27 replies to this topic

[CatCrazy]

Hi i am just starting withdrawl from Cymbalta.  I am taking 30 mg a day for 4 days, and then one day with without.  I thought i would do this for 2 weeks and see how i feel, but i'm not too sure what to do next.  I was/am taking it for Osteoarthritis, but it hasn't made any difference. I have been on it for almost 2 years. Any suggestions of what to do next, or if am i doing it correctly.

[karlanipper]

I stopped taking Cymbalta last September.  My doctor told me all I would have to do is drop my dosage to the  30 mg foe one week and then just stop taking it al together.  I went through so many side affects.  I was angry for no reason at all, I have never had any back problems in my life and I  all of a sudden started hi am having severe lower back pains.  It was affecting  my daily life.  After about 4 months my anger and crying subsided but to this day having back pains,  They are slowly going away and I am getting back to myself.  I have read that Cymbalta can stay in your system a  year or longer.  No matter how you feel my don't go back on it I feel.  I will never use Cymbalta again, I don't care what any doctor says.  Good Luck!!!

[lady2882Nancy]

Hi i am just starting withdrawl from Cymbalta.  I am taking 30 mg a day for 4 days, and then one day with without.  I thought i would do this for 2 weeks and see how i feel, but i'm not too sure what to do next.  I was/am taking it for Osteoarthritis, but it hasn't made any difference. I have been on it for almost 2 years. Any suggestions of what to do next, or if am i doing it correctly.

 

 

Hi CatCrazy

 

That could work for you just remember to drink lots of water and stay as active as you can.

I have Osteoarthritis too and it didn't help me either but I can tell you that you may experience some extra pain when stopping as cymbalta is known for rebound pain. I know "how can you have rebound pain from something that doesnt help?" but it happens when stopping this med.

It will pass so just keep moving as much as you can and use cold/heat on the aches whichever one helps you.

If side effects are a problem just around the site for suggestions to minimize them.

 

Take care

[lady2882Nancy]

I stopped taking Cymbalta last September.  My doctor told me all I would have to do is drop my dosage to the  30 mg foe one week and then just stop taking it al together.  I went through so many side affects.  I was angry for no reason at all, I have never had any back problems in my life and I  all of a sudden started hi am having severe lower back pains.  It was affecting  my daily life.  After about 4 months my anger and crying subsided but to this day having back pains,  They are slowly going away and I am getting back to myself.  I have read that Cymbalta can stay in your system a  year or longer.  No matter how you feel my don't go back on it I feel.  I will never use Cymbalta again, I don't care what any doctor says.  Good Luck!!!

 

Sounds like you had a rough ride with getting off this stuff like I did. I know that I will not take it again either and am not so trusting on what a doctor prescribes for me now.

I didn't know that people who didn't have pain before could still get the rebound pain that this med is known for. Thanks for posting that. Hope that it goes away soon for you.

Take care

[brokenheart]

Hi Catcrazy,

 

Take the tapering slowly don't just stop. Some people have very unpleasant side effects during withdrawal.  Have someone check up on you regularly and stay in contact with your doctor. 

 

I hope it gets better soon.

[buzzbuzz]

Hey CatCrazy, 

 

Hang in there. It gets better. Karlanipper is right....it takes a long time but stick with it. I just saw a cymbalta add on TV, and I flipped the TV a big birdie. My life is better without it AND I have more money in my pocket. I took my last cymbalta pill back in early March (and I tapered to 15 mg). It took 4 months before the brain zaps stopped and began to feel normal. I did what Lady2882Nancy did. I have stayed active, and doing this has helped keep the pain and the post-cymbalta-angry-outbursts to a minimum.

 

Just tell yourself....this too...shall pass...

[CatCrazy]

Well, trying to not take one every 5th day didn't work.  I am now trying tapping a bit out or each capsule every morning.  we'll see how that goes. day 2 and i don't feel sick and weird.,  i figured i'd  try this for two weeks, and then go to two taps.  to be continued ......

[fishinghat]

That is similar to the bead counting method many of us used. We woud count out 5 beads the first day, 10 the second, 15 the third..... I think you are on the right track. Cymbalta has a very short half life. 12 hours. So by the end of 4th day their is little left in your system and the withdrawals are probably starting to really kick in. The fifth day you take another tablet and your blood levels spike, it satisfies the withdrawal urge and you repeat the process. I think you will find the bead counting method better. Hang in there.

