5 replies to this topic

[doglover]

Hi! I am 7 days post Cymbalta and feel absolutely awful. Due to a refill glitch, I missed two days and then decided to discontinue taking cymbalta after finding out that my Psych Dr was prescribing twice the recommended dose (even by the drug manufacturer's recommendation)! Eight years ago my baby passed away. Of course I was grief stricken and I was referred to a psych dr who put me on prozac. I worked my way through certain doses and then hit prozac "poop out." I had never had a history of depression but was recommended to see a "professional" after my baby passed away. In hindsight, I don't think I was allowed to go through all of the stages of grief. Anyway, after prozac wasn't working I was put on Cymbalta. The Dr. upped it to 120 mg! My God, looking back, I was a zombie. So....it's been 7 days post cymbalta. I wake up everyday feeling like I haven't slept (although I have and also taken a nap during the day) and my stomach is in absolute turmoil. I just take a glance to my side, and I am dizzy. I cannot believe this. All I want to do is cry and sleep. I feel awful and just want it to end. Will it? In addition to the withdrawal symptoms, I feel that I was taken advantage of by the Dr. Not once did she mention dosing information. Seriously, twice the normal amount? My husband travels and isn't witnessing my symptoms. He actually said that she's the doctor not me, maybe I should go back on. No way in hell. I can't imagine doing this again. Does anyone have any advice or hope for me? I can't believe how awful I feel. I have two young sons and have to function during the day. All I want to do is sleep (when I don't have to pray I don't vomit) since my stomach hurts so much.

Will this feeling ever end?

[JustJulz]

Oh DogLover, I am so sorry to hear all that you have been through. So hard.

There is so much information to read on this site, and a lot of what you'll read is about how to come off from Cymbalta slowly and carefully, so that you don't live in agony while you rid your body of this junk.

Did you go cold turkey? From 120 to 0? This might be the reason you're feeling so awful right now. Would you be willing to go back on a lower dose, stabilize, and then begin a safe tapering off from there? It might be one way to ease your current physical agony.

You have a lot of supporters here, and you'll get lots of info as you read the site. Hang in there!

[krisann]

Sorry to hear you are feeling so poorly!

I tried going cold turkey from 30 mg to nothing and was a homicidal crying train wreck. 120 mg to zero? I can't even imagine how terrible you must be feeling! I made it one week before getting back on my cymbalta. This time I am slowly tapering down 10% at a time to avoid the severe withdrawal effects again. I am on day 9, and so far its been much, much better this time around.

Perhaps a tapering system would work better for you, too?

KrisAnn

[cookie]

Dear DogGlover
I took cymbalta 60mg for 5 years (which I think is the terapeutic dose). There was a period in which the doctor increased dosage to 90mg. In my case, 90mg didn´t bring me additional benefits over my depression, all it gave me was additional side effects. The first night I took 90mg I woke up around 3:00 at night, wanting to drive my car and buy a pack of cigarrettes. I instantly realized I was manic at that moment. (I am not bipolar, took cymbalta for major depression). When I reduced again from 90mg to 60mg I had severe itchiness, and my hands would become numb at night. But I guess everyone´s different, so people need different doses.

I am so sorry for your baby´s loss. I lost a sister when I was a kid, I remember how hard it was for my parents, since in “theory” parents should die first than their kids, not the other way around. But I´ve learned, that everything in this life has a reason. For me, babies that pass away, are very kind souls that came into this life to teach us something, but don´t belong to this difficult world. Just my thought.

From what you wrote I think I understood you quit cold turkey from 120mg???? If this is right, cold turkey is not a good option. Besides being in such a high dose and stopping cold turkey must be very hard. I am not a doctor, but maybe you could take some lower dose of cymbalta (for example 90mg) and start weaning from there. There are lots of posts on this site explaining how to wean off.

Hope this helps
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[doglover]

I wanted to thank everyone for their support! I am currently 10 days post Cymbalta and I finally feel human again. I am still not 100% but am definitely better! I am no longer experiencing any of the withdrawal symptoms as severely as before which were: dizziness, nausea, vomiting, headaches, insomnia, and feelings of extreme lethargy and tiredness. I am still taking 2 mg of lunesta from my dr. It has helped me...not sure what will happen when I don't take anything to try to help me sleep. The doctor kept on upping my lunesta dose since I wasn't able to sleep with cymbalta. Unbelievable!

Anyway, thank you again. At day 7, I was at my worst...day 9 I began to feel human....day 10 I feel fantastic (compared to the previous 9 days and the past 8 years of my life). Hopefully I will continue to get better. If not, I know I will never take cymbalta again. I will think of you all and keep you in my prayers regarding all your symptoms....blessings!


BTW, it was cold turkey...never again will I do that.

[cookie]

Keep us posted!
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