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I Want To Go Off Cymbalta So Bad. I Need Your Help.


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#1 ascully

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Posted 16 August 2014 - 08:17 PM

Hi guys. I'm a 23 year old female. I've been on cymbalta for about a year and a half now. I only take 20mg because I refuse to take any more than that. My dr "thinks" I need to be on medicine "forever" but I'm not going to let that happen. I am finally feeling stable in my life and healthier, and I want to go off the medicine now.

 

This might be trickier for me than other people, because I have been taking medicine for anxiety/ocd since I was 7 years old. I started with Celexa then. I've taken the whole variety of drugs. Celexa, lexapro, zoloft, one that started with a B ? I can't even remember them all.

 

I'm sick and tired of medicine and I want to be free. I don't need it anymore, and the only reason I still take it is because I am scared to go off of it. Everytime I miss a dose, I struggle really bad with the withdrawls. 

 

I want to know what your ideas are for me, and if anyone here has struggled with this before. I know you all have, since this is a WHOLE forum about this damn cymbalta drug. 

 

What did you do for relief while going off cymbalta? The MAIN thing that scares me and freaks me out is the brain zaps. I already get them when I get close to the time I need to take my medicine every night. I don't want to live with those. 

 

Thanks in advance.

 

-A


#2 FiveNotions

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Posted 16 August 2014 - 08:46 PM

Hi ascully, so glad you've joined us! You've made a wonderful and courageous decision, and we'll do everything we can to help you!!

 

It's about my bedtime, so I won't write much tonight ... just wanted you to know that you're "one of the gang" now ... and to say that yes, you can, and will, do this!

 

My main thought for now is this ... you've been on these drugs for a very long time, since a very young age ... that's a factor that may make this a bit more difficult for you ...

 

BUT, to balance that out, you're on the lowest possible dose, you're young, you've clearly thought this through carefully, and you're determined to do this ... that's a major positive factor ...

 

I think what's important for you now is to develop a solid, sensible plan for how to get off the Cymbalta .... you mentioned that even now you feel symptoms shortly before it's time for your next dose ... to me, and subject to what the others here think, this means that you're going to need to do your tapering very slowly and carefully ...

 

So, what I'd suggest is this ... stay right here with us, read a lot and post a lot ... give yourself a period of time for "preparation" ... during this time, you can figure out what your withdrawal plan is, prepare for it (for example, start taking vitamins, eating healthy, drinking lots of fluids, etc.) ... then, start reducing, slowly over a period of time ... using the bead counting method ..(others here can tell you about how best to do it, I quit cold turkey, so I'm not qualified to explain bead counting, which is the sensible way to do this) ..

 

Also, a few questions, the answers to which will help us help you ... Do your shrink and gp and/or therapist know you want to get off the stuff? How about friends and family? Do you live alone? Are you working? Are you taking any other meds now, and if so, for what conditions?

 

You can do this!


#3 ascully

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Posted 16 August 2014 - 09:01 PM

I have been wanting to do this for so long, I feel like I've been "preparing" for a year, haha. I already eat healthy, mostly vegan. I started doing Yoga. I started using essential oils, too! 

 

I agree with you though, the part about how I've been taking medicine for so long is what scares me. I hate hate hate that I have been poisoned for so long. I wish I could have had a say in it when I was younger. I don't blame my parents though, they just wanted me feeling better.  

 

My psychiatrist knows I want to, and that is why we "settled" for 20mg. She wanted me to go all the way up to like 90mg but I'm a little person and I completely refused that. I told her I would only take the 20mg and nothing more. It helped me for a little while but I am finally done with college, I moved in with my boyfriend, I got a job, etc. I am stable and I'm ready. I haven't had debilitating anxiety in ages. When I feel a little anxiety come on, I just use essential oils now. 