[CatCrazy]

so they withdrawl symptoms don't start until i'm off the pills completely?  So what is the point of weaning off cymbalta when you are going to get the symptoms after you are completely off the meds.  or do you have symptoms while tapering off and then more after you have finished your last dose?.  what can i take to help make it easier. i've read seritonin, but i shouldn't start until after the meds are completely finished.

[Crazychic]

I didn't wean, I found the weaning process to difficult & I was just putting off the inevitable. I was really, really bad for 2 weeks. I couldn't work or even function because of the nausea and brain zaps but I couldn't go back! I just wanted it out of my system. Weeks 3 & 4 were somewhat better but it took about 7 weeks to feel somewhat "normal". I've read on here about weaning but I really didn't see the point when you are going to withdraw eventually. I am 14 weeks free of Cymbalta!! It's tough but I did it.

[lady2882Nancy]

so they withdrawl symptoms don't start until i'm off the pills completely?  So what is the point of weaning off cymbalta when you are going to get the symptoms after you are completely off the meds.  or do you have symptoms while tapering off and then more after you have finished your last dose?.  what can i take to help make it easier. i've read seritonin, but i shouldn't start until after the meds are completely finished.

 

 

Hi CatCrazy

If you can wean down slowly enough you can avoid having side effects then you will have no or very little side effects when you stop completely. Any side effects that you do have will be mild and not last as long. It is much easier and safer than going cold turkey or doing a fast taper which is what I had to do.

There is less chance of a return of the problems you had prior to taking the cymbalta if the tapering is done slowly. Lots of people do the cold turkey but it is risky and then there is the long period of side effects and recovery.

I hope this answers your questions.

[CatCrazy]

So, if cymbalta has a 1/2 life, is that the reason that as i am tapering off, i feel worse in the evening than during the daytime?  i'm really kind of confused of the 1/2 business. the tapping seems to be working so far, no bad side effects, fingers crossed

[lady2882Nancy]

Hi CatCrazy

The half life of a med is the length of time it takes for 1/2 of the med to get out of your blood stream.

Crapalta has a 1/2 life of 12 hours which is really short for an antidepressant.

In other words if you took a 60mg dose at 8 am in the morning then by 8 pm that evening you would only have 30mg of the drug in your blood stream. By 8 am the next morning half of the 30mg would then be gone so there would only be 15mg left in your blood stream.

Most SSRI antidepressants have a much longer 1/2 life of 24 to 72 hours which means that it takes much longer and is slower to get out of your blood stream.

The only really important thing about the 1/2 life is that the shorter the 1/2 life the more likely you are to have side effects when stopping unless you taper off slowly.

If you take your dose in the morning then yes that would be why you feel worse in the evening.

Take care

[CatCrazy]

Hi CatCrazy

The half life of a med is the length of time it takes for 1/2 of the med to get out of your blood stream.

Crapalta has a 1/2 life of 12 hours which is really short for an antidepressant.

In other words if you took a 60mg dose at 8 am in the morning then by 8 pm that evening you would only have 30mg of the drug in your blood stream. By 8 am the next morning half of the 30mg would then be gone so there would only be 15mg left in your blood stream.

Most SSRI antidepressants have a much longer 1/2 life of 24 to 72 hours which means that it takes much longer and is slower to get out of your blood stream.

The only really important thing about the 1/2 life is that the shorter the 1/2 life the more likely you are to have side effects when stopping unless you taper off slowly.

If you take your dose in the morning then yes that would be why you feel worse in the evening.

Take care

thanks that makes sense then.

[rockinmimi]

Day 39 off this horrible drug. Had a good day. Didn't cry all day and no dizzy spells and have lost 7 pounds.

Today was good but still afraid that it's not over. I took cymbalt for 8 plus years. I hate seeing the commercials and think about all the people that will start taking it.

[lady2882Nancy]

Hi rockinmimi

 

I know what you mean about the commercials. I get angry about them. Worse is when they come out with the generic version more people will be able to afford it and I really hate the thought of more people getting messed up by this crap.

 

39 days off - good for you. I am another one of those who suffered from long term side effects so hang in there. We can do this.

