other suggestions are to look up Claire Weekes. She's dead now but has some very good books on how to calm anxiety. I've got one of them and personally highly recommend her methods. I believe there are online links to some of her stuff but I don't have them. Sorry.
Keep in touch and let us know how you go
Junior
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