25 replies to this topic

[sanctuarie]

I feel every topic I've read in here, or at least i think i do. I don't know, I'm just so darn confused. I think I'm losing my mind. I have these brain zaps throughout the day, every few minutes, then maybe half hour or so break, then back again. I'm nauseous about 90% of the time, I have this unbearable pressure pain feeling behind my eyes (like the bad fever type pain, sans fever), and am so lightheaded & confused.
I was trying to watch tv today, I was watching one of these reality shows, with fishing boats... it took me 5 minutes to think of the word "tangled", trying to ask my bf "what happened, did they get their nets tangled"? It was 5 minutes before I could finish that sentence, because I couldn't think of the word tangled. This happens at least 10 times a day, where I can't complete sentences because I can't think of a word. WTH is happening to me? All of these things are getting worse & worse every day. I haven't been able to work. I'm lightheaded, feeling like I'm in another world, and keep getting bouts of vertigo.
This weird feeling like I'm shaking, although to look at me, you would not actually see me physically shaking. It's like my mind is shaking..?
I have a high profile job, and it's my job to think.
I've tried to go into the office, and I end up having to leave because either I'm too dizzy, too nauseous, or even worse, I just start randomly crying with no provocation. Oh, did i mention the uncontrollable crying for hours on end? - until my head is pounding so hard from crying, I take an ambien & try to go to sleep. Nothing I've tried helps the headaches, motrin, tylenol, aspirin, excedrin, even norco gives me no relief.
This is scaring the bejesus out of me, wondering if my mind is just going to continue to deteriorate until I'm just a blubbering bowl of jelly.
And because I've been getting so much worse every day, I can see no light at the end of this frightening tunnel.
My mind is going, dave... i can feel it....
So to go back a few months... I was on 60 mg/day of torrent duloxetine (not sure if that matters), generic cymbalta.
I was on it for depression. It was working fine, however since I've been taking it (about a year and a half), I've had this noise in my head... like loud static. Sounds like white noise on the tv, turned up to 20. I have had trouble not necessarily "hearing", but understanding what I'm hearing, and almost every instance have to say "what?" "Pardon me?" Etc... I also cannot watch tv without the close xaption, regardless of how loud i turn it up.
So I called my dr, and told him that i think it's the cymbalta, and can i please switch to something else.
He said no problem, and had me taper off cymbalta & taper onto "lamictal".
So i went to a taper of minus 10mg/wk (50x7, 40x7, 30x7, then 20x7, then off). My last pill was on the 11th (1/11/15). I am 9 days off, and yes, in day-worsening hell.
I started taking the lamictal during the last days of the cymbalta. 3 days after the cymbalta was over, the bad withdrawal effects kicked in, and I was convinced it had to be new side effects from lamictal! So I refused to take it anymore. I called my dr, he agreed to give me something else. He tried to tell me that what I was feeling was probably withdrawal, but I wouldn't listen, my mind was made up - I never ever wanted to feel this bad again, and insisted that he give me something else. Little did i know that what now seemd to be a *tiny* bit of discomfort 3 days out would spiral into this horrid place I am in now.
Oh, did I mention the endless babbling on I've been doing as well? [grin]
By saturday I was in what I thought were the full throws of this, and by now know it couldn't have been the lamictal, having only been on it for a few days. So I went online, and found that I was indeed experiencing 19 out of 20 of the Cymb withdrawal symptoms I read about.
(Oh, plus! As an added bonus, the whole reason I stopped it, and I still have the white noise in my head, but now even louder)
So, my dr now switched me to effexor. Luckily for me, my pharmacy was out of it! Because when I looked that one up over the weekend, it said withdrawals from that could be almost as bad as the cymbalta!
Ring ring again to the dr... I'm NOT gonna take that either! I told him that years ago I took welbutrin, and the only reason they took me off & switched me to cymb was because the welb caused a little anxiety.
I can handle a little anxiety. What I cannot handle is even the thought of ever ever, ever, going through this again in my lifetime.

OMG help.
Please.

I have 3 / 20mg cymbaltas left, and am battling the idea of taking one every other day 3 times.... will this help?
Or just prolong the agony?
I am dreading day 10 tomorrow.
What to do.... ?
If anyone has been able to make it through this babble of a message to the end...
any advice?

Ugh... is there any chance this will not go away, and I'm going to be like this forever?

Straining to think....

