47 replies to this topic

[pammyp]

Thank you Chimera!   To you as well!

[pammyp]

Day 17- did anyone have a problem with their period being out of wack when they went off cymbalta?  I am super late and was wondering if that may be the issue?

[chimera]

Day 17- did anyone have a problem with their period being out of wack when they went off cymbalta?  I am super late and was wondering if that may be the issue?

luckily I haven't had one in 5 years (lol not the Cymbalta, due to the Pill) but it wouldn't surprise me in your case if it was that. it has sent a few of our hormones on here completely out of wack! do a pregnany test though, to be extra sure- but more likely it's another 'fun' withdrawal thing x

[pammyp]

Thanks Chimera, will do !  and a  to you!

[lady2882Nancy]

Day 17- did anyone have a problem with their period being out of wack when they went off cymbalta?  I am super late and was wondering if that may be the issue?

 

I can't help you with this one either as I am past that stage in life. Chimera is right though, Crapalta messes with the hormones even did with me so that could easily screw up the period, but best to check that out though just in case something else is going on.

[pammyp]

Chimera- I took your advice and did the pregnancy test and guess what? I'm pregnant!  So I guess looking back, I wonder how many of the symptoms are related to the pregnancy and which are related to the withdrawl.  Hmmm..Though I do know the brain zaps and night terrors have to be the withdrawl.  Still reeling from the news  

[sk8mom]

Congrats Pammyp hope you feel better soon !

[lady2882Nancy]

Chimera- I took your advice and did the pregnancy test and guess what? I'm pregnant!  So I guess looking back, I wonder how many of the symptoms are related to the pregnancy and which are related to the withdrawl.  Hmmm..Though I do know the brain zaps and night terrors have to be the withdrawl.  Still reeling from the news  

 

Oh wow what exciting news pammyp woohoo

That must have been a huge surprise for you.

Such a blessing that you are off the Crapalta already and over the worst part of the withdrawals.

Better keep taking those vitamins.

[linamb]

can u start lyrica right after tapering off Cymbalta.  my arthritis doc wants me to!!!  I feel like crap and not sure I want to start another drug that is difficult off of again.

[fishinghat]

Shouldn't be any problem with the lyrica after cymbalta. But yu are right, lyrica is habit forming with withdrawals.

[pammyp]

Thank you SK8mom anf Nancy:)  Even though my hubby and I have been trying to concieve it still did come to as quite a shock . The one downside is I won;t able to have my gall bladder surgery until the baby is born. But my excitement overrides that!  Glad I got off the Crapalta in time for the baby to not get its poison!

[chimera]

Chimera- I took your advice and did the pregnancy test and guess what? I'm pregnant!  So I guess looking back, I wonder how many of the symptoms are related to the pregnancy and which are related to the withdrawl.  Hmmm..Though I do know the brain zaps and night terrors have to be the withdrawl.  Still reeling from the news  

OMG!! lol I am so happy for you, also shocked as whilst I advised the test, I was pretty sure it was withdrawal related. this is a very happy reason for it- I am beaming and smiling reading your news! congrats

[pammyp]

Thank you Chimera:)  I am super excited also and because this will be my first !  I want to thank you so much for helping me through this. It is a shame we live so far apart from each other . I would love to give you a hug in person rather than a virtual one!  I'll be in touch

[chimera]

Thank you Chimera:)  I am super excited also and because this will be my first !  I want to thank you so much for helping me through this. It is a shame we live so far apart from each other . I would love to give you a hug in person rather than a virtual one!  I'll be in touch

aww, your first, yes I wish I could give you a real hug too, feel so proud of you! just goes to show, your body was so determined that even with all the Crapalta, nothing was going to stop it doing what it wanted to do. I see it as a triumph of nature vs adversity lol. 

I hope you are feeling ok and let us know how you get on, get busy fulfilling any cravings!

[lady2882Nancy]

Thank you Chimera:)  I am super excited also and because this will be my first !  I want to thank you so much for helping me through this. It is a shame we live so far apart from each other . I would love to give you a hug in person rather than a virtual one!  I'll be in touch

 

This is so exciting and such a happy thing to have on the site. A first baby is so special, so many new feelings. Thank you for sharing the news with us. I am so happy for you Pammyp.