 

My boyfriend knows I am trying to go off, and so do some close friends. I have a really close friend that recently went off cymbalta this year too. (it seems like dr.'s giving out cymbalta was a trend and now its a trend to go OFF it, ha!) So, he is being supportive with me too. My parents know how much I hate medicine, and they know I've wanted to go off FOREVER. I just never had the time, or the energy, or thought I could do it. I just finally have that feeling that I am ready and its time. Do you know what I mean? 


#4 FiveNotions

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Posted 16 August 2014 - 09:52 PM

I DO know what you mean!

 

I checked in just now, just in case you'd posted again ... we'll all be here tomorrow, at one time or another, and we'll give you some thoughts and suggestions on what to do next ... you've got a great support network, and a great doc (most of us have had/do have idiots, jackasses and asshats, so you're one of the really lucky ones) ... you're going to get off Cymbalta just fine ... :)

 

Love that you're using essential oils .... hope you'll post more about them and how you use them ... we need all the info on "alternative remedies" that we can get ... I'm a huge fan of lavender and eucalyptus .... would like to learn more ...


#5 ZappAlta

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Posted 17 August 2014 - 02:11 AM

Ascully I was on the same dose as you 20 mg for about year and half-now off 10 months . The Zaps for me lasted about 10 days and I found that been well rested made it way more tolerable also not taking any alcohol whatsoever. Now as recommended here tapering slow (which I never did ) will greatly reduce most of the nasty withdrawal symptoms.

#6 ascully

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Posted 17 August 2014 - 12:40 PM

I checked this morning, and the capsules I have, have the 4 big beads in them. So this might be easier than I thought! I read about the bead count stuff last night and was stressing about that, haha. I am going to call my dr tomorrow and tell her that I am ready for this. 


#7 dlmj

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Posted 18 August 2014 - 04:16 AM

HI, ascully and welcome to the group,

 

Sounds like you are on the generic form ??? If you only have 4 large beads in the capsule??  If so that is what I just finished coming off of.

 

I  finished coming off this devil drug about 3 months ago. Let me say that I was on this med for 10 or so years.. It took me over a year to ween down form 60mgs to 20mgs.. Then I got put on the generic due to an  Ins. change.. it through me for a lope.

 

My suggestion is to goooooooo very slow with the tapering.. I would remove one bead.. and wait it out.  You will most likely feel pretty lousy. I hope I'm wrong.. BUT for me it took at least two weeks or more before I could remove another bead. I waited till I felt better and you will as your body adjusts to the decrease.

Don't be fooled.. my best advice is to go slow.. I also had to go on another med after I got off as I could not deal with the head issues.. I have no idea if being on the med for so long would make a difference between what I experienced and what you will we are all different..  Keep track.. and be prepared..

Not trying to scare you, I suffered a lot during the process. I found I could not work as well while trying to come off. I just could not function. BUT keep in mind we are all different.. I was on for a long time..

 

I pray you can get through with far less than I went through... This group helped me a lot. Just having a place to come to , and able to chat with people who have gone through this and know the feeling... Hang in there and Like Five Notions suggested have a game plan.. BUT PLEASE take my advice and do this very slowly.. Even if you remove only one bead per month.. this is progress.. In the end you will be thankful you took your time doing this.

 

 I learned the hard way.. in the beginning of this adventure. I'd go to fast and have to resort back up to original dose in order to feel better. I had no idea it would be so hard to come off of. I just figured OK I'll stop now cuz 20 mg's was the lowest dose . My DR. had no idea how to advise me in getting off the 20 mgs.. I only found out how once I started researching it on line and found so many others with the same issues I was having.  After coming off I have endure terrible headaches which I take prescription med's for . I'm just starting to notice that they are getting fewer.. and better. So I'm getting over yet another cymbalta hurdle after being off for almost 3 months.

 

All my best I hope my post helps you out a bit. Please take the advice of others who have been through this.  Also I have a thread on here with lot's of replies form these wonderful folks who supported me through my process.. Check it out it may be of some help to read through it.  lot's of good info.. from others who went before me... Good luck...