[sanctuarie]

Oh oops, (just when u thought I was done rambling) I completely forgot about the prozac! My dr reccomended to just take a little dash of prozac on top of the welbutrin for a short time, to help with the cymbalta withdrawal.
Any experience with this working/helping? (btw, I am also in the over 50 crowd)

[lady2882Nancy]

I had to use a low dose of Zoloft to get over the Cymbalta so yes I would go for it since your doctor suggested it.

I jumped off at 15 mg and was like you and the side effects lasted for weeks then later I finally went on the Zoloft and within 2 days felt much better so go for it. This is hard enough for those of us over 50 why not make it easier if it can be.

Take care of you

[sanctuarie]

Wow, really? In 2 days you felt better?
are you still on zoloft?
If not, was there a bad w/d from that?

[Flossy]

What about benzos to get through this horrific time! Ask your doctor, hopefully he/she would advise you to take them short term (safe in small doses short term) to hopefully get you through the worst of the withdrawals! Then you will be a lot clearer to make the right decision long term. If advised to take Prozac to help, I would do it as is a lot easier to come off than cymbalta! You've obviously got a dr with little understanding of the awful withdrawals of this dangerous drug as tapering so fast is just cruel. I hope you feel better soon 😔

[sanctuarie]

In think I've got benzos, if they're what I'm thinking of. .. I have a bottle of ativan and pretty sure a bottle of xanax. I think i even have some klonopin.
I've taken them briefly in the past for anxiety (ativan/xanax), and used to take klonopin for sleep (before i tried ambien, much better next day, no hangover feeling)...
I remember with both the ativan and the xanax i hated the way they made me feel so groggy... I'm already so lightheaded & out of it, the thought of taking something that might intensify thay is scary to me. I'm sure some might find that feeling a relief, I'm looking more to find relief in just getting more clear-headed & lifting this constant "haze" I'm in.
Do you think that the prozac will make me feel altered like that benzo family? I didn't even think to ask the dr that when he reccomended it. I'm supposed to pick up that & the welbutrin & start tomorrow. What do you think?
Do you think zoloft would be better?

[lady2882Nancy]

Hey Sanctuarie

 

No I was able to go off the Zoloft after about 6 weeks and it was easy to get off it.

 

I would be careful with the Benzos and yes that includes Ativan/Xanax, as they are very addictive and the withdrawal from those can be far worse than most people realize. There are other non-addictive meds to try before resorting to benzos. Also benzos can cause depression which you don't need to add to this mess.

 

Each antidepressant works similar but how it works can be different for different people. Your doc must feel this would be best for you so I would give it a try. I was already off Cymbalta for awhile but still having problems with the effects from it and from stopping it that it had on me when I took a low dose of Zoloft. BUT since that time I have talked to others who have cross tapered and they had much less problems with Cymbalta withdrawals when they took a different antidepressant after (as long as it isn't Effexor which is awful to get off of too).

 

So in my opinion going to another antidepressant first for awhile and then tapering off it later is the best and easiest way. But that is just my opinion.

 

Take care of you

[thismoment]

Hi sanctuarie

 

Medications discussed--

Lamotrigine (Lamictal)- anti-convulsive, epilepsy

Duloxetine (Cymbalta)- SNRI

Sertraline (Zoloft)- SSRI

Venlafaxine (Effexor)- SNRI

Flouxetine (Prozac)- SSRI

Buprobion (Wellbutrin)- antidepressant/stimulant

Lorazepam (Ativan)- benzodiazepine

Alprazolam (Xanax)- benzodiazepine

Clonazepam (Klonopin)- benzodiazepine

Zolpidem (Ambien)- nonbenzodiazepine hypnotic

 

Clearly you are in discontinuation from Cymbalta. Surely the root of the withdrawal issue was caused by the doctor giving you that ludicrous (50x7, 40x7, 30x7, then 20x7, then off) regimen. That's called cold-turkey with steps.

 

Don't mess with those few Cymbalta caps you have left unless you intend to re-instate on Cymbalta; it will just put you in-and-out of yo-yo withdrawal (after 10 days the Duloxetine is 99.9% out of your system).

 

You can attempt to chase the symptoms away with another drug, and that may work if you give it time to upload (6-8 weeks typically for a SSRI). You could try to re-instate on Cymbalta and then wean off that over 3-4 months and that can work too-- or you can continue cold-turkey and weather the storm. If you choose cold turkey, select the benzodiazepine that works the best for your anxiety and get rid of the rest (dispose of medications at the pharmacy). Use the benzo strictly as-needed-- otherwise, if taken every day, at some point you will have to withdraw from that too. 

