28 replies to this topic

[Flossy]

Hi there, it's been a while since I've posted, I looked for an answer before writing without luck! I started tapering from 180mg of cymbalta last June and got down to 60mg , in October I was really struggling to function due to withdrawals so went to see an addiction specialist. He told me I had reduced very fast and that I needed to stop and let my brain adjust. The withdrawals stopped soon after and I felt awesome. It's been 3 months since I stopped reduction and in the last 3 to 4 weeks I have gone back to sweating a lot, I have diarrhea back again, headaches and feeling much like I did back in October. Is it possible for these symptoms to return after a break like that? Does anyone know? If so is there a medical explanation??? I'm also feeling very depleted and low in energy and motivation. I'm not depressed as I've suffered that before. I hardly remember what normal feels like as this has been a 9 year long road, and not an easy one might I add! I just thought someone else may have experienced a similar experience?

[fishinghat]

Yes, many have experienced a recurrent set of symptoms a few months after they had disappeared. These reoccurances usually do not last long though. During this time try not to put too much pressure on yourself. Take it as easy as possible and ride it out.

 

I would like to ask you a question if it is not too personal. If it makes you uncomfortable you do not have to answer.

 

When on cymbalta it is frequently stored in fat tissue (cymbalta is fat soluble/not water soluble). I have often wondered if these bouts of reoccurance happen after periods of weight loss which might release larger amounts of stored cymbalta. Have you had any big losses in weight recently?

 

Hang in there things will get better.

[Flossy]

Thanks for that! I can cope with anything if I know what it is. And no unfortunately i overindulged during the "silly season" and have gained a little

[FiveNotions]

Hi Flossy, great to hear from you again! Yep, I'm with FH, the symptoms can come back for a visit at any time, but they aren't permanent, and they fade oh so gradually over time ... For example, I know exactly what you mean about the sweats ... I've been off the crap for just over a year now, and I still get the sweats every once in a while... and nope, it's not related to "female stuff" as I'm well past that stage/age... it the crapalta sweats that I had constantly while I was on the stuff...

Just ride it out as FH says ... and, when you re-start your tapering process, just remember that the lower you get in dose, the harder it may become ... so go slow, and listen to your body .. (great one I am to give that advice, since I quit cold turkey... but that's what FH, TM and the others here wiser that me always say, so I'm just passing along their wisdom  )

[Flossy]

Great to know, thanks FiveNations! Is reassuring to know it's not permanent and that it's typical. I will absolutely be very cautious and slow once I start to taper again! Wow you must have gone to hell and back going cold turkey! Bloody awful drug, I curse the day I started taking it. To be honest, it's hard to envision myself free of it... Ever! I guess I will master the courage sooner or later and continue to go down. I've become so fearful of feeling so sick from withdrawing, I am dreading it. Hope you are going well and feeling on too of it all now. I envy that place. Still feel as though I don't have full control of my life, not nearly as manic as I was, but still eating a lot and am constantly reminding myself to slow it all down, however I didn't have that insight on 180, so I guess that's progress! Thanks again 💗

[FiveNotions]

Flossy, you've clearly made huge, huge progress! And isn't it amazing to look back and realize how the crap clouded our brains and thinking?

 

There's zero rush for you to start weaning again. You'll know when you're ready ... and as long as you're bead counting, you can control the process ... EquusWoman, who doesn't visit us as often anymore cuz she's got her life back and is living it, had to remove just 1 bead at a time, and sometimes wait days in between removing them ... yes, it took her quite a while to get completely off, but she did it ... and so will you!

 

Please stop by here more often to chat and let us know how you're doing ... I love your posts and your attitude ... and others who are newer arrivals would surely benefit from your experience!

[Flossy]

You have such a reassuring kind nature! Thank you

[FiveNotions]

awww ... you clearly didn't have the "pleasure" of knowing me during the worst of withdrawal ...

[Flossy]

Haha! What doesn't break us......

[thismoment]

Flossy

I cannot add anything material to the excellent advice given by FN and FH.

Always be prepared to level off and wait (the length of the wait is immaterial), just as you did at 60 mg. Go slow, find distractions, and listen to your body.

Take care.