 

Blessings

dlmj


#8 FiveNotions

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Posted 18 August 2014 - 09:09 AM

dlmj, congratulations on 3 months off the stuff! Please stay here with us and keep posting ... you've got a lot of experience and encouragement to share, and we need all of that we can get! :)


#9 amyw1234

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Posted 12 September 2014 - 03:39 AM

I really want to stop taking Cymbalta.
I saw my doctor yesterday and after taking 1 month of 30mg then 2 months of 60mg he said I am better and that I can ween myself off them. Today was the first day I stepped it down to 30mg. Yeah I'm getting all the usual withdrawals and they are gross! I want to just get off them cold turkey, I don't want to go through this again in a month when I have to get off the 30mg. I'm confident I am not anxious or depressed and will be fine as I just suddenly stopped taking lexapro years ago and felt not that bad.

Is this ok do you think and I have only been taking it for a short amount of time?

#10 FiveNotions

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Posted 12 September 2014 - 07:30 AM

Hi amyw, welcome to the gang!  It's just wonderful that you've decided to quit these drugs!!! Bravo!!

 

I can tell you're going to be able to do this, as it's clear you've not only had a lot of experience with these meds (7 years old, OMG!), and you've given a lot of thought to what this is all about and why you want to get off the meds, currently "crapalta" ...

 

Do NOT quit cold turkey ... and the 60 to 30 drop was huge, and has put you into cold turkey ... rather rapidly, too ... so you are, quite possibly, really sensitive to this stuff ...

 

I quit cold turkey, as did several of us ... the hard way to do it and I would never recommend it to anyone.

 

Others will chime in here with their opinion, but I think you should go back up to the full 60 mg and get stable ... as in not feeling any effects ... then, wean yourself off slowly, over a longer period of time, using the bead counting method ...

 

I can't write more, as I need to get off line for now ... but one last thing, check out our "nutritional support" and "what's helping me" forums .. lots of info there for food, vitamins, and remedies for the various effects you may get during withdrawal ...

 

Stay with us here, keep posting, and we'll do everything we can to help you!! (I'll check back here later this evening to see how you're doing.)


#11 GettingOff

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Posted 12 September 2014 - 11:11 AM

I'll just share my experience with this insidious SNRI:  I started on Cymbalta April 25, 2013 and was up to 90mg by May 24.  The drug worked for me:  It helped me out of a serious, very anxious depression while I was caring for my wife durning her breast cancer treatment.

 

Fast forward:  My wife is in remission and I need to get on with my life.  I want more than flat-line functioning.  I want affect, passion–I want my libido back!  My Psych said I could go from 90 to 60mg at one go, since I was taking my then-dose in three 30mg caps.  After two weeks, I would reduce to again, all things being equal . . .

 

Subsequently I discovered that the generic caps I take are made up of six small pellets in a gelatin capsule, rather than a bunch of tiny pellets, too numerous to count.  Thus, I reason, each pellet is 5mg.  So I have been able to reduce by 1/4 to 1/3 at each two-week interval, and am now taking 20mg.

 

I am fortunate that the side-effects are tolerable for me, mostly the queazy-head (AKA brain-zap, light saber) feeling and some headache.

 

My main point for anyone wishing to titrate off this drug is that with the new generic formulation–fewer, larger pellets per capsule–the possibility of weaning very slowly is greater, one can better taylor a reduction schedule to one's own needs.

 

Steady reduction at two-week intervals is working fine for me.  At this rate, I am due to be off Cymbalta November 28.


#12 ShadyLady

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Posted 12 September 2014 - 11:41 AM

Hi Amy, Welcome;) I think FN confused you with Ascully who posted first about starting meds at 7 years old:/ I stopped Lexapro cold turkey years ago and do not remember having any side effects. Cymbalta is a whole other beast, the anti-christ of SSNRI's!! Yes, you have not been taking it very long and you may be one of the fortunate few that can manage such a drop in dosage with bearable side effects, but why take that chance? What is your mental & physical health worth...you took the drug for 3 months so why not be good to yourself and take 3 months, maybe a little longer, to get off in sensible way, that has been proven by those here, with a slower bead counting method?