 

Surely the goal has to be quality of life, and only the individual can determine what that means. It's so difficult to know what direction to take with regard to medications when you are in the middle of a horrendous withdrawal; how can the patient alone solve it? The medical team must be pro-active, not reactive.

 

I think the first thing to do is acknowledge that this is discontinuation. It will ease after some weeks and gradually get easier after some months. 

 

Take care.

[sanctuarie]

Hey Nancy,
yes, i will go ahead with the short dose of prozac, and hope that helps.
i am well aware of how addictive the benzos can be, i have had my share of drug addiction, and no, it is not fun. But still, nothing like this.
I'd take a good old fashioned opiate withdrawal instead of Cymbalta!
(trying to keep a little humor here)
Anyway, another day, another million zaps....
Thanks for your kind words Nancy!

[sanctuarie]

Hi Moment,
What a great post!
Interesting, concise, great info, right to the point. Thank you!
I agree, if its already 99% out of my system, why reintroduce it? I will not mess with the few cymbaltas I have left, I will get rid of those.
As far as taking Benzos, add I said in my prev post, I really don't want to take something that's going to cloud me up even more. That is what I'm afraid of with taking any benzo. I really need to clear my head & have some cognitive thought.
So, if was I understanding you correctly, that if I go ahead & take the prozac to help with these withdrawals, that just for the prozac to start to help with thhese symptoms I'm having, that it's going to take 8 weeks?
Is that right?
Because if it's going to take 8 weeks for the prozac to help with the withdrawal, I may as well just go without it, won't I be better after 8 weeks anyway??
(Omg panicking a little here...)
Or are u saying even after 8 more weeks I'm still going to be deep within the throws of this....??

Two more quick questions...;
Does it sound right that I seem to wake up fine, and then the w/d gets worse & worse throughout the day, until by the evening, I'm just a complete mess....? I wake up in the morning thinking I'm so much better, and then within the next hour or two, I'm feeling lightheaded, dizziness, eye pain, confusion, zap after zap after zap, then by about hour 3 I've got full on nausea which lasts the rest of the day. But then I wake up next day and feel great in the beginning, and then it starts all over. Every day they just get more intense. Omg, sorry! Long question short; Is it normal to wake up at a 0/1 every day & symptoms get worse throughout the day/night, being at a 10 by bedtime?

2nd q; I was also taking omeprazole (prilosec prescription strength) at the time I was taking the cymbalta. I read that they should not be taken together "omeprazole oral will decrease the level or effect of duloxetine oral by altering drug metabolism."
So I stopped the omeprazole a few days before I had finished the cymb taper... do u think this had any effect at all on the w/d symptoms? Better or worse for it?
And since the omeprazole decreases the effect of the cymbalta, an I crazy to think if I start taking it again right now (the omepreazole), that it might help?
I'm so foggy already, it's hard to know what are reasonable thoughts anymore!
Thanks again for your help!

[fishinghat]

Welcome S

 

You have got some great advice here already. I would only add a couple things. One, Prozac takes 6 to 8 weeks to fully kick in.

Two, Omepreazole interfers with the action of the Cymbalta but should not affect your withdrawal. It should not be taken with any ssri or snri, including Prozac. Usually they recommend Zantac 150.

 

I know things are tough. We have all been there. Just hang tight. It will get better.

[thismoment]

sanctuarie

 

"How long does it take for Prozac to work?

Sleep, energy, or appetite may show some improvement within the first 1-2 weeks. Improvement in these physical symptoms can be an important early signal that the medicine is working. Depressed mood and lack of interest in activities may need up to 6-8 weeks to fully improve."

-Provided by the College of Psychiatric and Neurologic Pharmacists

 

The reason to re-introduce (regardless of whether it's out of your system or not) is to alleviate the symptoms and enable you to withdraw more slowly, more comfortably-- I didn't mean to indicate that there's much significance to the drug being out of your system, there isn't-- discontinuation symptoms often persist for months after it's out of your body.

 

"Because if it's going to take 8 weeks for the prozac to help with the withdrawal, I may as well just go without it, won't I be better after 8 weeks anyway??"

 

The Prozac could start to alleviate the discontinuation symptoms before 6 weeks, but it's impossible to put a timeline on it-- everybody reacts differently; you may not even be compatible with flouxetine (Prozac). You will have to try it and see. Will you be better after 8 weeks? Yes you'll be better than you are now, but you'll likely still be experiencing some unpleasant discontinuation considering your 1.5 years of exposure. Will you still be "deep within the throws of this"? Perhaps not deep, but still within the effects of discontinuation, yes.

