MY OWN POLL OF ALL OF US AND HOW WE ARE
#61
Posted 25 May 2008 - 08:27 AM
I still wake up feeling like doom is all around me and it takes about 15 minutes to an hour before that dreadful feeling goes away. Does anyone else experience that or is it just me? Of course it bothers me during the time, but I am also clear headed enough to know that it fades quickly, which helps. I hope you also know that what you are going through will fade too. My prayers and best wishes too all of you.
#62
Posted 25 May 2008 - 08:39 AM
hello zolot - switching to Prozac is also recommended for stopping Effexor (the same class as Cymbalta, SNRI). If you google antidepressant withdrawal using Prozac, you will find other information stating that it works, from doctors, and actual users of the drug. Some recommend only taking one or two doses of Prozac. I hope that this works well for you. Many people who have come here to post had success with this method.I read somewhere tonight that Prozac can help. Dr. Ivan Goldberg, I think. I had some 40 mgs in a drawer, so I took one. I have enough for a few weeks, then getting off of it is not as hard. It has a long half-life (stays in the body and gradually drains out) so you can stop more abruptly with few potential sde-effects. So, in my own brand of "logic" I decided to quit taking it since if I was going to feel awful, I'd like to get it over with as fast as possible.
I havent decided what my next choice will be. The patch is all the rage, but I already tried an MAOI about 5 years ago and I got gaunt and my hair fell out. I was on Ambien for a solid year+ while I took Parnate. Do the drugs help at all? Maybe a little, instead of suicidal depression, I have numbing dysthymia. Maybe it is time to just try living with it.
Do drugs work? For some people they do and are necessary and there should be no shame for a person who take them, it is just horrible how doctors minimize how people are feeling, tell them that what they feel does not exist, etc. For others, unless our behavior changes, our actions and reactions to life situations, those things come from inside of a person. Talk therapy, reading and researching, exercise, eating well are amazing mood stabilizers!
Good luck to you, let us all know what you decided to do.
#63
Posted 25 May 2008 - 08:42 AM
Lori - I hope the "waiting for the shoe to drop" feeling leaves for you soon. After going through so much, of course, you will have moments when you wonder if it is all going to "unravel" again. I feel this way a "little" bit every day.I still wake up feeling like doom is all around me and it takes about 15 minutes to an hour before that dreadful feeling goes away. Does anyone else experience that or is it just me? Of course it bothers me during the time, but I am also clear headed enough to know that it fades quickly, which helps. I hope you also know that what you are going through will fade too. My prayers and best wishes too all of you.
When that happens, just remind yourself that you deserve to feel better. You are strong and happy and you can see from your posts how far you have come. Hang in there.
#64
Posted 26 May 2008 - 04:37 AM
Thanks for posting these questions as they're exactly what's on my mind as well. When might we feel normal again? Seeing Greybeard's "58 days" is excruciatingly frightening. It's almost too painful to hear. Despite all the information here, I'm not seeing anything that's enough to apply to my own situation which is:
I started taking the big C around September last year ('07) due to pain and OCD which came on after I had the other BIG C (i.e. cancer -- free since 5/06). I must admit, Cymbalta was brilliant for the OCD but it did nothing for the pain (seems to be universally true) and after gaining 20 lbs and checking the internet on that only to find it was very common (LOSS OF APPETITE? Give me a break). The plan was to go from my 90 mg dose (down from the 120 that my shrink had me on at one point -- he seemed to keep wanting to raise it!), to 60, wait two weeks and then go to 30, wait two weeks and then let it go. I lowered the first two times but then took a little longer to go from 30 to zero, and during that time, I was already feeling occasional "brain zaps" but had no idea what they were and even blamed them on various homeopathic hormones and supplements that my naturopath was giving me. She was so kind and patient, and though I told her I was sure it was due to what she gave me, she was the one to bring up the cymbalta possibility and send me some links. Once I stopped taking the new things she had given me (some H. estro cream for increasing sweats and flashes) and saw that my symptoms continued, I knew she was right and it must be the cymbalta.
