11 replies to this topic

[ElaineB]

I have been Cymbalta free for over a month now after being on 90 mg for 6 months... and have experienced all the sx that so many of you have mentioned. But here's one I haven't heard yet....
One really weird thing that happens to me from time to time, that I haven't heard anyone mention, and that I am almost afraid to bring up because you may think I am seriously imbalanced (LOL) ....I have moments of uncontrollable manic laughter. Really, it is very weird. It's hard to explain...it usually happens when my SO says something funny and I begin to laugh and then I can't stop laughing to the point where I am trying to stop and want to stop but can't stop. And during the laughter I feel as though I have lost all control and I am truly losing my mind. My SO is a mental health professional and keeps reassuring me that it is just the chemicals in my head trying to get back to normal, but I find it rather disconcerting. It feels scary.
Has anyone else out there experienced this?

[ElaineB]

Well, since several people have read this post and no one had responded, I guess this is an unusual side effect. I am checking in to report that my laughter is getting back to normal and the "episodes" are becoming fewer (only one over the weekend and I was able to gain control over it a lot faster.)

God, what this Cymbalta has done to my poor brain. Unbelievable. So thankful for the healing power of the human body!

[rara]

Omg, I'm so happy to see this post, you have no idea! I am off Cymbalta just a few days now, but I am also having these manic fits of laughter. In fact, the other night I was at a wedding with a bunch of close friends and they seriously thought I was drunk because I could not stop laughing! I hadn't even had a drink, but I laughed so hard that I was crying hysterically and laughing at the same time! Luckily, they're good enough friends that I could explain that I'm feeling manic from coming off these meds, but still, it was so weird. It's happened a couple of more times since then, but that was the worst so far. The weird thing is that I almost welcome these fits of laughter because I truly feel I've been an emotionless robot since being on Cymbalta. Anyway, I'm glad to hear you're getting better!

[ElaineB]

Hi, Rara,
Your response was a source of comfort to me, knowing that I am not alone with these manic fits of laughter. They have settled down for the most part. I felt one coming on yesterday when I heard something very funny on the radio (I was driving) but I was able to stop it before it began. So that's a good thing.

How are you doing now?

EB

[Boldartist]

I found this effect you described mentioned in the Eli Lily warning. It's called pseudobulbar affect or labile affect. Having MS, I was already familiar with these terms so that when I came across "labile affect" in the warning box, red flags went up. In MS it can signify lesions on the area of the brain controlling emotional control. I have no idea and shudder to think what Cymbalta and the cessation of it does to that area, but shouldn't it be a transitory thing?

[dgia]

I feel drunk - now that stopped Cymbalta.
I also fear the noise.
fear as if there was a ghost near me.
be crazy. All strange.

I know of being alone in the house. but fear ghosts.
never been afraid ghosts. hallucinations. then passes.

hello dgia italy

[Junior]

Elaine B

While I haven't had the laughter, I did have a couple of days of boundless energy coupled with me being more talkative than usual (I talk a lot at the best of times so.. whoa! LOL). I felt a bit manic. Having done some research I put it down to a rush of Dopamine. In my case I had suffered this SSRI "poop out" effect which, anecdotally at least, seems to be where the drug continues to work but the brain's response is to slow down its dopamine system. Low dopamine brings on some very familiar symptoms of depression - insomnia, low mood and basically the loss of interest in life - you can see how Drs get confused and why they want to INCREASE the doses of these medications / or switch to another drug. It becomes a vicious cycle.

My sister has bipolar and I now have some insight into what her manic episodes must be like. Poor thing!!!

Junior

[monkeyboo]

I am really glad you posted that about the uncontrollable laughing spell. I had that two nights ago. It was insane and ridiculous. This is emotionally terrible. The physical symptoms have been ok as I have been weening off very slowly. However, the crying spells, complete sadness, manic feelings. uncontrollable anger, spurts of crazy energy and then extreme exhaustion are so hard to handle.

[SadSarah]

I can sort of understand the laughing side effect. Although, I find myself crying for no reason. A couple of times, I cried and then laughed for awhile after. So goofy. The other night, I was watching the movie "hitch" which I have seen a few times already and found myself laughing so hard at part that was not even that funny. I saw it the next night and did not find parts in the movie as funny. Hmm? I'm not sure what that is all about. I guess our brains are adjusting.

[monkeyboo]

Last night was the worst yet. I could not control myself and my emotions at all. I felt I was coming out of my skin. I was hanging out with my best friend and he just totally was freaked out by it. I am so sleepy and out of it today. I am sad that I acted that way too. I wish I had just not seen him. I need coffee to keep working on my thesis but that will just make me agitated and may be a trigger. The physical symptoms are worsening too. I am so nausea and just "out of it" completely. Stomach cramping, cold sweats, etc. sigh...I went from 60mg down to 40mg for a week, down to 20 mg for a week, down to 10 mg for a week. Sunday I will go with nothing. I wish I could just curl up in bed and watch some good movies.

[chrisann03]

This happened to me last night. I am on my 3rd day cold turkey without the Evil Cymbalta. I was on 60 mg. I was sitting there with my boyfriend last night watching silly you tube videos and just started laughing and couldnot stop. I ended up not being able to breathe and crying because of it. UGH. But the laughter was so funny. I think he was laughing at my laughing more than the videos.

[nursedeborah]

Chrisanne,
That's is nothing unsusal about that, and it a symptom of withdralws from the drug. Here is the site
with all the symptoms to look for, or that so many of us here have during our weaning process.

http://prozactruth.com/cymbalta.htm

Also one is never to stop any of these kinds of meds cold turkey, welll any meds for that matter.

Please read many of the post, and the older ones in weaning off cymbalta so you will have an idea
of what is in store, also what you can do to slowly wean yourself off this noxious drug.

We are here for you!

Debbie