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Brain Paths Crossed


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#1 nursedeborah

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    I am reallly trying to get off Cymbalta, and not having, well I am having nightmares even with the decreased does, and clanging in my head.

    I just found this site, and I really need help, I can't do this, I fear I willl never get off this brutal medication.

    Deboreah Wesson

Posted 21 June 2010 - 08:13 PM

Does anyone else have these problems? Since I weaned off Cymbalta, 90mg dose, I have had to almost retrain myself on word recognition for hearing and correct word usage for my new speech impediment. Also, my short term memory function became non-functional! I blame this on Cymbalta rewiring all my brain pathways that my dyslexia had previous made...I know that's not scientific, but I have a gut feeling my dyslexia is the reason for this weird phenomenon. While withdrawing, I had ALL the symptoms everyone else had, but I wasn't prepared for how impossible conversations would become for me! Interestingly while on Cymbalta, my typing problems went away, I became Super fast and completely error free. Now off of Cymbalta I correct myself every other word...frustating, but that's what I was like prior to being on drug, so no big deal. As to playing charades for every single conversation, very tiring and embarrassing!

So, I've improved slightly, but the first 2 months I couldn't order anything at drive-throughs, or have personal face to face conversations. I never knew what they were saying, I wouldn't hear the right words, and my kids got scared cause they never saw me take 10 minutes to order anything! The face to face conversations took a downfall when the stuttering began, and I couldn't think of the words I wanted to say...I had the image in my head but my mouth would say something kind of in the category. For example, a book came out paper box...my sentences were completely reversed sometimes, and I sometimes would forget peoples names...my immediate family members, like my spouse or children!!! And this became serious at my pediatrician's office & sporting events when I couldn't remember their birthdates or names, which in turn made the personnel question me as to whether or not I was the parent. I just decided to stay home to avoid embarrassement.

3 months have gone by, & I remember the first letter to words now, I have to write down everything, even simple things, & I can carry a somewhat confortable conversation without the other person looking at me cockheaded and confused. Now my family is very empathetic to my condition. They feel very protective of me, and they said it was like I had brain damage or something. If you only knew how long it took me to type this you'd be surprised!

So someone please give me words of assurance. I am an intelligent woman, but when anyone meets me now for the first time, they think I am such an air head, and it is so dibilitating on my self esteem!


Jean,
WOW!!! So awesome to hear what I have tried for so long to explain to others what it has been like for me in just that area due to taking this drug for 3 1/2
years. My dose was 60 mg, and 120 mg for a few months. I had so many awful side effects, and even after 10 months of a slow wean I still have problems, but they are getting better, just very slowly.

It's been a long time since I have been here, but this place saved me in so many ways, and taught me how to get off of this terrible drug for so many people.

I am so grateful to say that I am now down to 10 beads. I was at 8, but just 2 days ago had to go back up to see if that would help with the anxiety that I am having now for almost a month, so very intense, in fact it is more of a Panic Attack.

There are so many thing that this drug does damage, and it takes a very long time, for some over 2 years to get back to feeling a little more normal.

I too am a very smart woman, I also spoke for a living at times, but when I think of that person I wonder if I will ever uncover her again. I do get glimpses of her now, and then.

Like I was told when I got here, just remember everything your going through is due to the drug, and it's not you!! Your not crazy, and it will get better.

Hugs,
Debbie

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Posted 23 June 2010 - 03:14 PM

Dear Jean:
You are an intelligent woman.
Some of the things that you describe have happened to me. The other day I went out for lunch with a co-worker who I supervised years ago and it was so embarrasing talking to him, because I didn´t remember ANY of the names of the people who worked with us. I had the image in my head but didn´t remember their names.

When I started weaning off of cymbalta. It was hard for me to find the words to talk. I would always forget the words or it will take lots of time to remember them.

I have always been such a fast typer on the computer, but when I started weaning my brain would switch the letters.

So if you say you had dyslexia before taking cymbalta, that explains your symptoms.

I think our brains are getting used to live without or with less cymbalta. This should go away or improve over time
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#3 Debbie M.

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    weaning from cymbalta

Posted 29 June 2010 - 06:32 PM

I too have had speach imparment. My words are so elisive. I'll say the wrong words for things. Like one time I said school bus for seat belt. I will frequently want to say a word but it will not come out. Maybe the first sound but nothing else for a couple seconds. If I would picture the word written out in my mind I would get it quicker. One time when I was reading something out loud and my husband was reading over my shoulder, he pointed out that I had read a word completely the opposite than what it meant. Names of people are really hard too. I thought I was the only one with this problem. I am much quicker than I was before so I know I'm improving but not there yet. Thanks for posting this. IT really does help me to be hopeful for my future. I hate feeling dumb when I know I'm not.

Debbie M.

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Posted 01 July 2010 - 03:29 PM

AMAZING!

I've been taking Cymbalta at only 30mg for three years, and am continuing at the same level presently. I just figured the name loss and word association were largely age related (I'm 66). I also have noticed reduced libido and ED to a greater degree. Viagra has no apparent affect.

My plan was to take the Cymbalta every other day for an extended period, then every third day etc. Any suggestions? Any cautions? Any alternatives?

