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Weaning Off This Drug


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#1 Uriel

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Posted 15 February 2012 - 05:06 PM

Hi
I am glad I found this site. I was put on Cymbalta back in April after knee surgery , i have fibromyalgia and cmps
chronic myofascial pain syndrome. I had never had to take anything except the odd muscle relaxer. After surgery my conditon went nuts. My pain was off the chart. I now am having side effects from this drug with my legs my muscles tingle and dont' feel normal in my legs, its hard to explain. I decided to go cold turkey after 7 days i couldn't take the way my head felt and i was so edgy. I am always very calm and relaxed prior to this stuff. So I called the pharmacist. She told me to go back on it for 1 wk and then to try 1 every other day for ten days. After 1 day the symptoms of nausea and headache were too bad. It's only the 30mg I can't imagine taking the stronger one.
Anyway after reading this forum I called my pharmacist and asked if i could open the capsules and take 20 pills out for 10 days then 40 for 10 etc. She said yes that i would still experience withdrawl but not as severe . So that is my new plan . I started yesterday , i felt pretty good today until 3:00 I now have a headache and nausea but it's not real bad. The pharmacist wants me to let her know how things go. I hope to be off this stuff by April for good.
They need to really tell a pt what this does to your brain. I never would have went on this drug if i knew it would be this hard to get off of.

#2 Uriel

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Posted 18 February 2012 - 08:59 AM

HI
Well this is the first week of decreasing and it has not been too bad. I had to rough days,,then my body started to stabilize again , so i am 20 pills out of the capsule for 10 days. I start the next decrease this coming friday which will be 40 pills out. My withdrawl symptoms start around 5:00 until 7:30 when I take my pill. I just go to bed , I feel the sleep really helps and I don't feel bad in the morning. My legs are finally starting to feel normal again.
The dr kept telling me it was my fibro and i knew it wasn't they felt so weird and exhausted and tight.
I am taking ginger gravol in the afternoon and I take Rescue Remedey 4 times a day , For those that don't know what that is its a natural rememdy for anxiety you get it at the health food store, you just put 4 drops under your tongue. It helps your body relax. The pharmacist also said to take a good b vitamin and I am going to get the Lecithin which should help with the brain function. Feeling hopefull. :rolleyes:

#3 Uriel

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Posted 21 February 2012 - 05:36 PM

feb 21/12
hi
just an update i am on my 9th day with my first deccrease of 2mg. It was a rough 5 days with nausea and headache and exhaustion, today is good , almost feel back to normal.
The ginger gravol really works well , i take 1 in the morning and 1 before dinner.
I rested alot on the weekend , i think the sleep helps.
Friday will be my 2nd decrease 4mg. So we will see how that goes. I hope it's a little better
since the drug is lower but i am sure i will probably go thru the same thing.
It's alot easier this way then cold turkey for sure. I will be at 25mg.

#4 peaches

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Posted 25 February 2012 - 07:19 PM

Good to hear, hoping for the best for u!! :)

#5 Uriel

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Posted 01 March 2012 - 07:17 PM

hi
just an update , i am starting my 3rd drop so i will be at 24mg as of this sunday mar 4 for 10 days, then i am going down by 4mg every 10 days. So we will see how it goes. For now i am feeling great , no nausea , head feels clear and i actually feel happy again and my energy level is coming back up. Also my legs quads are starting to feel normal again, my surgey leg still feels numb and tingly but it feels like life is coming back to it.
Here's hoping things keep improving.

#6 Uriel

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Posted 11 March 2012 - 09:30 AM

Hi
Just an update i am down to 20mg so far so good . Just a bit of nausea.
The big drop comes now down 4 mg in 10 days to 16mg . Hoping things stay the same.
I saw my MD and told her about all the symptoms going cold turkey and then trying to skip days with the medication and how horrid it is. She actually was shocked and didn't realize the symptoms of getting off this. She never wanted to put me on it but had tried everything else at the time for my postop pain. She now said she will probably not prescribe it anymore.
I am just glad she didn't presibe that oxy crap that is in the news.
Looking forward to the end of this experience.

#7 Uriel

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Posted 16 March 2012 - 11:04 PM

hi
Well i am down to 20mg from 30mg , it is going very well. I have a bit of nauseau the first two days when i drop a does and am tired but then by day 3 of the new dose it feel alot better. This has not been a bad experience so far. I can deal with the nauseau.
I have been dropping 2mg every 10 days. I am going to drop 4mg next wk so i will be at 16mg if that levels off after 3 days i will stay on it for 10 then drop to 8mg for 10 days. Then i'm going to go off it. Can't wait for this to be over. I can say now that i have been on a lesser dose i am starting to feel like my old self again. My body feels 100% better.
I am using Traumeel which is homeopathic for my fibro and it's working well along with vitamins and omega liquid.

#8 Karen03

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Posted 19 March 2012 - 11:29 PM

I'm on day three of my decrease in dosage, from 60mg to 30mg per day. I've been told to stick at 30mg for a month, and then take a tablet every second day for two weeks, then every three days for two weeks. I feel so awful today, so reading the posts make me feel there will be light at the end of the tunnel. I feel nausa, tired, but don't sleep at night, very dizzy, and headaches in the morning. It's just great knowing I'm not the only one out there feeling the same. My real reason behind coming off the medication, I've been feeling much happier in the last few months (have been taking Cymbalt for about a year and a half) and have been dealing with my anxiety much more, and also I've put on at least 10 kgs of the last year, and have only just worked out why. I'm so desperate to feel good about my body and hope that by coming off slowly I'll be able to start loosing the weight and feel good. Best of luck everyone!