[janeyh]

Finding this forum has been like stumbling across the holy grail while blindly wading through all the unhelpful info out there about coming off Cymbalta - the demon drug. I have suffered from depression and GAD pretty much my whole life and after the birth of my second child 19 years ago I was prescribed my very first anti-depressant, Prozac. Since then I have been on and off various drugs (more on than off) prescribed by various doctors. I was put on Cymbalta about 2 years ago,60 mg daily, along with Wellbutrin 300 mg daily. I hit a really low point last year when my youngest son graduated from high school, the 'mummy' switch was turned to off and the 'me' switch was activated, except I no longer know who me is    This has caused problems between me and my husband and in trying to sort things out and revive our relationship I stumbled across a post somewhere that said that Cymbalta can shut down certain pleasure receptors and cause your libido to nosedive along with your ability to orgasm....hmmm. Armed with this information I went to my doctor who confirmed that this can indeed happen. He agreed to wean me off and suggested that I come straight off it. I was due to visit my family in England for a couple of weeks (we moved from England to Canada 12 years ago) and knowing how down I get when I return my husband asked if it was possible to try a lower dose. I was then put on 30 mg a day for one month and then "see what happens". Well, I returned from England last Wednesday and took my last tablet on Thursday so I am now 5 days ac (after cymbalta). I have been very down as was expected after being away but the feelings of absolute despair have really thrown me. Yesterday was horrendous, I could not stop crying and at one point was sobbing hysterically. I feel nauseous, have no appetite, the brain zaps are just awful, my face burns for no reason and I come out in cold sweats. I have no interest in doing anything or seeing anyone, I still haven't properly unpacked from my trip. All I want to do is curl up in a ball and do nothing. I feel absolutely awful and even told my husband that I wish I could go to sleep and never wake up again 

 

Sorry that this has been such a long drawn out post but I just wanted to give a bit of background info along with the drug info. I have read a few posts where people have reported that things get easier but to be honest I am having a really hard time seeing a light at the end of the tunnel. I am going back to see my doctor on Friday and am not sure if I should ask  to be put back on 30 mg and then do a slow weaning off. I have no idea what his suggestion will be, bearing in mind that I am still taking 300 mg of Wellbutrin each day. I guess I ought to look into the withdrawal symptoms for that too.

 

I will keep checking on the forum everyday to see how everyone is progressing and will keep updating my status too.

 

Good luck everyone xo

[lady2882Nancy]

Hello janeyh

 

At day 5 off you are definitely having the side effects that discontinuing this horrid drug causes. The good news is that they don't last forever and you can stay off Crapalta (my name for it) and will start to feel better in the next 10 to 14 days.

The worst side effects will start to ease and then there are some that will hang on a little longer. but most people are okay in about 4-6 weeks.

The mood swings are very common and angry can cause some issues too. For those side effects I recommend L-theanine (suntheanine) which is a natural amino acid which the brain uses to make GABA (the feel good amino acid). Or you can try a GABA supplement (I'm not sure which works better) There is a shortage of these amino acids in the brain which is why we get the mood swings. Since you are in Canada like me I know you can get the supplements at a Health Food/Supplement store just make sure you get a good brand.

Make sure you drink lots of water and don't let yourself get dehydrated.  A good B vitamin complex and omega 3 are also a good idea to help rebalance the brain and help detox your liver.

Don't try to get off the Wellbutrin until all the side effects of getting off the Crapalta are over.

Don't be surprise if your doctor doesn't know that you can have all these side effects when stopping this drug. This is something that Eli Lilly has not let them know about and some doctors aren't very helpful.

 

You will feel better again but it does take a bit of time.

 

Take care

[chimera]

Hello janeyh

 

At day 5 off you are definitely having the side effects that discontinuing this horrid drug causes. The good news is that they don't last forever and you can stay off Crapalta (my name for it) and will start to feel better in the next 10 to 14 days.

The worst side effects will start to ease and then there are some that will hang on a little longer. but most people are okay in about 4-6 weeks.

The mood swings are very common and angry can cause some issues too. For those side effects I recommend L-theanine (suntheanine) which is a natural amino acid which the brain uses to make GABA (the feel good amino acid). Or you can try a GABA supplement (I'm not sure which works better) There is a shortage of these amino acids in the brain which is why we get the mood swings. Since you are in Canada like me I know you can get the supplements at a Health Food/Supplement store just make sure you get a good brand.

Make sure you drink lots of water and don't let yourself get dehydrated.  A good B vitamin complex and omega 3 are also a good idea to help rebalance the brain and help detox your liver.

Don't try to get off the Wellbutrin until all the side effects of getting off the Crapalta are over.

Don't be surprise if your doctor doesn't know that you can have all these side effects when stopping this drug. This is something that Eli Lilly has not let them know about and some doctors aren't very helpful.

 

You will feel better again but it does take a bit of time.

 

Take care

Hi janeyh,

as Nancy says, you'll start to feel better soon. the worst is over by 3 weeks, there may be some lingering after effects for a bit- but not as bad as you're feeling right now, honestly. keep going, you're doing great