 

Take care

[CatCrazy]

Surprisingly, the tapping out of the beads seems to be working for me.  I am down to 1/2 capsule now, day 3 and seem to have no extra side effects.  I will also say, maybe i am one of the lucky ones, but i realize that can change quickly.  I am going to do 1/2 capsule for 1 full week, and then go to 1/4 for one full week and then quit.  (at least that is my plan).  Without the tips and comments on this site, i was just going to quit taking the cymbalta.  Thank goodness I didn't try that.

[fishinghat]

I am glad to hear that it is going well with you. Keep up the good fight.

[sk8mom]

Good for you Catcrazy, Just started my journey 3 days ago, 5 beads, then 7, then 10 last night...nothing happening yet but I am aware that it is very early...hoping too that I am in the 80%...good luck !

[CatCrazy]

from starting on July 28 to today. Day 2 off Cymbalta.  don't feel quite right, but not too bad.  i was down to 1/4 tab a day for a week. all i did was tap out starting at 3/4 cap. then 1/2 and then 1/4 cap each week and now nothing. i go see my doctor on mon. and boy am i going to tell him not to prescribe this to anyone else. fingers crossed it gets better and not worse with no pills.  great site and support and explanations. thanks all.

[fishinghat]

I hope things continue well for you Catcrazy. Keep us posted.

[CatCrazy]

and it comes back to bite me in the ass.  took last pill on Thurs. Aug 15.  didn't feel too bad at the beginning, but starting on Sun. I started feeling a little off. drained, tired all the time, not quite right thinking and concentrating. then came the diahrea every time after i eat. but they say that's good, cause you're getting rid of the drug in your system.  I know this is going to get better, but every day is an adventure of how i will feel. and on top of this i picked up a head cold from my husband. right now it is a hot flush.and i am off to bed. thanks for my rant. and this too shall pass.

[atc2000]

I stopped taking approximately three weeks ago. I was on 120mg. Every time I asked my Dr to take me off he would up my dose so I decided to stop taking it cold turkey. The side effects of the drug just kept getting worse and increasing in number. The worse withdrawal symptom its severe nausea to the point if vomiting. I have been going to my over this and did not realize until tonight I may be going through Cymbals withdrawal. If there its anyone that has found a way to relieve the nausea please let me know.

[CatCrazy]

gravol ginger really helped me with the nausea and dizziness.  after 3 months i think i feel "normal" again.  my osteoarthritis is no better or no worse, but i am glad to be off the cymbalta.  not a fun trip at all.

[fishinghat]

CatCrazy, I am glad that you made it through. You should be proud of yourself.

[mruthc]

_{Due to a mix up with my Dr sending my RX to the wrong pharmacy I ran out of Cymbalta on 8/27 or 28.  I had gone to the dr to renew my RX and because I could not sleep only an hr or two at a time and  was spending so much time trying to fall asleep.  Unaware of withdrawal issues I have not had any Cymbalta for 4 or 5 days.  Now I  am so tired, thirsty, constant headache,  nausea, dizziness, too hot, no appetite.  BP elevated.  Only drink water and eat a little dry bread.  Planned to wait until 9/4 and discuss with my dr but feeling too lousey.  Now do I get back on it to gradually get off or forget it altogether.  According to posters here I can expect symptoms to go on for some time.}

 

_{Will be glad to put up with the pain and be off this Cymbalta for good ASAP.  Before I ever take another RX I will completely check out so I know what I am getting into.}

 

_{Appreciate any suggestions you may have to ease this withdrawal.}

[spoilme]

This stuff should be outlawed!!!!! I have been to every ER within 2 hours of me trying to find out why I cant quit vomiting!!!! I have been sick enough to die and didnt care if I did. Every ER done the same thing and sent me home because all my blood work was good, not one single Dr. every ask me my meds had been changed and I never thought a med could do this to you!!!! My husband couldnt work for having to come home and take me to a ER somewhere, and we almost lost everything we had due to me not being able to work for vomiting and nausea, I could not function!!!! I had crying eposides and so much depression and suicidal thoughts, and I had never had anything like this before, never dreamed it was Cymbalta withdrawels, I started off doing every other day and then to every 3 days, IT DON'T WORK, DONT TRY IT!!!! Guess I will start counting!!!!

[fishinghat]

Counting is the way to go but you will still have some withdrawal. The only other thing I can say is ...welcome to the world of Cymbalta haters!!!