7 replies to this topic

[undone]

I haven't decided to completely go off of Cymbalta, but the side effects at 60mg were too much so I went back down to 30 mg. That was enough to send my head spinning out of control.

The first 5 days or so were fine, I wasn't more anxious or depressed & my libido had returned. But now a little over a week later I'm fighting constant fatigue & exhaustion, as well as confusion.

I used to be a really light sleeper, I could wake at the sound of a pin dropping. Now the house next door could explode & wouldn't wake. I slept through the entire holiday weekend. When I got up for work today I got very anxious like usual so I decided to lie down and just breath, my anxiety was going nowhere & I was extremely fatigued. I thought maybe an extra 30 mins of sleep may help so I called work & let them know I would be a little late. I was out cold for 4 hours, coming in & out of sleep without ever really waking. I literally could not get up. My boss called me & I actually picked up but could articulate myself & my speech was slurred... what must she be thinking??!?!? I fell right back asleep & dreamt about work the entire time, I woke up in a semiconscious state believing I was actually at work. I eventually finally fully awoke still dazed, and still am almost 5 hours later.

My dreams have been seriously vivid lately & along with the confusion & not sure what events have actually happened. I have to ask people if we had a conversation or if i dreamt it... I'm so confused.

[trishing]

I can relate a little. I went from 60 to 30 for a week and was then instructed to go 30mg. every other day. It sent me spinning! I called the dr. back the other day and she said it was indeed withdrawl symptoms and put be back on 30mg. every day for 2 more weeks. I am experiencing a great deal of nausea, tons of anxiety - which hasn't been a typical problem for me - and constant fatigue. I am due to go on a 10 day trip beginning this weekend and am scared to death about how that will turn out.

[Sarah J]

I can relate a little. I went from 60 to 30 for a week and was then instructed to go 30mg. every other day. It sent me spinning! I called the dr. back the other day and she said it was indeed withdrawl symptoms and put be back on 30mg. every day for 2 more weeks. I am experiencing a great deal of nausea, tons of anxiety - which hasn't been a typical problem for me - and constant fatigue. I am due to go on a 10 day trip beginning this weekend and am scared to death about how that will turn out.

Every other day does not work, as Greybeard stated. Your doctor needs to know this, if you are on it, he has other patients on it too. Cymbalta has a short half life of about 12-14 hours, negating every other day doses and making you go into with drawal every other day.

Now that you are back to your every day doses, you should level out, so instead of trying to start the withdrawal on your trip, wait until you have gone and deal with Cymbalta withdrawal when you get back.

You also might consider dropping down to the 20mg dose before coming off entirely. I was told to stop cold turkey from 30 mg and it was pretty harsh, if you can gain from other peoples experience in this, take advantage of it! Dropping down another level with this can possibly help your brain chemistry not go into overdrive trying to rebalance! When you decide to stop this drug, I understand wanting it out of your system NOW, but life is much easier to live when you feel stable. Also many people benefit from taking a couple of doses of Prozac (SSRI) to get over this quicker.

Let us know how you make out with this - enjoy your trip.

[mapadrew]

I am on day 11 from stopping "COLD TURKEY". I feel horrible. However, am glad to know that its not only me. I don't know what made me look on line for withdrawel symptoms, but I am glad I did. The sweats, day and night, dreams, feeling drunk all the time, sick to my stomach and all the other symptoms that I am having. Never once gave it a thought that it was because of being off Cymbalta. Been on it for 1.5 yrs and I guess that was 1.5 yrs too long. Good thing I have a great husband because I have been nothing but nasty to him espically these past 5 days. Bark and him for no reason and am just down right ugly.
I will try the Benedryl because like other people, I am dizzy and feel that I should not be driving. My eyes and brain do not feel connected and I do not feel like me. Hot one second, cold the next. Focused one moment and ready to sleep the next. Almost makes me want to get back on the drug to stop the with drawel effects. The shakes, the anxiety, nervousness. How long will this last????

[mapadrew]

day 12 and this is a really emotional day for me. Border line crying and angry. Had dreams last night for the first time and also had a charlie horse in my calf. Very very tired and can not concentrate. I am having trouble getting what I am thinking out in words. Feeling drunk in more ways then one today. Just want to be in my own worId tdy and not be bothered. am going to try walking and will look into eating healthier as well as suggested. I know it took a while to get the drug into my system and will take a while to get it out, but *&&^%^&*...... Not a good feeling.. I was on 60 mg and will not rely on those meds again. But as I said before its nice to know I am not crazy with all these feelings and emotions. Will continue to log my process and one day (soon I hope) I can say I am having a great day!

