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#1 tberry

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Posted 25 February 2008 - 12:49 PM

I have been trying to get off cymbalta for several months! I tried just taking it when I felt the withdrawl effects kickin in--that didn't work. I tried cold turkey-we all know what that does to you-so obviously that didnt work. Finally I found something that worked and I want to share it with you. I started this less than one month ago and I am completely off now, feeling GREAT, losing the weight-love my life again.

I am no doctor so please don't take this as medical advice in that sense but this worked for me. This was suggested by another person going through the same thing as we all are when trying to ween.

I opened the cymbalta capsule adn visually cut the dosage in half, I didnt count them but eyeballed it, then i took thta half with a prozak-I did that half of cymbalta for one week, while taking the one prozak a day. Then after 7 days, I went down to 1/4 of a Cymbalta, kept with my ONE prozak, then 7 days later went down to an 1/8 of a cymbalta with ONE prozak and then no cymbalta with ONE prozak and then NO PROZAK---I AM OFF BOTH NOW!!! So stinkin easy. I recomend talking to your dr, getting a prescription for prozak-it is worth a shot!!!

#2 bandstarr

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Posted 25 February 2008 - 08:07 PM

Were you on prozac prior to weaning off the cymbalta? What strenght prozac?

#3 schmb01

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Posted 26 February 2008 - 03:47 AM

I'm interested in the dose of Prozac you took as well.

#4 Sarah J

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Posted 26 February 2008 - 07:49 AM

Congratulations - it is hard to not have some envy after the 40 day episode I have just gone through. I do feel much better now, but really could have done without the heartache and confusion withdrawal put me through.

#5 tberry

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Posted 26 February 2008 - 01:38 PM

The dosage was 20 mg.

I did not take Prozak before. I went to the dr b/c we lost our insurance and I could not afford the $140 a month cost of Cymbalta AND I wanted off anyway, so he gave me the scrip for Prozak in hopes that it would be similar enough for me to not notice any withdrawl from Cymbalta. So, after a few days I did start getting withdrawls from Cym so I went back to Cym and a few days later I came across a posting. This lady had gotten a scrip for Prozak AND started the weening from Cym, so I figured it couldn't hurt anymore than the w/d effects would.

I really hope that even one person will try this-safely, with dr approval if you will-this was by far the easiest thing I have done. I really hope it works for you if you try it.

Good luck.

#6 tberry

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Posted 08 March 2008 - 10:22 AM

Hey there. Sorry I didnt see your post earlier, it didnt notify me that there was a reply.

My process was very, very simple.

I started with dividing the 60mg of Cymbalta in half (visually, not counting) and a 20 mg Prozak. I took both at the same time. The thing with the Cymbalta is that those little "beads" do not dissolve well and putting them in yogurt did not do the trick, I simply put them in my mouth and drank a ton of water.

Dividing the cymbalta:
1st week-opened the capsule and put half of the "beads" in one small tupperware container and half in another. I poured the first half in my mouth and drank water, then followed that by the entrire prozak pill.

2nd week-opened the capsule, got out 4 small tupperware containers. Poured 1/4 of the capsule into each container so that each had about the same amount in them. I did that for 8 days since the 2 whole capsules broke down to 8 days worth. Followed by entire Prozak.

3rd week-opened the capsule, got our 8 small tupperware containters. Poured 1/8 of the capsule into each container so that they were all about even. I did not count so this is all visual. Did that for 8 days, with the prozak and then I was done.

I was done after that. I stopped both at the same time. I did not take Prozak before trying this weening process so it really only helped to offset the withdrawl from the Cymbalta.

If anyone has other questions, feel free to IM me at bigdogmohr@yahoo.com

#7 BearJear

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Posted 10 March 2008 - 08:13 PM

I took some of the little beads out... a little more each week.. but had nothing to substitute it with..
Maybe thats the trick.. because i'm doing just as poorly as everyone else.

#8 tberry

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Posted 13 March 2008 - 11:04 AM

Yea-see if you can get a substitue. Low dosage one will probably help

#9 tickedoff

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Posted 19 April 2008 - 07:32 PM

When I was going on Cymbalta the Dr. had me mix the contents of one 30mg capsule into one ounce of water, then drink half the first day and half the second day. After that I took the whole pill. May be this will work going off of it as well. I didn't go off of it that way myself, just started taking it every other day then none at all (4 days now)

#10 Michelle

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Posted 25 April 2008 - 11:11 PM

Right now I'm on 60mg and am trying to get 30mg, then 20mg, then 15mg. At what point should I start the prozac? And what should be the quanity to the prozac?

