5 replies to this topic

[tamatola]

Well, hello folks. I'm new here. I am wondering if anyone can give me an idea of how long it takes to get thru this hellacious process of getting Cymbalta out of your system. I was on Paxil for 10 years with great success. I felt fine; but stupid me; I decided to ask the Dr. to try one of the newer medications because I thought they might not cause the weight gain. Well, he prescribed Cymbalta and I just don't like it. I've only been on it for three weeks. If I take it at night, I don't sleep well. If I take it in the morning, I feel like a tired zombie all day. So, I just decided to wean off of it altogether and see how it goes.

My problem was generalized anxiety with panic attacks and some obsessive thoughts. But I'm thinking that after 10 years, maybe I can handle those things without medication. If I have to take a Zanax every now and then, so be it. I know that my God is bigger than any panic attack I could ever have.

This was day one; I felt sluggish and had that funky head thing going on that everyone else has. But I didn't feel disoriented or anything. I hope that every day gets a little better. I was planning to do 60 mg one day and 30 the next for a while, but my Dr. said to just go straight to the 30 mg., then 30 every other night, then every 2 nights, etc. So it may take a month to finally be free.

Would love to hear from anyone else so we can support each other during this journey. I'm sure there is some Paxil left in my system somewhere so I may deal with a double whammy.

[tamatola]

Talked to my doctor this afternoon and he says not to do the every other night thingy either. I guess I misunderstood. He said to go straight to 30 for a few weeks and then try stopping. I am glad you told me about the 20 mg. pill just in case I need to go lower and lower.

Thanks for the advice, Greybeard. Yes, I know I can be free of this drug and I WILL DO IT! I want to see if I even have the problems I used to have. I mean, after 10 years, my chemicals may be all leveled out. And, if not, I'll just deal with them!

[paulett]

Tamatola, I decided to get off of Cymbalta Sept 6 this year. I was on 60 mg for 5 or more years. It was affecting weight, sleep, libido, and I believe it affected my memory. I have been on antidepressants for 12 years since the death of two of my young grandsons. I have been on paxil, prozac, lexapro, zoloft, celexa and of course Cymbalta.

I had the most side effects going from 60 mg to 30. I did that for a week before I finally got a perscription for 40 mg prozac. It stopped all the withdrawal affects for me almost immediately. I stayed on that for a week and then went down to a 20 mg. Prozac has been around the longest and has basically no withdrawal affects.

OK here it is Sept 22 and I feel so much better. I don't feel like a zombie any more. Slowly functions are returning, like I took a nap during the day with my little granddaughter the other day. I can't tell you how great that felt. Cymbalta really interferred with my sleep. I still am taking Ambien 10 mg (not the cr) but I like the sleep i get on it. Maybe someday soon I can eliminate that medication too. I have not lost any weight yet but that really was put on by paxil, another harsh antidepressant.

Don't get me wrong, I was a perfect candidate for paxil 12 years ago and sure was not worried about my weight, I was worrying about surviving. Cymbalta was good for me the first two years but I am so glad to be off of it and hope I never have to go on anything that strong again. I was more worried about withdrawal because every time I tried to get off of it in the past year, just two days off and I was a total mess.

It has helped me to go to this site and express my feelings and now to give hope to people such as yourself. Doctors don't know about the side effects of this drug because most of them would never be on an antidepressant. I just told mine what was said on this site and I got a 7 day presciption for Prozac and that was truly the best thing I had done. My doctors listens to me though because I have been on all of them and he knows how serious I am about becoming prescription free soon.

My faith got me through this too. The worse days of withdrawal I spent a lot of time in the pool and walking and praying. All those things helped but prayer most of all.

Good luck. I am here if you want to talk about any of this.

I really suspect that there will be a class action suite against cymbalta before long because this drug company is pushing it to everyone in every type of media ad doctor possible. I have a registered nurse daughter, another one is school for nursing and two neices that work for physicians. They get free food and dinners out all the time, I mean almost daily, that the drug companies are picking up the tab. Makes the doctors and nurses push it even more sometimes.

You can do this.

[perrypool]

Welcome Tamatola... I applaud your decision to be drug free! That's exactly the mission I'm on right now. I have been slowly weaning off Cymbalta. I went from 60mg to 30mg,now I'm at 15mgs and soon will be cutting that to 0mgs. I had a whole prescription of 60mgs so I bought empty gel capsules and divided the pills... that way I had no waste. It's been kind of a long process but I feel it's well worth it. I post a column here everyday about my journey if you are interested. Good luck and keep that positive attitude you have and you will do great!

Perry

[tamatola]

Well, I took my first 30 mg last night; tapering down from 60. Dr. said to take 30 for 3 weeks and then quit, but I plan to take 30 for 3 weeks and then cut the dosage down half again before stopping.

This morning I don't feel any effects, except maybe a little nervous. I'm gonna try to use that nervous energy to do some much-needed housework.

Since I was only on the 60 mg. for about 2 weeks, I'm hoping my withdrawal won't be as bad as what I've heard others describe.

I plan to post every now and then during this process and welcome any replies. I've tried to email a few of you, but it says I am unable to do so. Paulett, if you read this, I hope you are doing well. I agree totally with you that prayer is most helpful. And I remember before going on medicine, I was so much closer to the Lord. When I was actually having to face things and deal with panic attacks, I would call out to Him. Seems like once I was on meds that closeness waned a little bit; still very much in love with Him, just maybe not as desperately clinging to Him. Don't know if that makes sense or not.

Oh well, I thank God that I am able to get up and get going. So many people (my brother included) have serious mental issues that prevent them from living a normal life. God has been good to me.

Tam

[MDAV1632]

I have been off cymbalta for 11 days and my widthdrawral symtoms have lessened tremendously. I was on 60mg for about 5 months. Tried to quit cold turkey. Ouch! Big mistake. Weened down to 30 mg and then about 15 for 2 months, then quit. Horrible symtons for about 5 days, then they slowly subsided. Now I still get an occassional headache or a "spin", and some throbing in my hands, but nothing like before.

I have to say I've never experienced anything like this drug. I've never experienced physical addiction before. It absolutely saved me when I needed it, but I am very glad to be off. It made me spacy and forgetful, killed my sex life, and made me tired.
I found that keeping very physically occupied while widthdrawing worked better than anything else. I was scrubbing everything in sight.

I had to make some major changes in my life to be able to come off the drug in the first place. I went after the root cause of my stress (job) and made the changes needed to have a shot at being happy. Life is short and precious. I don't want to spend it on cymbalta. I still take Lunesta to sleep and hope to get off that next.

Thanks to everyone who post. This info helped me and I want to return the favor. Good luck to everyone!