16 replies to this topic

[Dcalhoun]

First time poster.... I was on Cymbalta for 7.5 years. Went on it after a couple of deaths in the family close together and I started working with in-laws. At the beginning of this year I decided now was a good time for me to come off of it.  When I went online (like ALOT of you) I found the horror stories so I was scared to death.  For a few weeks I would read different posts and finally decided I had to try it. I (like ALL of you) did NOT want to be on it for the rest of my life.  I decided to go with the titrate (sp?) method.  It took me a good 6-7 weeks.  I took out 3-5 balls at a time. I found it funny trying to count all those little things   I am proud to say I am no longer on Cymbalta but have been wondering why I am SO tired all the time and why I cry at the most odd times.  I realize now these are effects of the withdrawal. I will take them though.

I find it very funny that my blood pressure now is lower than the whole time I was on Cymbalta.Thank you to all the posts I read and encouraged me to "get on with it" and "deal with what comes". I owe my courage to this forum!

[thismoment]

Dcalhoun

 

Congratulations! This is no simple task- good work!

 

I understand about being so tired; I was there. If I knew then what I know now, I would have hired a personal trainer or coach for a couple of months to shake me out of bed and get me going. I flopped on that couch for half a year!

 

The crying. Just let it flow- it's there anyway, and you can't will it away. Stifling it will only create stress and raise your blood pressure- let the tears flow like a cleansing mountain stream.

[FiveNotions]

Thank you for letting us know about your success, and that, even though you didn't post you were reading here and that it helped....like you, I could not have gotten off the crap without this forum....and, like you, my blood pressure is back to normal after getting off....while on it, I'd been put on meds for hypertension and tachycardia....

I'm with ThisMoment about the crying...it's part of the healing and recovery...... let yourself enjoy being able to feel again!

[xman]

Indeed, FN. My BP has always been around 100/ 70. While on crapalta: 130's/ 80's.

 

While it's not listed as a probable side effect in the "literature and R&D", it is certain in my own real-life research.

 

On Earth Day my BP was 100/72 at the doc. office (a place where it's usually elevated a tad-AKA white-coat hypertension!)

[FiveNotions]

Love it.... "white-coat hypertension" !

While on crapalta, I hit 180/100 ..... pulse 110....

[sodone61]

On the Crap my BP spiked a couple times  to 150/120+, but was never under 145/110.. it steadily went down through w/d process (7 weeks now) and Monday it was 110/85!  I was so happy but the Dr. about had a heart attack when I said that is a vast improvement!  oh well.  He is still learning.  lol

[considering]

It's interesting to hear that one of the good effects of going off is lower BP. Mine seems to be getting lower as well which is great because in my last year on Cymbalta, my BP was occasionally hitting 150/90, and my doc was talking about drugs! [let me just say again how much I hate pharmaceutical as a result of my whole experience with cymbalta--I feel like writing an old prescribing doc I had who said that she wouldn't recommend going off because her experience is that most people have to go back on--well DUH, it's the withdrawal symptoms]

[Lizzy]

The best way to deal with the withdrawal is to wean slowly, try to walk briskly twice a day( it numbs the brain zaps) and finally (one)hit of pot when the symptoms return. Only one hit, this is not meant to get you high, it relieved the nausea, dizziness, the tears at the drop of a dime and the extreme tension throughout your body during which is typical of withdrawals. Also started St. Johns wort twice per day along with fish oil and ginkgo in order to nurture the body with herbs that heal the body as opposed to numbing our personality. On a side note, ever notice that most psychiatrists, not all, are crazier than us! Mine was.

[thismoment]

Hi Lizzy

 

I have no problem with that. 

 

Speaking strictly for myself, the notion of attaching ethical precepts to a substance based on whether or not the factory is government-approved is long gone.

 

Welcome Lizzy.

[FiveNotions]

Lizzy: ". On a side note, ever notice that most psychiatrists, not all, are crazier than us! Mine was."

Hahahahaha.......yes, indeed.....I think that's why they become psychiatrists....they can hang out with themselves, create other crazies (like us) by prescribing psych meds unnecessarily, and, the jackpot, have easy access to drugs for themselves.....

Yep, I'm cynical.

[Lizzy]

It is good to be cynical of psychiatrists!

[thismoment]

Show me a psychiatrist and I'll show you somebody who needs help.

[xman]

LOL to all the above posts! How true.

 

I would not be opposed to trying the one hit of pot advice. Also the other natural remedies mentioned.

 

Clearly this drug causes an increase in BP. Thinking about the long term effects of this are astounding! So glad, FN, that you were able to get off your BP med. Sondone61 your doctor may need to be refreshed on what your BP had been while on craplata-lol  

[Lizzy]

I have lowish blood pressure but what really scares me is the heart palpitations and skipped heart beats. They still haven't gone away. I hope this isn't a permanent condition related to Cymbalta use, cause i have never had those symptoms prior to use.

[fishinghat]

Lizzy, those are common effects from anxiety. They should go away with time. You might try  300 mg of amino acid chelated magnesium three times a day. The reason I recommend the amino acid version is that it is easy on the stomach as well as being readily absorbed. This should help.

[FiveNotions]

Lizzy, I agree with Fishinghat...that's the cymbalta......I also had the heart palpitations and skips....mine was sort of "syncopated".... I used to listen to it at night as I tried to fall asleep...between the heart sounds and the tinnitus I was sure I was going to die....or just go crazy...the magnesium really does help with the heart...and also with muscle twitches and a variety of other stuff...I switched to the chelates after I read an earlier comment by FH....it was definitely easier on my stomach....

[Lizzy]

I will try that.

I have been taking calcium 600mg with magnesium 400 mg and vit. D every night , maybe I should increase the dose of magnesium ?

Thanks for you replies:-)