45 replies to this topic

[BeverlyB]

I'm in day 16 and crying again. I'm sorry, but I love that you cracked yourself up and almost wet yourself. One of the few giggles I've had all day. I had an accident after a CT scan where they did not warn me that you can get diarrhea from the solution. I couldn't stop laughing (pathetic I know but sometimes you just gotta laugh!).

I went from Cymbalta to nortiptyline. I've been on it for 2 weeks- but 75 mg only for two days. It helped with the physical withdrawal but hasn't kicked in on the depression fully just yet.

[BeverlyB]

Just wanted to update- it's Day 18 and my mood seems to have stabilized. I can actually sleep 8 hours. The brain zaps came back but not as bad as before. Has anyone felt that they sound like jingling change in the back of your head?

I still have major stomach issues- vomited again today and have had severe acid reflux. I've been on prescrip. Prilosec for a long time and never had any problems. Now- I have to supplement with OTC zantac. I don't have diarrhea anymore but still go frequently.

Generally feel shaky and weak. But overall, a LOT better than I felt a week ago......and much better than Day 4!

[BeverlyB]

Yep- i can hear your change and mine! Ugh! I think I'm in day 20 and things are MUCH better! I actually had a "normal" weekend except for the retur of my panic attacks while driving over bridges, but compare to Day 4, I'll take it!

[saunders917]

I had a productive day 16, day 17-real bad, i have lots of energy, but with it comes a lot of anger, thats not like me. I find myself yelling at my 5 year old, for no reason. If i don't understand why, nobody else will either. The anger is so bad i want to put my head thru the wall. Good news is maybe that would fix the zaps & noises. Day 18 starts ok but kinda fuzzy? Wife still doesn't get it. Stomach problems are better. Anger,still there, hope nobody looks at me wrong. Does anyone else have anger & high energy issues ? Rob

[BeverlyB]

Hang in there Saunders- I DEFINITELY had anger. It's not me either. I am hardly ever angry but I was fuming over the most minute things. I am still SO upset over some things I said to my husband that I either didn't mean or meant to say in a different manner. It WILL get better!

[Junior]

When I came off Lexapro, which had made me agitated and restless, I was extremely angry. I remember doing my grocery shopping and how pushing the trolley around with real purpose actually helped with the anger! LOL! Then i went from being extremely angry to being in tears at the drop of a hat. Thankfully it only lasted about 2 days.
I haven't experienced that level of anger with Cymbalta but I have been more focussed/ cross (if that makes sense) for the past day and a bit (it's morning now). It's now Day 8.

[byoung]

My apologies for perhaps not following full protocol of the site. There are so many links, posts, etc. I just happened to read BeverlyB's post first & I'm glad I did. It is exactly what I am suffering right now. I just got home from a late day at work. I don't know how I got through it but I did. I went off a daily 60mg dose of Cymbalta this past Thursday. I was on it for approx 4 months. After struggling to see my doctor, getting told to "give it more time", and nearly 4 months of sleeping only 1-2 hours a night....not too mention still reeling from anxiety attacks & stress......I just stopped cold. As the weekend passed, I didn't know what was happening to me. I read through this site & now I understand. Thank you all. However, I still have not seen my doctor. I'm really struggling right now. The sounds, lack of equilibrium, crying....all of these are nothing I have experienced before. My mind is having a hard time keeping up with it. I'll continue to read through all of your stories.

Beverly,
If you are out there...hang tough. As I write this, I'm going through all of it...exactly as you have presented it.

[BeverlyB]

Thanks Brian- I'm still here. I'm officially three weeks off it and I just want to say YOU WILL GET BETTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! But, see your doctor if you get worried or it becomes more than you can handle.

I saw my doc yesterday for the first time since I went off it 3 weeks ago and I told him EVERYTHING while bawling my eyes out. He's known me for a LONG time and he was horrified. He said he's heard similar stories about Effexor and now believes Cymbalta will be on his list of last resorts. Amen!

[byoung]

That's good news. I hope you're having a good day. I've been trying to get caught up on rest today. I feel a bit better than yesterday. So, hopefully each hour will bring improvement. I ended up going to my after-hours care center. I was provided Ambien CR & Prozac until I can meet with my regular primary physician next week. I haven't taken either yet. I'm afraid of how it may interact with the Cymbalta withdrawal. The doc at the care center said it would help if anything....but I'm a bit hesitant now with docs I don't know. That's how I got in the Cymbalta mess to begin with.