 

Waking up somewhat neutral and than having the symptoms ramp up throughout the day is pretty standard-- late in the day and early evening was the worst time of the day for me, especially for the anxiety aspect. Anxiety and darkness seem to go together.

 

The interaction level between Omeprazole and Duloxetine is low-- not insignificant, but low-- it affects the enteric coating on the Duloxetine and could cause early release of the drug. My guess is that it had little or no effect on the symptoms you are experiencing-- but I don't know.

 

Please know that what you are experiencing is totally NORMAL for discontinuation; you're not crazy and you're not going crazy!

[sanctuarie]

Thanks so much thismoment... can I just call u "mom" for short? (smile)
A lot of really good info, I appreciate your help more than you know!
Finally feeling a little less gloom & doom.

So since the prozac is only temporary, and being used *solely* for the purpose of alleviating the wd, in your opinion do you think it's even worth starting it?

I'm starting the wellbutrin today for the depression, I've taken it before, and know it works for that(for me anyway).... I've been taking compazine the past week, and it's doing nothing for the nausea, so I'm going to try zofran today.
The pharmacy said they had 4 things ready, I'm not sure what the 4th one is, unless its just another dosage of the wellbutrin, I know thats a taper-on as well. Maybe he just gave me 2 diff strengths.

The interaction level between Omeprazole and wellbutrin, do u think that is sig. enough to switch?

Thanks again SO much for your & everyones help!

btw... on another note, I had followed that link for that law office with the cymb cases, and filled out my info (last night) they already called me back! First question; were u taking generic? Yes I was....
Sorry! They only take name brand Cymbalta cases, something about since 2009 bla bla bla.... stopped listening by that point.
I don't know why there would be a difference, it's all the exact same drug, right? Brought about by one company....?
Oh well... I've got more important things to worry about right now....

Thanks again!

[thismoment]

Hi sanctuarie

 

I can't say if you should start the Prozac.

 

Your case is somewhat atypical. Good results have been reported when Prozac is used to piggyback off Cymbalta. But typically, the patient is still taking Cymbalta and then the Prozac is added on top. After 4 weeks or so, the Cymbalta is tapered off over a period of perhaps 6 weeks. The patient remains on the Prozac and after a period of stability, the patient is then slowly weaned off the Prozac.

 

Glad to hear you're having a better day!

 

All of these drugs take time to come fully on stream, and it's easy to create confusion by adding, changing, and stopping meds before they have time to work. The hazard is this-- you get to a place where you don't know what's causing what because some meds are ramping up, some down, and you could be having withdrawal from more than one med at the same time. Keep it simple if you are able.

 

There is no listed interaction between Omeprazole and Bupropion (Wellbutrin), but the list of interactions isn't foolproof. For this kind of info see drugs.com

 

Yes I understand the law suit is about Cymbalta, the Eli Lilly brand name. There IS a difference between the brand name and the generic because not all of the formulation is released to the generic producers. Some elements of the drug formulation are retained under different patents. Duloxetine is the main drug, but its release mechanism may be under a separate and protected patent. Many people who have used both versions claim they act differently; I don't have any experience in this aspect.

 

Take care.

[lady2882Nancy]

Hi sanctuarie

 

Obviously since I have been away from the forum for awhile, my opinion is overlooked. But I do have the experience in using an antidepressant with a long half life (Prozac for you, Zoloft for me) to deal with the side effects of getting off an antidepressant with a short half life (Cymbalta). I was already well off the Cymbalta (12 weeks) when I took the Zoloft and the side effects I was still experiencing went away within days. This is about regulating the chemicals in your brain so that it can function. In hindsight I wish I had tried the Zoloft much earlier so that I had not suffered for so long but like many I was against any and all antidepressants (there are many like that on forums like these). I have since learned that some meds are necessary.

 

The reason I stopped posting over a year ago was due to the activation of Mixed Episode Bipolar caused by Cymbalta (I didn't know I was bipolar I thought I was just moody lol). Now I spend more time in depression than any other mood state. If your doctor suggested it I think it is a good idea since you are suffering. AND the 6 - 8 weeks they are talking about is for dose loading not short term use to assist with withdrawal from the other (in this case Cymbalta) antidepressant which is why I suspect your doctor gave you the Prozac for. Prozac is easy to stop later and you should know within a couple of days if it is helping and it won't make things worse.

