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Today Was My First Day On Cymbalta


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#1 Ruy

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Posted 26 October 2014 - 03:27 AM

I'm restless.

 

I took a 15mg pill this morning, for my first antidepressant dose ever. I'm 24.

 

So, the first few hours were as expected... Minor dizziness, confusion, chills, muscular contractions, nothing major. A few hours in, and these symptons started fading. And by 8 PM, I went out to the movies with my girlfriend. And I start feeling just great.

 

I don't recall feeling this good since 2007, when all the depression problems were non existant. And I could think and see things clearer, too. Just as when I was "healthy", years ago. And I could "feel". Because when you're down, you hardly feel anything at all. And it all felt so natural! As if it was just me, getting back to my natural, healthy state, my real me. The night proceeded surprisingly great, I was feeling better than I had been in years. Me and my gf even start a long, deep conversation about how this year was rough on us and how I felt thankful for her standing by my all along, carrying me as a burden all this time. Tears roll down, and after lenghty conversations, we're both standing there, midnight, feeling as hopeful as a young, healthy couple in love can feel, about their future. It was so magical, and yet, so real, the whole meeting. We even went out to a bar, and celebrate! And tomorrow we're travelling to my parent's, for the first time, to spend the day together, and bring the good news to my folks.

 

Now, the plot twist: I have this friend, she's attempted suicide in the past, and I go out to tell her the good news, how I'm feeling great and it's all finally going to work out. However, I'm oblivious to the fact she might have taken some antidepressives in her time. So, she comes down pretty hard on me, begging me to quit them, feeling ultra sad for me, and I'm just unable to understand her point. She gives up on trying to change my mind, we end up having a fight and she says something like, "I've been living under its shadow for years", which startled me, so I set on to search the internet for more info.

 

And now I ran into this website. I cannot say how shocked I was to read some of these testimonials. I KNOW they are not lies. I've had antipsychotics before, I know how drugs can be. But my doctor had assured me those antidepressives were practically harmless. And now I find out not only are they addictive, but also the comedown is extremely harsh? That people have been taking them for over 5 years and are still sick, in fact, the drugs got them worse? I...

 

I'm feeling... I'm speechless. All hope, the insane, huge amount of hope, joy, satisfaction, relief I had deposit unto this, gone! And all the promises I've shared with my beloved girlfriend, who stood by much suffering by my side for such a long time, vanished. My parents, who have suffered for over 5 years seeing their only son fail repeatedly in life, who had just started to be hopeful about my recovery finally hapenning, now won't have any reasons to be cheerfully expecting changes in the horizon.

 

Am I overreacting on this one? Am I just a depressed kid who might need to try just a little harder to live his life?

Because the one reason that led me to write this post on these forums is how bad I could see I was, and how "myself" I felt when I took the drug.

I fear I might just have disappointed myself, strongly.

 

EDIT: After double-checking, the drug I'm taking is called "Duloxetine", but isn't that the same Cymbalta?


#2 gail

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    5 months on cymbalta, scary side effects, to get help and to return the favor if I can.

Posted 26 October 2014 - 07:50 AM

Hello Ruy,and wellcome to the forum.

Yes, Cymbalta is duloxetine.I have never heard of 15mg, 20,yes.
And to feel so good after one dose is exceptional. Could be placebo effect, or it could not.

I can just imagine your joy of feeling good and hopefull after five years of feeling like s***t, and losing hope after a conversation with a friend. Cymbalta does not have a good reputation. The older you are, and you are young, the harder it is to get off.

You are 24, have you tried other medications?

Was depression triggered by anything particular?
Any anxiety with it?

I can just add that if you need meds.to get a better quality of life, go with it. I am confused about the 15mg though.

Others will be in to answer you shortly. A bit more info please.
And to the question about overreacting, yes, but quite normal.

How are you feeling this morning Ruy?

#3 TryinginFL

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Posted 26 October 2014 - 10:30 AM

Ruy,

 

Welcome!  I must say that I am surprised that you found us when you have just started this med!  I am aware that it helps many, but if you ever want to come off of it, that is a different story!  The posts on here are all our personal horror stories of withdrawing from this med.

 

You say your Dr. said it was "harmless" - yeah, that's because he/she knows nothing of the withdrawal - they only know what the drug reps tell them.  All of us would hardly call this crap "harmless".  But you are young, and if you should decide to get off of it, you will most likely have an easier time.

 

I agree with Gail - it is all about your quality of life, and if this is working so well for you, wonderful!  About the 15 mg - are you in the US?

 

Please feel free to post w/any questions you may have.  We are here for you! 


#4 ZappAlta

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Posted 28 October 2014 - 04:16 AM

Hmmm dont know about this post ??


#5 NewMe

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    nightmares after 2 days of not taking Cymbalta, scared to go to sleep if I even can. Seems I am never really asleep.