[Sarah J]

day 12 and this is a really emotional day for me. Border line crying and angry. Had dreams last night for the first time and also had a charlie horse in my calf. Very very tired and can not concentrate. I am having trouble getting what I am thinking out in words. Feeling drunk in more ways then one today. Just want to be in my own worId tdy and not be bothered. am going to try walking and will look into eating healthier as well as suggested.

mapadrew - 12 days is an accomplishment. Sorry about the emotional stuff happening, but it is your brain chemistry working hard to readjust.

Eating well during this time is going to help your body repair, exercise helps too. Maybe also try the Omega 3.

Hang in there, let us know how you are doing today,

[mapadrew]

DAY 13... Felt pretty good this morning for about 2 hours. Now, feeling that "feeling" again. People at work are asking if I am OK because I look tired and withdrawn ( their words ). I just tell them its been a long week. Did not sleep well again last night either. Went to bed at 8:00 to watch TV and to be alone. I try to be "happy" and not show how I am really feeling, but that is getting harder and harder to do. I just want to feel happy and look happy again. Its bringing me down, but I am determined to not let it flatten me. Positive thoughts is what gets me threw the day. Unfortunatly though my paticence is getting thinner and thinner with every one and that is so not fair to them. BUT........... as I keep telling myself this too shall pass.
Going camping this weekend for the 4th weekend in a row. This is something that I love to do, but as of last weekend it is now is the last thing that I want to do. But I am going to do it.
As for taking Omega 3, how will that help? I am open for any suggestions thats for sure :roll:

[Lori]

Here is a website that I posted under another topic. http://www.womentowo... ... efits.aspx. I dont know who you would be 'letting down' if you declined from going camping, but it may be a weekend you may want to skip. I am sorry you are feeling emotional today, I truly understand. Its ok if you have no idea whether or not you want to go camping. I had many many days that I did not know what I wanted to do. I wanted to get out and do family stuff, but had no energy to get prepared. I had no energy to have fun. I dont know what it is about the withdrawal side effects, but you know how when you dont feel good some days, and you could put on a happy face for the sake of others? For some reason, I COULD NOT put on a happy face while coming off the Cymbalta, no matter how hard I tried. Some days I felt like I was in a coma but awake....well not even awake, but aware of the fact that I was in a coma. Then there were other times, I kept my mouth shut all day because if I opened it, I would cry. Then there were other times, when I felt so much rage I honestly felt I might explode. I think my family wish I had sometimes..... (literally) But all of those things are normal. I was so numb, completely confused, my brain felt as though it had stopped working. Speaking of putting on a happy face, when we would go places, my BF would say, the least you could do is smile......he received a growl. That was about all I could do.

If my son and his wife had moved in with us during that time, they would have gladly slept on the porch, I am sure. I made everyones life a living hell!!! It WAS so terrible, that my boyfriend still has emotional scars from what I put him through. I am tired of feeling guilty and dont do it anymore. Whats done is done, I have apologized, he knows it was the Cymbalta, I am not that way anymore, but I know the stress of it all is still with him to a degree, but I cant change what happened, and I wont dwell on it anymore. I just go on with my life, I work hard spoiling everyone here, I work hard to make this a loving home, I work hard making treats throughout the day, I work hard making as perfect dinners as I can, I work hard to keep the house clean, but I work equally hard taking care of myself. I may be the one who went through the withdrawals, but I also know I am a very strong person, I can take care of everyone else and myself. I make sure I have the right foods, supplements and drinking beverages, I make sure I have some quite time for myself, some time to read, atleast 6-8 hours of sleep each night. I am not sure about going back to work just yet, his daughter only has 3 more days of school left, after today, so we have agreed I stay home with her during the summer but we are also looking into different summer programs, day time Vacation Bible Schools at different churches, and I have many fun kits I have purchased for us to do this summer. Maybe this fall I will be ready to go back to work. But right now, my boyfriend is the only one working and he works outside all day, 10 hours a day and right now, the humidity is high and we are under a heat advisory, so that is one main reason why I spoil him. He is zapped by the time he gets home every day so he is pretty non talkative and moody when he gets home, but we have learned it just takes him some time to mellow out and cool down. We are still waiting on my sons lab results from his unrine test so HOPEFULLY he will start working with my BF Monday! Then we will be dealing with 2 moody males. :roll: But the sooner he starts work, the sooner they can move into their new place.

Well, I kinda got off track, as usual, but all the things you are feeling, mapadrew, are very normal even though right now, you feel anything BUT normal. You will get through this, and anytime you need to vent here, it is fine by us. I have done my fair share of venting. There is alot of great advice on this message board. Read it and see what works for you. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Lori