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My Weaning Diary...


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#1 autimom4ever

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Posted 08 August 2012 - 06:55 AM

Day one:

I am using the only "researched" method of weaning off this terrible drug: PROZAC

I am up to 40 mg of Prozac. I weaned up over the last 3 weeks.
Taking Cymbalta AND Prozac, I have noticed a pretty constant headache.

Today is day one of the "wean down" process with Cymbalta.

Today I am weaning down from 60 mg of cymbalta to 30 mg.

I am doing all this on the direction of my psychiatrist (who also dislikes cymbalta and it's family members)...

Remembering the horrible withdraw symptoms (see my previous posts) from previous times of trying to wean, I am terrified.

Wish me luck...

I will keep you all updated each day

#2 Moin

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Posted 08 August 2012 - 07:12 AM

All the best for your effort.. I am also starting my weaning off from today. I don't want to use any other medicines for that, just cutting down on the dosage amount ..

#3 autimom4ever

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Posted 10 August 2012 - 07:23 PM

Day 2 of: Down from 60 to 30 mg daily of cymbalta
Taking 40 mg prozac to try to help with the withdraw

Definately not as bad as just trying to wean down with nothing else to help.

The irritability is there. It comes in waves.
I'm having some nausea.

Other then that, so far.. ok... I'm dreading when I'm on 0 cymbalta... but that's not for a while..
Gonna take this slow ..

How is everyone else?

#4 autimom4ever

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Posted 11 August 2012 - 08:15 AM

Day 3:

I remember this happening before when I weaned without prozac.... the first 2 days weren't horrible but once I hit day 3, it hit... All the bad symptoms.

I am very irritable.
My thought processes aren't like typical
I'm shaky

And to compound all this, I am ANGRY that we have to go through this to come off an FDA APPROVED DRUG!!!

#5 mick

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Posted 11 August 2012 - 11:37 AM

Stick with it, keep posting. Thank you for writing. I went from 60 to 30 and am stuck there for now. It's been about 2 months of slow reduction in milligrams. I think if I went straight from 60 to 30 I would have had a more difficult time. Pouring out a few beads and increasing the disposed amount each day was a good way to go for me.

#6 autimom4ever

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Posted 11 August 2012 - 03:26 PM

Stick with it, keep posting. Thank you for writing. I went from 60 to 30 and am stuck there for now. It's been about 2 months of slow reduction in milligrams. I think if I went straight from 60 to 30 I would have had a more difficult time. Pouring out a few beads and increasing the disposed amount each day was a good way to go for me.



From bad to worse.... all in the same day....

You are so right mick.... This day 3 is like a hallmark no matter how you try to wean.

Today started this am with irritability and shakiness...

Now I've been crying on and off all day...

Little things seem HUGE!!!! I can't stop crying.

I probably should have done what you did, but I was following "doctors" instructions...

I really can't stand cymbalta....Eli Lilly...... FDA...... They all make me sick

How the He#$*( are we supposed to function in our everyday lives like this?

#7 becki

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Posted 11 August 2012 - 10:36 PM

autimom4ever....hang in there. You can do it.
I"ve been slowly weaning for maybe 4 months, and took my last dose two days ago.
I'm miserable. Going through hell.
But we are going to do this. It will get better.
It has to right??
Right???

#8 Moin

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Posted 12 August 2012 - 01:57 PM

two weeks back I was taking 30 mg per two days in which second day was always horrible... I didn't know that Cymbalta had half life of 12 hours, therefore increasing gaps between dosages wouldn't help... I kept taking 30 mg per two days for almost a year... just 2 weeks back I reduced that amount to 20 mg per two days without any major problem. .in one week I changed to 10 mg per day...i took it for four days and when I found no adverse effect then reduced the amount to 5 mg per day from yesterday and today I felt a little light headed, got some brain zaps, felt some irritation.. but overall it is better than I expected..

Last year not knowing about the withdrawal effect at all, I tried cold turkey and got so sick that I got bed ridden.. I came on cymbalta again.. almost 4 months back I tried to increase the gap (as prescribed by my doctor) it was hell.. when the gap reached 5 days... anxiety hit me so hard that I had to go to Cardio ER... stayed there for a day and got prescribed medicines for hypertension..

almost a week back I tried orange bit, just to found out it will overdose you... it is better if you reduce on the number of beads in the capsule and take the capsule...

I

#9 autimom4ever

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Posted 12 August 2012 - 06:26 PM

Day 4

It was much better today then yesterday.
A had some dizziness, nausea and irritablity, but nothing like yesterday.
No crying spells today.

I hope tomorrow will be the same (or better).

#10 Lor

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Posted 13 August 2012 - 09:26 PM

Hi, I am new here. I have FMS, 8 years now. I have been on Celexa and Tramadoyl for 7 years now. My NP left and I had to get a new doctor. He took me off those two Rx's and put me on Cymbalta 30mgs for 2 weeks, then to 60mgs and took them for 3 days. That drug changed my life for the worse.I could not function and was out of work. I stopped taking them after 2 days and went back to the doctor with cold sweats, zapping feeling, nausea and so lethargic. He placed me back on 30mgs, which has been 4 days. I still feel like crap and want off of it. I figured I went thru withdrawal from the other meds and since I have only been on Cymbalta for a few weeks, I can take half of it every other day for 3 doses. Thoughts? thank you!

