1 reply to this topic

[sensitivetoothers]

Hello to those who are having difficulty withdrawing from Cymbalta,

Prior to deciding to get off this drug, I read so many posts on this site with people who are getting so sick and having so many difficult side effects that it actually frightened me into the weaning process. But, as gerontologist, who works with meds with older patients, I still decided the best thing to do was to speak to my doctor.

Initially, as I asked him about the withdrawal process, he did tell me it was a 'bitch' to get off. I wanted to know what the most success his patients had and this is what he told me, although I decided to do even one more step. I will explain. I was ib 60 mgs for at least 3 years. I went from 30 to 60 about a year and a half ago because I still felt depressed, although going up to 60 from 30, I felt, didn't make much difference.

My doctor told me to wean off 10 mgs at a time. Now, I know so many of you have been counting the beads in the capsules and it is a very difficult task to do so. I called up the company as a professional and, as many of you already know, they tell you nothing about withdrawal symptomes. I wanted to know how many capsules were in the 6o but they told me they do it by weight, not by counting, which turned out to be true when I started to do the intitial count. The level of pills left in the capsule ranged considerably. But, generally about 480 was the number of beads in a 60. He said to go for one week on 60, which i already have done, since I am on it so long, then 50, ( a 30 and a 20), then 40, (two 20's), then 30, then 20, (which they make) and then go into the 20 and count 10.

I looked at that and decided to be even more careful. I took out 80 beads for a week, then 90, then 100, now 125 beads. I stayed on each dose for at least 7 days..It turned out to a little be less than 10 mgs. each time.

So far, so good. My only problem is sweating, but I don't know if I can blame it on drug because I am post menapausal and sweat a lot. Also, my sleeping is difficult, and, again, that could be my aging issues.

I hate to see anyone suffer from withdrawal on this drug, so this is what is working incredibly well for me. After the 125 out, I will do directly down to 40 mgs..I know it's taking longer than the doctor said, but no one wants to get these side effects I am reading about.

also, to the person who has problems getting the beads back in, just wet your finger a tiny bit and slide thenm back. the best way to count is to spill a small amount at a time in a small dark plate and then put back what you don't use, rather than take them out of the capsule and count, because the capsule is very fine and it can actually melt from the dampness of your finger. I will keep you all posted...

[barebones]

Thanks for the info for this. Ive been on this drug for many years also.

I ended up going from 120mg to 60mg, which im now withdrawing from. I havent been counting the beads, my husband has just been guessing 10% of the capsul and i take that for a week, then i reduce futher.

What really gets me, that there is no withdrawel system or anything for this drug, even with the amount of people having very bad withdrawel effects.

I am worried, due to i missed my reduced dose yesterday and this morning i started feeling sick again. Fair enough im not getting same side effects i got when i got told to come off it straight, but even at i think i am maybe 30mg or less or more, is that i could get a side effect.

So again thanks for ur post, i think i will report that there is no safe way of getting off this drug in the UK and i dont know if doctors relise what is happening or not on this med.