15 replies to this topic

[DennyLee]

Hello folks I've searched all over Google I ran out of Cymbala and decided I'd cold Turkey the cr*p, why not I cold Turkey'd Valium after doing at least 100 mg a day for 12 years I went to hell and back I also met the Devil and all of his Friends too I didn't sleep for almost 2 years that's right not even one hour it made me a hell of a blues guitar player.
Thanks to Cymbalta I'm weighing in @ 280 lbs from 240 also thanks to Cymbalta I have a Horrible driving record because it made me miss court dates and so on I just let everything roll off my shoulder I lost all of my OCD hell OCD is what use to drive me I don't feel like exercising just want to lay around and do nothing I have to make my self work Cymbalta is Basically A Lobotomy in Pill Form.

Now I have decided to Cold Turkey this Chicken Sh*t drug! The way I see it when you cold Turkey something you Whip it's A*s.
I'm on my 6th day and I really noticed my Bi-Polar Temper is Back I was yelling at everybody today while driving my Road Rage was Peaking.A little hit off a Joint is what I needed not one a day Lobotomy.
I really can't wait to be drug free maybe I'll get in Shape and take SOME PRIDE IN MY bi-polar talented self.
Please listen to What I have to Say in this Next Statement People Perception is 99.9% of everything remember that.
I'm 58 and when I was 19 I had the greatest Therapist his Name was Larry Laws from Alexandria Louisiana.He Made me feel proud to be a Manic Depressive with OCD Tendency's There was no word back then known as BI- polar my favorite Guitar Player and Musician Jimi Hendrix was Bi-polar it is not a disease but a gift from God. it's like a Fast paced Wild Horse you have to learn how to tame the Animal inside and release it's Power in a Positive Way.

Remember Perception is everything.

OK now back to my Quarstion how long will this sh*t stay in my system? please send me a simple Factual Answer how long until this stuff gets out of my system? Thanks Denny Lee Nashville TN

[Heartfeathers]

oh dear.. I wish I could tell you exactly how long it will last, but I can't. I went cold turkey from 20mgs after weaning down from 90. It was HELL during every drop in dose. Then I would feel good for a day or two and then (wham! ) more days of horrible self talk, body pains, etc. Do not believe anything that you start thinking. This drug seems to do all kinds of bad things to try to get you to get back on it. It is pure evil. I am now 5 weeks drug free. The bad days are fewer and farther between and I can feel my spirit coming back. (hope that makes sense!) Please keep us posted on how you are doing.

[olikunvrhav]

sorry denny.. i too wish there was a time-line, but this is a mind altering drug {covertly} and its side effects apparently are "unknown" to the legal drug cartel that peddle this poison!
i do NOT recommend cold-turkey..its too brutal = the withdrawl. please continue to read/research here..tho some of the postings are dated there is still a lot of useful info. i have cut my dose in half..in one month, and i started out by doing my dose every 12 hrs. now that i am asleep more {again!} i am down to just one dose a day..this works for me and lessened the intensity of the withdraw symptoms. Because i am hibernating again. good thing is that i am eating less...well maybe that is the reason for our previous weight gain..for our eventual 'hibernation'.
i really appreciated yr posting and it actually made me smile..and i need that. thank you for sharing and don't give up..you are on the ride of yr life = the cymbalta hell-a-coaster!

[Brean]

Well I think you are strong, and you will be ok. I know how you feel tho. I had to stop taking cymbalta cold turkey due to loss of insurance. I don't know anyone who could afford this crap without it. I took it for fibromialgia, and depression. But honestly nothing works like a big fat doobie. But you know I have lived a long life,for my young age, of 34. I was addicted to meth for 5 years. I am lucky to still have my teeth. But I came off that cold turkey, with no re-hab, and no counseling. It was hell, and so is this, but I am WAY more emotional, and in WAY more pain comming off this crap.... So if you can kick something once you can do it agian. Good luck! Wish it for me too... I will never take another crazy ass drug you have to take every day, and when it stops working they up the dose. I don't trust these doctors.

