Hi all-
I've been looking through these forums for the last couple of days, and wonder if anyone could help me please?
in return, I will share my experience in the hope this might possibly help someone else, as it might just give the necessary
clue to a perplexing rash puzzle!
I was put on Cymbalta 30mg in early January of this year, and then upped to 60mg a few weeks later. all seemed to be going
well (I have been on Prozac, Mirtazapine and Paxil before so am no stranger to antidepressants!)
I felt more like talking to people and stopped crying all the time. great! until the relentless diarrhoea began in Feb. side effect
I thought at first, but it was hardcore:( not just a few extra visits, I mean proper 'we think you may have c difficle' type stuff.
this went on for 3 weeks, culminating in stomach cramps.
the next day, the cramps subsided, and the hives (uticaria) began. now I am not an 'allergic' type of person. I have M.E.
(chronic fatigue syndrome) but allergies of this sort I had never experienced.
this was on March1st, and is still going now!!
initially I suspected the antibiotic I had been put on, but when it continued the dr put it down to a post viral hives thing.
it still could be, I had blood taken yesterday- but when I spoke to another dr at the practice this week, he strongly
suspects the Cymbalta. I could hear him tapping away on the keyboard as we were on the phone, and then he says
'right, I advise you get off this now'.- I know itching was a side effect, but this is more than itching, it is burning terrible
pain too.
I cannot wear proper clothes, the rash comes up everytime I even slightly heat up. hot baths are out of the question.
I cannot wear shoes, and everything tingles and burns, and I have scratched myself raw:(
I have antihistamines but I think they are not working as well now- am assuming if it is the Cymbalta to blame, it's because
the antihistamine cannot mask it so well the longer the allergy goes on.
anyway I have dropped from 60 to 30mg on Thursday, tonight is Saturday. I feel pretty rubbish but that is to be expected
I know, specially having read all your posts.
what is concerning me is the next drop from 30mg to 0. I have to come off this quickly, as this could be dangerous with the
allergy carrying on like this. however I am scared as I know ideally this taper should be done slowly.
will I be ok to make this drop say on next Thursday?
at the moment I am having the classic zaps, dizziness, slurring, numbness, etc etc.
many thanks