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Dear Brandie:
It´s not fair all that you have gone through!!!!!
As you said, to be misdiagnosed twice, first with GAD, and now with Depression.
Then to be told from a doctor to stop cold turkey from cymbalta. (Even in cymbalta´s package it says NOT to stop abruptly!!!!)).
Then your doctor not believing you what you were saying.

I´ve read that mood and pain may be regulated by the same neurotrasmitters (serotonin and norepinephrine). You shouldn´t worry because you took cymbalta for pain, not depression. And even though you “could” be experiencing some depression, it is a withdrawal symptom not a permanent illness for you. If you were a mentally healthy person before taking cymbalta, your brain should adjust and go back to health.

About the weight gain. If you like to be underweight, stay that way, (always making sure you are eating healthy and balanced and providing your body/brain with all the nutrients it needs).
In my case I gained 52lbs when I started cymbalta. And I developed other health problems because of being overweight and had to spend additional money on nutritionist, doctors, diet food, medicines, gym, etc.

Cymbalta shouldn´t be stopped abruptly. I´ll summarize what I´ve learned on this site:
1. I found out that the best way to quit is weaning off slowly
2. The every other day approach is not that good, because of cymbalta half life in your brain. You are giving 30mg to your brain one day, and then the other day nothing.
3. Instead you should take cymbalta (certain dose) –EVERYDAY-
4. One can adjust dosage by taking out and counting beads.

Maybe you could go back to 30mg and start weaning from there. You´ll have to make your weaning plan by determining how many mg you will decrease each time and how long will you stay on each dosage. Each person is different, but I´ve found that I can make 10% drops and stay 1 week in each.

I hope this helps, and remember, your initial problem was physical (pain), so if you are experiencing any emotional problems they should be withdrawal, and then should go away sometime.

Hugs
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