5 replies to this topic

[Kristen]

I am so glad I found this site. I have been thinking of getting off of Cymbalta for a while and after reading through this site for hours, I have made my decision.

Here's my story: I was told at 18 that I have a chemical imbalance in my brain and that accounted for my depression. So since then I have been on numerous meds for depression. I have been on Cymbalta for about 6 years now and I think it's time to detox. I have always been well within my weight/height range, but since I've been on this medication I have gained 45 pounds. I have also lost interet in sex, am constantly constipated and am hot all the time. I had a total hysterectomy 4 years ago and my doctor keeps telling me the weight is because of the hysterectomy. Not going with that thought. The weight gain started before that. The thing is, I exercise 5 days a week and I am not loosing the weight. I believe4 the time has come to get off this stuff and get back to having energy and back into some nice looking clothes.

Anyway, I have read about the weaning process (KrisAnn)and I am ging to go for it. I was on Paxil and I thought I was going to kill someone or go insane when I went off of that, so I am very concerned. I don't want to get back to anxiety attacks and that sort of thing.

I am currently taking 60 mg. so I think, to make me feel ok about this that I'm going to try a 5% step down and see how that goes. I have no real time frame to get off this drug, I just want to do so with as little side effects as possible.

I would really love to hear your thoughts and look forward to your support through this process. Tomrrow morning will be day 1 for me.

Thanks

[Ms_M]

I have been on a laundry list of a/d's myself and Paxil was the only other one I had trouble coming off of - how odd. To your real question - stepping down slowly seems to be the best way to do it. Take your time - there are various posts listing how to count beads and so on.

Good luck!

[cookie]

Hello Kristen:
I can so relate with your story.
-I have also been told that "I have a chemical imbalance in my brain and that accounted for my depression". But I have also been told that I will need antidepressants all my life.
-I have taken cymbalta 60mg for 5 years.
-I gained 52 pounds on cymbalta.

It´s good that you are doing research after what you went through with Paxil withdrawal.

I´ve read on this site that one should drop a maximum of 10% each time.
See how it goes for you with the 5%.
Each person is different. So withdrawals can affect in different degrees.
Make a diary with your doses, drops and symptoms. So you´ll know if you can go faster or slower, or increase drops.

I am down to 20mg (from 60mg). I´ve been weaning slowly. At the beginning my drops were bigger and I could stay on each dose for only 1 week. Now the drops are smaller and I´ve had to stay 2 weeks at the dose.

hugs
Cookie

[Kristen]

I have been on a laundry list of a/d's myself and Paxil was the only other one I had trouble coming off of - how odd. To your real question - stepping down slowly seems to be the best way to do it. Take your time - there are various posts listing how to count beads and so on.

Good luck!

It is frightning to me that these medications are so controlling. I was told that this med was so much different from Paxil and that there should be "no problem" discontinuing them. I think that this is all abut the Pharmaceutical companies and getting as many people "addicted" as they can to make tons of money. I don't even want to add up the amoount of money I have spent on these meds.

Today is day 1, things are going fine so far. This week I am down 5%. We'll see how it goes.

Thanks for the feedback. It's nice to know there are others going throught this also.

[Kristen]

I have gone down by 5% (for me 27 balls) and it is going well. If I have NO symptoms after a couple of days at that level, then I have gone down another 5%. At this point I have only had two moments of anger and one headache that didn't last very long. If you have read through these posts then you can see why I am seriously knocking on wood. I am currently down by 20% in a weeks time.

I know that the side effects can hit me at any time, but I am trying to be very aware so that it will affect my family at a minimum. If they crop up, I plan to stay at that level until they subside and then go down another 5%. I have started yoga and that is helping me to focus and be aware.

Now, I am looking for Post Cymbalta solutions. Cookie mentioned that she was looking for another way to maintain her health without drugs. I also am looking for a way to maintain my depression and anxiety without prescription drugs.

I would love to hear from you. Yoga and walking will definately be in my program. I will continue to take my multivitamin but other than that, I'm not sure yet.

Please share what your thoughts are. I appreciate any thoughts and ideas that you have to offer.

[cookie]

Dear Kristen:
It is great that you have started yoga. I began around march, and it is great to improve my mood and lower my anxiety. Yoga not only improves flexibility, and makes muscles firm, but also balances body chakras (energy centers).
I just pray as I move forward in reducing the dose, that withdrawal symptoms will allow me to exercise.

I am so interested in knowing other ways to maintain depression under control without prescription drugs. We are talking about weaning off of cymbalta. However in my case, due to imbalance in my brain neurotrasmitters, I´ve got to have another alternative, to give me support when I am off cymbalta. Any ideas are welcomed.


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Cookie