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[mmd]

i have read the official cymbalta page several times. each time i am amused to read that doctors are not really sure how cymbalta works.
oh sure, we know about the reuptake stuff.
it is why it should make a difference in how we feel that doctors are not sure of.
also : i have read info about long term use and long term effects of cymbalta.
i have concluded that alot more study is needed into long term use and long term effects.
i have decided that those of us taking cymbalta (and its older sister drug effexor) are guinea pigs for cymbalta.
the more we share our experiences with cymbalta the more we will learn.

i say this is about my experiences with cymbalta. its going to be choppy because i want to share the most recent stuff first.
i took cymbalta for 2 years. i began at 30mg (approx 6 months) went to 60 mg (approx 6 months)and took 90 mg for the remainder of the time. i decided to go off cymbalta to find out what it felt like to be off cymbalta (return to my full boat depression, find out if i am still suicidal, find out what effects taking cymbalta had on my coping with my depression)
i decided not to go cold turkey. i had a stockpile of cymbalta at different doses so i was able to do this : 1 week @ 90mg, 1 week @ 80mg ,1 week @ 70mg, 2 weeks @ 60mg ,2 weeks @ 50mg, 2 weeks @ 40mg, 1 week @ 30 mg, 1 week @ 20 mg. i took the last dose 4 days ago. the first day off cymbalta i noticed no increase in dizziness (i have felt some degree of being dizzy the whole time i have been on cymbalta) the 2ncd day i began having "motion induced dizziness". its a term i made up for how i feel when i turn my head or lean down to get something and i get real dizzy for about 5 mins.its something i am familiar with because i have felt it before. i turn my head to look at something and it takes about 15 seconds for my head to catch up with the turning motion OR i go into a base cabinet in the kitchen to get a pan and when i am on my up i have to hold onto the counter so i wont feel like i am going to fall down.
the 3rd day (yesterday) i was very dizzy all my waking hours. i had a yawning fit that lasted about 30 minutes (it felt great to yawn!) i got home from work at 4 and ate a nice meal and laid down and went to sleep.
i woke up this morning and my first thought was : wow, my head doesnt feel so woozy!
i have been up about 3 hours.
the initial feeling of feeling less dizzy has gone away. right now, i am about as dizzy as i was 2 days ago.
bright side for me is that i dont have to work.
i figure i will sleep alot if i feel like it (i dont feel like sleeping right now) and try not to move my head in any direction.
sidenotes - each time i reduced the dose i had some withdrawal feelings (increased dizziness,nausea,feeling tearful,vivid dreams)
but when the reduction coincided with a hormonal change, it was the most extreme. the most extreme reaction i had so far has been when i sent from 30mg to 20mg.