2 replies to this topic

[Camzilla]

Hi all,

I have been struggling with getting off this drug for months...and I thought it was just me. I thought I was crazy until I ran into this forum and site. I've been relatively healthy, but have struggled with depression most my life. I started taking Cymbalta nearly a year ago. At first, I felt great, but did suffer from the side effect of feeling tired and sleepy all the time. (I was at 60mg/day) I since have tapered it to 30mg a day and noticed how much more productive I was! However, since reading all of the symptoms listed here, it is all coming together for me. These are things I've experienced in the last year since I've taken Cymbalta:
1) Crackling shoulder bones
2) Neck cramps and stiffness
3) Shoulder muscle stiffness
4) Hospitalization from an ulcerated portion (10cm!) in my large intestine which bled profusely. The only time I've been in the hospital was for child birth!

Now, that was all during taking this drug...these things I chalked up to other causes. Food poisoning, getting older (although I am only 35), and stress. I have been trying to quit taking this anti-depressant for months now. Each time I taper down and take the drug every other day or every two days, the symtoms are so severe, I end up going back on. I experience strange vision problems. I turn my head and my mind registers it seconds later. I can't find the words I need to express myself. I feel dizzy, mean, and am highly irritable. I also have been having the worst, vivid dreams. It is a terrible feeling not being in control of your emotions and your body! I wanted to quit cold turkey, but it is so uncomfortable. I am a single mother of two children and I have to be able to function. I have read that people take a multi-vitamin, omega 3 fish oil, and adavan. I think I will try this route. Has anyone had success with this? Also, does anyone have suggestions on successfully tapering off this drug?

I am so happy I found like minds and people who are experiencing the same thing as me. I thought it was just me...and now I see how nasty this drug can be. Thanks for any help and suggestions!

[Camzilla]

Oh, and the last symptom I've had is weight gain. Each time I am at the doctor, I have gained 2-3 more pounds. This is unlike me since I am a petite person. I started out weighing about 118, and now I weight 130. I had no idea this was a consistent side effect for everyone. I thought I was just in my mid-30's and that that's what happens....

[SuinTX]

I've been reading these cymbalta withdawal sites for several months now as I contemplated getting off my 60mg dose. I started off on lexapro three years ago and then changed to Cymbalta 60mg for the last 2 years. I was suffering from a situational depression which over the last few years has resolved. So I was really looking to get off the cymbalta. Side effects while on the Cymbalta included, slight memory loss or disorientation at times, also a loss for words.... 30 pound weight gain, complete absence of sex drive, daytime sleepiness regardless of time of day I'd take it and sweating! oh my gosh, the sweating, out of all of it, the sweating seemed to be the worst.

I will say though that the Cymbalta did treat my depression very effectively and I really needed it at the time. But when wanting to get off of it I became very frightened because of all the things I heard and read about withdrawal. Especially these 'brain shocks' which I can a tell you I have not had one of. Every web site was continuous doom and gloom and made me think that I was going to have to stay on this stuff the rest of my life. Conveniently my prescription ran out over a weekend and I couldn't get it refilled, so I just took that to be a sign to go for it.

Yes... I did go cold turkey, I was so ready to get of it that I didn't want to wean and wean and wean, plus was afraid that if I were to wean and get side effects I'd be more likely to go back up on the dose and then just stay on it indefinitely. I was really ready to get off. So I'm here to tell you my experience and give you some hope. I 've been off for nearly two weeks now and am surviving with good news which was something I could not find when I was searching. Of course it will be different for us all but here is my experience. And remember, attitude is everything and I went into this believing that this was going to be a 'good thing' and worth it despite the challenge. don't be afraid of everything you read, have a positive attitude and don't wait to get side effects that you've read about. You may or may not get them. Don't EXPECT to get them...or you may 'create' them.

Okay, here goes my experience:

The first couple of days were nothing bad except for a bad headache that was easily treated with motrin or tylenol. Then the cloudy, fuzzy head set in late on the second day. It felt like I was on a lot of cold medication and I started noticing that when I'd turn my head from side to side I would get dizzy and my eyes were not keeping up with my body movements. My head felt like it weighed 50 pounds and I felt as if all my senses were muffled. I started to get scared thinking these symptoms were going to be the beginning of all those horrible things I was reading about. I nearly got my RX refilled out of fear, but didn't. Also, I wasn't sleepy but yet I felt that I could not get up off the couch or out of my favorite chair. I just felt like a puddle. BUT.... I also noticed that if I would get up and do something, it made me feel better. I'm not much for exercise especially since I've gained so much weight. But what I noticed was just a little moving around really seemed to help. I work part time and I really felt good on the days that I was at work. Maybe it was just because of all the distraction. I'm a nurse so when I'm taking care of others... I didn't have time to be worried about myself. This was a good thing. So I'd suggest that if you're coming off of this, no matter how bad you feel laying there on the couch, try getting up and doing something, even if it's just house chores, or trip to the store or go sit outside and get some fresh air and sunshine. It really did seem to help me. The other very noticeable thing is that I'm really cranky and short with the kids. I seem to have zero patience right now and I'm very snappy with them. They're teenagers and old enough to understand all th is, so when I started realizing these symptoms about day three, my husband and I sat down with the kids and told them about what I was going through and that if they could just try and tolerate me and be supportive it would help a lot. They've been awesome and are trying to stay out of my way and keep down the arguing and mess. But even the crankyness is getting better each day.

All symptoms have improved each day. There was probably four or five days of escalating symptoms and now they seem to be receding except for, the visual disturbance where I feel as though my eyes and head are not keeping up with one another. This happens mostly when turning my head quickly from side to side or when turning around.I'm wondering how long this will last. If anyone knows, please advise me. But here is the great news, my sex drive magically returned, I could not believe how quickly that seemed to resolve. My sex drive has been d-e-a-d for so many years, it was already dying prior to taking the meds and then the meds just completely crushed it. But after going off, it was like a switch in my brain clicked on. Hallelujah! More good news.... I have not had one hot flash or sweat down since the last pill. AAAAAhhhhhhhhh! Oh yes, I am having those very vivid strange dreams that I read about. I'm having some crazy dreams. Only one was bothersome or frightening though and I've kind of enjoyed the others. The dreams seem to stay with me throughout the day. You all know how that is, when you have such a vivid dream that you keep getting flashbacks of them throughout your day?

I also feel like I'm 'on' now. I feel like a real person. I think the meds were just making me sort of 'baseline melancholy' all the time. I never really got overly excited or happy or sad about anything. But this last weekend I really felt happy.

Remember though, that I started taking meds because of a situation that was going on at the time that I was struggling with. I've spent three years dealing with it in counseling and treating with medication. Now that I feel I'm on my feet I chose to quit the meds. If you are suffering with ongoing chronic depression..... I wouldn't suggest quitting taking your meds. Seek advice for alternatives from a medical specialist and consider counseling. I feel depression coming back on... I'll be right back at the MD getting a new RX.

Good luck to all of you trying to get off of this. I don't think Cymbalta is a demon or trying to hurt anyone..... all meds have side effects, we are an informed nation, we choose to do what we do. I'm not here for a blame game, just trying to offer hope and reassurance. I will update in a week and let you know how things are going at that time.

SuinTX