12 replies to this topic

[cookie]

Hi. I been on 60mg for 4 months and I don't take it all the time because it makes me feel like crap but now I go from side effects to withdrawal with no good time in between. I feel lousy. The headaches are very annoying, I have one no matter what, every day.

My question is about brain zaps. Is it when it feels weird to blink or move your eyes? I almost feel like I am falling and lately it gives me a stab of nausea too. It is almost like I black out during the actual eye movement and come back in a split second looking at something else and dizzy and freaked.

Is that my body's version of a brain zap? or will it only get worse? Is this the way yours started or are yours like mine?

Dear Erin:
I think I haven´t had brain zaps so far. Although when I dropped from 120mg to 60mg I felt electricity throughout my body. However I do know about the "stab of nausea" GOOD DESCRIPTION!!!!!! I get that usually when waking up.

[Doob]

Hi. I been on 60mg for 4 months and I don't take it all the time because it makes me feel like crap but now I go from side effects to withdrawal with no good time in between. I feel lousy. The headaches are very annoying, I have one no matter what, every day.

My question is about brain zaps. Is it when it feels weird to blink or move your eyes? I almost feel like I am falling and lately it gives me a stab of nausea too. It is almost like I black out during the actual eye movement and come back in a split second looking at something else and dizzy and freaked.

Is that my body's version of a brain zap? or will it only get worse? Is this the way yours started or are yours like mine?

Hey Erinnn,
That is different than a Brain Zap. During my withdrawl there were periods of time where it felt like when I would turn to look at something everything seemed to lag. My head would turn but my eyes and brain kinda lagged behind. Very strange feeling but I have read a few here who have discribed it.

Good Luck

Doob

Hey Cookie!

[cookie]

Hey Erinnn,
That is different than a Brain Zap. During my withdrawl there were periods of time where it felt like when I would turn to look at something everything seemed to lag. My head would turn but my eyes and brain kinda lagged behind. Very strange feeling but I have read a few here who have discribed it.

Good Luck

Doob

Hey Cookie!

Hey Doob! hope your doing fine!!!
hugs
cookie

[Erinlove]

Yes I get angry but I was cranky before from my Tylenol 1 addiction. They compete and Cymbalta always wins.
Examples?
The T1's constipate me, well not if I need a Cymbalta. I become very.. unconstipated.
The Tylenol dictated when they gave me a headache and when they cured one, now Cymbalta says I should have one every day.
The Tylenol (caffeine and codeine) says if I am a good girl, and stay at my carefully weened two.. then I wont feel dizzy and pukey... Then Cymbalta says "Screw your hard work, feel like you are gonna vomit.. NOW mwahah. Feel dizzy too, and here is another punch in the gut of nausia for the dizziness hahhah"
I think it is the most sadistic drug ever, things ending in "ine" tend to mess with your emotions, does Cymbalta not end in "ine"?? "You want the screaming in your head to go away? Sell your health to me!"
I am going to get my pills today, because I feel like they are conspiring against me and that is a sign I need one LOL

They whole thing has always felt like withdrawals to me so I never take it every day. It is so fast acting that I personally don't have to. I get all side effects and benefits in two days tops. I haven't had a pill in 3 days and I finally no longer hear a really loud thud when I swallow (I get air pockets or something like being really sick). And the yawning stopped too. I think I am going to try 20mg by eating 1/3 the beads, if I still feel odd then 30mg. Then BEFORE I let my Dr. mess with me (he doesn't know crap about withdrawals, he denied half of what quitting smoking did to me) I will get comfortable with almost none, then have him switch me.

IS there any other drug that lets me O? Mine are super intense on Cymbalta but a little harder to get. Having a goal and sticking to it was the key there lmao. I was rewarded greatly and my body works almost normal that way now. It is my largest concern besides not wanting withdrawals worse than a druggie. Let me know if you have an opinion. Maybe something NOT ending in "ine"..

This above was written by Erinnn, the original poster. I too am the original poster.. Sorry for the double post lol. Had to be done xD

[Dove]

I am new to this forum, and I soooo feel everyone's pain. The army should consider taking this with withdrawl phenomenon and isolate the anger and rage symptom. I feel like I could kill an army of people just to stop these horrific symptoms. I feel like I am a toy someone is using a remote control on. Especially those frickin brain zapps!!!

[cookie]

I am so relieved to find this site! I was seriously thinking I was going insane!!! I've been taking 60mg for about 8 months and have recently undergone brain tumor surgery, funny thing I was having the brain zapps before the surgery and while still on the 60mg! Now I still get them and have been prescribed neurontin 600mg and percocet 10mgs and I'm still taking the 60 mg Cymbalta!!! Ain't modern medicine great!?!?!?! However, I was able to keep them in check and still work. Today is day 3 of accidentally not taking the 60mgs (forgot to refill prescription!) and the brain zapps are CONSTANT and DRIVING ME INSANE! But, after reading this blog I am NEVER taking that poison again and plan on printing some of these comments and take to my Dr.? and have him read what he's setting people up for!

I want to thank all of you and wish you all the best! The things we do to just try to feel better? What a joke! I am going to try the 5HTP, passion flower and fish oil supplements and hope for a quick end to this nightmare. I may go live in a tent in the mountains until they stop, save my marriage.

Greg A.

Dear Greg:

I am not a doctor, but one should not take 5HTP, at the same time than cymbalta because the is risk of serotonin syndrome. There is a site which have been so useful to me it is http://www.drugs.com/ in which you can find the interactions between medicines (in the "interactions" section). Check it out. It says that cymbalta has moderate interaction with percocet and neurontin.

Hope this helps
Cookie

[JustJulz]

Is a "brain zap" like an ice pick in the ear? or a specific, instantaneous migraine that's gone in a sec? Does it come along with some muscle tension, nerve jerking? Kind of like and electric shock?

