5 replies to this topic

[InCymbaltaHell]

Hello my fellow cymbalta haters!

I have some advice about weaning and quitting cymbalta.
I've posted here before when I attempted to wean off cymbalta. I did the whole opening capsules and making smaller doses with empty gel caps thing... It failed. Miserably.

I weaned and weaned off cymbalta, can't even remember how long it took to get down to 1mg... The ENTIRE time that I was weaning I was experiencing a combination of withdrawal and dosage boosts. It was a rollercoaster. It was hell!

So after a while of not being able to tolerate the symptoms, I put myself back on the full 60mg dose. Stayed on that for a while...until this past January. I decided I wanted to try getting off it again for the umpteenth time. This time I quit cold turkey.

I had been on this drug for I think a little over 6 years so I knew it was going to suck. Bad. And boy it did. But I have to say, it was actually easier than weaning! Weaning dragged out withdrawal for a very long time. Plus the constant rollercoaster between smaller and smaller doses.

Take my advice: Do not put yourself through weaning hell. I stopped taking Cymbalta on Jan 3rd and today I am back to my old self! I am finally free.

I lived on benedryl and dramamine for the dizzyness/vertigo and general malaise. I took aleve for headaches and body aches and fever. Drank a lot of water and took a daily vitamin. Ate right and slept as much as I could. The benedryl helped me sleep.

Was it easy? Hell No! BUT it was totally worth it and it was easier than weaning!

It wasn't until about a week ago that the post cymbalta depression went away and once in a while I will get a dizzy spell, but it's nothing.

I really want any of you to know that after being off cymbalta, you won't know for sure if you have a relapse of depression or if it's post cymbalta depression for a couple months. Don't assume that the crying fits and anger is your depression sneaking back. Wait a couple months AFTER being off of it completely before reassessing your depression/anxiety etc. You will experience sobbing, irritability, mood swings, and anxiety when you get off it. Your brain chemicals have been altered. They need time to acclimate. Don't panic and don't give up.

[fishinghat]

I fully understand where you are coming from and really appreciate your input. Seriously. Reading these posts has really alerted me as to how much different it effects everyone. I did the bead counting and never had even one symptom unti 2 days before I got to zero!! Having said that I have read other posts exactly like yours. You went through hell while on the bead counting. It kind of makes it difficult for people to make a decision as to how to proceed. This is one reason I think so many people develop such a hatred for this crap.

 

I really appreciate your post about 'waiting 2 months'. I am at 4 and 1/2 weeks and all my symptoms are gone except for a sickening 24/7 fear/panic. Unluckily I am suffering from low testosterone, cymbalta withdrawal and a possible cancerous mole at the same time so I guess I have earned the 'fear". lol An update on my testosterone levels will be in around Fri and this will tell me if it is contiruting. From your post and several of the others it sounds like I need to wait another few weeks to see if this fear/panic is still from the withdrawal. Thanks for sharing. All information helps. I hope your recovery continues with no further hitches. Welcome to the world of cymbalta free!!!!

[Want2bfree2013]

Today has been just YUCK !!!! Think I will now try stopping the bead counting because I am  so tired of being dizzy and feeling like I just got off of a spinning merry go-round.  I am on day 6  of bead counting from 30mgs  34 more days to go seems just too much

 

Can someone pls tell me aprox. when this nausea will go away???........ugh!!

 

Tks again everyone for being here!!

 

Shirl

 

 

[fishinghat]

What happened to me may not be the same for you. I didn't even have any nausea until I was almost at zero. Then it lasted about 10 days.  Don't give up. I know it gets tiring but you got to get off this crap. Did you try any dramamine or milk thistle?

[Want2bfree2013]

Hi all :-)

 

Fishinghat - I have been taking gravol which helps but makes me soooo tired!   Hope you have a good day. 

 

Shirl

[lady2882Nancy]

Want2bfree

For the nausea I find that if I eat a little something every few hours it really keeps it under control. According to my doctor our stomachs are still reacting as if we are still on the larger doses of crapalta. When I do get bad I have found that plain boring rice cakes work the best and it must be what I need as they actual taste good at that time.

I feel so bad for you. I am doing 10 beads less each day as my 30mg have 280 beads and that is working well. I am on day 11 so have removed 110 beads.

Maybe you could try tapering faster (removing more beads) to see if that makes things better or worse.

We are all different and yet have the same goal, to get off the crapalta the easiest way possible.

For me the nausea is manageable though the headaches suck and so have to take OTC painkillers. But I'm not as depressed so for me that is a good thing.

Hang in there you can do it

Take care of you