#9 Uriel

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Posted 06 April 2012 - 06:41 AM

Apr 6
Hi
Just an update I am at 16mg weaning from 30mg . Since I switched up to taking my meds in the morning I don't have any bad symptoms at all. Feeling pretty well. The major hunger has subsided it was wicked. I have 4 more days left at 16mg then i drop to 8mg for 10 days then I am off it . Quite an experience this has been. I am hoping with weaning slowly that once i am done i won't have any wicked symptoms. Will just have to see what happens but I haven't had it too bad. Good luck to all.

#10 happyzapynot

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Posted 06 April 2012 - 10:40 AM

Apr 6
Hi
Just an update I am at 16mg weaning from 30mg . Since I switched up to taking my meds in the morning I don't have any bad symptoms at all. Feeling pretty well. The major hunger has subsided it was wicked. I have 4 more days left at 16mg then i drop to 8mg for 10 days then I am off it . Quite an experience this has been. I am hoping with weaning slowly that once i am done i won't have any wicked symptoms. Will just have to see what happens but I haven't had it too bad. Good luck to all.

Uriel, you are wise! Wish I had done it your way. I've found that taking the stuff in the morning is much better, too.

#11 Uriel

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Posted 12 April 2012 - 08:57 PM

hi
just a quick update down to 12mg 1 day with a headache and that's it.
Feeling great , lot's of energy , body feels like it's oldself again.
One more drop and i'm done thank god it's almost over.

#12 sami

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Posted 17 April 2012 - 06:49 AM

Hi I am new here to this forum. My name is sami and I am going to take myself off of Cymbalta.
After readings all the side effects from withdrawal I am really scared of this stuff.
I have lost my insurance and I will not be able to afford it so I thought well I will wean myself
from this drug.
I do have some 60 mg. caps. and some 30 mg. So I guess what I will do is like I have read on here. Cut it down
to 30 mg. for about 10 days then cut it some more.
I know that I will have some side effects but I do not want to take this drug any longer. I have gained so
much weight and Acid reflux. I have been losing my temper even with it. At first it seemed to be helping me
with my arthritis more than the Lexapro i was on. I ran out of cymbalta once and yes I felt horrible. I should of
then just kept going and not take it again.
I will be checking back in with this forum for support for sure.

I am starting a journey of life without Cymbalta. I have not felt good mentally since I started taking it. At least with
Lexapro I was in a good mood.

I started taking it because the dr. said it would help my back and neck problems at first it seemed to do the trick but now
it hurts just like it did before. It never helped me with depression, like the Lexapro did but I hurt.

I have experienced rash, getting sick to tummy, rage, mood swings and other things since I started taking it.
I have been on it for around 6 months. I am done with it. Plus I can't afford it.

Wish me luck.

#13 sami

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Posted 17 April 2012 - 08:15 PM

Today I decreased my cymbalta I was taking 60 mg. and I took a 30 mg.
Had a headache for awhile. Didn't feel too bad until this evening.
I began feeling tired and itching all over. Red blotchy spots. Chills.
Indigestion, acid reflux. My eyes are also itching and blurry, also they are feeling
dried out. Day one ...journal.

#14 happyzapynot

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Posted 17 April 2012 - 08:40 PM

Today I decreased my cymbalta I was taking 60 mg. and I took a 30 mg.
Had a headache for awhile. Didn't feel too bad until this evening.
I began feeling tired and itching all over. Red blotchy spots. Chills.
Indigestion, acid reflux. My eyes are also itching and blurry, also they are feeling
dried out. Day one ...journal.

OTC drops really helped my eyes, which had been red and itchy for a while.
You may want to consider counting granules. Best wishes.

#15 sami

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Posted 19 April 2012 - 07:00 AM

Day 3 withdrawing from Cymbalta: Yesterday was not bad at all I had a slight headache
did not last for long. Last night I did felt like I had prickly skin, it did not last.
I became very mood last in the evening. I feel that I am craving food at times.
No major side effects. I am so re-leaved, I was on Cymbalta for just a few months less than
a year. All is well. Thank you for the eye info, I will try them.

#16 Uriel

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Posted 20 April 2012 - 07:52 PM

HI
I am on last drop . down to 8mg saturday. I have not had it to bad with the drop to 16mg, just some nauseau but nothing real bad although if i don't get to bed by 9:00 i find the withdrawl is worse as far as feeling wiped out and edgy.
A little aprehensive as to the end but looking forward to it . i know i probably will be a bit edgy and nauseauted but i don't think it should be too bad. :unsure:

#17 Uriel

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Posted 25 April 2012 - 09:49 AM

Hi
Just an update i'm done i decided to stop and just deal with the withdrawl.
It's not too bad dizzy in the morning with some nausea and a slight buzzing in myhead.
I take ginger gravol and it seems to help things quite a bit. also drinking gatorade and taking the omega's. 4 mths of weaning i think was worth the pain of counting granules.
looking forward to each day getting better. :D

#18 Uriel

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Posted 29 April 2012 - 08:11 PM

Hi
Well day 6 better than day 5. The vertigo has been hell, i am taking a homeopathic called vertigoheel which is really making a difference and stopping the buzzing in my head, i can move my eyes today left and rt without major dizziness thank god i found this stuff.
My nausea was not as bad today i think because the dizziness is alot less. Well i am back to work tomorrow so we will see how my day goes since i took this past wk off to get off the meds.

#19 Uriel

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Posted 01 May 2012 - 07:59 PM

Hi
Day 8 and seeing the light at the end of the tunnell......no gravol today ,vertigo is very mild starting to feel like my old self again .....
Good luck to all



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