4 replies to this topic

[zbfp]

I've successfully weaned from 60mg/day to 20mg/day and am now withdrawal symptom free at that dose. I tried to quit from 20mg (smallest dose you can buy as we all know) and that was a disaster. I also tried to go to 20mg every other day, but that wasn't great. I'm now splitting 20mg capsules by pouring out half onto a creased sheet of paper and trying to drop them down my throat without chewing them at all (absolutely crazy crap we do to try and get off this insidious drug!) for the past few days and I feel fine, but what a hassle!

Has anybody been able to get a pharmacy compounding service to split 20mg into 10's or even 5's to taper off without having to go through the stupid (and from what I've just read dangerous) routine of hand splitting capsules every other day??

Has anybody had any symptom free withdrawal going from 20mg/day (or hand split 10mg/day) to 20mg every 2 or 3 days?

I might also try the prozac technique as well, that sounds like it might be the ticket.

[redhead]

Hi zbfp,

I'm currently on about 28mgs and started on 120mgs last Sept. I'm reducing by about 8 pellets every few days-when I feel ready to reduce a bit more I do. what I do is just open the capsules and count out the pellets you are reducing by and dump them and then take the remainder in the capsule. Hoping all goes well for you and me too in reducing down-find I am bit tired in the evening but suppose thats normal-4 months ago I had bad insomnia and was up till 2am in the morning and was wrecked getting up for work next morning. Taking Vit b complex and Omega 3 & 6 too so that seems to be helping-I eat a banana too each day as they are supposed to help with maintaining mood.......

Keep me posted with your withdrawal progress-WE WILL GET THERE......

Redhead 8-)

[redhead]

Hi Greybeard,

Thanks for your reply, well I burn the remaining pellets in the fire so hopefully it wont get affect anyone! :shock:

Down to 25mgs now but have some issues to deal with re my relationship so going to stay on that for a while longer and see how things go.... I'm proud of myself that I'm down from 120mgs to 25mgs and only started on it last Sept AND I'm alot stronger having had Depression and feel my personality is nearly back to what it was prior to Depression-which was caused by Rosacea from stressful work conditions etc in a new job, new city and prob missed my family, dog etc more than I thought......

Anyway I'll keep posting and reading the helpful posts here every week as it has been a fantastic site to visit and gets tips etc from all you guys

Redhead

[thomasK]

Ok, my situation is that I've been on cymbalta for about 2 years at 20mg per day. I also take the lowest does of adderall. I'm getting off of cymbalta but not adderall. My doctor suggested that I take cymbalta every other day for 2 weeks and see how i feel.

I've felt petty good but once I went 2 days without it and the w/d symptoms hit - primarily the dizziness. lightheadedness and the brain things. Since then, i've gone every other day and felt ok. Reading the posts here, it sounds that due to the short half life, if I keep going every other day, I'll stay on this roller coaster.

My plan starting this week was to take a dose every 3 days. And as of today, I have not taken it for 2 days and as before I am feeling the w/d symptoms. Again, referring to the short half life of cymbalta, it sounds like this is not a good plan b/c I'm still on the roller coaster.

so... looks like I have 4 choices:
- go back to cymbalta for everyday
- do the prozac swap-out. sounds good, esp b/c i can't remember any bad symptoms with weening off of prozac
- do the smaller doses in gel cap thing.
- stay off of it (may still be called "cold turkey" even though I went every other day for 2 weeks.

Do I have these correct? If so, I like the last one the best for the following reasons....

1. I have a very supportive wife who knows what is happening and will continue to support and watch out for me. A second set of eyes is so important.
2. I am going to the beach next week. being away from work and in the sun would help anyone. I am a little concerned about making it through work tomorrow and thursday, but I think I can do it. I'll just have to get extra sleep, practice my breathing (meditation), and eat well.
and hopefully by the weekend, the symptoms will be mostly behind me and start to get much better next week.

any thoughts? again do I have the info above correct and what do you think of the plan? thank you - thomas

[thomasK]

thanks greybeard. I appreciate the reply and support as well as the joke - yes, i did laugh. I really believe I'm blessed to have such a good supporting crew especially my wife. We were discussing my brain craziness and the flu like symptoms of nausea, GI blastedness (just made that up), and headache, and then out of no where I received a hot flash that has not gone away. We actually laughed for no apparent reason. but it helped and now I lay to go to bed. Try to sleep it out.

One more thing... you mentioned sleep issues. Is it mostly not being able to get good rest? I have not experienced too much of that so far but rest is very important for me, especially now. If I do encounter such issues, what would you recommend? Tylenol PM? Benedryl (spell?)?

Thank you.