 

I do have issues with the pushing of Benzos though and I will freely admit that as I became horribly dependent on one and it wasn't even working for me anymore. After a gradual taper off I still had over a year of sweating them off, insomnia and really weird dreams when I could sleep. Horrible things those Benzos are.

 

Anyway I just wanted to encourage you and say drink lots of water, take your vitamins and omega 3 - they do help.

 

Take care of you

[sanctuarie]

Hi Nancy,

>>Obviously since I have been away from the forum for awhile, my opinion is overlooked.

 

Did I miss something you said? I certainly didn't mean to overlook you..?

I appreciate everything you said, and as I mentioned to you earlier, I went ahead with the prozac.  I picked it up today, I got a bottle of 10mg (#30) , to be taken as follows; 1/2 a pill by mouth for 3 days, 1 for 3 days, 1 1/2 for 3 days, 2 for 3 days, then reverse it - 1 1/2 for 3 days, 1 for 3 days, then 1/2 for 3 days.  

I kind of love that they put "by mouth". Do they think I may decide to shove it up my bum instead? Sounds like great fun, but I think I'll do as they say & stick to my mouth! {grin} (hey, we have to at least try to keep a sense of humor, right?)

 

I also got wellbutrin 150 & 300, to take 150 for 7 days, then follow with 300 daily (again, with the mouth :-)

And finally zofran 8mg odt, which is doing *nothing* for my nausea.

 

Anyone have any advise for alleviating this horrid nausea that won't seem to go away?

 

I've been taking multi vitamins w/iron, calcium supplements, biotin, c, and because I've been around flu-ey people, zicam & airbourne (loaded with c as well, and knock on wood - no flu for me yet - and my bf's had it twice in the last month!)  

Per your advice Nancy, I am taking omega 3 as I am writing this!  Should I take just what's suggested on the bottle (2), or a little more?

 

Had the worst headache to date today, and it's still raging.  Nothing helps, really painful ache behind my eyes.  Even tried tylenol sinus, just in case it was sinus-related, and still no relief.... *sigh*

Geez... in pill-popping hell today!   

 

Nancy - I'm so happy you shared, at least I have something to shoot for!  "Nancy's 2 day zoloft feeling better stage".... crossing my fingers for that!

btw - why did you stop the zoloft, being so depressed?  Did it not help with the depression...? Is there nothing they can give you to help??

[lady2882Nancy]

Hey sanctuarie

 

Sorry about the comment - that was just a little of my sarcasm coming through and it wasn't aimed at you at all.

 

I take 3000mg a day but more importantly I take the omega 3 that is high in DHA not the EPA. It is best if you can find one without EPA at all. Most are labeled as Omega-3 Calm. It is the DHA which helps to calm anxiety and stress.

 

As for stopping the Zoloft well let's just say that Cymbalta made me depressed or mixed episode and want to do away with myself and the Zoloft made me manic and ready to do away with anyone who irritated me which was just about everyone. So although Zoloft got ride of all the side effects I couldn't stay on it until they got my moods stabilized. That's another thing that is difficult to do in the over 50 crowd. At least the weird zaps, anxiety etc went away and didn't come back when I got off the Zoloft. I'm hoping that things will stabilize long enough for me to go back on to deal with the depression I get now as it is pretty dark.

 

Funny because I managed to support myself and raise my daughter all on my own before and now can't manage to keep my own house clean never mind work outside the home. Thankfully my sweet Hubbie of 4 years takes good care of me and has given me the time to heal as much as possible. These days when we talk it is broken down to the before Cymbalta period and the after Cymbalta period. I also have PTSD but that is a whole other story and not related to the Cymbalta at all.

 

Take care and I'm looking forward to hearing how you are doing.

[FiveNotions]

Lady Nancy, what you said -- "these days when we talk it is broken down to the before Cymbalta period and the after Cymbalta period" -- just made me break down and cry ...

not a bad cry, just the tears of recognition ... that is how I now view, understand, and talk about my life ... and it's why I'm no longer able to maintain relationships with those I knew before Cymbalta, or during it ... except for the one dear precious friend who stuck with me ...

and this is one, of the many, reasons why I stay close to this forum and my friends here ... because this is the only place where saying "before Cymbalta and after the Cymbalta period" is immediately understood ...

what you said, and how you phrased it, clarified for me what I've been struggling to articulate ... my life has 3 periods ... it used to be youth, middle age, and old (well, older than 50) age ...