I suppose it's important to say that I'm 47 and my cancer was ovarian and uterine soI had a complete hysterectomy and ooferectomy and am squarely in menopause. Though I've never taken hormone replacement thereapy, I've been using sublingual homeopathic drops to control sweats and at times they've been very much under control.
Back to the withdrawal... I'm heading into day 6 and have experienced brain fog, endless and frequent brain zaps, severe hot flashes and sweats -- right through the pj's during the night, I can't keep food in my body (I was unhappy about the weight gain but this isn't a very healthy diet!), I'm exhausted and just sad and scared. I cry at the silliest things == law and order, grey's anatomy (I'm working with the laptop at home for the past several days and can't imagine running around like I normally do in my life again). I'm really afraid I might fly off the handle or be mean to a loved one but so far it hasn't happened.
Meanwhile, I'm a single woman -- never married -- and at my age, it's a priority to meet my man, but in this condition and with the prospect of it lasting for several months... well, needless to say it's the stuff that depression is made of. Here it's Memorial day weekend and I have yet to do anything fun, though I'm hoping to be able to go to a festival tomorrow. Still, with the way I'm feeling, I have my doubts I'll be able to do that.
OK, I'm going on and on... thanks for reading.. Good luck to everyone and thanks for sharing! 'peg
#65
Posted 26 May 2008 - 04:47 AM
#67
Posted 26 May 2008 - 07:09 PM
I began listening to Celtic music to help me sleep, and also during the day. I watched a lot of public television during the day too, just to not have so much stimuation from other sources.
You do have to look for the "good" in a day, and it really sounds cliche,but it helped. When I would notice that what set me off one day no longer set me off today, I would feel a sense of victory, and a huge amount of relief. I really thought I was damaged beyond repair, so those victories made me feel much stronger.
Most importantly, knowing that it is your body repairing itself and others get what you are feeling is a huge thing. We get it, and are here to help you out.
Babby
#68
Posted 28 May 2008 - 11:37 AM
Day 46 I believe of cold turkey. Doing iffy. Good, bad, good, bad. Joint pain seems better but may be due to Prednisone that I am now tappering off of. Nerve pain in feet fairly bad-taking Neurotin for that. Muscle pain better-taking pain pills as needed. Mental-has not been an issue except on serious pain days. Am I cheating by taking Prednisone, Neurotin and pain pill? Don't know. But to my defense I have had nerve problems in feet prior to Sin-balta, maybe about 4 years ago. I have just recently introduced Omega 3 and need to start back with B-12. Maybe more water even though I drink about 64-76 oz. a day. But with Neurotin, can develop dehydration which in turn can cause muscle cramping and pain.
I'll trugg along as I have been for this long. Not dead yet and that is the good part.
Taa-Taa for now..........
#69
Posted 04 June 2008 - 07:30 AM
Friends and family that will support you and understand, absolutely tell them.Do you all feel like it helps or hurts to tell friends, family and co-workers? The symptoms are so bizzare that i'm not sure how someone without experience with this cessaion would react. thanks again for all of your insight.
Co workers - not so much. Unless you know what it is like to go through this, it is impossible to explain. And my friends that were on SSRI drugs that took them and came off with no problem actually did think that I lost it for awhile.
The less said to the co-workers the better, your personal life is just that.
#70
Posted 04 June 2008 - 11:06 PM
#71
Posted 06 June 2008 - 09:33 PM
I wish everyone a blessed weekend and those who are dealing with the early stages of the withdrawal, hang in there. It DOES GET EASIER!!!
I give you my word.
Lori
#72
Posted 01 July 2008 - 08:11 AM
My prayers and best wishes to all of you!!!
Lori
PS. I still keep a can of salmon in the pantry...just in case.
