5 replies to this topic

[bobcat7]

I had been on Cymbalta for only 2 months, first 2 weeks at 30 mg then on 60 mg. It has been working well for me but the cost is $135 (CDN) for 4 weeks. I cannot afford this for long. It is not covered under my drug plan. I stopped taking Cymbalta , last dose was 60 mg. onFriday, July 2 in the morning. I was doing well for the first 2 days. Yesterday my blood pressure was down to 57/39, the lowest it has ever been, also some sweating spells and of course passing out (I think this was all due to another health problem, though). Missed 2 days of work so far but cannot miss any more but cannot afford to break down at work either. Today the depression hit hard again, with a lot of sadness and breaking down as well as hot and cold spells and head throbs, my wife bears the brunt of it all but is sticking with me so far. Don't know how long she will put up with me. Now the mood swings are back. My doctor is on vacation until the end of July so I will see another doctor on Friday. Unfortunately he knows nothing about me, so will start from scratch again. My Pharmacist suggested Effexor, so will ask about this. Has anyone had experience with Effexor? Will I experience the same withdrawal when I try to get off this? Glad I was only on Cymbalta for 2 months.


Thank you for any help. Cannot afford to have symptoms of withdrawal at work but will have to go back tomorrow.

[cookie]

Dear Bobcat:
After being on this site since april I´ve read many stories of people going through horrible withdrawal symptoms. Every person is different, but we do not know, in which group we fall into (sensitive to withdrawal, or non sensitive) until we quit or start to wean.

The fact that it´s been 2 days without cymbalta and already had low blood pressure, sweating spells, passing out, depression, mood swings. Tends to show that you “could” be sensitive to withdrawal.

You talked about not being able to afford cymbalta. The ideal thing would be to go back to a certain dose of cymbalta and start weaning SLOWLY from it, if you really do not want to miss work. (Quitting cold turkey from 60mg might have caused the horrible symptoms you mentioned).

I do not about Effexor, what you have to find out is if Effexor will be able to neutralize cymbalta withdrawal symptoms.

It is so good that you have your wife´s support.

I know how important is work for some of us. However, your health is very important too. Without health we are not able to function. Modern life is so quick, people work too much, and we forget to spend time with ourselves. Illness appears when there is an unbalance in our bodies, and usually illness tries to communicate that we are going too fast in our lives, and we fail to read the messages that our bodies are sending us.
A major depression hit my life 5 years ago, and –like you- “I couldn´t afford to miss a day at work”. At the end, I lost my job, and my mental health got very impaired. It is so important to have balance in our lives (work, exercise, family, friends, etc).
Antidepressants won´t SOLVE depression, they just diminish the symptoms to allow you to get to the root of the problem by talking to your therapist. I am talking here as if you took cymbalta for Depression. I think I didn´t read why you took cymbalta in the first place (fibromyalgia, depression).

On the short run, you could go to this new doctor with the objective of him helping you to wean off/quit cymbalta.

Regards
Cookie

[krisann]

That blood pressure is WAYYYY too low! Im suprised you can even stand up without hitting the floor! If you havent already done so, please seek medical attention immediately for this, and let us know how you are doing.

KrisAnn

[bobcat7]

Dear Bobcat:
After being on this site since april I´ve read many stories of people going through horrible withdrawal symptoms. Every person is different, but we do not know, in which group we fall into (sensitive to withdrawal, or non sensitive) until we quit or start to wean.

The fact that it´s been 2 days without cymbalta and already had low blood pressure, sweating spells, passing out, depression, mood swings. Tends to show that you “could” be sensitive to withdrawal.

You talked about not being able to afford cymbalta. The ideal thing would be to go back to a certain dose of cymbalta and start weaning SLOWLY from it, if you really do not want to miss work. (Quitting cold turkey from 60mg might have caused the horrible symptoms you mentioned).

I do not about Effexor, what you have to find out is if Effexor will be able to neutralize cymbalta withdrawal symptoms.

It is so good that you have your wife´s support.

I know how important is work for some of us. However, your health is very important too. Without health we are not able to function. Modern life is so quick, people work too much, and we forget to spend time with ourselves. Illness appears when there is an unbalance in our bodies, and usually illness tries to communicate that we are going too fast in our lives, and we fail to read the messages that our bodies are sending us.
A major depression hit my life 5 years ago, and –like you- “I couldn´t afford to miss a day at work”. At the end, I lost my job, and my mental health got very impaired. It is so important to have balance in our lives (work, exercise, family, friends, etc).
Antidepressants won´t SOLVE depression, they just diminish the symptoms to allow you to get to the root of the problem by talking to your therapist. I am talking here as if you took cymbalta for Depression. I think I didn´t read why you took cymbalta in the first place (fibromyalgia, depression).

On the short run, you could go to this new doctor with the objective of him helping you to wean off/quit cymbalta.

Regards
Cookie

[bobcat7]

That blood pressure is WAYYYY too low! Im suprised you can even stand up without hitting the floor! If you havent already done so, please seek medical attention immediately for this, and let us know how you are doing.

KrisAnn

Well, it was 1 week on Friday. I made it. I got off Cymbalta. Saw doctor on Friday and he started me on Effexor. Told by doc and pharmacist I should have tried weanibg and not cold turkey.

The low BP may have been caused by my hypersensitive carotid artery as this has happened before. Good thing I was at home as I did pass out. Don't know how long I was down for but did not hurt anything.

Hopefully the Effexor will help with the depression and when I want to get off it I will try the weaning route.

Thank you.

[krisann]

Well, it was 1 week on Friday. I made it. I got off Cymbalta. Saw doctor on Friday and he started me on Effexor. Told by doc and pharmacist I should have tried weanibg and not cold turkey.

The low BP may have been caused by my hypersensitive carotid artery as this has happened before. Good thing I was at home as I did pass out. Don't know how long I was down for but did not hurt anything.

Hopefully the Effexor will help with the depression and when I want to get off it I will try the weaning route.

Thank you.

bobcat,

happy to hear you are doing better and that you didn't suffer any serious injury from your fall!

I have been on prozac, paxil, wellbutrin, and zoloft in the past and have NEVER had problems quitting any of them cold turkey. But this cymbalta is a whole different story.

Good luck to you and keep in touch

KrisAnn