5 replies to this topic

[angieb]

I had no idea. I've been on 90 mg. of Cymbalta for almost 2 years. In late April, I started having visual hallucinations and then I attempted suicide on April 25. Imagine! So I've tapered off the Cymbalta and have experienced a hell I couldn't imagine. (I thought the suicide watch psych-ward was as bad as it got. I was WRONG!)

How long will the side effects last? I took my last pill about a week ago.

I appreciate your insight.

[mkhackler]

Angie. Wow, 2 years on this garbage. That's a long time. Have you gone cold turkey? If you have, you have a long ways to go. And I'm going to be honest, anyway from my point of view. I was on 120 mgs for 9 months, and, like you became a depressed, suicidal mess. 2 weekends in a row on 72 hour suicide watches. I came home after the second time, and threw the damn pills out. I am now on day 53 with physical pain just subsiding aprox. 4 days ago. I've not had to many mental issues like others here have and I thank God for that. Yes, I get extremely pissed off and jump at people when I shouldn't and at times I am so sad it get's all the way to the deepest part of my soul. But I am also alone, jobless, and right now I choose to shut myself off from the majority of the world. You will go through a very rough time. It won't be easy. It will be the fight of your life. And you will be scared, angry, sick and sometimes feel hopeless. But as so many on here say-IT'S THE DRUG, NOT YOU! If you have chosen to go cold turkey like I did, you may want to reconsider that and talk to your doctor about weaning off of it. Or put you on something else to take the edge off and then wing off of it. Everyone is different. Read as many of the posts as you can and really educate yourself from what you read. Stay strong! Prayers are with you.

Mary in Denver

[Snail]

I also was clueless. I have been off the Cymbalta for 6 days and it has been hell. I am right now experiencing the "brain zaps" almost constantly, along with gi symptoms, excessive sweating, nausea, insomnia, crying all the time....and today is my birthday! What a great way to spend it. The reason that I wanted off of this medicine was the excessive sweating. Has anyone else experienced that side effect? However, at this point that seems really minor compared to the hell that I am going though right now. I saw that someone called this medication the "demon drug"...I couldn't agree more.

[sera]

I also was clueless. I have been off the Cymbalta for 6 days and it has been hell. I am right now experiencing the "brain zaps" almost constantly, along with gi symptoms, excessive sweating, nausea, insomnia, crying all the time....and today is my birthday! What a great way to spend it. The reason that I wanted off of this medicine was the excessive sweating. Has anyone else experienced that side effect? However, at this point that seems really minor compared to the hell that I am going though right now. I saw that someone called this medication the "demon drug"...I couldn't agree more.

Happy BIrthday! I hope you're doing something to celebrate.

The sweating was one of the many heinous side effects of this drug that led me to go off it, finally. I think (hope) that's supposed to get better.

[schmb01]

I would just drench my sheets every night when I was on this! Yes, it went away finally!

[blueskye]

Ah lovely lovely night sweats. yep had em... thought I was having night terrors from stress... turns out just the drugs man.. just the drugs..
Angie-
I want so badly to tell you my looooooong story with the whole gammat of meds over the years and friends I have met along the way... but I'll refrain- that's not the story you need to hear right now.... do listen to all those who are responding on the site... this is truly an amazing group of people who know and understand...
for your situation... PLEASE keep someone with you ALL the Times for a couple of weeks.... well you know what I mean within earshot all the time... personal time is personal time and you need that too because the worse thing I can remember many years ago was when a friend was put on suicide watch in the dorm i was in and the dorm RA hovered over the gal for hours... hovered... no good- I volunteered to take over watch at that point and yeah... it all worked out just fine... sometimes it really does take someone who has been there to say hey, I'm here -I don't think you are crazy, and I'm not going to let you hurt yourself... anything else go for it, two packs of cigs later a looot of tears and yelling and a half gallon of blue bell life went on. I digress--

To be honest, as many have said it depends on the person. I have a strong feeling that you will overcome this quicker than many. You have already come through some stinkin dark places and come out the other side and GOOD for you!... Both withdrawals for me the worst was the second week after I took the last pill only because the first time I stopped cold turkey and it took that long to realize what was happening, and this time because I worked waaayy to much the first week and had a crazy week outside of the withdrawal... oddly enough that distraction kept me from feeling the first week, but I hit a wall the second week that has not been fun. So please if you can start taking it easy now... so that your body doesn't hit that wall. that is the BIGGEST and BEST suggestion I have seen on this board (there are lots of other great suggestions too!) and the one thing I didn't do that i wish I would have... you have done yourself good to recognize and ask questions in the beginning of the withdrawal... stick with us and we'll stick with you (I feel safe promising that for the board because they have been amazing to me)