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Posted 27 May 2014 - 05:55 AM
Hi AnotherMind , yes that is definately how it feels & is indeed terrifying .. Stay strong & remind yourself that this is the withdrawel & this is why you're feeling this way .
Do you have anything to ease the anxiety , if you do than take it ..this is the time you really need it .
Anothermind, yes, I agree with Wagtail. Ease the anxiety with whatever you can, benzos are good for that.
Good Friend
Posted 27 May 2014 - 06:46 AM
Thankyou Wagtail - Ive just taken some valium, it's taken the edge off the terror. It is so encouraging to have this forum - the strength drawn from mutual compassion and shared experience is a gift indeed.
Now for the night...deep breath!
God-like
Posted 27 May 2014 - 09:15 AM
Hi AM
Well here you are- it's happening! As Gail and Wagtail said, utilize the benzo- but it's also one of those traps- use is only AS NECESSARY or you'll be weaning off that some day too. But use it. As time goes on you will find that just having the Valium on the shelf or in your purse will be enough to act as a hedge against anxiety.
In the iconic sci-fi novel Dune, Frank Herbert wrote, "Fear is the mind-killer, the little death." Well, anxiety is fear.
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Posted 27 May 2014 - 03:58 PM
Anothermind hello again,
Glad to hear that you are using valium, long life. Easier to wean or taper from.
As it comes in 2 and 5mg.
Was on ativan in the last year, and have done most of the switch on valium. This thursday , no more ativan, Will be entirely on valium.
God, did I ever need it. Was put on cymbalta for anxiety and depressive moods. And that crap made go from 1.25 ativan to almost 2.50 a day. What a s***.
When the time is right, I will taper off gently.
As Fishinghat mentions, it is not comparable to the cymbalta withdrawal.
You do what you have to do to keep in survival mode till better days come, and they will.
I must mention that I felt a lot of guilt taking the benzos, counting and counting what I was taking, going half crazy with this.
But, as I said, it did help me survive this discontinuation. Still does, and at times, I must remind myself to take it, as I dont want to experience another withdrawal, one is enough.
3 months off crapalta, getting better and better, most of the time. Wax and wane, thanks Xman for the expression.
Good Friend
Posted 27 May 2014 - 08:43 PM
Thanks people.
Gail - like you I ended up living on Benzo's to supress the anxiety that Cymbalta unleashed (after being put on it for depression) - so Ive gone off it before and it's true - weaning off aint nothin' compared with Cymbalta!!! This drug is such a complex reaper of chaos - I hate it! 
TM - yes - anxiety is a total mind-killer, there is no space for personality or intellect when it strikes, every day is another little death. Exhausting.
Im sitting tight on my benzo courage and waiting for this storm to pass.
Once again, praise be to this forum!
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Posted 28 May 2014 - 04:09 PM
Thanks people.
(TM - yes - anxiety is a total mind-killer, there is no space for personality or intellect when it strikes, every day is another little death. Exhausting.)
Well said Anothermind, everyday is another little death, I have died so many times, so many, traumatising in the end.
Happy to report that this anxiety madness has diminished to a tolerable side-effect.
That is the greatest blessing up to date.
I no longer head to work in the morning exhausted by this.
I get exhausted easily though, but that too shall pass eventually.
God-like
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Posted 29 May 2014 - 05:53 AM
Thismoment, just loved what you said, resistance is futile, take the lemons and make limonade!
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Posted 02 July 2014 - 05:18 AM
Hi everyone,
Firstly I am so grateful this forum exists! It's a wonderful resource and very reassuring to read of others experiences.
I took cymbalta for five years with good results initially but then over time noticed a dramatic worsening of my allergies. I am asthmatic and have multiple chemical sensitivities - but after 5 years on Cymbalta I just felt inflamed from head to toe. I have also been diagnosed as having fibromyalgia, but Im trying to ascertain whether what Im experiencing is Fibro related or Cymbalta induced.
I am curious as to whether others have noticed an increased level of inflammation in their bodies?
I went from a moderately allergic person to a person in a constant state of enlarged lymph nodes, flu-like syptoms, face rashes, vulvodynia, irritable bowel, gastric reflux, stomach problems, chronic sinusitis etc, etc,etc.... and the return of major depressive symptoms.