Are you on brand or generic? If you are on generic, are there 6 beads in the 30mg capsule? If so, you might want to cut the beads in half with a razor blade making them a 2.5mg equivalency rather than the 5mg of the bead. I do hope you will consider weaning instead of cold turkey, truly. You have a choice since you have just dropped from 60mg to 30mg...please think this through as a few months or so of weaning will not be anywhere near as traumatic as cold turkey withdrawal. I did cold turkey off 30mg and four months later I am suffering more than anyone should have to bear in getting off this poison.

Please, keep posting and let us know how you are doing and we will support you in whatever decision you choose;) I, too, was "confident of not being anxious or depressed" when I chose to get off the CYM, but I am now suffering tremendously a pit of depression like I have never experienced before....yuck:(

Be kind and gentle to yourself...you deserve the best;)

#13 thismoment

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Posted 12 September 2014 - 11:43 AM

GettingOff

 

I see duloxetine subdued the symptoms of anxiety and depression initially, but subsequently you flat-lined emotionally and sexually. Pretty common with exposure more than a couple of months. As you've discovered, the drug is a total personality defoliant. 

 

That's great news that you are having an easy time of it; that's rarely heard here. And it is fantastic news that your wife is in remission!

 

I don't understand how fewer beads in a capsule gives you more and better weaning options. Rather, it traps you into doing a step-down titration that is in no way desirable because at each step-down you will get withdrawal symptoms that have to be endured until you stabilize. Only then can you remove another bead. On the other hand if your 30 mg brand name has 270 pellets, the titration options are virtually unlimited. You can take out one extra bead per day over 270 days and endure virtually no symptoms at all.

 

Good luck with your program. If the symptoms become unbearable, consider removing just one bead per month.


#14 thismoment

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Posted 12 September 2014 - 12:00 PM

amyw1234

 

"I want to just get off them cold turkey, I don't want to go through this again in a month when I have to get off the 30mg. I'm confident I am not anxious or depressed and will be fine . . ."

 

Today you cut the dosage by 50%. Expect symptoms in the next few days-- not much today. See how this 50% (30 mg) drop plays out over the next couple of weeks to help decide whether to finish cold-turkey or go back up to 60 and wean off. Cold turkey is rough, even with short-term exposure.

 

In a week or so if you decide to go back up to 60 and wean off, let us know and we can help with a weaning program.

 

Don't be surprised if some anxiety emerges; you can get a benzodiazepine for as-needed to handle that. There could be some melancholy (hopefully not much depression), weepy moments, and some rage. Just a heads-up. It goes away.

 

The fact that your exposure is limited to a few months is significant, but you will still have to withdraw and endure some symptoms. Once the drug is out of your system (5 days after your last dosage), there is still some time to be spent in discontinuation limbo while your brain continues to heal. Expect more symptoms for some time to follow your last dosage. Considering your short-term exposure it shouldn't be too long. (How long? Weeks? A few months? It's unknown and everybody is different).

 

Best wishes.


#15 gail

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Posted 12 September 2014 - 03:52 PM

I really want to stop taking Cymbalta.
I saw my doctor yesterday and after taking 1 month of 30mg then 2 months of 60mg he said I am better and that I can ween myself off them. Today was the first day I stepped it down to 30mg. Yeah I'm getting all the usual withdrawals and they are gross! I want to just get off them cold turkey, I don't want to go through this again in a month when I have to get off the 30mg. I'm confident I am not anxious or depressed and will be fine as I just suddenly stopped taking lexapro years ago and felt not that bad.
Is this ok do you think and I have only been taking it for a short amount of time?



Amy, as This moment mentionned, we are all different.

Was on 30mg for 4 months, feeling worse than when I began.
Got down to 15mg for another month, than off.

I thought it would be easy, only 5 months on it!

Mistake. In my seventh month of discontinuation here.
Was not as easy as I thought.

Of course, age can make it more difficult. I think younger people can withdraw more easily.