#11 autimom4ever

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Posted 14 August 2012 - 03:24 PM

Days 5-6:

I think my biggest symptom right now is nausea and lightheadedness.
It's when I turn my head that it hits me the most.

I am continuing on 30 mg Cymbalta (down from 60 mg) and 40 mg prozac until at least my next appt (and last appt because she is
leaving) with my psych. doc.

I wonder if I will ever get off this sh#()

#12 mick

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Posted 14 August 2012 - 11:58 PM

Days 5-6:

I think my biggest symptom right now is nausea and lightheadedness.
It's when I turn my head that it hits me the most.

I am continuing on 30 mg Cymbalta (down from 60 mg) and 40 mg prozac until at least my next appt (and last appt because she is
leaving) with my psych. doc.

I wonder if I will ever get off this sh#()


No electric shock feelings or "brain zaps" I hope? This is one of the more difficult things for me when I decrease dosage....You sound like you are doing well!!

#13 autimom4ever

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Posted 15 August 2012 - 04:12 PM

Day 7:

Still "swimmy" headed... It's really bad when I turn my head.
I also feel like someone is squeezing my head.
Went to exercise today, which helped.

#14 becki

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Posted 15 August 2012 - 06:55 PM

Day 7:

Still "swimmy" headed... It's really bad when I turn my head.
I also feel like someone is squeezing my head.
Went to exercise today, which helped.

autimom, that's exactly what I have "swimmy headed", it's driving me crazy, can't turn my head, or move my eyeballs. I think it's starting to make me nausous. I"m on day 6 of NO cymbalta. Are you still holding at 30? I wish someone could tell me how long this would last.
Keep going, you can do this.

#15 autimom4ever

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Posted 17 August 2012 - 06:11 PM

Days 8-9:

Some crying spells... but I'm close to my monthly anyways (and I cry alot during that time), so I don't know if it
is the withdraw or PMS that is causing it.

Lots of nausea.....

Nothing else to report right now.... Except I think I'm gaining more weight :( :(

#16 autimom4ever

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Posted 18 August 2012 - 07:23 AM

Day 10:

I feel like this morning may be the worst morning of all days so far...
This symptom is probably MORE scary then all the other combined.

The one I woke up with is DREAD!!!

This horrible feeling.

I looked it up in the dictionary: to fear greatly; be in extreme apprehension of

Feeling the dread when i wake up, I feel a sense of apprehension/fear from life itself.
I call the most scary because this feeling (which I had all the other times I tried to stop) tends to sway me from my every day "stuff".
It gives me a feeling of (why) am I living?

No, I'm not suicical whatsoever... BUT it is SUCH a POWERFUL and SCARY FEELING!!!

Anyone else felt this?

#17 autimom4ever

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Posted 21 August 2012 - 04:17 PM

Days 11-13:

Some instances of rage brewing. I'm trying to control that
Nausea definately there.

I'm soon to go down a little more on the Cymbalta...

Scared!!!!

#18 autimom4ever

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Posted 24 August 2012 - 05:19 PM

Days 11-13:

Some instances of rage brewing. I'm trying to control that
Nausea definately there.

I'm soon to go down a little more on the Cymbalta...

Scared!!!!


Days 14-17:

Some irritability. Lots of nausea

Counted 20 beads out of my 30 mg capsule and doing that until I see the psych doc next week

#19 autimom4ever

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Posted 28 August 2012 - 03:58 PM

DAY 18-22


Started counting beads on day 18
Took 20 beads out of a 30 mg capsule

First day was extremely hard - crying spells, irritability, rage, dizziness, nausea
Had to take a phenergan (12.5 mg)

Days 19 - 22 the only symptoms I have had was EXTREME nausea..

Seeing my psych doc (the one who is quitting) in 2 days to see what is next.

#20 autimom4ever

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Posted 05 September 2012 - 09:21 AM

Days 23-31 (sorry for such a space in between... you know.. the thing called life/work gets in the way..lol):

Saw the psych doc... She is the one who is "leaving" the practice.. but come to find out she is going out on her own... thank goodness

She prescribed me the 20 mg dosage which I will be starting this Friday.
I try to go down on the weekends because it seems as though the roughest part of going down is the first 2-3 days.
I don't want to be working and get sudden rage, irritability, crying boughts, nausea, etc...

Those (above) are the typical symptoms I have when I go down in dosage.

As of this week I take appox 25 beads out of a 30 mg capsule.

It is so sad that we have to go through this just to stop a medication.... :(

I'd like to see if any of Elly Lilly's family members take this SH*()#

#21 becki

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Posted 05 September 2012 - 09:27 AM

autimom, you're doing great! I lowered my dose on the weekends too. They were awful, but it made the weeks manageable.
I"m now almost a month completely OFF!! There is light at the end of the tunnel, I promise! Hang in there, you can do it!

#22 autimom4ever

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Posted 16 September 2012 - 05:45 PM

I'm now at day 38:

Still taking the prozac - 40 mg
opening 20 mg cymbaltas for the beads now.

I counted (but I might have missed some) 175 beads in a 20 mg capsule.

I'm down to 100 beads.... Around 14 mg

I'm having a pretty hard time..... I feel like I'm in space.. Foggy headed, jittery, irritable

I'm researching some inpatient facilities, that is if my insurance will cover it...

I hope all are doing well....



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