#73
Posted 01 July 2008 - 09:01 PM
I have been on so many sites about cymbalta withdrawals, this is by far the best. I have been on anti-depressants for 13 years. The last two years I was switched over to cymbalta. I purposely kept my dosage at 30mg. In the 13 years I have gained about 30 pounds. It was time for me to get my prescription refilled and I just decided enough is enough. Last Monday night (06-23-08) I cut my pill down to 15mg, estimated because of the small balls, and that is the last time I took Cymbalta. I did the Cold Turkey. Said a prayer to God and that is that. It has been one week and as everyone knows there is the brain Zaps, brain fog, dizziness, hot flashes sensitivity to noises and feeling nauseated at times. I have read where many people have weened themselves down slowly but the end results is that one still goes through the withdrawals symptoms that is why I did the cold turkey. I have forced myself to get out and walk 4 miles three times a week while keeping my head very level ( dizzy). I found that taking Benadryl helps with the brain zaps. I am blessed where I don't have any small children at home and I don't have to work. How long will it be before I start to feel "normal"????
It is so easy for the Doctors to hand out prescriptions for sadness or anxiety but they never once say that once your on cymbalta you will have the worst withdrawals if you decide to get off. It is not worth being on the drug!!. A horrible thought that has been with me for quite sometime is "if or when" we are ever faced with a another major disaster,where getting to this medication will be near to impossible, there is going to be A LOT of people who will not be able to function; they will be the helpless people. We must be strong and know that this to shall pass.
Deborah
#74
Posted 01 July 2008 - 09:57 PM
Anyway, I'm on day 7 of being cymbalta-free after decreasing from 60 to 30 mg for a week. Let me just tell you...I was thinking this would only last a couple weeks, but now that I've read all of these posts I'm scared. I have been experiencing the brain shakes, flutters, whatever you want to call them. They're horrible. It's like every time I move my head they're there. Dizziness too, although it seems to be getting better. I didn't sleep more than a few hours for 3 days in a row. In fact Sunday I fell asleep from 10:30 pm-12:30 am and was up until it was time to go to work. I am nauseous a lot and spend quite a bit of time in the bathroom (sorry you asked) after I eat. I just feel gross. Irritable and weepy too. Today I could've cried or seriously injured someone because everything was irritating me. Mostly I just feel very flu-like.
#76
Posted 02 July 2008 - 06:46 AM
Dont be afraid, Pickiechooo, this Cymbalta is doable and it does come to an end. We are here for both of you. We will answer your questions and if you must vent, vent!!! Thats what we are here for, to help you anyway we can. I have to get my boyfriends daughter to an appt but I will check back later today. My thoughts and prayers are with you, but to know that God is the ONLY one who knows exactly what you are going through, and to know that He is by yourside, I hope will be comforting to you.
Lori
#77
Posted 02 July 2008 - 02:25 PM
The emotional part is freaking hell. I do okay in the morning and early afternoon, but by about 4 o'clock, I'm starting to lose it. I can't control my emotions, I can't deal with anyone or anything, everything is overwhelming, I can't focus on anything, all my life skills and self-value go right out the window. Last night, I got suicidal. Everything seems to fall apart. I've put in place some things to help me get through, kind of like a game plan, but in the evenings, I can't even muster what is necessary to use these things to help myself. I'm just lost, and in so much mental turmoil. Emotional agony. I just go from thing to thing, trying to hang on. I try to hide it from my family, as I want them to suffer as little as possible through this, but it doesn't work very well. I'm like this volcano ready to errupt at the slightest thing.
I'm hearing that this lasts about a month. Am I right? If it's just a month, maybe I can hang on. I really want off this med very badly. I don't want to get so emotionally miserable that I convince myself I need to go back on. That is one of my greatest fears.
#78
Posted 02 July 2008 - 11:37 PM
#79
Posted 03 July 2008 - 02:30 PM
It is day 7 for me without Cymbalta. I was at a very low dose when I went off completely 7 days ago. It's been a very up and down week. The physical part is tough (zaps, balance issues, vision problems, headaches, general fatigue). The emotional part has been hell. I've even gotten suicidal a couple of times, which I haven't felt in quite awhile. Evenings are the worst for me, as I seem to fall apart. It seems like every life skill I've ever learned and all the preparation I've done for this withdrawal, goes right out the window, and I become this "base" individual that can't handle any stress, any stimulation (especially negative). I go right down to a survival mode, and even that is now very stable. Don't know if I'm getting my thoughts accross okay.
