5 replies to this topic

[doriso]

I had been on 60mg for about 6 years. Soon after beginning them, I noticed almost violent muscle spasms when I went to bed. It happened during that time when you're not quite fully awake but not totally asleep yet, either. I'm talking full body spasms where your entire body jerks several times within a few minutes, with accompanying involuntary vocal noises on many occasions. My husband said it continued after I was fully asleep--sometimes for a half hour or more. I've tried to wean myself a couple of times before with no success. A couple of months ago I started riding a stationary bicycle several times a week for a half hour each time, and noticed how much calmer I felt afterwards. I decided to try again to get off the Cymbalta. I've been "clean" now for close to 6 weeks. I really think the physical exercise did wonders, and lo and behold, the spasms have completely stopped.
Coincidentally, I just saw a thing on 60 Minutes yesterday, about how antidepressants rarely really work on anyone but the severely depressed. If it is mild or moderate depression, no antidepressants are really effective, other than having a placebo effect. I did have headaches for a couple of weeks, but took Aleve for those, and now they have stopped. The only other thing I've noticed is that my emotions are right on the surface--I cry or tear up much more easily than before. I am in hopes that this is a temporary situation as well. I have no plans to go back on Cymbalta or any other antidepressant again.

[Amber0401]

Grats on six weeks! I know how hard that must be. Physical exercise huh? I may try that for my leg pain.

[Kim1969]

Good on you! Am so happy you got off it ok. I too have sore legs and have been meaning to take cycling back up since going back to running is out of the question and walking hurts too much to do more than 45 min.

Yeah the body spasms are the reason I got off cymbalta. My dr couldnt seem to link the cymbalta to the spasms. I was having so many other weird symptoms (dx with celiac, fibro, parasites and still counting). I am so glad to be off cymbalta. I will let u know how my bike ride goes today.

[Farah]

I quite Cymbalta last month and my muscle spasm started it is 4 weeks it seems it take 2 more weeks

[kzap]

HI FARAH-----I TOO HAVE HAD MUSCLE SPASMS THROUGHOUY MY ENTIRE BODY SINCE I STARTED ON CYMBALTA IN FEB 2008----I'VE ALSO HAD EXCESSIVE SWEATING, TOTAL EXHAUSTION , RAPID HEARTRATE WITH MINOR EXERTION (STANDING UP) ALONG WITH NUMEROUS OTHER SYMPTOMS----I HVE BECOME INCREASINLY EXHAUSTED OVER THE YEARS MY DRS HAVE REFERRED ME TO SPECIALISTS AND OF COURSE THEY CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG OTHER THAN FIBROMYALGIA (DX 1996)------WHEN I ASKED MY RHEUMATOLOGIST FOR A NEW PRESCRIPTION FOR TRAMADOL(PAIN PILL I ONLY TOOK OCCASIONALL BECAE IT ALWAYS GAVE ME A SEVERE HEADACHE) A LIGHT MUST HAVE GONE OFF IN HIS HEAD. HE DID RENEW IT BUT HE HAD HIS NURSE CALL ME TO TELL ME TO BE CAREFUL TAKING IT WITH CYMBALTA BECAUSE OF POSSIBLE ADVERSE REACTIONS. I EXPLAINED THAT I RARELY TAKE IT SO I WOULD BE CAREFUL----I HAD A REGULAR FOLLOW UP APPT WITH MY RHEUMATOLOGIST A FEW WEEK LATER AND HE GAVE ME A LIST OF SIDE EFFECST TO LOOK FOR WITH BOTH MEDS-----HE LEFT THE OFFICE BUT I HAD TO WAIT FOR THE NURSE TO RETURN WITH MORE INFO ON --SERATONIN SYNDROME-- WHEN SHE CAME INTO THE OFFICE I TOLD HER THESE ARE THE SYMPTOMS I HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT FOR YEARS----I JUST THOUGHT MY FIBRO WAS GETTING WORSE -----WHEN I GOT HOME I LOOKED UP MORE INFO ON -SERATONIN SYNDROME--THEN EMAILED MY DR TO HELP ME GET OFF OF THE CYMBALTA----HE REFERRED ME BACK TO MY PCP TO TAKE ME OFF BECAUSE MY RHEUMATOLOGIST WAS NOT THE ONE WHO PRESCRIBED IT FOR ME IN THE FIRST PLACE---A NEUROLOGIST STARTED ME ON CYMBALTA IN 2008---SHE LEFT THE GROUP OF DRS I GO TO SO MY PCP HAD CONTINUED IT FOR ME-----ANY WAY I STARTED WITHDRAWING FROM CYMBALTA 90MG ABOUT 1 1/2 MONS AGO. I'M SUPPOSED TO BE OFFOF IT BY NOW BUT IT IS NOT WORKING OUT THAT WAY-----I STARTED OPENING UP 30MG CAPS YESTERDAY AS WELL AS PROZAC 20MG STARTED LAST WEEK------STILL HAVING THE AWFUL MUSCLE SPASMS BUT NOT AS OFTEN. I SEEM TO BE MORE CONCERNED WITH TH BRAIN ZAPS, DIZZINESS, NAUSEA, SINCE I'M NOT USED TO THESE SYMPTOMS ------SORRY I GOT SO WORDY , BUT I SEEMED TO GET ON A ROLL-------GOOD LUCK AN MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND KEEP YOU SAFE!!!!

[Sage]

Hi there. I also experienced muscle spasms, very often, throughout my 1+ year on Cymbalta. They were uncomfortable, but I just ignored them and got used to them. I am weaning off of Cymbalta right now, and if they cease, I'll try to remember to come back here and post the results.