9 replies to this topic

[helpme2011]

sorry if this doesn't make much sense but i'm going through this hell and i can't see or think straight.
been on this stuff for 16 months ..been trying to get off it for the past 8 months. i am a single mum of a 16 month old.
tried every type of weaning and in the end, i couldn't cope with living everyday in a messed up daze.
i threw the remaining tablets down the toilet and vowed never to take one ever again.
day 4 cold turkey and i'm in a living hell.
i can't get out of bed, if i eat i'm throwing up.
constant flu like symptoms.. my whole body is in pain and the painkillers don't seem to be helping anymore.
the brain zaps are horrific.
everything is hurting. i have to wear ear plugs and sunglasses around the house as the light is hurting my eyes and any sound hurts too.
i feel like absolute death.
thank goodness my mum is looking after my daughter.
all i want to know is there anyone going through cold turkey and can i ask when does it start to get better?
4 days in and it's killing me.
please someone tell me it gets better soon??

[Hippiegirl]

I am 12 days into cold turkey. It seems to be getting extremely worse. I was only on it for 3 months. Did it get better for you?? Heeelp

[zmr]

I am 12 days into cold turkey. It seems to be getting extremely worse. I was only on it for 3 months. Did it get better for you?? Heeelp

Yes! I have been off for 31/2 weeks, and I am close to being back to normal. I had horrible withdrawals. The weaning option, which I tried, didn't make a bit of difference. I actually think it prolonged the agony for me. So when I was down to 30 mg after weaning down from 120, I just quit. I couldn't put another one of these pills in my body. It's rough, but you will make it. I also have been put on a vitamin created by my talented friend and pharmacist, specifically for me,and I think that had heed incredibly. I told him 3years ago about my Dr. Putting me on cymbalta, after the loss of my son, and he said he wished I would have never started. He believes this drug needs to be taken off the market. You would think a pharmacist wouldn't be so against prescriptionmeds, but he is. He's not a fan. Good luck on your journey and get some supplements!

[theascheffect]

I am going through the same thing. I am on day 3 of cold turkey and I took Cymbalta for one month. I thought it was my new medication since I took Cymbalta for so sort a time. My psychiatrist wants me to go back on Cymbalta and wean off even slower. Problem is I'd have to granule count since I was taking roughly 15mg, dumping out half the granules of a 30mg pill. Since I'm already 3 days in, I am afraid I'll have to redo the withdrawal symptoms if I try weaning. I cannot do daily tasks, I feel so awful.

[ShannonB538]

Hi everyone. I am having the same issues. I just found this forum yesterday and did not realize all the issues I am feeling are related to withdrawal. I am 38 years old and never taken anything other than an occasional asprin or pain killer until I started taking Cymbalta. I have decided after 6 years to stop and tried weaning myself off. I went from 90mg to 60 to 30 and this is the second full week I am off. I am still having really bad issues with my anger and what everyone here seems to call "brain zaps". It feels like little electric shocks to my brain. Those are the worst. While I am not physically sick, I do have serious bouts of depression, and that wasn't even the reason I went on it in the first place. Helpme, I hope every thing works out for you. I have taken the bull by the horns. I refuse to let this chemical control me any more. I have enlisted the help of my friends and family to help, but I am going to fight this to the end. I force myself out of bed, make myself go around people, and one thing I will NOT do, is go on more medication to help me off this one.
I will keep you in my prayers. If I could help, I would do it in a minute. Good luck! God Bless. Hang in there.
Shannon

[sherimabob]

I only took the pill for 4 days, 30 mg, and i stopped cold turkey. I am on day one, and i feel a little nausious. Im really scared

[Jenni]

Haha! Lucky I am no longer depressed - lol. Just typed my story, hit the wrong key on my laptop and lost the lot.

Briefly, on Cymbalta since 2005 including through pregnancy. It has made my life so much better but now it is time to stop as I feel really "solid" mentally. Been on doses ranging from 120mg(slept 16 hrs a day but it probably saved my life) to 60mg. Since October, I have been weaning myself slowly off as (1) I am better and (2) we would like another child. No brain zaps but feeling awful.

I was following my family doctor's advice and coming down by alternating days. I found each change made for 10-12 days of feeling awful and then "rested" at 60 and then at 30 for a few weeks and felt fine. This drop from 30 to zero is harder - which is what my family doctor said it would be. I think I am going to try out the method of breaking open the capsules as it makes no sense to me, with such a short half life, to go up and for a week. Most of it will be out of your system by day 2 surely.

Anyway, to people who don't want to go on this drug at all bcs of all the withdrawal problems, do remember that this can be a break through drug for some people esp if others have not worked.

[CDC74]

I was on Cymbalta for 6 months. I weaned off, but that really didn't seem to make a difference. I'm on day 9 Of no meds. I want to encourage you all and say that it does get better. Also, I highly recommend taking Omega 3 supplement. It's helped me a great deal. I have been in shock as to what little it seems the doctors tell about this medicine. I wasn't worned of the withdrawals I would go through. It's been awful. Good luck to everyone.

[menarch]

i threw the remaining tablets down the toilet and vowed never to take one ever again.

that was brilliant. where do you think those pills go after you dump them in the toilet? if there was a monthly internet genius award you would win this time.

[Jenni]

We are all on this forum because we are having a tough time so let's take it out on our families and loved ones instead of each other;-)