3 replies to this topic

[Motherhen]

Hello,
I am new to this forum, but so grateful to have found it online. I have read through several posts and it is a great feeling to know I am not alone.

About 8 years ago I was diagnosed with PMDD and prescribed Prozac. Years later I have been through 6 different anti-depressants and birth control pill combos. I have gained 70 pounds and feel horrible. The good news is the PMDD magically resolved itself when I had my daughter a few years ago, but I did get some post-partum depression so, my doctor prescribed Cymbalta.

I have been on 30mg of Cymbalta for 2 years and am ready to get off of it. My doctor is having me take my pills 4 days a week- Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. This has been the schedule since early June. She advised me to do this until July and then take my med on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Then see her in August. So far I have had insomnia, brain zaps, moments of intense anxiety and some random crying. This week I called my doctor to ask if I could be prescribed Ativan to use for the panic attacks. She refused to prescribe Ativan to me, as she claims I can become addicted to it. I have since changed doctors because I do not feel my doctor was taking my withdrawl symptoms seriously. I hope my new doctor will consider the stress I have been experiencing.

Thoughts on tapering off this way? I notice many people on this forum open the capsules and adjust the dosage that way.

Thanks

[cookie]

Dear Motherhen:
From what I read on this site on real stories, seems like taking cymbalta everyother day doesn´t work. This is due to cymbalta´s life within your brain/system. It is much better to take a lower dosage PER DAY.

I also learned throught this site, that one can adjust dosages by opening the capsules and counting beads. So the best way of quitting cymbalta is to wean off slowly. It is good that you were not on a high dosage of cymbalta during 2 years.
Read the posts to learn how to taper. You´ll have to decide how long will it take you to wean off and how many milligrams you will drop each time.

For example I had taken 60mg for 5 years. It took me 6 weeks to go down to 30mg (by doing 7mg drops) and it is going to take me 12 more weeks to go down to zero cymbalta.

I agree on not taking Ativan. You don´t want to become dependent on another pill.

You´ll be able to drop the pounds you gained. After taking cymbalta I gained lots of weight. Then I started exercising and dieting and I am almost back to my original weight. So there is hope. But you have to do the homework once you feel better (dieting and exercising)

Hugs
Cookie

[Motherhen]

Dear Motherhen:
From what I read on this site on real stories, seems like taking cymbalta everyother day doesn´t work. This is due to cymbalta´s life within your brain/system. It is much better to take a lower dosage PER DAY.

I also learned throught this site, that one can adjust dosages by opening the capsules and counting beads. So the best way of quitting cymbalta is to wean off slowly. It is good that you were not on a high dosage of cymbalta during 2 years.
Read the posts to learn how to taper. You´ll have to decide how long will it take you to wean off and how many milligrams you will drop each time.

For example I had taken 60mg for 5 years. It took me 6 weeks to go down to 30mg (by doing 7mg drops) and it is going to take me 12 more weeks to go down to zero cymbalta.

I agree on not taking Ativan. You don´t want to become dependent on another pill.

You´ll be able to drop the pounds you gained. After taking cymbalta I gained lots of weight. Then I started exercising and dieting and I am almost back to my original weight. So there is hope. But you have to do the homework once you feel better (dieting and exercising)

Hugs
Cookie

Hi Cookie,
Thanks for the response. I will be going to a new doctor after July 1st, but will figure the beads and taper time out. I will also read through more of the posts.
The weight issue is super frustrating.

Thanks Again,
Motherhen

[cookie]

Hello Motherhen:
I totally understand the frustration you feel with the weight issue.
I took cymbalta for depression and gained so much weight (52lbs). I became so fat and this made me even more depressed. It took me many trials of dieting and exercise to finally lose the weight. But it is possible.
Hugs
Cookie