[DennyLee]

Thanks Brean it's been 16 days and I'm feeling ok I'd say 10-14 days is how long cold turkey withdrawl is I think somebody should fire bomb the lily plant why not they fire bombed our brains.
I was in my doctors office the other day and the drug reps lookked like fly's on shit in the Hospital.
WE are sensitive people that all could have been cure through a little love and Compassion not these mind altering drugs we are fed through modern medicine/

[Lazydaizy]

Hope you're keeping well DennyLee. Your pain hasn't lessened your sense of humour. On day 9 here Cymbalta free and not good at the moment. My new Dr gave me Xanax for when it gets to rough, so I caved and took one this morning. Every day is a day closer to freedom.
My Dr reckons the majority of people are good after 2-3 weeks XXX Jesus, here's hoping...

[DennyLee]

Thanks and good luck I'll say a prayer for you.
I got some disturbing news tonight while on Vacation. My Land Lord wll not renew my lease it's going to be a major undetaking if I have to move again.His excuse was I wasn't keeping the Yard up well it's been too Hot for Yard Work until the rainy season started LAST WEEK.

My Mower Broke down right at the peek of the growth spurt I made arrsngements for a Mexican guy named Markos to cut my Yard on Monday And he pulled a no show.
I believe my Land Lord is More Bi/polar and moody than I am I hope he lightens up and changes his mind it's ruining my Vacstion.I'm unable to sleep right now because of the worry.
If I was still on the Cymbalta this would have just rolled over me and I wouldn't have been so upset.This is the first major trama I've dealt with since I stopprd taking the drug and I really have a deep dark feeling of despair right now.At least I still know U have emotion although this is a feeling I haven't felt in years.
God Bless everybody and say a prayer for us all I'm alive and well and I know things could be much worse. Denny

[DennyLee]

Hey it's 3 weeks now and my Temper has caused problems with my Kids they don't understand they think I'm a big Jerk I have apologized and even cried to them also my anxiety level is pretty High I haven't had a panic attack in 20 years.
I hate to get back on Nerve Medicine will the anger & Anxiety get better if somebody could answer this I would appreciate it. Thanks Denny

[Peridot]

Hey it's 3 weeks now and my Temper has caused problems with my Kids they don't understand they think I'm a big Jerk I have apologized and even cried to them also my anxiety level is pretty High I haven't had a panic attack in 20 years.
I hate to get back on Nerve Medicine will the anger & Anxiety get better if somebody could answer this I would appreciate it. Thanks Denny

Danny, how are you doing?

I'm a newbie here. From what I read the first few days I was hesitant to post at all. Folks here seem filled with anger, hatred and resentment at the Lily Company. They seem to blame Cymbalta for all their health problems. Gosh, you know, I wrote three articles and deleted them before I posted them because I thought no one here would want to hear what I had to say about this medication.

Cymbalta has helped me a lot. I have a dreadful temper. I fly off the handle, rant and rave, get pissed off in traffic and am generally unpleasant to be around when I'm off Cymbalta. I know this about myself because I'm self-aware. I don't enjoy my rages and I prefer the ability to walk away from situations that make me angry when I'm on my meds. Cymbalta also treats my physical pain issues and it helps my depression. These are good effects that come from the drug. Yippee for that. On the negative side, I have sexual side effects and not the good kind you read about in the news. The 3D Technicolour nightmares haven't been a pleasure, either. Because of those and another reason I won't share, I've completely gone off cold turkey.

Last year I reduced my dosages and my anger and temper resurfaced somewhat. I went from 120mg to 60mg. Now, I've been on this med for 5 years 6 months, and I know myself, so I knew what was coming. After a while my pain issues I returned to the full dosages and my temper mended and my kettle went from a boil down to a simmer. Yes, when one returns to the medication and the clinical levels are reestablished in one's bloodstream, it works the same again. That was my experience. Come to think, it wasn't a year ago, it was six months gone.

I hope this message finds you and that it's helpful to you or to someone else.

