Hello,
I am new here in regards to posting, but I have been browsing for awhile. I just thought I would share my story and see if anyone else could relate.
Around the first of April, I decided I would quit Cymbalta. My doctor prescribed another drug to take over for the Cymbalta, I have been on 60 mg for about 2 years. My dr. Told me others had been successful in switching directly over to this medication, however I guess I wasn't one of the lucky ones. After about 4 days without the Cymbalta, I was experiencing about every side effect mentioned on this board. I am a little hard headed, so I then decided that if not having the stuff is making me feel that bad, why would I want anything like that in my body?
I told my dr. that I wanted to stop all medication and just see how things went. I wish I had not been clueless and can't believe he would of thought this was a good idea. Anyway, as I sit here, I have been off all medication since the beginning of April and still am not feeling well. I have had glimpses of feeling good only to be squashed by feeling horrible again.
Here is the main symptoms that I have that I have not read too much about:
Have this weird head, eye, ear pressure
Ears ringing constantly
Glands swelling under my jaw
It's almost like I can feel these symptoms coming on. It's like someone is pumping poison into my brain. I have yet to find anything that alleviates any of this and am wondering how long this is going to last?
Pure Poison
Started by BLT, Apr 29 2012 07:53 PM
2 replies to this topic
#2
happyzapynot
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Good Friend
Posted 30 April 2012 - 10:40 AM
Sorry to hear that you are suffering. Hang on because the worst may very well be over.
I'm guessing that the other med your doc put you on probably helped with the symptoms. However, if you can tolerate a few more days you are probably over the worst. [I have a high school diploma so what I'm saying here is just my own opinion.] I'm guessing that the other med, while helping with the symptoms, may have delayed your body and brain in clearing out the $mybalta.
Are you able to sleep? Sleep is a wonderful 'cure.'
Swollen glands, pressure and ringing in the ears were part of my withdrawal symptoms. About 5 weeks after my last full dose it finally stopped. I thought it was allergies because we had an early spring but I don't HAVE allergies! The swollen glands are probably due to the weakening of your immune system that the junk causes. Try taking whatever vitamin, mineral and herbal supplements that appeal to you. MILK THISTLE helps the liver clear out toxins. I've been on it since the second week of withdrawal.
Have you considered any supplements that help with depression, such as 5HTP or SAMe? You may benefit from trying something to boost your resistance and help your mood. The best wesite for learning about what is available is NATIVE REMEDIES. They have herba and homeopathic remedies. IMO homeopathic remedies are useless. However, most prescription medicines are based on PLANTS so herbal remedies ARE effective, "real" medicine.
Hang on. IMO the worst is over.
I'm guessing that the other med your doc put you on probably helped with the symptoms. However, if you can tolerate a few more days you are probably over the worst. [I have a high school diploma so what I'm saying here is just my own opinion.] I'm guessing that the other med, while helping with the symptoms, may have delayed your body and brain in clearing out the $mybalta.
Are you able to sleep? Sleep is a wonderful 'cure.'
Swollen glands, pressure and ringing in the ears were part of my withdrawal symptoms. About 5 weeks after my last full dose it finally stopped. I thought it was allergies because we had an early spring but I don't HAVE allergies! The swollen glands are probably due to the weakening of your immune system that the junk causes. Try taking whatever vitamin, mineral and herbal supplements that appeal to you. MILK THISTLE helps the liver clear out toxins. I've been on it since the second week of withdrawal.
Have you considered any supplements that help with depression, such as 5HTP or SAMe? You may benefit from trying something to boost your resistance and help your mood. The best wesite for learning about what is available is NATIVE REMEDIES. They have herba and homeopathic remedies. IMO homeopathic remedies are useless. However, most prescription medicines are based on PLANTS so herbal remedies ARE effective, "real" medicine.
Hang on. IMO the worst is over.
#3
Deya
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Newbie
Posted 01 May 2012 - 01:43 PM
OMG -- I'm so glad that I found this site! I have been on 60 mg of Cymbalta for several years now. It was originally prescribed for depression and migrain headaches and worked well in the beginning. My doctor at the time never mentioned any of the strange side effects - never mind the horrible withdrawal symptoms.
During the years I've used Cymbalta, I've had some very strange occurrances which I never associated with the drug until now. I did always notice that if I missed a dose, by just a few hours, I would experience extreme dizziness and headaches. I also had CRAZY dreams - most were what I'd call nightmares and they would often wake me and my husband with me screaming or crying.
During this time I started having some other, more serious problems happen. My blood pressure (which had always been great) spiked to very high numbers (as much as 180/140!!!). I was also having severe sweating, racing heartbeats, nausea, flushing, very lightheadedness, tingling in my hands arms and even face, no energy at all! I found myself not able to function. I am in my late forties and thought maybe some of it was hormonal.