Posted 28 October 2014 - 08:33 AM

I had surgery on my back and after being in pain for years afterwards, I finally decided to accept my pain specialist's recommendation to take Cymbalta. He said "Don't worry, they are fine and you can take them, no problem!" I had postponed this for over a year. I never had depression, never been sad for long; i was and am in good mental health. After my husband who had just started taking Cymbalta in combination with Welbutrin left me (pink cloud), I started taking 1 a day (30 mg). Now, 6 months later, I am trying to get off and am experiencing horrible nightmares. I'm afraid to go to sleep - if I can even call it sleep. It feels like I'm sort of awake all night. 2 nights ago (2nd day after discontinuing the drug), I dreamed that a non-qualified doctor sawed off the upper portion of my skull and I was walking around without the top of my head. I was constantly worried that something would fall on my head or I would hit it. The doctor told me that he wasn't really a brain surgeon, just thought he could do it. I woke up writing this off to a bad nightmare: I usually don't suffer from nightmares. The second night I continued the same dream, my ex was also in it somewhere. Now I've tied my experience with Cymbalta withdrawal and took another one today until I see a professioal for help with this. I don't see why a PAIN SPECIALIST or NEUROLOGIST would prescirbe this drug for pain patients.


#6 TryinginFL

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Posted 28 October 2014 - 09:13 AM

NewMe,

 

Welcome!  We're happy you found us - a whole bunch of caring, supportive and knowledgeable people who can help you!  I don't know what I would have done without them!

 

I don't recommend cold turkey withdrawal as many of us have gone this route and it is NOT RECOMMENDED!  I am a 10 month survivor of this method and would suggest the bead counting method.  You can locate this on our home page under ARE YOU NEW HERE - Click on that and look down the list of forums on the left and you will find "Bead Counting - How To Do It".  This is a gentle way to get off this poison where you are in control.  Please come back with any questions you may have.

 

The vivid nightmares are common in the beginning of withdrawal - most of us have suffered them, but they are not harmful - definitely strange, yes!

 

Rx's for this poison are often given for pain  -  fibromyalgia, back surgeries, etc.  There is no need to ask a Dr. how to get off this stuff as they don't have a clue.  They only know what the drug reps tell them.  If they give you any advice at all, it will only put you in and out of cold turkey withdrawal.  Some will even tell you there is no withdrawal.   Ha!!  How I wish that they could go through this... :angry:

 

You are fortunate that you have only been taking 30mg  - most of us have been on 60 mg or more and for up to 10 yrs!

 

I strongly urge you to get off this crap using the bead counting and there is no point in mentioning this to your Dr. as he/she has no clue what this is about.

 

Please post again to let us know how you're doing or to vent, cry, whatever  -  this is a safe place and no one will judge you.

 

Best wishes,

Liz :)


#7 gail

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Posted 28 October 2014 - 04:37 PM

NewMe,

As Liz suggested, reinstate to the 30mg. Like right now.
And bead count, removing 3 beads one day, then 6 on the other day, then 9 and so on. If it is too much, try the 2\4\6\8 and so on.

Cymbalta withdrawal is hard, but this way you can achieve it much more smoothly.

I,also,was afraid to go to bed. Slept on the sofa a few times.

This symptom is not unusual.

Please reinstate the 30mg, cold turkey is not recommended. By no one.

If you experience anxiety, like most of us, don't hesitate to use a benzo. You will taper that when the time is right. Many options here for the anxiety.

Lucky that you were on the 30mg, I was also for four months. Even so, it is not easy.

Again, I like repeating myself, reinstate the 30mg, then bead count. You will feel much better. And, keep on posting whatever you decide to do, you are one of us! And we are here for you NewMe.

#8 ShadyLady

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Posted 28 October 2014 - 06:04 PM

Welcome NewMe (I like that name!) to the forum. I, too, had horrible nightmares! Intense and scary, made me question my mental state even more as I had never had such graphic, violent dreams. Chopping off ex-husbands body parts, my son and I in a full metal armor with swords slashing at each other, etc. AWFULNESS! I would wake up dripping with sweat and trembling remembering the vividness of these nightmares. I was afraid to go to sleep, insomnia was a horrible side effect of cold turkey withdrawal as well. It was so bad that even during the day when I was exhausted from no sleep, I would have 'daymares' resuming where I left off from the nightmares. This special effects show continued for 2-3 weeks! I posted about them here as I was so scared that an evil person was emerging from the withdrawal off the crap.

Please take the advice from TIF & Gail to re-instate the 30mg and bead count. There are success stories with the bead counting method, none with the cold turkey method. I, too, was told by my pain management physician that he wanted to put me on Cymcrap! The scary part was I was already on 120mg and when I asked him why he didn't see that, while staring directly at my chart on his computer screen, he became indignant and told me I was on too high a dose & who prescribed such a high dose Very scary!!

Take care and please keep us informed of how and what you decide to do. We care about you

#9 ShadyLady

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Posted 28 October 2014 - 09:41 PM

By 'succes stories...none with the cold turkey' I need to clarify that I was speaking of intense, horrible withdrawal as opposed to the bead counters having less intensity, I believe, during the 2-3 months off the Crap. Several members, that I know of, have or are approaching one year off and imo, have improved dramatically over the course of that time. Yay

Be kind to yourself, friend



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