6 replies to this topic

[ironwill]

Hi Everyone,

I am new here and joined for support and, hopefully, to also contribute and encourage others.

I started taking Effexor in 2003, I believe, and at some point changed to Cymbalta. Both of these drugs were prescribed to me by my neurologist for migraine prevention. I finally got tired of the side effects and decided to stop in 2005. That was the beginning of my efforts to wean off, and I have never been successful. I gave-up every time, because the withdrawal symptoms would interfere with my job performance and as a single parent in a demanding career I could not afford to lose my job.

I am now not working, so decided to get off my 60 mg dose. My blood pressure has been very high and I don't get migraines anymore. I successfully made it to 30 mg, although it took awhile and was not pleasant. Going to 30 to 20 was much harder, but I think if I stayed at 20 I would even out and feel OK.

I want to be Cymbalta free though, so I followed by doctor's very poor advice to take 20 mg. every other day for one week and then stop. From past experience I knew this would never work, but I tried. I have been on some variation of 20 mg. every other day for about 3 weeks. I have been taking a supplement regime for support, try to exercise, get plenty of rest etc. However, every time I think I know what to expect, I am stunned by different/bizarre/worse withdrawal symptoms.

Yesterday was day 4 without my 20 mg dose, and then I knew why Cymbalta has a suicide warning. It wasn't the usual brain zaps/nausea/vomiting/diarrhea/dizziness/irritability- this was pain, as if every pain receptor on every nerve in my body was being stimulated. I was also itchy, felt like I was on fire, and couldn't think. That's a partial description of the new and extremely bizarre symptoms I experienced. It felt as if my nervous system was shorting out and was in complete chaos. To sum it up it was unbearable and extremely frightening, and I could not stand it any longer. I thought I knew the full range of symptoms and what to expect, but I did not. I ended up dumping out half a capsule and taking a dose.

Today I am feeling fairly normal (after 13 hours of sleep), but I realize I need a better exit plan. As much as I want to get off this horrible drug, I can wait a little longer and use a more conservative, gradual approach. I may start taking 10 mg a day every other day (by dumping out half a capsule).

I have been on here and have tried to write, but even writing a simple post has been almost impossible, that's how poor my concentration has been.

I am hoping that eventually I will have a success story and will be able to encourage others. I will write again. Once I get off this I want to work to increase public awareness about this drug and others like it. I am outraged that this drug is so casually prescribed, about the failure to warn, and about the lack of recognition and resources/support for Cymbalta withdrawal. I am angry, but I am also hopeful.

You are not alone ..... you are not crazy- there is a problem and it is not you!!!

Be strong and be sensible.

[MaureenV]

Hi Everyone,

I am new here and joined for support and, hopefully, to also contribute and encourage others.

I started taking Effexor in 2003, I believe, and at some point changed to Cymbalta. Both of these drugs were prescribed to me by my neurologist for migraine prevention. I finally got tired of the side effects and decided to stop in 2005. That was the beginning of my efforts to wean off, and I have never been successful. I gave-up every time, because the withdrawal symptoms would interfere with my job performance and as a single parent in a demanding career I could not afford to lose my job.

I am now not working, so decided to get off my 60 mg dose. My blood pressure has been very high and I don't get migraines anymore. I successfully made it to 30 mg, although it took awhile and was not pleasant. Going to 30 to 20 was much harder, but I think if I stayed at 20 I would even out and feel OK.

I want to be Cymbalta free though, so I followed by doctor's very poor advice to take 20 mg. every other day for one week and then stop. From past experience I knew this would never work, but I tried. I have been on some variation of 20 mg. every other day for about 3 weeks. I have been taking a supplement regime for support, try to exercise, get plenty of rest etc. However, every time I think I know what to expect, I am stunned by different/bizarre/worse withdrawal symptoms.

Yesterday was day 4 without my 20 mg dose, and then I knew why Cymbalta has a suicide warning. It wasn't the usual brain zaps/nausea/vomiting/diarrhea/dizziness/irritability- this was pain, as if every pain receptor on every nerve in my body was being stimulated. I was also itchy, felt like I was on fire, and couldn't think. That's a partial description of the new and extremely bizarre symptoms I experienced. It felt as if my nervous system was shorting out and was in complete chaos. To sum it up it was unbearable and extremely frightening, and I could not stand it any longer. I thought I knew the full range of symptoms and what to expect, but I did not. I ended up dumping out half a capsule and taking a dose.

Today I am feeling fairly normal (after 13 hours of sleep), but I realize I need a better exit plan. As much as I want to get off this horrible drug, I can wait a little longer and use a more conservative, gradual approach. I may start taking 10 mg a day every other day (by dumping out half a capsule).

I have been on here and have tried to write, but even writing a simple post has been almost impossible, that's how poor my concentration has been.

I am hoping that eventually I will have a success story and will be able to encourage others. I will write again. Once I get off this I want to work to increase public awareness about this drug and others like it. I am outraged that this drug is so casually prescribed, about the failure to warn, and about the lack of recognition and resources/support for Cymbalta withdrawal. I am angry, but I am also hopeful.

You are not alone ..... you are not crazy- there is a problem and it is not you!!!

Be strong and be sensible.

Hi Ironwill,


Congratulations on getting to your low dose. it infuriates me to see stories like yours, of people who could and should be off Cymbalta, but can't because the advice is not there.