I went to see the same doctor who had prescribed the Cmybalta. He checked my blood pressure and immediately sent me for an EKG and blood tests. Over the course of the next few months I went through a battery of tests included a nuclear stress test and tons of blood work. All the tests came back as normal. I was switched from one blood pressure medication to another with more and more scary symptoms. I had two episodes of a blood vessel rupturing in my throat during my sleep which woke me choking. These I know now were caused by my extremely high blood pressure --- could easily have been a brain bleed instead. During all this my doctor stayed very calm, never mentioned the possibility that Cymbalta could be a problem. He only wanted me to try and lose weight (the 30 pounds that I gained since Cymbalta) and also control my stress! Hard to do when you're one minute away from a stroke!
Eventually, we found a medication which controlled the blood pressure and I just continued to try a be as healthy as possible. Exercise has been almost impossible due to the shortness of breath, lightheadedness, and just my general fatique.
I moved to a new state this year and things have been going well. I decided to wean myself off the Cymbalta - mainly because I felt good mentally and to save money. WOW..... what has happened has been a real nightmare. I had been on several other anti - depressants over the years and NEVER had anything even close to this craziness.
Over the last 10 days, I tried to go to one pill every other day. Boy, was that a mistake. After reading these stories, I know that will never work. I'm not sure how to proceed from here. I tried to go a few days without it over the weekend and on the third day I couldn't take it anymore. I've had extreme brain zaps and vertigo. My head has felt like it would lift off my body, I've had bouts of rage and crying, lots of sleep during the day, nausea, stomach cramps, chills and feverish, and the craziest thing is suicidal thoughts. Interestingly enough, I also suspended my blood pressure medication, sort of as a test, and checked it often. It was not as low as it had been before Cymbalta but better that it had been on Cymbalta - I only read, for the first time Saturday, that some other people have had a cardiac problem with this medicine. It all seems unbelievable that no one is told of these risks! How does anyone get off this legal crack? I have to think that Eli Lilly knows about this huge problem......
I will be attempting to get off again soon but I'm dreading it. My biggest fear is that things will never be normal again. I'm afraid of permanent brain problems and also heart problems. This drug manufacturer needs to be stopped!!!!!
Thanks for posting all your stories - it's so helpful to know that I'm not the only one in this mess!
During the years I've used Cymbalta, I've had some very strange occurrances which I never associated with the drug until now. I did always notice that if I missed a dose, by just a few hours, I would experience extreme dizziness and headaches. I also had CRAZY dreams - most were what I'd call nightmares and they would often wake me and my husband with me screaming or crying.
During this time I started having some other, more serious problems happen. My blood pressure (which had always been great) spiked to very high numbers (as much as 180/140!!!). I was also having severe sweating, racing heartbeats, nausea, flushing, very lightheadedness, tingling in my hands arms and even face, no energy at all! I found myself not able to function. I am in my late forties and thought maybe some of it was hormonal.
I went to see the same doctor who had prescribed the Cmybalta. He checked my blood pressure and immediately sent me for an EKG and blood tests. Over the course of the next few months I went through a battery of tests included a nuclear stress test and tons of blood work. All the tests came back as normal. I was switched from one blood pressure medication to another with more and more scary symptoms. I had two episodes of a blood vessel rupturing in my throat during my sleep which woke me choking. These I know now were caused by my extremely high blood pressure --- could easily have been a brain bleed instead. During all this my doctor stayed very calm, never mentioned the possibility that Cymbalta could be a problem. He only wanted me to try and lose weight (the 30 pounds that I gained since Cymbalta) and also control my stress! Hard to do when you're one minute away from a stroke!
Eventually, we found a medication which controlled the blood pressure and I just continued to try a be as healthy as possible. Exercise has been almost impossible due to the shortness of breath, lightheadedness, and just my general fatique.
I moved to a new state this year and things have been going well. I decided to wean myself off the Cymbalta - mainly because I felt good mentally and to save money. WOW..... what has happened has been a real nightmare. I had been on several other anti - depressants over the years and NEVER had anything even close to this craziness.
Over the last 10 days, I tried to go to one pill every other day. Boy, was that a mistake. After reading these stories, I know that will never work. I'm not sure how to proceed from here. I tried to go a few days without it over the weekend and on the third day I couldn't take it anymore. I've had extreme brain zaps and vertigo. My head has felt like it would lift off my body, I've had bouts of rage and crying, lots of sleep during the day, nausea, stomach cramps, chills and feverish, and the craziest thing is suicidal thoughts. Interestingly enough, I also suspended my blood pressure medication, sort of as a test, and checked it often. It was not as low as it had been before Cymbalta but better that it had been on Cymbalta - I only read, for the first time Saturday, that some other people have had a cardiac problem with this medicine. It all seems unbelievable that no one is told of these risks! How does anyone get off this legal crack? I have to think that Eli Lilly knows about this huge problem......
I will be attempting to get off again soon but I'm dreading it. My biggest fear is that things will never be normal again. I'm afraid of permanent brain problems and also heart problems. This drug manufacturer needs to be stopped!!!!!
Thanks for posting all your stories - it's so helpful to know that I'm not the only one in this mess!
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