#11 mamoir

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Posted 26 April 2008 - 11:06 AM

My nurse practitioner used the same technique to get me off Cymbalta. I had been on 40 mg. Cymbalta for 2 months & decided to quit due to incapacitating insomnia + weight gain.

My NP stepped me down to 30 mg. Cymbalta for 2 weeks. Had some bad withdrawal symptoms during that 2 week period, so she gave me 10 days' worth of Prozac (20 mg., once a day). Was supposed to take the Prozac w/ the 30 mg. Cymbalta for 2 days, then cut out the Cymbalta & take Prozac only for 8 days, but I misunderstood & stopped the Cymbalta when I started the Prozac. Even though I didn't follow her directions exactly, it still worked like a charm for me...NO Cymbalta withdrawal symptoms once I started the Prozac!!! I finished the Prozac 3 days ago & still no withdrawal symptoms!! I'm so glad my NP knew what to do!!! Hope this works for anyone else trying it == GOOD LUCK!!

#12 litlrooh

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Posted 11 May 2008 - 03:17 AM

Wow. I was wondering why I felt so incredibly sick this week. Well, I had FORGOTTEN to take the cymbalta for several days!
I was so nauseous, indigestion, fatigued, dizzy, heart rate was up much higher than normal (around 120's)...probably from the norepi component. My hands were shaking. Interestingly, I was craving eggs today, and I've read that eggs can help make you feel better (and they did).

I suffered all day today, and then remembered the cymbalta, took my 60mg, and within an hour I felt great. Must have been c-detox. UGH.

Iam now on a mission. After 10-20 years of afrin abuse (nasal spray otc) I finally got off of that last week. I'm a whole week without afrin now, and I can breathe again (by the way, use prednisone to get off of afrin). Well, this has inspired me to get off of some of the other stuff I take as well. Now that I know I'm going to go through withdrawal, I'm so glad I found this post!!!! I had actually thought about switching to prozac. I'd been on prozac before for several years (maybe 7 or 8) and never had any trouble coming off of that. The reason I stopped taking that was because it just wasn't effective anymore. Anyway, I have some left over. I wish I would have read this before I popped that cymbalta 2 hours ago!

I'm going to try just switching to prozac all at once. I will let you guys know how it goes. I have leftover prozacs, so I took 20mg tonight after taking the 60 of cymbalta. Now I'm going to wait and see how long it takes before I start feeling symptoms, and then take another 20 of prozac if necessary, without the cymbalta. I bet you don't even have to go through the whole 4 weeks of weaning since one ssri can sub for another one (though the dosages probably need to be tweaked some). If anyone else decides to try this, I would definitely recommend talking to your doc first. I've already been without cymbalta for 4 days and then it wasn't consistant before that either, so I know what to expect.

One other thing. I've always had some level of depression....my whole life. The ONLY time I felt really good was when I was physically fit. But that was a long time ago. Well, about 3 weeks ago, I started doing a run/walk cycle. Run 1 minute, walk 5 and repeat 5 times. I felt SO GOOD, like my mind and body were finally INTEGRATED. So, my plan is to not take anymore antidepressants, and exercise instead.

I know not everyone can do that. I'm one of the luckier ones (or else I'm just in denial). And even though I *can* exercise, I have to be very very careful. (I take narcotics is because of chronic pain due to inoperable disc injuries at multiple levels in my neck. I've done all the other treatments with no successful pain relief.) But for those that can exercise, its probably a far better option than these horrible drugs with their side effects and withdrawals.

#13 Sarah J

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Posted 11 May 2008 - 08:55 AM

I'm going to try just switching to prozac all at once. I will let you guys know how it goes. I have leftover prozacs, so I took 20mg tonight after taking the 60 of cymbalta. Now I'm going to wait and see how long it takes before I start feeling symptoms, and then take another 20 of prozac if necessary, without the cymbalta. I bet you don't even have to go through the whole 4 weeks of weaning since one ssri can sub for another one (though the dosages probably need to be tweaked some). If anyone else decides to try this, I would definitely recommend talking to your doc first. I've already been without cymbalta for 4 days and then it wasn't consistant before that either, so I know what to expect.

