12 replies to this topic

[marcushowlin]

Found this board today I'll try and let you know how I do getting off this medication. I've been taking 60mg a day for approx 4months., Minor side effects ensued. Never having been on anything I followed Doc's prescription in conjunction with inability to sleep ambien combined with cym seemed to do the trick. Never intended to be on it for long now we will see how hard it is to quit.Missed a few doses during a recent trip and had what I believe has been referred to as a Brain Zap during a landing on the return trip. Like a spinning blue cube at warp speed thru the base of my skull. Onset of problems with libido seemed to point to the cym so I'm quitting.

[marcushowlin]

Seems I talk a great deal when I miss my dosage. Happened previously when a strange series of events had me going 12 days without. Never seem to have really horrible side effects so I restarted. Slept ok used ambien, I seem over emotional,taking lots of omega three and milk thistle my daughter gave me the MT she is worried about the liver. Perspiring but I am keeping warm on purpose, sweat out the impurities. Heart races time to time, damn vivid dreams. Called the Doc to let him know i was discontinuing, he's on vac. till next week.
Not looking for answers, everyone is different merely sharing an experience.

[anton_chigurh]

My first day here. Day 4 or 5 w/o Cymbalta. I made a decision to stop cold turkey 'cause I hate the idea of spending months getting off this stuff. I've withdrawal from worse. I was taking 120 a day. I went to 90 then 60 where i've been for several months. I've been on some SSRI or SNRI since Prozac was a few weeks old. I don't know what the f#ck normal is.

So I was pleased to hear about the brain zaps. I'd never had (or heard of)them before this week and thought at first that it was something more serious and not part of my withdrawal.

I'll be posting my progress and asking questions.

Lawsuit? Why? I'm curious. Is there something possibly permanently wrong with me because of this crap?

[Attorney_Victim]

Hi anton_chigurh,

Welcome to this site, although it stinks that we need it.

Cymbalta can cause permanent liver damage (although my doc never mentioned this). Whether the other negative effects are short term or permanent, no one really knows yet. I have found no independent published research about other possible long term damage caused by Cymbalta.

The reason a possible lawsuit is being talked about is because many of us feel that Eli Lilly has not properly disclosed what it knows about the side effects and withdrawal symptoms of Cymbalta. In addition, some of us feel that Eli Lilly is "downplaying" the side effects and withdrawal symptoms it does know about. Eli Lilly (and most drug companies) have been guilty of these types of "cover-ups" in the past.

A lawsuit can accomplish two goals in this type of situation: 1) it forces a drug company to reveal what it knows about a drug, which helps educate doctors and patients about the drug; and 2) it can compensate people who have been injured by the drug (long term or short term).

I hope this answers your question.

[anton_chigurh]

Thanks A_V,

Liver function. That sucks. Yup, no one said a word to me about it. I really hope these brain zaps stop soon.

Brain zaps are in full force right now and I'm achy, quick to anger and just generally irritable. Real spacey too. Asked a friend to hang with me and my 2 year old all day. I just found myself getting frustrated and reactive with her. I was nice having another adult.

I also have a nasty head cold not part of withdrawals. I know this 'cause it started before i stopped the Cym. The cold makes this less fun.

[marcushowlin]

Appreciate the ideas and suggestions to relax with music. Cigars and red wine are very complimentary contemplative thoughts rather than mindless distraction of the tube. Can't see the benefit of emotions spent on lawsuits, been there done that life is what it is, I'll move on. can't blame a company's attempt to create that which we think will be of benefit. Not one to think of sinister profit motive but that's just me.. Must be a week now, listened better today when confronted with opposition to my ideas at work. Still talk to much. Trying to diferentiate energy pulses as normal anxiety as opposed to withdrawl, can't be sure some seem quite powerful. Concentration is better than what I feared especially in the areas outside my expertise. Sleep is impossible without the ambien but i don't think Cym is at fault for that. Waiting for the other shoe to drop so to speak. Doc refered to my dosage as a replacement of what my chemical makeup was depleted of, not something I might need forever, analogy of filling a pool up with a gardenhose and then seeing if reduced stress would allow normal regeneration to sustain a sufficient amount. Continue to ingest MT and omegaIII. Found peace in returning to scripture and I can't blame the perscription for turning away from that.