Now, my life is measured by "before Cymbalta, during Cymbalta, and after Cymbalta" ...

Talk about life-altering ...

[fishinghat]

FN

 

"...and it's why I'm no longer able to maintain relationships with those I knew before Cymbalta, or during it ... except for the one dear precious friend who stuck with me ..."

 

They were fair weather freinds only FN. You are still very rich to have even one freind who will stick by you during times like those.
 

[TryinginFL]

FN and FH,

 

I understand the relationship reference, as I have found myself in the same place.  I was about 6 months off the crap when I completely stopped a relationship with a friend who I found out was a narcissist.  While on the drug, I was totally unaware - that numbness again.  As time went on, I became more settled with the decision I made and now I am so happy I did it!

 

I am looking for a completely different relationship these days and even though I am often lonely, I realize that my life is so less complicated!   Such a strange realization...

 

Life after is really different!

[sanctuarie]

Wait a minute, wait a minute, WAIT a minute!

 

You are all now talking about this "before" and "after" cymbalta, as if life is permanently destroyed after having used the drug.  

Is this the case?  Are you all telling me that I will never get over this?  This will never go away?

That's it, this is my life now?

Or are you saying it might go away somewhat, but it will now, post-cymbalta, always be there to some degree?

 

Seriously - that thought alone makes me want to go crawl under a rock & die.

 

I was under the impression that I will "get better" and these symptoms will "go away"...???  That's what people keep saying...?

It's hard enough to think, I'm having an especially bad brain day today, along with zaps, pain, nausea, now my vision is blurry today (something new), so I'm having trouble understanding things period. I don't know what to think about this now....??

omg

[thismoment]

I totally agree about the BC and AC. There are several BC and DC (during) friends that I cannot contemplate conversing with now. Like every experience, Cymbalta changes your brain-- but in a profound (not necessarily bad) way.

And as we have discussed and alluded to so many times, Discontinuation has no distinct or concretely palpable end. It just fades until it occupies less and less of your mental bandwidth.

It's not a coincidence that some people refer to being on-- or having been on-- antidepressants as being "inside" the world of antidepressants. The often-used expression from Hotel California (you can check out any time you like, but you can never leave) isn't simply a humorous metaphor-- it has a lot of truth in it.

One simply has to move forward with what one has. You can't travel to the past and put on the coat of a former mind state.

[fishinghat]

Sanc

 

The Cymbalta does alter the nerves in the amagdala and hippocampus. When the Cymbalta is gone these nerves have to learn how to react all over again. No one in the medical community knows if these changes are permanent or not. The withdrawal symptoms do improve. Do they go entirely away? They do for some but not for many others. It seems the older patients and obese patients have the hardest times getting fully recouped. Some never do. As this moment often says you just ride it out and see where you land. Cymbalta withdrawal or not, you can't go through this type of intense stress without some effect on your personality. Someday you will land on your feet again but it may not be the exact same you.

[thismoment]

I agree with LadyNancy, FN, and FH on this.

 

"Someday you will land on your feet again but it may not be the exact same you." Indeed; in fact it cannot possibly be the exact same you.

 

I don't view any of this as negative; it's just the way it is.

[thismoment]

LadyNancy

 

I think it was I who appeared to have 'overlooked' something you posted. If I offended you I apologize-- I assure you that was not my intent.

 

When there's something in a previous post of which I have no knowledge, I don't comment on it. However my subsequent post may consist of a different opinion or a different perspective, and it's not offered as a rebuttal or a critique of the previous post.

 

I am honoured to work with you here, and I acknowledge your experience and your valuable insights.

[lady2882Nancy]

Hey sanctuarie

 

Don't panic!!!!

 

There are lots of people who don't have any problems after a time on Cymbalta. In fact most don't despite what you are seeing on this site.

 

When I came back I checked up on a few that were withdrawing at the same time as I was and they are doing great. My own brother, who is older than me, was on Cymbalta for depression and had no problem coming off it using another antidepressant which he is now off of too.

 

I used to panic whenever I would hear that someone was going to take Cymbalta but now I realize that although the makers were not honest and upfront about some of the possible side effects and difficulties in withdrawing not everyone is "forever changed" by it lol.

 

Like Effexor it is an awful drug to discontinue for some and once again a larger percentage than reported but you should be fine as you have a doctor who is willing to work with you, which is more than some who struggle with this have or had.

 

Again don't panic

 

Take care of you