46 replies to this topic

[thismoment]

Clara - No problem, we are here to help like you have helped so many yourself.

Thismoment - My sister-in-law tried it TWICE for fibro and withdrew both times without incident. My nephew tried it for arthritis (3 months) and it didn't work so he came off it and had no problems. His wife took it for 4 years for bipolar and finally came off it. She felt sort of crudy for about 3 weeks but that was about it.
They all think I am a wimp, nothing wrong with Cymbalta!!!

Fishinghat that's so interesting. Then perhaps we would add another scale to cover overall withdrawal relative difficulty.

Consider the following:
Difficult, Moderate, and Easy to describe the overall withdrawal experience.
Coarse, Medium, Fine, and Smooth to rate a period of time within the overall experience.

I might describe my own withdrawal experience like this- bead counting from 30 mg over 6 weeks @ 2.3%.
Difficult// weeks 1-2 smooth/ weeks 3-6 coarse/ weeks 7-12 medium/ weeks 13-24 fine + some medium/ weeks 25-48 fine/ weeks 49-52 smooth/ weeks 53-68 smooth and still improving subtly. I still have two symptoms that are probably permanent- a continuous tension-type headache and tinnitus in my right ear.

[fishinghat]

That makes sense. When I started my withdraw I asked both my psychiatrist and psychologist what they both estimated in how many of the patients had significant withdrawal effects. They both said around 20%. My psychiatrist who recently retired after 30 years warned me of the serious withdrawal symptoms that can occur and that withdrawal should be as slow as possible. She also told me that she was never, in 30 years, trained by Eli Lilley or there distributor about the possible withdrawal symptoms. Sad, she had to learn it from her patients.

[Donnaprashad]

@burgoslucky7.  YOU ARE NOT STUPID!!  Don't say that about yourself.  This is extremely hard.  I tried to stop about a year ago.  I got down to 30 mgs and went crazy.  And I thought it was the "real me" coming through.  I had no idea it was withdrawal symptoms.  So I went back to 60 mgs.  And here I am now, 17th day cold turkey.  I have started to have some good days but still the bad days come.  I trust in my Lord to see me through and He does - every single time.  I am of the opinion that the withdrawals are just as bad whether you wean or go cold turkey.  I say that because I have tried to wean and it was just as bad.  But I don't know that it is the same for everyone - probably not.  But my soul tells me that the worst thing I could do would be to get back on it and then try to wean.  But that's me.  I don't have the answers, I only know what is right for me.  I have taken the advice of the wonderful people on this forum and added supplements that have helped.  But the best thing that helps me is prayer.  Sounds corny, but it works. 

 

@thismoment.  This is my 17th day cold turkey.  I've had every symptom on the coarse part of your scale.  Days 14 and 15 were somewhere between medium and fine, closer to medium. Day 16 was coarse again and today I would rate as fine.  I still feel dizzy, but not much.  My mood has been stable today, almost really happy.  One day at a time, as they say!

[thismoment]

Donna, your up-and-down days surely indicate you are coming out of the woods.

 

"My mood has been stable today, almost really happy." That's a diamond!

 

"But the best thing that helps me is prayer." The way I understand it, prayer is a kind of focussed conversation or perhaps a sort of mantra that excludes other thought. Therefore it's an exercise that brings you into the moment, and if you are in the moment you can't be anywhere else in time. This is the essence of meditation as well, and it's ancient.

 

Our minds time-travel most of the time: we go to the past where we re-fight arguments we lost, and we re-script the past so we win the argument, and we bask briefly in that imagined victory. And we feel guilty about how we behaved.  Then we warp into the future where we construct scenarios that repeat the past, and we see ourselves failing again. We fret about how we will cope when that train wreck arrives.

 

Neither the past nor the future exist, but the emotional impact of those virtual journeys is real. Like nightmares- they're not real either, but your mind can't tell the difference and you really do suffer those horrors. 

 

It's a peculiar admonishment to contemplate: "Donna, don't play in the past and the future- they're unsafe and you could get hurt!"

 

Take care.

[Donnaprashad]

@thismoment. Yes prayer is a conversation and it is focused. Much like meditation. I would not get through this any other way. And you are so wise about living in the now. I've learned to believe exactly what you say. The past is dead and gone. And the future doesn't exist. All we have on this earth is this moment. Although I do believe there is much better to come. But that's another conversation.

I had court this morning and actually did well. I'm getting better each moment!

