Hi AnotherMind - YES!!!! Cymbalta is DEFINITELY responsible for my immune system having gone to crap. Without a doubt. Was on Cymbalta for just under 3 years at 90 mg per day. Initially, it was awesome, but then very quickly my physical health went into decline. Suffered from chronic sinus infections, colds, flu, insomnia, staph infections (which eventually turned into MRSA outbreaks every other month the last year I was on Cymbalta), and a dramatic loss of energy. It was a NIGHTMARE. Quit cold-turkey this last February (I don't recommend doing it that way, if you can do bead-counting). Had two months of withdrawal symptoms that were pure HELL.
Now I'm 3 months post-Cymbalta cessation, and feel fabulous compared to where I was in March and April. For me, what worked best were continuing nutritional changes to my diet that I made last September (modified Paleo diet) and two weeks after stopping Cymbalta, seeing a Chinese medicine practitioner weekly who put me on a customized Chinese herb formula, which I took 3 times a day for two months. Between the herbs and the nutrition, the drug was purged from my body/liver much more quickly.
The fluid-retention - which had been quite significant since going off Cymbalta - I still have to fight, as it adversely affects my breathing and sleeping. But the Chinese herbs when consistently taken, clear that up. All my other symptoms are gone now - except the potential for MRSA outbreaks. But even those now appear to be under better control as my immune system continues to strengthen, I wash daily with chlorhexedine soap, and apply Manuka honey-saturated gauze bandages for 8-hour increments to any infection that even remotely looks suspicious. Over all, however, my health is significantly better than it was. I'm nearly restored to my pre-Cymbalta physical health. And my mental health continues to be good, even in the absence of any drugs in my body, antidepressants or no. I had been afraid that once I stopped taking Cymbalta my depression would make a comeback, but so far that hasn't happened.
Hang in there. It will get better, I promise. But not overnight, unfortunately. It is true that everyone is different in many ways in our post-Cymbalta experience as far as length of time for recovery and to what extent we suffer from the withdrawal symptoms. But many aspects of our recovery are the same. So it's good you've found us here because we are a community of fellow sufferers who are all at various stages in our recovery who can and desire to support you in any way we can by sharing our experiences, advice, and comfort.
Welcome.