Medical professionals seem to draw a blank when I describe this predicament. So in a bid to ellimintate Cymbalta as a potential cause, Im weaning off (which is HELL - day 5 now ).
My shy hope is that when the withdrawal symptoms subside my immune function and inflammation might improve....?
Anyone else feel like Cymbalta opened an immunilogical Pandora's Box for them?
Good Friend
Posted 02 July 2014 - 05:41 AM
Hi Rebecca
I sorry to hear that you are going through this torment. Do you suffer from fibromyalgia also?
If it's any consolation my first 2-4 weeks were very much as youv'e described - the only relief I could find was magnesium, fish oil, warm baths and valium (when the muscle spasms and sleep disturbance got too bad.)
Can you get your doc to prescribe some valium or temazepam? - they really take the edge off the nightmares and pain.
Im now at week 6 off Cymbalta - and the sypmtoms (some of which you are also describing) are definately calming down and far more managable.
hang in there, it gets better - lots of self-nurturing, support and patience. (and benzos!)
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Posted 02 July 2014 - 05:47 AM
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Posted 02 July 2014 - 05:51 AM
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Posted 02 July 2014 - 06:33 AM
CymSik
Day 11. You are sick with discontinuation and I see that it has left you incredulous with the variety and intensity of symptoms. Everything you are describing-- the fibro list, the sleep issues, the joint and muscle pain, the anxiety, the nightmares-- is all part of it, and it will all slowly fade. The first 4-8 weeks are the worst. Yes CS, this IS unbelievable!!
If you still have pain from your previous back surgery, get something for that- opioid or whatever does the job. As AM said, "lots of self-nurturing, support and patience (and benzos)."
I've been saying this for a while: You have tie yourself to the mast until you have sailed past the siren song of discontinuation! If you mention Cymbalta Discontinuation Syndrome to the doctors they will just laugh and write you a prescription for another SSRI; your physicians will interpret these symptoms as relapse at best or perhaps fibro, or something entirely new! They are as incredulous as you and I! Cymbalta has been marketed as an antidepressant for just 10 years-- neither the cooks at Eli Lilly nor the physicians have any idea what this long-term discontinuation will yield.
Warm baths, gentle walks, read something pleasant when you can, don't stare at computer screens before bedtime. Patience patience patience.
You are not developing new diseases; the symptoms will lessen and become bearable in time. You simply have to start working with it as symptoms begin to fade.
Good Friend
Posted 02 July 2014 - 06:43 AM
CymSik
Magnesium tablets or powder (high absorbtion) 500mg twice a day. (or even 3)
I havent used Xanax - but if you feel it calms you down - lean on it. Anything that helps and subdues the distress.
I dont know if you have a bath or if its easier to shower - but I found having frequent showers and baths helped me relax and soothed both the pain and anxiety associated with the withdrawals.
TM - thanks for the reminder that we are not developing new diseases - it sure can feel like it as this process unfolds.
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Posted 02 July 2014 - 07:03 AM
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Posted 02 July 2014 - 07:18 AM
Cymsik, I understand.
I use the mast metaphor primarily as a method of avoiding being talked into other medications while these phantom diseases assail us. How long to stay tied to the mast? For me it would have been 6 months. I, however ran to the doctor with all my new diseases; I was referred to several specialists; I was offered several SSRIs: and went to the ER twice because I thought I was dying. None of it was real- oh it hurt at the time, but it all slowly faded away.
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Posted 02 July 2014 - 07:28 AM
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Posted 02 July 2014 - 07:34 AM
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Posted 02 July 2014 - 07:44 AM
God-like
Posted 02 July 2014 - 07:48 AM
Cymsik
Put the hopelessness front and centre and look it in the face. Each day identify a small improvement in your symptoms, or a small blessing that's emerged from this ordeal. Use that to remove a letter from the end of the word hopelessness.
Today you identified that you have assets here on this website- take off an s. Today you said 'not today' to the ER- take off another s. Now you have hopelessne. . . and that's not even a word. See? It's getting better already!
Soon there will be just hope.
Good Friend
Posted 02 July 2014 - 07:49 AM
CymSik
Re: anxiety - I wasnt meaning to presume - I just automatically think of pain inducing anxiety. Just hoping you can find something to tone it all down.
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Posted 02 July 2014 - 08:13 AM
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Posted 02 July 2014 - 10:00 AM
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