3 replies to this topic

[katiedelmar]

Ok. I just joined this thing today. I have been on cymbalta for about 2 years and I really wanna get off of it but I'm scared to. I'm only 17 and this drug has pretty much stopped working for me. The first 6 months I was taking it I was a lot better but now I just feel like crap all the time. Last june I stopped taking cymbalta cold-turkey and it was horrible and I cried every day for two months. And then I told my doctor that I stopped taking it and she told me to start taking it again so I did. I take 60 mg once a day so I was thinking about cutting it down to 30 mg per day on june 1st. But like, if I forget to take my medicine now I have HORRIBLE insane dreams, and a gross taste in my mouth, and i'm tired and sick and upset and in a bad mood all day until i take it again. and i was thinking it would be a good time to stop taking it in june because i will be off school for 2 months, but i will be working and traveling a lot and i'm afraid i will be sick and unhappy and ruin my life. does anyone have any suggestions??? thanks

-katie

[schmb01]

Katie, it is very, very rare for someone as young as you are to be prescribed Cymbalta, and if you have been on it since you were 15, that is even more rare. The reason being, is that even though chronologically you are right there at adulthood, your brain is still developing and changing. There are risks when taking an antidepressant at that age, but, there are also huge risks to stop it without supervision.

Before taking such a step, you should talk with your parents, or another adult you are comfortable with, such as your doctor or another family member, to discuss why you want to stop taking it, and the best course of action.

Cymbalta CAN stop working, it did that for me, and others who have taken it, but you should be evaluated to determine if you need a different treatment as well. (I'm assuming you were taking it for depression)

There are safe methods for stopping it, but not without some risk and discomfort. Please, read through some of the posts here, and take some of the ideas to your doctor.

If you do determine that you are going to quit, know that we will be here to help you along the way.

[loveandlight]

Hey Katie,

I saw your post and couldn't help but respond. I am only 20 yrs old and was put on cymbalta almost 4 months ago for depression.

It stopped working for me as well, in fact it started to make me sick (heavy fatigue and headaches).

I tapered off of it, from 60mg to 30mg and then down to 15mg and then to zero. (some people same even 15mg to 0mg is too large of a drop).

Today is my first day without cymbalta. While tapering down, I began having even more extreme fatigue and headaches. I couldn't get out of bed for three days.

My main reason for messaging you is to let you know that I began having suicidal thoughts while tapering off. It was definitely a fight to not let these thoughts take me over. I think that this reaction is more common in young people. I tell you this not to scare you but to let you know that if you do start having these thoughts please know that it is the medicine messing with your brain!
Please be careful when you are coming off of this med.

Please please please please tell someone if you have any thoughts of harming yourself. These thoughts will go away and are simply the chemical confusing your mind/body.

I would recommend coming off of it while you are off from school. Be gentle with yourself in the process. It will not ruin your life! We have so much life left to live!

Please message me if you have any questions or want to take refuge in a girl about your age who can relate a bit!

Best of luck!

[Sarah J]

Ok. I just joined this thing today. I have been on cymbalta for about 2 years and I really wanna get off of it but I'm scared to. I'm only 17 and this drug has pretty much stopped working for me. The first 6 months I was taking it I was a lot better but now I just feel like crap all the time. Last june I stopped taking cymbalta cold-turkey and it was horrible and I cried every day for two months. And then I told my doctor that I stopped taking it and she told me to start taking it again so I did.

Katie - it worked great for me the first six months then pooped out on me as well. From your post, you went off two months cold turkey? That is quite a bit to put yourself through at such a young age. You are strong to have made it through that. I hope your parents are helping you along with your doctor, but don't ever forget, it is your body, if Cymbalta was not working for you, it is your right as a patient to refuse to be treated with it and it is your doctor's obligation to help you find something that will help you.

katie and lightandlove - I have read that suicidal thoughts are more common with young people. I am 40 and I had those thoughts too but know that it was the withdrawal and not really me, lots of people come here at the beginning of all ages and say they feel that way, it is the drug, not you. It is very important to let somebody know that you have these thoughts and that you aren't taking Cymbalta.

If both of you have family members (parents, others you trust) and friends that will help you, have them take a look at this site so they can better understand what coming off of Cymbalta can be like. Encourage them to ask us questions so they can help you more and understand how you might be feeling. It is hard to explain it to anybody who has not been through it, but if your parents have never taken a brain chemistry altering substance, they just might not understand.

All of us are here for you both, I hope that you both have good support systems around you and please, get your family involved and educated as to what you might be in for. Just remember, each of us is individual with different brain chemistry, just because withdrawal symptom X,Y and Z happened to somebody else does not mean that it will happen to you. Some people get through this really quickly.

And, never forget, that even though you are young women, your doctor is supposed to listen to you and help you, if you are taking medications that do not work for you, demand that you be heard and helped as you deserve. And lightandlove, you have a beautiful perspective on how to approach this. Best to the both of you.