Hello all! I began doing extensive research on weaning off Cymbalta because I have (just like everyone else) read the terrible side effects withdrawal can cause, even if you take it as directed by the doctor.
Long Story Short: I am a 22 years old and began taking Celexa for anxiety in 2012. I didn't like it, mostly felt flat and didn't feel any emotion, so I stopped it that summer. Around September 2012, my doctor suggested Cymbalta, and I decided to go for it. She discussed Wellbutrin and Cymbalta, but overall decided that Cymbalta would be a better choice because of less side effects (HA!) First two weeks were miserable. I couldn't eat, I couldn't sleep, I couldn't function. I wanted to stop taking it, but my doctor advised me to continue on with the drug and that it will get better.
Surprisingly, it did. I began to feel less anxious and things were looking up. It's been a year since I started the Cymbalta, (60 mg) and I am quite tired of the side effects. I told my doctor the side effects were similar to going through menopause- low libido, inability to lose weight, NO sleep, hot flashes, constant sweating. In August I began my post-grad career as a teacher and getting up early combined with no sleep and waking up in a pool of sweat every night is making me very tired, unfocused, unmotivated and i'm just feeling a complete inability to fulfill my job.
I just had an appointment with my doctor. I described to her everything I just stated above and she related everything back to anxiety, and said I wasn't ready to get off of Cymbalta yet. She then referred me to a location where I could get tested for ADD/ADHD. Then continued to say I should take MORE Xanex (.5mg) throughout the day to help keep me less anxious. End result: I'm switching doctors and thanks to a lot of research and many forum posts on here, I decided to wean myself off via the counting bead method. Here is my plan:
2 weeks: -15 beads
2 weeks: -30 beads
2 weeks: -45
2 weeks: -60
2 weeks: -75
Then convince my doctor to prescribe me the 30 mg and do the same with those. I am terrified- truly terrified of the withdrawals. I just started my job so I am unable to take off work to do with the harshness of the "brain zaps" everyone has reported. So I am just taking it nice and slow! Hopefully by 3 months I will be completely done with Cymbalta.
I would love any feedback, whether this is too little, or too much, please let me know! I am glad to have you all to share my journey with!