If I had to do it over again, I would never have touched that evil drug. When in desperation, and not knowing the side effects from this, we will do or take anything.

Bottom line, unique and different we are.
Could be a breeze for you, if not, people and angels are here for you.

Keep posting, we are always interested in the progress or non progress you are going through.

#16 thismoment

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Posted 12 September 2014 - 05:18 PM

Gail

 

"If I had to do it over again, I would never have touched that evil drug. When in desperation, and not knowing the side effects from this, we will do or take anything."

 

Don't be so hard on yourself my dear. You are innocent, and there is no guilt to bear; you didn't plan this. I can see that you are getting better and stronger all the time-- your posts are broader, more accepting, and your focus is moving outward. 


#17 TryinginFL

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Posted 12 September 2014 - 05:28 PM

Gail...

 

I agree with TM even though I feel much like you - albeit w/o the guilt!  We didn't plan this - we were just unknowing victims!  :(


#18 gail

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Posted 12 September 2014 - 07:08 PM

Thanks you two, it is not guilt but anger at what it did to me.
It was the convincing of the doctor that shitbalta was the perfect molecule, no, the best.

So good, I had free samples for the whole five months, even brought her back one month of supply!

Anger that before this, I was much better and did not have to deal with this anxiety as much as I do now.

Oh yes, I am f&&&& angry. I have my good moments, but not as before. Anger that some days, I don't know how I will make it through the day. Anger that I wake up at 5am and feeling so panicky and have to get up even though I am not working.

Angry that on that shit I had to double my ativan from 1.25 to 2.50.

Must be the sun glares that make me grumpy.

Read about them and found out that they have effects on human beings, and would you believe they can have the same effects of discontinuation. Same description.

So, let's blame this angry post on sun glares! Solar glares instead of sun glares. No, solar flares, goodness, got it right now!

#19 TryinginFL

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Posted 12 September 2014 - 07:25 PM

Gail...

 

Sure understand your feelings...

 

I was on the crap for over 4 yrs and also got many samples, but the cost of this still put me in the old "doughnut hole" every year by August. :angry:

 

I share in your anger as I was told "this will help" after I lost my daughter and could not stop crying.  I sure have had my share of crying these past 8 months during my "discontinuation" and the anxiety that I never suffered in my life until now.  Today has not been a good day for me either - woke up at 430am and never could go back to sleep!

 

Didn't know about the sun glares - thanks for sharing!

 

Liz 


#20 TryinginFL

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Posted 12 September 2014 - 07:46 PM

Welcome GettingOff!

 

You are really doing a great job on this discontinuation thing - I wish it were that easy for all of us!

 

Please continue to keep us posted as to your progress - sounds like your symptoms are light and you will be through this before you know it!

 

Wishing you the best :)


#21 TryinginFL

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Posted 12 September 2014 - 07:49 PM

Welcome, Amy!

 

We're so happy you found us!  I think you already have your plan and you have been given good advice!

 

Please keep us posted as to your progress - and feel free to ask for help or just come on line to vent if you need to - we all have!!

 

I wish you the best :) 


#22 FiveNotions

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Posted 17 September 2014 - 03:24 PM

Hello GettingOff!

 

Bravo on your success in the weaning process so far... you're doing great by the sounds of it. Usually, as TM said, having fewer beads in the generic makes it a bit harder to bead count down ... each bead contains more of the crapalta than in the brand capsules, where more beads means lower doses per bead.

 

But, clearly this is working for you ... so keep going. If at any time the symptoms become too much, just slow down your time frame a bit more for how often you remove a bead. As TM said, the slower the weaning, the easier it is.

 

You've got a wonderful reason to get off this stuff ... your wife is in remission, you need to get your full range of emotions and libido back, and the two of you can enjoy a full and healthy life together. This will be a Thanksgiving to remember!

 

Please keep posting here ... we don't have too many members (yet) who are getting of the generic, and all the information we can get on this will be really helpful to those who arrive here in the future.

 

If I may ask, who is the manufacturer of your generic?





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