I decided to come off cymbalta 8 days ago and thought there may be some discomfort but not the horrendous experience i have been going through. Is this normal I wondered so decided to check out the net and was so overwhelmed to find this site. Can anyone tell me is withdrawal from cymbalta similar to any other anti depressant they have tried to come off or is it just cymbalta? I have the brain shocks, nausea and rage mostly - it's the rage i cannot handle but don't know if the cymbalta has been masking it and now it can vent itself, i just know i have never been so intensely angry before that i remember, (memories have been very hazy for the past few years thanks to much medication!!!) I am now off all medication and hoping to regain my life. I have an appointment with my psychiatric doc tomorrow and feel guilty because I didn't tell him I wanted to come off or i was coming off cymbalta, however he is a great guy so i reckon he'll support me.
I have only been on two antidepressants Cymbalta, then Celexa to get over the mind blender that Cymbalta withdrawal put me in. Some people get through this just fine, and don't have to take anything else. I was on Cymbalta 3.5 years, situational depression. My old doctor told me to stop cold turkey from 30 mg, I don't recommend it but I can't say weaning would have been easier for me, but I am through it now. Others here have taken Effexor, with worse withdrawal results than Cymbalta, stay away from Effexor, it is in the same class SNRI as Cymbalta.
Celexa withdrawal was a piece of cake, very slight discomfort, I can't find the right words to say how much easier it was than Cymbalta, but then again, I went on it and weaned down fast, but when I stopped the Celexa, I didn't lose time from work, or life, or anything. If I had not been put through the wringer with the Cymbalta withdrawal, I might have been brave enough to go for help sooner than I did. So, that's my only regret, that I waited so long to get more help.
Hope your doc supports you, that is really important, if he tells you what you are feeling doesn't exist, run!