But for those that can exercise, its probably a far better option than these horrible drugs with their side effects and withdrawals.

Some notes from Dr. Ivan Goldberg
Subject: Antidepressant discontinuation reactions

The administration of a single 20 mg capsule of fluoxetine usually does the job. The withdrawal symptoms are relieved within hours and the patient goes through a slow fluoxetine withdrawal that is usually symptomless. If the individual had been on a high dose of paroxetine or venlafaxine, a second 20 mg of of fluoxetine may be needed.

Six guidelines to reduce "discontinuation syndrome" or as we all know it, reducing withdrawal (what it really is), the first one recommends a SINGLE dose of Prozac.
http://depression.ab... ... drawal.htm

liltrooh - many people can get through the Cymbalta withdrawal with the Prozac with just one or two doses of it. You mentioned battling depression for years, so if you are feeling badly when you start this process, you know to go to your doc. Hopefully, it works for you.

Good luck with the exercise, it does help. And with the withdrawal, let us all know how it works out for you.

#14 litlrooh

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Posted 11 May 2008 - 01:04 PM

Thank you doctor. I appreciate your response. I'm very proud of myself this week. Out of 4 addictive drugs, I've come off of 3: Afrin, Vicodin, and Cymbalta (assuming this will work, and I'm sure it will). The last one is MS Contin. (I take narcotics for disc problems in my neck that have failed all other conservative pain relief techniques but I find that I end up taking the vicodin because of the vic withdrawal more than for the oritinal pain). I'm going to stay on the MS Contin until I am physically fit again, and then try to stop that as well.

#15 litlrooh

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Posted 11 May 2008 - 01:05 PM

OOPS! Sorry Sarah, here I thought a doc had posted his own notes LOL. Thank you for the info. Its very encouraging!

#16 Sarah J

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Posted 11 May 2008 - 01:16 PM

I'm very proud of myself this week. Out of 4 addictive drugs, I've come off of 3: Afrin, Vicodin, and Cymbalta (assuming this will work, and I'm sure it will). The last one is MS Contin. (I take narcotics for disc problems in my neck that have failed all other conservative pain relief techniques but I find that I end up taking the vicodin because of the vic withdrawal more than for the oritinal pain). I'm going to stay on the MS Contin until I am physically fit again, and then try to stop that as well.

You should be very proud of yourself. Sorry that you have back problems, it sucks. I have herniated lower discs. I go to pilates and it really helps. Instead of feeling like I want somebody to rip it out of my back every day, I only feel that way about 5 days out of a year. That is another story, and not why I took Cymbalta, which was for situational depression.
Be proud of yourself for your accomplishments to date. Be well.

OOPS! Sorry Sarah, here I thought a doc had posted his own notes LOL. Thank you for the info. Its very encouraging!

No way am I a doctor, I just put in the pertinent quote from the link I gave you, which was posted by a doctor (well, we can only assume, this is the internet!) But if you search out this method of weaning, switching to Prozac from an SNRI (Cymbalta, Effexor) you can find this information on several other sites that are maintained by doctors and also, many people here had their educated doctors realize that this was a gentler way to get off of this stuff.
Best of luck to you, hope it works and let us know!

#17 racefan

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Posted 11 May 2008 - 01:57 PM

Congratulations!

FYI: I am taking Lexapro to counteract the withdrawal of Cymbalta. I am on day 6 of Lexapro and I feel good!

I was off of Cymbalta for 1.5 - 2 weeks before I started the Lexapro. I felt terrible. This week I will stop the Lexapro. Hopefully I will still feel good.

#18 shanban

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Posted 08 June 2008 - 02:27 PM

I thank God that I found this page online. I just switched jobs and therefore lost my insurance and my new job does not offer medical insurance because the office is so small. I am currently taking 60mg of cymbalta and I cannot afford to purchase the medication any longer. I have a few sample bottles of 30mg left and I am going to follow the advice on here and taper off with the 30mg Cymbalta I have left and then take a 10mg of prozac (i didn't have a Rx for the prozac but I just now went online and purchased 90 10mg pills from a website for online $17.00!) So as soon as I get the pills I will start my weening process. I going to try to be optomistic that this process will work for me as well. I went thru an excrutiating withdrawal process several years ago when I was taking Paxil. I was told to taper off with wellbutrin and for me, that didn't work. So I ended up quitting cold turkey (which I don't advise) but it took me 3 weeks to recover. I was so sick and the only thing that helped me was to SLEEP constantly to keep from being dizzy, nauseated, etc.
I found the following article online and I wanted to share it with you all. These are just a few suggestions to try out if this one doesn't happen to work for you....