I've read a few of the postings, and will read more. Sounds like there is some hope here, and I desperately need hope. :!:
#80
Posted 03 July 2008 - 07:31 PM
#81
Posted 04 July 2008 - 01:30 AM
Hey everyone.....I am new to this site, but have posted once already. Still trying to find my way around. :geek:
It is day 7 for me without Cymbalta. I was at a very low dose when I went off completely 7 days ago. It's been a very up and down week. The physical part is tough (zaps, balance issues, vision problems, headaches, general fatigue). The emotional part has been hell. I've even gotten suicidal a couple of times, which I haven't felt in quite awhile. Evenings are the worst for me, as I seem to fall apart. It seems like every life skill I've ever learned and all the preparation I've done for this withdrawal, goes right out the window, and I become this "base" individual that can't handle any stress, any stimulation (especially negative). I go right down to a survival mode, and even that is now very stable. Don't know if I'm getting my thoughts accross okay.
I've read a few of the postings, and will read more. Sounds like there is some hope here, and I desperately need hope. :!:
Cathy, please, let your family know what you are feeling, especially if you have had thoughts of suicide. Don't take this lightly. Yes, it is the drug, and yes, it plays hell with your emotions, BUT, knowing that, and coping with it at times is very hard. I had one night that was bad enough that I had someone come and just sit with me and watch TV. Just the comfort of someone that knew I was feeling horrible, and having them with me, really helped me through it.
Do look into the Omega 3 supplements. I bought Nordic Naturals, and while expensive, they began to work almost immediately. Omega 3 has a natural Prozac effect on the body and mind. Also, limit your caffeine intake drastically in the early stages. I was hyper sensitive to it, and it made me feel much worse. I'm back to drinking it again, but for about a month, I had to keep it to a cup of tea a day. Try Chamomile Tea, or Sleepytime tea with Valerian (this helps me to sleep)
But again, I can't stress enough that you should include someone who you are close to, and trust, in the early stages of this process. It is so important not to feel isolated. It does help to keep telling yourself it is the drug, and not you, but don't risk harming yourself. It will pass, and you should start to see some improvement each day, even if it is in small increments, but it will improve.
I'm pulling for you dear, and when you get scared, you can come here too. Yes, there is hope! You will come out the other side of this evil drug, and you don't have to do it alone.
Babby
#82
Posted 04 July 2008 - 04:09 PM
I do have a game plan in place for getting through the withdrawals, and I have three people willing to come and sit with me if I need it. My husband, mom, and best friend. So that is good. I haven't needed it yet, but that doesn't really mean anything, as it is only day 8 since I went off.
I'm going to get some Omega 3 today, even though I can't afford it. I've heard other places that it helps, too.
I haven't been suicidal since day 6, so here's to hoping. I do mention it when I feel that way, but don't make an issue out of it, because they will insist I go into the hospital. Not going there ever again if I can help it.
Thank you very much for the encouragement and hope. I need it.
CathyH
#83
Posted 22 July 2008 - 08:29 AM
#84
Posted 28 July 2008 - 01:15 PM
I'm at day 32, and seem to be doing very well--the withdrawal seems to be over, thank God. One thing I've noticed (residual side effect?) is that I don't handle stress very well. My mind gets over-loaded pretty easily. Hope this passes, as I have an active family, and they seem to need me alot. I do have my husband, who knows I don't handle too much at one time, and he is always ready to pitch in.
CathyH
#85
Posted 01 August 2008 - 12:56 PM
Lori
#86
Posted 03 August 2008 - 07:39 PM
#87
Posted 27 November 2009 - 08:35 PM
#88
Posted 28 November 2009 - 01:36 AM
Tony
#90
Posted 30 November 2009 - 09:27 AM
Well off the Cymbalta now with 4 weeks (31days) and feeling good, still have very vivid dreams every night and feeling kinda tired during the day. Its that time of month now too so I suppose I'm bound to feel bit anxious and irritable but overall I feel like I am healing and that the worst is over.
Next is trying to stop smoking!!! Only smoking with 3-4 years so feel really unfit now and need to start quitting them and also have about half stone to lose.... Any suggestions would be appreciated.......
Redhead
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