[Timbo]

Fishinghat that's so interesting. Then perhaps we would add another scale to cover overall withdrawal relative difficulty.

Consider the following:
Difficult, Moderate, and Easy to describe the overall withdrawal experience.
Coarse, Medium, Fine, and Smooth to rate a period of time within the overall experience.

I might describe my own withdrawal experience like this- bead counting from 30 mg over 6 weeks @ 2.3%.
Difficult// weeks 1-2 smooth/ weeks 3-6 coarse/ weeks 7-12 medium/ weeks 13-24 fine + some medium/ weeks 25-48 fine/ weeks 49-52 smooth/ weeks 53-68 smooth and still improving subtly. I still have two symptoms that are probably permanent- a continuous tension-type headache and tinnitus in my right ear.

Thismoment...I like where I think you are going with this.   What do you think about starting a new topic where each of us who wish to share can post our experiences all in one location?  I realize that we all get off on tangents sometimes.  But, perhaps you could try to keep us on task! ;-)  I am a "data person" by training and career.  I love analyzing data - it is a motivator for me; and I would hedge to bet that it would be helpful for others to see some norms.    As you mention, anecdotal information is not scientific evidence.   BUT...although our group is relatively small, with enough participants, you could increase the validity of the data.  It would also be helpful to have some additional information - I will shoot you an email with some suggestions (I don't want to make things more confusing with my babble here).   I absolutely love your insight and ideas!  I think I that is probably true of the majority of the members here.  

[thismoment]

Tim

Thank you. I look forward to your email.

 

I was thinking perhaps a simple template could be launched at Start New Topic, and we could copy that and fill in our data. Then we have a threat that is just data. We could keep our own data updated, and we could look to see where someone is at before we respond to a post. Also, the data might reveal some useful patterns.

 

I'm often wondering where people are at, and I don't want to keep asking. TTYL

[Timbo]

Tim

Thank you. I look forward to your email.

 

I was thinking perhaps a simple template could be launched at Start New Topic, and we could copy that and fill in our data. Then we have a threat that is just data. We could keep our own data updated, and we could look to see where someone is at before we respond to a post. Also, the data might reveal some useful patterns.

 

I'm often wondering where people are at, and I don't want to keep asking. TTYL

Yes!  That's exactly what I was thinking.  I just sent you an email.   A template would be perfect.   I didn't know if there was a way on here to post an actual "form" or if you just wanted to list out the questions and let people copy and paste into that template.   Be keeping it limited to just the template, you keep the data cleaner and easier to summarize later.     I think it would be very helpful to see what the "standard experiences" are among participants.   We can discuss more logistics as you move forward with the topic.  I have a few additional thoughts - so glad my brain is working again today! ;-) 

[Carleeta]

Note to fishinghat, timbo, equuswoman, Akk, Donnaprashad, Wagtail, Clara, LM3B,  and all other regular posters.
 
Some kind of general scale for discussion would be helpful. Then perhaps general time-lines could be added. Please comment.
 
I acknowledge that the familiar literature states that there are vast differences in recovery times and the strengths of side effects, however, I see more in common then the material suggests. And my (granted, anecdotal)  statistics regarding the percentage that suffer side-effects vs those who don't, is completely backwards: all suffer, it seems- and far longer than we read.
 
If there is anyone out there who has take taken Cymbalta for a year and then quit without side effects, please send us a note on this forum (Eli Lilly employees and the army of lawyers, physicians, chemists, marketing spinners, and psychiatrists on their payroll- please don't respond).

I had taken cymbalta for over a year in my forties. When I stopped I didn't experience any withdrawl symptoms that affected my normal daily life. Again, in my late forties I was on and off cymbalta and didn't experience any withdrawl systems. In my fifties I was on and off cymbalta and did go through some side affects mentioned here, although I didn't realize it till now. Also I was just put on cymbalta Jan. 2014 for 3 days and stopped after 2 days after reading all the side affects and withdrawls. What I might add to your scale, which I find wonderful, this may also need gender attached due to females storing and having more fat cells, Another thing I might add is the person's age due to their ability to metabolizes as they slow down as we get older. In my case as I got older this drug affected me with withdrawl symptoms mentioned here on these forums. Wishing you and everyone here my blessings through your journey to

[Carleeta]

Be yourself again. I too hope my 3 days on and 2 days off will be something I can handle. Prayers to all. Scared60, I know this site will be helpful and genuine to you.