Thanks,
Bob


Dear Bob:
I have experienced problems with remembering words, names and places while weaning cymbalta (I am 36)
From what I´ve read on this site, and through my own experience if you want to wean slowly you shouldn´t do the every other day approach. It is better to take a certain dosage of cymbalta EVERYDAY.
I learn through this site the one could adjust dosage by doing bead count. So you could start weaning from 30mg, then 27mg, then 25mg, etc or whatever decrease you decide. This should lessen withdrawal symptoms

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Posted 02 August 2010 - 11:59 PM

I am not sure that your speech problems or word recognition is related to dyslexia. I have experienced some of the same or similar issues you described...oddly, my words either don't come out or they are replaced with other words...its like playing a constant game of charades...from things as simple as a pencil and as common as a truck. I tried to ask for pecans on my icecream and could not understand why everyone was looking at me so funny until my ex-husband asked my why in the world anyone would ever put lettuce on icecream. Lettuce? that was furthest from my mind and I have no idea why the words were substituted. One other thing is that I can hear well out of my left ear---sounds anyway, but I cannot distinguish words. My right ear works fine but my left ear to brain connection is not working so hot. My memory loss has hit hard and has nearly gotten me fired from my job...not over yet...and I have no family to rely on. Just me trying to muddle through. My confusion and short term memory loss are still progressing and I just hope I can recover before it gets too bad...the good thing is TV shows are always new...cant remember them long enough to know if I've seen them before or not. LOL


Oh! I just realize I also subsitute one word for another!!!! like you said with the lettuce and the ice cream. I would be thinking about one image-word, and say a completely different word!

#6 bulletproof

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    Emotional support (giving and receiving). It is nice to know I am not alone in this struggle although I wish no one had to go through any of it.

Posted 05 August 2010 - 02:43 PM

I think I may have found something that helps with withdrawal symptoms of Cymbalta. At least it seems to be working for me. I have been having the "disconnected" feeling or what some have referred to as "brain shivers". This has been a major problem with me and from what I understand, (I could be wrong so don't rely on this 100%) when a body gets used to having a drug of any type (I am referring to prescriptions here) a body can become dependent on that drug in so much as they body "forgets" how to function without the medication. To break it down simply, Cymbalta and like meds help with seretonin and norepinepherine levels in the brain by evening them out. In THEORY one's brain could become so dependent on the drug maintaining a function that it forgets how to do it for itself (in some cases the meds are taken because the brain already has trouble with this function).

So, I got to thinking that maybe my withdrawal symptoms such as the brain shivers may be related to a major lack of seretonin so I went back to my roots (literally in this instance) and talked to a couple of relatives that are hedgerows and herbalists. What I discovered is that dandelion is a great source of seretonin (lack of seretonin creates insomnia which I have been experiencing horribly--5 days now with ZERO sleep and several other side effects). I happened to have some dandelion tea handy (you can get this at nearly every health food store but be sure it is certified organic so it doesn't contain any added inactive ingredients). Because the tea tastes horrible I added a little bit of "local" honey (honey that comes from hives locally produced in my area). After just a cup I noticed that I could no longer hear myself blink and some of the "shivers" had subsided. I have since had three more cups over the past few hours and I am not feeling the shivers at all. It still remains to be seen if I actually sleep but I certainly feel my body relaxing and I hope to have some restful sleep soon (keeping my fingers crossed). I am new around here and I am not sure if I have posted this in the right area so if anyone else tries it please feel free to post it where ever is appropriate. I will update if it continues to help my symptoms.

Oh, I forgot to mention, dandelion is a great body detox and a little bit of research on the web and in books will validate its many healing properties and how to use it.



So, I finally went to sleep this morning and slept for about 5 hours! I know that doesn't seem like a lot but when one hasn't been sleeping..it is a milestone! It actually felt like "rested" sleep too. If I could just sleep a few more hours I might feel like a new me. Brain shivers are still there a bit but with each glass of tea they seem to get a little bit better.

#7 Chan007

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Posted 02 August 2012 - 10:58 AM

Firstly, I can't wait to get some dandilion tea and anything else that helps boost serotonin. But let's get back to this memory/word issue people are mentioning. I was on cymbalta for about 20 months. I am 25 and it was the second anti D that I've been prescribed (for major depression/anxiety). The first lot, (memory failing me right now) .. I'll get back to the name, made me quite sleepy and never did much good but coming off them was a piece of cake compared to cymbalta. The withdrawals were everything you expect; dizziness, suicidal thoughts, flu symptoms from hell, pain, anxiety ... But I never gave much thought to the memory/ language problems until now. I have been experiencing terrible memory problems when I need to use certain words and names. I am actually studying right now and some of my mental faculties seem to be fine, but I am constantly stammering and stuttering on certain words and finding conversation quite difficult.

It is around week 5 now, but I've stopped paying close attention to the days as I'm trying to move on and finish this course. I actually stopped taking the drug, cold turkey, half way through this course. That wasnt the best idea, but it was mainly financial reasons. I am quite worried about the level of change and manipulation this drug has had with my brain chemistry, and I know I'm young, but I feel like my memory is quite shocking at times. Will it ever be the same? And will I ever cope with reality again, because it really doesn't feel like I will...



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