3 replies to this topic

[krisann]

My Dr prescribed cymbalta to me 4 months ago for anxiety. At the time I was trying to get off xanax, which I took once a day at bedtime. I thought the withdrawal from xanax was bad, but it is NOTHING compared to the withdrawal from cymbalta.

I have had some benefit from the medication. I am no longer anxious. However, I no longer have any energy or care about much of anything. I havent paid bills in months, and I don't really care if I do or not. My mood is pretty even keel, which I wish I could keep and still have energy to do anything but sit around like a lump. I get tired out from any activity very quickly. No change in sexual activity, though it does take me a little longer to orgasm. Major constipation, Im DRYYYY. My hair is very brittle. Some days I can sleep for 6 or 7 hours, and other days I wake up after 4 hours of sleep and can't get back to sleep no matter what I do. But the biggest problem is weight gain. I have gained 12 pounds on cymbalta, though I haven't changed my eating habits. I love the advise to exercise. Seriously? I can't even find the energy to wash laundry let alone exercise. I'm exhausted after just mowing my tiny lawn, for pete's sake!

So a few weeks ago I decided to stop taking cymbalta. OMG! What a nightmare! I went from even keel to being one touchy angry bitch! My mood teetered between extreme hostility to bouts of crying for no reason. I felt "on edge" 24 hours a day. I also started to feel extremely anxious and like everything was hopeless. The most frightening part for me was that I started to feel like life would never get better, that maybe I should just "end it all". So after a week of quitting my 30 mg dose cold turkey I started taking it again.

I am so tired of detoxing myself off meds! First ambien, then xanax, and now this stuff. I plan to read posts on this site to prepare myself. Im going to taper down this time, and pray for the best.

[MaureenV]

My Dr prescribed cymbalta to me 4 months ago for anxiety. At the time I was trying to get off xanax, which I took once a day at bedtime. I thought the withdrawal from xanax was bad, but it is NOTHING compared to the withdrawal from cymbalta.

I have had some benefit from the medication. I am no longer anxious. However, I no longer have any energy or care about much of anything. I havent paid bills in months, and I don't really care if I do or not. My mood is pretty even keel, which I wish I could keep and still have energy to do anything but sit around like a lump. I get tired out from any activity very quickly. No change in sexual activity, though it does take me a little longer to orgasm. Major constipation, Im DRYYYY. My hair is very brittle. Some days I can sleep for 6 or 7 hours, and other days I wake up after 4 hours of sleep and can't get back to sleep no matter what I do. But the biggest problem is weight gain. I have gained 12 pounds on cymbalta, though I haven't changed my eating habits. I love the advise to exercise. Seriously? I can't even find the energy to wash laundry let alone exercise. I'm exhausted after just mowing my tiny lawn, for pete's sake!

So a few weeks ago I decided to stop taking cymbalta. OMG! What a nightmare! I went from even keel to being one touchy angry bitch! My mood teetered between extreme hostility to bouts of crying for no reason. I felt "on edge" 24 hours a day. I also started to feel extremely anxious and like everything was hopeless. The most frightening part for me was that I started to feel like life would never get better, that maybe I should just "end it all". So after a week of quitting my 30 mg dose cold turkey I started taking it again.

I am so tired of detoxing myself off meds! First ambien, then xanax, and now this stuff. I plan to read posts on this site to prepare myself. Im going to taper down this time, and pray for the best.

Hi Krisann, weaning slowly will help you deal with all of those symptoms. Those of use who do so slowly (like you, I tried faster for a start then found this site) still get some mild symptoms, but in the end we're off Cymbalta and still have a life.

And stay in touch here,

regars, Maureen.

[krisann]

Hi Krisann, weaning slowly will help you deal with all of those symptoms. Those of use who do so slowly (like you, I tried faster for a start then found this site) still get some mild symptoms, but in the end we're off Cymbalta and still have a life.

And stay in touch here,

regars, Maureen.

Thanks Maureen

I am going to begin tapering with my morning dose. Yes, I know "morning dose" sounds weird for a med that makes me chronically fatigued, but I work overnights so I sleep in the day time.

I have the 30 mg lilly capsules and took them apart and counted the beads inside, just to be sure. Exactly 270 beads. So I took out 27 beads and put the capsule back together. I am also going to try the benadryl to help me sleep better and help combat some of the withdrawal symptoms.

Slow and steady wins the race.

KrisAnn

[MaureenV]

Thanks Maureen

I am going to begin tapering with my morning dose. Yes, I know "morning dose" sounds weird for a med that makes me chronically fatigued, but I work overnights so I sleep in the day time.

I have the 30 mg lilly capsules and took them apart and counted the beads inside, just to be sure. Exactly 270 beads. So I took out 27 beads and put the capsule back together. I am also going to try the benadryl to help me sleep better and help combat some of the withdrawal symptoms.

Slow and steady wins the race.

KrisAnn

Good to hear! Love your Alice in Wonderland quotes!


regards, Maureen.