The following are some possible methods to alleviate uncomfortable discontinuation symptoms that are often experienced when an antidepressant is stopped. These are not meant to constitute medical advice, but are rather ideas from practicing psychopharmacologists that you can discuss with your own physician. You should never discontinue a medication without your doctor's consent and guidance.

1. A Single Dose of Prozac (Fluoxetine)
According to Dr. Ivan Goldberg: "The administration of a single 20 mg capsule of fluoxetine usually does the job. The withdrawal symptoms are relieved within hours and the patient goes through a slow fluoxetine withdrawal that is usually symptomless. If the individual had been on a high dose of paroxetine or venlafaxine, a second 20 mg of of fluoxetine may be needed."
2. Benedryl (Diphenhydramine)
Benedryl (diphenhydramine) is an over the counter allergy medication that has been reported to help with discontinuation symptoms.
3. Taper Off Slowly
Gradually decreasing your dosage over an extended period of time is preferable to quitting "cold turkey".
4. Switch to an SSRI or Effexor (If Already Using an SSRI)
From Dr. Ivan Goldberg: "There is no risk of such withdrawal symptoms when going between SSRIs or between an SSRI and venlafaxine. You can go from fluoxetine to just about anything, but an MAOI, and not worry because of that drugs long t-1/2."
5. Use Prozac as Your Antidepressant
Because Prozac has a very long half-life, extreme withdrawal symptoms are unlikely with it. There is a built in "tapering off" by virtue of the fact that it leaves your body so slowly.
6. Keep a Regular Schedule with Dosing
Certain antidepressants, such as Effexor, may cause withdrawal symptoms even if you are slightly late with a scheduled dose. Keeping a regular schedule can help you avoid these symptoms.


GOOD LUCK TO YOU ALL~
:arrow: ShanBan-OKLAHOMA

#19 shanban

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Posted 10 June 2008 - 06:32 PM

I also wanted to add, that I forgot that I had a bottle of Wellbutrin that my doctor had prescribed to me to get off of Cymbalta, and I have been taking 300mg tabs (1pill) a day along with 1 30mg cymbalta capsule (i had previously been taking 60mg of Cym) anyhow, today is the 3rd day and I feel pretty good. Next week I am going to split my 30mg cym capsule in half along with the wellbutrin and see how I feel.
I'll update later!

-Shannon- OKlahoma

#20 shanban

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Posted 02 July 2008 - 03:20 PM

Ok so I finally received my "prozac" I ordered online from overseas to try this...this is my second day to try the prozac/cymbalta thing and well it's not working. I don't know if I am "weening" correctly with the correct dosages or what but I would love some feedback as to what I should do. The wellbutrin did NOT help me either. i'm running out of options here!

-Shannon :|

#21 winbylosing

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    need advice

Posted 02 June 2010 - 08:42 AM

Does anyone know if substituting with Welbutrin might work the same as Prozac? or should I wean myself from Welbutrin first? I have only been on both for 6 months.

Thanks!

#22 minority

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    My daughter needs to come off Cymbalta.

Posted 02 June 2010 - 06:57 PM

I am new to cymbalta. What is the difernece or why would you switch to prozac to get off one drug? Arent you now going to have the same problem getting off prozac?


Hi

Coming off Prozac does not cause too many problems for most people. The idea is that while you are weaning off Cymbalta, taking Prozac at the same time helps with the withdrawal symptoms. Once you are off Cymbalta and free from withdrawal symptoms, you can stop taking Prozac as well. If you only take the starting dose of 20 mg, there is no need to taper it off, you just stop. Because Prozac has a longer half-life, it stays in your system for a while (about a week or so) even after you stop taking it, so coming off it is gentle - it does the 'dose-lowering' all by itself, so to speak. Cymbalta's half-life is very short and that's why the withdrawal symptoms can be so bad - with it, you need to do the dose-lowering yourself.

minority



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