Listen quickly and speak slowly,

Marcus

[marg]

I just joined this forum today. i was on 60mg and just dropped to 30 mg on thursday. was having very weird dreams and sweating all night on 60 so i thought i would like to try a lower dose. woke up saturday with what i call the brain goosh feeling. today i thot i would read up on the withdrawal symptoms and found all of this. i went thru about 10 agonizing days stopping PAXIL and can only say that it freaks me out a bit that this is extremely similar. coming off paxil was one of the hardest things i've ever done. i took those days off work. right now i have no holidays left and am gonna have a heck of a time trying to appear that my head is not going to explode or fall down from the dizziness. THIS SUCKS and am going to work to wean of this stuff as soon as possible.

[marcushowlin]

I think is my 16th day without cym it has been at least that long. Really kind of chilled out.... I think. Still taking handfuls of omega III, milk thistle,
No zaps, a few muscle tremors, this week, minor queasy stomach in the morning. No headaches. No episodes of dry mouth like when I was taking, Taking a leak has a way to get back to normal, ( sorry about the coarse words but functions below the waist were less than satisfactory ... I think... Still have vivid dreams, not scary, hope they reamin. Eating better Drinking less. able to do some research and reading that was nice. Heart palpitation were non existent last week.
Doc is probably back from vacation but what's he gonna say at this point ? Let's try something else? I'll ask if anyone esle want's to know but personally I'd rather wait and observe his expression in person. I still need ambien to sleep.
Perhaps I am one of the fortunate that experiences minor withdrawal. I have only taken the Cym since Feb, started with free samples for two weeks 30 for a month and 60 since then, except for the 12 days without around April. I can't be sure because I don't know what tomorrow might hold I can only hope for myself as I do for everyone that tomorrow shows improvement and the day after gets better.
The postings here by those much more well informed than I, have been generous in their encouragement and I appreciate their time and efforts as I hope everyone else does.

Marcus

[Angela of Green]

This is my 14th day without Cymbalta. I'm feeling better, the first week was emotional HELL, but I was also PMSing :x My poor husband and son! I've actually been taking Ultram (tramadol) for lower back, shoulder and hip pain. I have a Doctor's appointment on the 25th to find out if they pain is from a recent minor car accident, or if it's actually Cymbalta withdrawal. I'll keep you all up to date.

Anyone else have big time joint and back pain after stopping? :cry:

[marcushowlin]

Had a brand new, full perscription on hold for the last 7 weeks. Passed it off to a friend two weeks ago. Waiting wondering for the extreme withdrawl but nothing extroidinary or that I could expound on. My hope is that eveyone could get off of it so easily. Done with it

Best wishes to all who are struggling. Appointment with a Doc two weeks from now won't take it or anything like it again. I'll choose the self medication of wine and song.

Thanks to all for the posts.

[Attorney_Victim]

Marcushowlin,
Great news! Glad your Cymbalta discontinuation experience wasn't too bad!! I am now 64 days off, thought I was completely done, but then a few very minor symptoms this week...so stay aware! Hopefully now, you can get back to your life! I'm glad you found support and info here when you needed it.

[marcushowlin]

You all are too kind. I have just been one of the lucky ones. Might not have noticed the impact on the mind but the impact to libido? Guess that says alot about one's concerns at my age. In the midst of this I was selling my business and getting my son married. Sorry for the inconsistancy of the posts thought there would be more to tell. I do still need ambien for sleep but I guess that's a another story for another site.

Why is it prescriptions that make us feel awful and crazy have side effects of unknown consequence are worse than a bit of scottch? Everything in moderation

[DuneAlia]

Delete my account.