[Flossy]

Just wondered, how long do these withdrawal "flashbacks" typically last? It's been a few weeks! It's challenging to run a business and be a mum whilst feeling sooooo crappy! 😬

[Flossy]

Thismoment, yes distractions definitely help! I find it really hard to get to work, but once I'm there I do forget how yuck I feel! But I really dread that get up / get ready as I feel worse in the mornings.

[TryinginFL]

Flossy,

 

I still have that "hate to get up and get ready" feeling every morning and I am now off the crap for a year!

 

Maybe it has something to do with the fact that I just hate mornings - it's just worse now!

[Flossy]

Yes i am not a morning person either but it's more that I have nausea waves, diarrhea and just feel generally unwell. After having a break from it for 3 months....ish it's now back! For some reason as I've not tapered since October my withdrawal symptoms are back! I have no zest and feel really unwell!

[TryinginFL]

I'm sorry that you are having those nasty effects, Flossy.  Have you tried taking anything for the nausea - ginger/ginger ale or soda crackers?  Also an over the counter med (We have Imodium here) for the diarrhea?

 

I have to admit that I had occasional run ins with this stuff too - on and off - as recently as a month ago, but was able to get through it with OTC meds - I used Pepto-Bismol for the nausea and Imodium for the diarrhea.  It did the trick.  I don't know what is available to you down under.

 

I hope you will be over these nasty things soon - I'm aware that is really difficult when you have the children who need your care as well.

 

I wish you the best...

 

Liz

[Flossy]

Thanks Liz
I hadn't thought of taking something to help with symptoms! I will head to the chemist today 😊

[FiveNotions]

Flossy, is there any chance that this could be stomach acid / anxiety triggered by stomach acid ... "acid reflux" etc... ?

 

The reason I ask is that I was having a similar sensation to what you describe recently ... it lasted for several months, until someone on here mentioned that it could be acid reflux ... no, wait ...  other way around ... someone mentioned that Zantac can help reduce anxiety ... and then we got into a discussion of stomach acid/reflux/GRD as causing anxiety ...

 

Oy, sorry, crapalta brain fart ....

 

Anyway, my point here is this .. I started taking Zantac at night before bed ... and amazing ... no more morning "sensations" ....

 

It's relatively cheap, OTC ... maybe give it a try and see if it helps ... ?

[Flossy]

Hi FiveNations
I don't feel like I have acid reflux! Would I feel pain if I had that? It really feels like the withdrawal that I had previously! I'm hoping it's that and not something more serious! Thanks for the tip though 👍

[Flossy]

You've got me thinking though,
Perhaps some inner health plus or something similar might help! I am familiar with the gaps philosophy, that it's all about the gut fauna! I will definitely get some today, cannot hurt to try!
Thanks again x

[FiveNotions]

well, here's what was fascinating about this for me ... I used to have bad acid reflux (actually, crapalta caused it) ... and that I knew for sure was acid ... but this time around, no ... I wasn't having any noticeable symptoms of the acid ...

 

But, now that I'm taking the zantac at night and feeling so much better in the morning, I'm realizing that the weird stomach sensations, which felt like bad anxiety, may well have been some sort of acid stuff or some other "thing" that the Zantac deals with ...

 

of course, the whole thing could be a "placebo effect" .... just "in my head" ... but that's fine with me ...

[Flossy]

A better diet couldn't hurt either! I just don't seem to have the energy or motivation to get organized with that at the moment, but will try, I've no doubt a little excersise wouldn't hurt the cause either! Haha!

[Flossy]

Definitely worth a try! Did you have diarrhea (if you don't mind me asking) too? If so, did it help with that? I just assume it's connected!

[Flossy]

I just want to feel good! I think it's time to stop complaining and be a little more pro active! I own and run a hair salon as well as being a mother and wife, not easy at the best of times but do..able when I feel well. Almost not possible when I feel like I do. I'm having a day off today as feeling so crappy! Also all of my manic behavior has settled, but my eating is still on steroids! What's with that? I am really consumed with body hate at the moment, not a great place to be! I am still on the 60 of cymbalta, do you think I still could be struggling for that reason? Coming from 180, 60 (from June till October) feels like I'm virtually off it, but I'm probably unaware of what that 60 is still causing. When will this END!!!!! Very frustrated....haha but going to try harder! Definitive moment right here! Hopefully! Haha!