[Clara]

thismoment, trying to get my head into what you're working on!! All of us know just how tough it is to focus and recall events and the timeline of them in any kind of fashion that would make any sense at all, maybe not even to ourselves!!! Questions such as when, what, how long, and the effects while on and coming off? Is that your general idea??? Sorry to be so goofy, I'm trying!  clara

[ZappAlta]

ZappAlta, that's interesting, thanks.  Cymbalta was initially rejected due to strong bladder side-effects. But, curiously it was first marketed it Europe as a bladder-stabilizer, then later re-branded in the US as an anti-depressant.

 

I'm attempting to chart some rough guidelines for cold turkey vs weaning- I want to use a general scale of abrasives (which is somewhat appropriate), and is as follows:  Coarse, Medium, Fine, Smooth.  Please suggest modifications.

 

Coarse- the worst, the most overt , strong pain, flu-like, brain-zaps, nausea, anxiety, vertigo. - borderline intolerable.

Medium- more emotional elements added- crying, laughing, mood swings, anger. - tolerable, but difficult. 

Fine- daylight is perceived, but moderate symptoms persist. - easily tolerable

Smooth- minor symptoms remain, but slow and stead improvement is apparent. - feeling that you've successfully withdrawn.

 

Would you say (for example) the first four weeks of your cold turkey was Coarse and the next four weeks Medium, etc?

 

Thanks again.

Sorry moment -somehow I missed this post  . On my calender journal my count down scale( notes ) indicate- Severe w/d from day 3 -through 10 days. Moderate w/d 3 weeks .  Mild  16 days -- Residual Recovery phase better at 6 plus weeks and ongoing at 10 weeks with light vertigo still .

[thismoment]

ZappAlta, I am happy that you are clearly out of the woods!

 

Besides the light vertigo, are there any other lingering symptoms? 

[thismoment]

Burgoslucky7

 

OMG I'm sorry I missed this! Thank you for the assessment on your withdrawal. There is a Withdrawal Status Template (name TBT) being prepared that everyone will be able to personally update so we can see where each other is in their withdrawal program. That will enable us all to be apprised of each's current situation without searching through the forum.

 

Fishinghat knows some folks that reported few symptoms on withdrawing from Cymbalta. Unfortunately, those that have had no problem don't usually post on sites like this.

 

I hope you are doing well!

[vtybee]

I am very emotional. Have been trying to wean from 60mg for 6 weeks. I wish I had found y'all sooner than today. I asked my MD 3 times to help me off Cymbalta. He wouldn't do it. So I took less and less. I went to30mg every 2 days. Now I have had none for four days. I apologize for the erratic nature of this post I cannot concentrate. I was given Cymbalta 5 years ago for pain. I feel all alone but I know I'm not.

[Wagtail]

Hi everyone, Thismoment I would say that I for one have been living in the medium range mostly. Yesterday & although it's early in the AM here down under , today I would say I'm in the fine range & praying with all my heart that I stay here of @ least a few days .
Looking forward to the " SMOOTH" days with anticipation as I think I would be extremely happy to do this.

I definitely feel that I'm heading in the right direction albeit a very rocky trip.
It's still very hard coping with the disabling s/e but I think I'm learning to live with them rather than them diminishing .
I walk differently @ the moment thanks to the balance/ giddy symptoms . My conversations are full of brain dead / forgetful moments but I guess @ my age some people would think that a normal thing. :-)
I also think that our personal journey & life experiences pre Cymbalta comes into play @ this w/d stage.
My emotions are very raw but I have held back tears & remained strong through a few life altering experiences, so now I think that it is time for me to let it all out once & for all & to move forward on a more positive rather than with a victim mentality .

Hard for one to know or TRUST ones thoughts & actions whilst on this w/d trip , maybe @ a later date my thoughts will change but for today @ least , this is how Im feeling.
Stay strong all of you @ challenge every thought & feeling you get .
Xx

[grandmax2]

Hi - I have Fibro , Cfs and now the Cymbalta deal . My experience was the Cymbalta withdrawals may sneak up on you . As did me . I bought a inversion table for my back . I would seriously look into that . I found I didn't even have a bad back . The pain point was in my Pelvic area . I chased the Fibro pain out of my back . It works

Hi, I also have Fibro and CFS, I am in constant pain and discomfort, the Cymbalta and Lyrica took the edge off it. I am always looking for ways to get a little relief, so I am going to look in to the inversion table.