Your paragraph starting 'Yesterday ...' was very succinctly put, for someone suffering so much. I remember think one night that I felt as though I was going to explode into a thousand pieces.

The important thing to remember with Cymbalta is that it has a short half life. By taking it on alternate days, you're getting a bit of relief on those alternate days, but withdrawing on the others.

Whatever overall dose you want to take, you should take SOME every day. You can even (eg) use 20mg capsules to take 10mg per day by leaving half in each half of the capsule and stuffing a bit of bread into the end of each.

keep in touch here; many of us have done a very slow wean. I took 10 weeks to go from 20mg to zero, after suffering the way you did dropping from bigger doses. The last 10 weeks were a walk in the park compared with the first weeks.


regards, Maureen.

[cookie]

Dear Ironwill:
It has been a huge acomplishment to be able to decrease from 60mg, to 30mg and then to 20mg.
Maureen is right, you shouldn´t take cymbalta every other day. You must take it everyday, because its life inside your body. It is better to take a lower dose every single day.

The good side of you not working is that you can exercise, rest, take supplements. All these things have helped me to improve my mood.

Sad to hear that you have been in pain. It seems that while one is on cymbalta it stops feeling in the pain receptors. And when one is off cymbalta, these receptors are stimulated.

I have experienced the itchiness when I went from 90mg to 60mg. But now I do not get itchiness anymore. Now I reduced dosage from 60 to 52mg and sometimes my mind gets blank or I cannot find the words to talk.

I agree take a conservative approach.

Hugs
Cookie

[OMG]

Hi Everyone,

I am new here and joined for support and, hopefully, to also contribute and encourage others.

I started taking Effexor in 2003, I believe, and at some point changed to Cymbalta. Both of these drugs were prescribed to me by my neurologist for migraine prevention. I finally got tired of the side effects and decided to stop in 2005. That was the beginning of my efforts to wean off, and I have never been successful. I gave-up every time, because the withdrawal symptoms would interfere with my job performance and as a single parent in a demanding career I could not afford to lose my job.

I am now not working, so decided to get off my 60 mg dose. My blood pressure has been very high and I don't get migraines anymore. I successfully made it to 30 mg, although it took awhile and was not pleasant. Going to 30 to 20 was much harder, but I think if I stayed at 20 I would even out and feel OK.

I want to be Cymbalta free though, so I followed by doctor's very poor advice to take 20 mg. every other day for one week and then stop. From past experience I knew this would never work, but I tried. I have been on some variation of 20 mg. every other day for about 3 weeks. I have been taking a supplement regime for support, try to exercise, get plenty of rest etc. However, every time I think I know what to expect, I am stunned by different/bizarre/worse withdrawal symptoms.

Yesterday was day 4 without my 20 mg dose, and then I knew why Cymbalta has a suicide warning. It wasn't the usual brain zaps/nausea/vomiting/diarrhea/dizziness/irritability- this was pain, as if every pain receptor on every nerve in my body was being stimulated. I was also itchy, felt like I was on fire, and couldn't think. That's a partial description of the new and extremely bizarre symptoms I experienced. It felt as if my nervous system was shorting out and was in complete chaos. To sum it up it was unbearable and extremely frightening, and I could not stand it any longer. I thought I knew the full range of symptoms and what to expect, but I did not. I ended up dumping out half a capsule and taking a dose.

Today I am feeling fairly normal (after 13 hours of sleep), but I realize I need a better exit plan. As much as I want to get off this horrible drug, I can wait a little longer and use a more conservative, gradual approach. I may start taking 10 mg a day every other day (by dumping out half a capsule).

I have been on here and have tried to write, but even writing a simple post has been almost impossible, that's how poor my concentration has been.

I am hoping that eventually I will have a success story and will be able to encourage others. I will write again. Once I get off this I want to work to increase public awareness about this drug and others like it. I am outraged that this drug is so casually prescribed, about the failure to warn, and about the lack of recognition and resources/support for Cymbalta withdrawal. I am angry, but I am also hopeful.

You are not alone ..... you are not crazy- there is a problem and it is not you!!!

Be strong and be sensible.

[OMG]

I am so sorry that you are having such horrible WD symptoms! I know exactly what you are talking about. I was on 60mg for 3 years, and on March 23rd, I decided that I had had enough! I was told to go from 60, to 30mg for a week only, then stop... so like a fool, I did. It was worse than I could have ever imagined.... Slow weaning is the key to getting off of this horrible drug... It is now May 17, and I can say that I think the worst is finally over! I have an occasional brain zap, but for the most part, the major side affects are done. The best of luck to you my friend... Hang in there!

[cookie]

OMG:
Good to hear that you are doing fine and the worst is over!!!!!! you give me hope!.....
hugs
Cookie

[Doob]

Hang in there.
I have been about 43 days after quiting "Cold Turkey". Weening is the way to go but not always an option.
I had very bad withdrawl symptoms for about 3 weeks. For the last 3 weeks I have never felt better.
If you are trying to be a productive part of society or a family or in a relationship. I would reccomend weening.
I did it by isolating in our home (not working),playing guitar and raising puppies.
I was a mess pain, crying, loose bowels, headaches, brain zaps.
Have read a few that have relitivly mild withdrawl symptoms. May you be one of them.
Sharing helps. Will be looking out for your post.
Peace
Doob