Trying to figure it out- often ear infections start like this with me. Just had one (zap?), and yuk. If this is a side effect of withdrawal for me, then I will definitely need to pay attention.

[Sam I am]

The last time i took cymbalta was this past wednesday. Now I'm suffering from these brain zaps and dizziness I noticed that I'm more tired now and i'm ready to lash out at people soon if I get one more zap. I'm really glad I found this website!

What if we think about it as signs of our brains repairing themselves? So far this is helping me deal with the effects (brain shivers/zaps, fatigue, constant headahche, dizziness, there are probably others) I'm 9 days off of 30 mgs. Had been on 60 mgs for apx 2 yrs, requested downgrade to 30 mgs before holidays, which pretty much felt similar to not being on it at all. All of my instincts have been screaming to get off the pharm, if I'm going to be depressed anyway - to heck with the roulette of trial and error pharmeceuticals. Here's to a cleaner - stronger new year.

[Sam I am]

Yes it is good to see other people describing the brain zap withdrawal...my GP stopped my Cymbalta and started me on Axit 24hrs later - not sure if this will cause me more harm than good!! I know and recognize that I need treatment for depression, I just hope that the Doctor gets it right this time! I also wish my husband could understand the withdrawal syndrome he says he does but he really doesnt and seems to think I am either making it up or doesnt fully understand how devastating the whole withdrawal thing is.

I know just what you mean, I cannot imagine what my S.O. would say if I tried to describe the ongoing assault of withdrawl effects. Hang in there.

[pamela]

OMG, I went (dr orders) from 120 mg a day that I had been on for 9 months to 60 mg for the next two days then to zero.I got brain zaps just like this person is talking about. I think I am going crazzzyy. headaches, sweating, heart palps. irritable. called dr and another dr filling in called me and said why in the world would she have taken you off so fast...I DONT KNOW, your the ones with the dam* PhD. in the mean time I am crying, yelling, laughing AND on top of that all..aunt ruby payed me a frickin visit...omg, I dont know how much longer I can do this. I am losing my mind. I felt a little better after reading some of these posts. OMG, as i sit here with ringing in my ears and brain zapping..*CRY*.She wanted to get me off cymbalta because I cant afford the 50 dollar copay for it, per month..plus 50 a month to see the dr...sad. why do they make it sooo expensive? I actually did good on this med. Now they r putting me on celexa..any hope for me..its only been a few days...If you hear about me in the news, i will b the one looking deranged....

Pattie-

I really hope that we don't see you as the deranged one. There are so many other people that need that title.

In my humble, Non Dr., fellow Cymbalta sufferer opinion......why in the effing world would your Dr. drop you from such a high dose to nothing in a matter of days? Most of us that have weaned have taken MONTHS to get low and we are still on it.
That sucks that it helped you and you have to stop taking it. Have you contacted Eli Lilly cares? They have a program that helps people out that are financially not able to swing the meds. I know that most of us on this board aren't big fans of Eli Lilly but if Cymbalta helps you then you deserve to feel good. In my Non Dr. opinion I think that eventually you could feel ok on Celexa but only after you get over the terrible withdrawals from Cymbalta. You shouldn't have to feel like such crap......
Even if you got enough meds to do a slow wean and then taper to Celexa....
I hope that you find an option that works for you.
Come back and visit this board....tons of support here.
Pam

[pamela]

I have been taking Cymbalta for a while and when I had missed a dose I felt these symptoms. This weekend, I ran out of Cymbalta (I take 90mgs per day) and the withdrawl symptoms are unsettling. I have been having the electrical sensations throughout my body, felt faint, had trouble sleeping, and like I was having a seizure or stroke last night in bed. I had a feeling of sleep paralysis where I could not move in bed, heard a gurgling or boiling sound in my ears. I really should have gone to the hospital. I awoke feeling frazzled and like my brain had been fried. I have had the worst depression of my life today. I'm not even taking it for depression, I take it for severe nerve pain, along with other meds. I don't think these symptoms are worth the benefits. I know you should not discontinue any med like this cold turkey but I did not expect in my wildest dreams it would be this bad. I can't even stand up without a head rush and I'm sure I'm making an ass out of my self around family and friends due to my temperment. I do not recommend this medication to anyone.

Tim-

Can you get your RX filled soon? Even if you want to quit the Cymbalta cold turkey is a really harsh way to go. I think that you are sensing that first hand right now.

[pamela]

Liz-

The every other day method doesn't seem to work. It does put your body into a whole new withdrawal every other day. It's like feeding the beast and then starving it. Doctors need to be more educated about the meds and more than just some information that the drug maker has presented or the pharmacological rep who most likely just got out of college and this is their first real job.

Have you considered taking a smaller amount each day instead of doing it every other day and weaning that way?

[GigiI27]

Hi. I been on 60mg for 4 months and I don't take it all the time because it makes me feel like crap but now I go from side effects to withdrawal with no good time in between. I feel lousy. The headaches are very annoying, I have one no matter what, every day.

My question is about brain zaps. Is it when it feels weird to blink or move your eyes? I almost feel like I am falling and lately it gives me a stab of nausea too. It is almost like I black out during the actual eye movement and come back in a split second looking at something else and dizzy and freaked.

Is that my body's version of a brain zap? or will it only get worse? Is this the way yours started or are yours like mine?

Wow Erinn Im goin thru the same thing. I ran out of Cymbalta 2 wks ago. I asked my doctor if I could get some samples from them until I can get the money to pay them to start goin back to counciling but they said no and so now I've got the zaps, headaches, nauceas stomache, and evey time I try to get some sleep like when I start to dose off parts of my body jumps. When Im dosing off I feel like Im falling and so my body trys to catch itself.