[thismoment]

Flossy
I encountered much nausea, upset, gastro-intestinal issues during withdrawal, and much of it was associated with over-eating, and especially over-eating too close to bedtime. I would lay down with a full stomach and just feel sicker and sicker.

Portion control was a big part of feeling better in discontinuation, for me.

If you are at 60 mg and feeling bad, it's hard to know if you need to decrease or increase the dosage to feel better. If you want off the drug, of course you will have to decrease slowly. Either way, portion control will help a lot. Also I found that not eating between dinner and bedtime was critical.

[Flossy]

I've been on 60 for 4 months now so think I will stick with it. My goal is to be free of cymbalta completely! I truly believe this drug was almost the undoing of me, it has caused me and my family great pain and suffering, I've not been the person/ mother/ wife/ daughter/ sister and friend I would and should have been throughout, I'm not going to lie, I feel robbed, my children are now teens and I was sick or manic or drugged for a lot of their childhoods, thank god for my amazing, incredible, ever loving husband who has held it all together ! To stay on it is not an option. I obviously need to look at my diet! I am eating with not a lot of thought. I will muster my strength and try all of the great suggestions above. Watch this space, I've come too far to be beaten now! I have a lot to get well for! Thank god for you all, it's very reassuring to know you are not by yourself with this and to have people who have gone before me and can offer their experiences is priceless! Thank you 😊

[Flossy]

Another question someone may be able to answer. Has anybody gone into hospital to switch very quickly from cymbalta to something easier to withdraw from? Thinking this could be an option for me as in Australia out health system allows for it if you have private health, which I do! What were the results short and long term if in fact somebody has done this?

[FiveNotions]

Well, the other antidepressants take a couple of weeks or more to ramp up to fully effective in your system, so there's no really "quick and dirty" way to get off Cymbalta, that I know of anyway, by switching to another med ... the quickest, and definitely the dirtiest is to just cold turkey the crap ... and DO NOT do that ... again, I speak from experience ...

 

Do you want to switch to another med for longer term use, or just to ease the crap weaning process?

[Gloria]

I have just gone through the process of quiting Cymbalta. I have tried several times to stop and gave in. I made up my mind in Dec to stop. Several things in mind. I reduced for 3 weeks. By my docs recommendation. I have been off totally for going into my 3rd week now. The first week off. I felt terrible. Heavy drunk hangover feeling in head. Next week. Wonderful. Brain Kapp decreased I started feeling Euphoric. Laughed all the time. Thought this feels like my old self. Happy good days. Well, that had ended
For the last 3 days, I cry at the least little thing. Feel tited. Mean. Snappy. Don't want to do a thing. Cry all the time even when things should be good. Will this go away? If not? I would rather be addicted aND happy and be able to take life
What good is it when all you can say at the end
well at least I was off the meds. Mental illness depression. Ran in my immediate family. Maybe my brain needed alterations. I got alone so well while on Cymbalta .10 years. I don't know what to do. My emotions say call the doc and start back. If it stays this way I know I will.

[TryinginFL]

Welcome, Gloria!

 

We're so happy that you have found us!

 

So you have been off the C. for about 3 weeks now?  What dosage were you on and was it the name brand or generic?  I'm sure that your Dr.'s "help" would have been useless as they know nothing about how to get off this crap. What you are describing is full-blown cold turkey withdrawal.  Your Dr. probably had you taking a dose one day and skipping the next, right?  Since this med has a half life of only 12 hrs, you would be going in and out of cold turkey every other day.

 

I went cold turkey off of 60 mg last Jan. and it was truly the worst year of my life!  The length of time that you have been on it (10 yrs?) and your age seem to have a great affect as to how long and how difficult this will be.  The easiest way to get off of this is bead counting, but since you are already 3 weeks into it, I don't think that you want to reinstate and start weaning.  If so, please let us know and we can help you!

 

On the other side, if you feel that you needed this med for your quality of life, that is another story.  Was it your decision or your Dr.'s to get off of it?  Are you on any other meds?

 

Please let us know how we can help you.  This is a wonderful group of caring and supportive people - I don't know how I would have made it this past year without them!

 

Let us hear from you, please  -  we care and we want to help!