[renee]

Hi Brian,
Your a champ for staying with this site and for reading and replying. You are great!
I think that this computer may be my lifeline for a while.
I've written a few posts. Will you read them? And, can you post the response to your email please?
Hmmm
The Doc in the Box was helpful with your withdrawal. Cool. My regular DR hasn't returned my phone call.
Does this site have a medical DR to refer to.
I'll try to look into drugs that might help with anxiety and general coping- especially that damned brain freezing stuff that feels like , yes, a zap.
I read that celexa might help and its in a pill form so you can break it up and not take a so much.
Keep us all posted...
I hope you sleep well tonight.
Renee

[byoung]

Hi-
Good to hear from you. Celexa may help...as any SSRI. It will take some time for those to really get going though. They have longer half-lifes, which is good when you go off of them...but they take a bit longer to gear up in the body.

My email reply is posted under my Helping Another title. If you can't find it, just let me know. This thread was getting so long, I just started a new one. It's in the same overall section of "What are you Feeling" though. All the best.

Brian

[Junior]

That's good news. I hope you're having a good day. I've been trying to get caught up on rest today. I feel a bit better than yesterday. So, hopefully each hour will bring improvement. I ended up going to my after-hours care center. I was provided Ambien CR & Prozac until I can meet with my regular primary physician next week. I haven't taken either yet. I'm afraid of how it may interact with the Cymbalta withdrawal. The doc at the care center said it would help if anything....but I'm a bit hesitant now with docs I don't know. That's how I got in the Cymbalta mess to begin with.

I've heard that Prozac can help with Cymbalta withdrawal because it has a longer half life, meaning it stays in your system longer thereby giving you longer to adjust. My son is on it and a few days ago I tried just the one tablet to see if it really does help. I have to say that it did relieve the symptoms at that time and that I slept better that night. I didn't continue on that path (I would have consulted my GP for a script, not just continued taking my son's tablets) because I was seeking relief for my abdo pain and the Prozac did nothing for that. It might actually be totally unrelated but I'm still undergoing tests so I don't know for sure yet.

If I remember correctly, Prozac was the drug that worked on you in the first place, right? I'd give it a shot. We don't have Ambien here in Aussie but I understand it's a sleeping tab. I've taken Temaze while waiting for my SSRI dose to kick with no problems in the past. Ambien is not in the same class of drugs (I googled it) but apparently if you use it on a short term basis, it is ok.

[shannonalexander]

This is horrific.... My doctor put me on 30 mg from 60mg. For the first week I was fine. The nausea and headaches are terrible. (no brain zaps thank God) I called the doctor to get back on my 60mg because I couldn't take it anymore when I felt as if I wanted to jump out of my skin and my family even talking drove me crazy. I just kept telling them to shut up, I have 4 boys at home, my husband and my mom. I feel so bad for them. I was going to pick up my 60mg pills but decided to discuss it with my husband, he told me to tuff it out and get off the poison. I am sitting down with my family to tell them what is wrong with me and I just pray I can get through this without going crazy. I just got my hours cut from 40 to 20 so I'm worried and mad about that. I took some vacation but have to go back in 2 days. I am so thankful for the tips on the OTC meds. I just got off of amitriptilyn and it was not near this bad. I am going to keep on the 30mg for another month before then I might try opening the capsule thing and taking half. I can harly function. I have had a migraine every day for over a week now and the nausia is double because I get that with my migrains plus the withdrawal nausia I am thinking makes it twice as bad. I am so thankful for this sight!! I am gonna kick Cymbalta's butt!!!

[nursedeborah]

Newto this,
Hey let us know how your doing! How are you feeling? Are you ok?

Love,
Debbie

[BeverlyB]

I wanted to pop in since I received a really nice email for farmgal. It's been over a year since I went through withdrawal from Cymbalta. I am fine- no lasting damage. I still remember quite acutely how horrible this was. I just wanted to come back and say you will be OK. It just takes time.

[Simon23]

Withdrawal is gnarly!!
Had been on 120mg/day for about 10 months, not really doing much for me so two weeks ago my DR suggests dropping to 60mg x 5 days then stop//and start taking Allegron. One day after stopping, my body rebelled - Sweating, headache, pain behind eyes, the 'brain zap' thing, loss of coordination/dizzy, irritable, argumentative, oh and sick. Like a red wine hangover!!
I've not had any withdrawal with other AD's - all I do know is that I'm not in a healthy place right now. So, do I go back on a maintenance dose of Cymbalta or continue withdrawal? I cant work properly like this either (which adds to my frustration) and have a total F-you attitude to work and colleagues... does this stop anytime soon? Do I just need to tough it out or what?

Really appreciate any feedback.
Thanks,
Simon