11 replies to this topic

[cookie]

Dear Guest:
From what I've read from this site, doing the -every other day approach- is not a good idea, because of life of cymbalta within the brain/body. It is better to take the same dose everyday.

Dropping from 60mg to 30mg seems a huge drop. Feeling tired is a withdrawal symptom.

I am not a doctor just a cymbalta user. A way to wean off gently is by reducing number off balls in the capsule. There are lots of posts explaining how to do it. What I've learned through this site is that 1mg is equivalent to 9 balls. A 30mg capsule has 270 balls (although it depends on manufacturer). So you have to decide, how many miligrams you want to decrease and take out the equivalent beads.

It took me one month to drop from 60mg to 30mg by doing 7mg drops an staying one week at each dosage. Now I am only dropping 2,5mg each time.

I've read that once one gets to lower dosages the drops have to be smaller. Drops should be 10 percent of actual dosage.

Maybe, you could go up to 60mg and start weaning from there.

Hugs.
Cookie.

[Kriser]

I began to wean off 2 days ago. I have been on 60 mg since March. I have opened my capsules and taken 7 out for 3 days, then I will take 7 more for 3 days. Nu side effects so far. Feeling good actually as my goal is to be down to 30 mg in 1 month then down to zero in another month. Wish me luck.

Good luck, I will pray for you.

[MaureenV]

Good luck, I will pray for you.

And meow back to you Kriser. I have a great furry lump on my lap at the moment making typing difficult.

Can you tell us more about your story and weaning process?


regards, Maureen.

[Kriser]

I am the one that started this post...wasn't signed in when I posted. Day 3 of 30mg.

[Kriser]

I had been on Cymbalta 60mg for 15 months and then made the choice with my Dr. to come off the meds. I have felt extremely angry for several months and believe its time to stop this drug. She gave me a months supply of 30mg and said to take the 30 for a week and then stop. She said if I wanted to I could take it every other day for a week thereafter. On Saturday (yesterday) I took my first 30 mg and my second today. My head feels kind of fuzzy and I feel tired (but that might be from a busy week). Since I am a stay at home mom I was looking for some other way to wean off gently so I can still care for my children. I am interested in reducing the number of balls in the capsule but not sure how to do it. Should I wait another couple of days before I start to do this? How much should I reduce by each day? Any suggestions would be helpful please.

Day 3 update: not having any withdraw symptoms today from switching to 30 from 60. Feel tons better today than yesterday this is for sure. Going to start to reduce the number of ball each day. Since there are most likely 270 balls in each capsule and I have 27 days left of the med I will reduce 10 balls each day, which means I will be reducing 1mg per day, until done. I do have a few 60mg capsules left inn case I need to draw it out for a couple more days, praying that is not the case. Prayers please.

[QueenTimely]

I have found -- and I think many have -- that the drop from 60 to 30 is, for some peculiar reason, quite easy. The lowest doses were murder for me -- 10 and 5 were killers. I have finally made it off with the help of Lorazepam which I'll use only to get me through the crisis. And the crisis of losing my Dad and step-father in the course of a month.

Day 3 update: not having any withdraw symptoms today from switching to 30 from 60. Feel tons better today than yesterday this is for sure. Going to start to reduce the number of ball each day. Since there are most likely 270 balls in each capsule and I have 27 days left of the med I will reduce 10 balls each day, which means I will be reducing 1mg per day, until done. I do have a few 60mg capsules left inn case I need to draw it out for a couple more days, praying that is not the case. Prayers please.

[Debbie M.]

Day 3 update: not having any withdraw symptoms today from switching to 30 from 60. Feel tons better today than yesterday this is for sure. Going to start to reduce the number of ball each day. Since there are most likely 270 balls in each capsule and I have 27 days left of the med I will reduce 10 balls each day, which means I will be reducing 1mg per day, until done. I do have a few 60mg capsules left inn case I need to draw it out for a couple more days, praying that is not the case. Prayers please.

I'm afraid the ball is going to drop sooner or later. Your weaning schedule is very fast. I hope you can do it. But my guess is you will begin to feel it in a big way. Watch out. Brace yourself. I hope it dosnt hit you but thats not the experience of most. If you need to call your doctor in the event that you decide to go slower and need more meds, they do make a 20 mg. Its easier to count the grains down from there when you get to the lower doses. Best wishes. Keep us posted.

Deb

[Kriser]

Just wanted to update everyone on how I am doing.... I am doing great, my anger is basically gone and I am able to deal with things as they come my way. As for the side effects..I have been a bit fuzzy headed but it is very manageable. I have actually been pouring out a few of the balls inside the pills each day instead of counting them, just doing a little less each day. But I feel great and I am so ready and excited to be done with this med.

I know a few of you are skeptical of my wean off plan, but you are not a doctor and not an expert on this medicine. It depends on each individuals health on how they handle and what their withdraw plan should be.

[Kriser]

I was also on Cymbalta for 15 months which is much less than the average time of post members of this forum. I took control of my life before I let this medicine take control of it for me.

[Debbie M.]

I'm so happy you are doing well. I wish you continued success!
Sorry if I offened you with my opinion, but ify did come from a place of concern not critisism. Each person reacts different. I'm glad you are not one of the ones who is so sensitive.
Best Wishes.

Deb (not a Doctor)

[cookie]

Just wanted to update everyone on how I am doing.... I am doing great, my anger is basically gone and I am able to deal with things as they come my way. As for the side effects..I have been a bit fuzzy headed but it is very manageable. I have actually been pouring out a few of the balls inside the pills each day instead of counting them, just doing a little less each day. But I feel great and I am so ready and excited to be done with this med.

I know a few of you are skeptical of my wean off plan, but you are not a doctor and not an expert on this medicine. It depends on each individuals health on how they handle and what their withdraw plan should be.

Dear Kriser:
We gave you our opinion based on what we have lived during withdrawal, because you asked for it in the first place. That is exactly the purpose of this site, to share our stories and learn from each other. If we give you an answer is because we are trying to help.

In my case, I listen to my doctor, but also, read real stories of people who have done withdrawal, and they have been extremely helpful. I know everyone´s different, but I have seen many common symptoms on this site, which my doctor had no idea about or he denied it had to do with cymbalta withdrawal. Knowing that other people have these symptoms, and they will go away takes my worry away.

I´ve seen a lot of suffering on this site, even though these people are supported by their doctors -the experts-. And I think because of this suffering these people ask for advice from other people that went through the same illness, and took the same medicine.

Regards
C.

[MaureenV]

"Should I wait another couple of days before I start to do this? How much should I reduce by each day? Any suggestions would be helpful please."



Kriser these are the last lines of your first post.


I agree with you that we're all individuals, not doctors (we don't claim to be) but unfortunately the vast majority of doctors, thanks to the drug companies, are unaware of how bad withdrawal CAN be for SOME people. Many people have no difficulty getting off Cymbalta; some doctors have had a number of people get off Cymbalta without difficulty so their first response when they have someone who DOES, is to suggest that they shouldn't BE off, which isn't helpful. Fortunately my doctor totally believed me and worked with me, just following what I said I was going to do.

We've had people here come in looking for help and advice after knowing someone else who had a murderous time getting off, only to find they're able to stop within a few days with negligible problems.

Others have had to spend a year tapering down very, very slowly.

You seem to be one who's not having too many problems - that's fantastic, but please don't knock the volunteers whose only objective on being on this site is to give back to others the benefit they've received on the site, and warn people (which is all to frequently what DOES happen) that they may need to slow down their weaning.

Hope you continue to do well - it's good for those looking to wean off that not everybody goes through a nightmare during withdrawal.


regards, Maureen.