[helpplease]

SOOOOooo....When can i expect to get out of this h**lhole? I Don't Understand? The Medical Proffesion Pretends i dont exsist and neither does CYMBALTA? What The Hell Is Going On? I am So Sick and need Help! Any Advice Please Hurry with any help you can give me,,, Thank You Cindy

[deb55]

SOOOOooo....When can i expect to get out of this h**lhole? I Don't Understand? The Medical Proffesion Pretends i dont exsist and neither does CYMBALTA? What The Hell Is Going On? I am So Sick and need Help! Any Advice Please Hurry with any help you can give me,,, Thank You Cindy

 

Today is my 15th day of going cold turkey after 3 years on Cymbalta.  I am improving everyday, but I feel like I have been to hell and am finally crawling slowing back out....  From what I have read although the withdrawal symptoms are pretty similar, the severity varies from person to person.  Reach out to members on this forum we can talk each other through this.  You will get better, you will get through this.

[helpplease]

Thank You Deb55 I can't believe you answered. It Does Help Knowing you are Improving. That Will give me hope. Still learning Forum and all. You Guys are great and Thanks for Reaching out to me! Cindy

[2WheelHorse]

Dear Helpplease,

I was on a 120 mg daily dose for over two years.  After a few attempts to rapidly come off this medication - with horrible withdrawal symptoms - I read a tip on this site about a very gradual way to wean.  It was called bead counting and it worked very well for me.  I barely felt the impacts that are so often written aout here.  First, get yourself stabilized by getting back on your normal dose for a few days or a week.  Whatever it takes.  Then simply open the capsule each day and remove 5-7 beads.  (5 on day one, 10 on day 2, 15 on day 3, etc).  My 60 mg caps had 200 beads each.  Someone on a 60 mg daily dose can be free from this medication in just 45 days without the pain and tourture of rapid withdrawal or cold turkey.  You may still have a few moody days, a bit of temper, but nothing more harsh than that.  If you start to feel bad, just stay at currrent level or go back up slightly until stable again. Then continue down again at 5 beads per day. I checked this method with my pharmacist of 20 years and was told it is safe, as long as the beads get to your stomach whole.  I did it this way 15 months ago and never looked back.  The only reason I could think of for rapid withdrawal or cold turkey is the unfortunate situation where people can no longer afford this medication.  Even then most doctors would probably give samples to wean with.  I wish you the best. 

[deb55]

We are here for you Cindy

[deb55]

Hope today finds our newer members well and getting stronger.   Yesterday marked week four of being Cymbalta free   The withdrawal symtoms have lessen and I am truly gettng better with each passing day.  I still have set back days where my emotions range in severity, but I also feel a sense of peace - true peace not the drug induced numbness.  I still tire very easily but have upped my daily B12 dosage to offset.

 

I hope that those who are new to the forum or someone who ends up on this forum while google for some explanations or relief can benefit from the stories of Cymbalta survivors who have bared their souls here.  I completely understand how dark and scary withdrawal is, but I also stand to prove that things do get better.

[ladyq14]

Dear Helpplease,

I was on a 120 mg daily dose for over two years.  After a few attempts to rapidly come off this medication - with horrible withdrawal symptoms - I read a tip on this site about a very gradual way to wean.  It was called bead counting and it worked very well for me.  I barely felt the impacts that are so often written aout here.  First, get yourself stabilized by getting back on your normal dose for a few days or a week.  Whatever it takes.  Then simply open the capsule each day and remove 5-7 beads.  (5 on day one, 10 on day 2, 15 on day 3, etc).  My 60 mg caps had 200 beads each.  Someone on a 60 mg daily dose can be free from this medication in just 45 days without the pain and tourture of rapid withdrawal or cold turkey.  You may still have a few moody days, a bit of temper, but nothing more harsh than that.  If you start to feel bad, just stay at currrent level or go back up slightly until stable again. Then continue down again at 5 beads per day. I checked this method with my pharmacist of 20 years and was told it is safe, as long as the beads get to your stomach whole.  I did it this way 15 months ago and never looked back.  The only reason I could think of for rapid withdrawal or cold turkey is the unfortunate situation where people can no longer afford this medication.  Even then most doctors would probably give samples to wean with.  I wish you the best. 

2WheelHorse

 

So how did you use the bead system for 120 mg per day.  Is it the same way? Do you take 5-7 beads from each 60 mg capsule?  I currently am taking 120mg per day and want to withdraw safely but want to be certain how bead system works.

Thanks