7 replies to this topic

[Shouldclean]

Hello, I have a concern. Over a years time I weaned from 60 mg to 0. I was due to finish the end of January and was weighing the microscopic beads of 20 mg pills. I was in so much muscle pain that my husband suggested I go cold turkey, which I did on Christmas Day. My pain almost immediately was cut by 75%. I also had dizziness and tinnitus. I got the flu in January and was on an antibiotic and iced on NyQuil and DayQuil. The withdrawal symptoms seemed to subside during this time. They came back late February and now I am concerned I actually have fibro which was being masked. I also have anxiety in the morning and don't sleep like I used to on Cymbalta, which is probably a good thing. My question is, how long might pain from withdrawal last? I was on the poison for years, maybe 5-6. I am trying gluten free and cutting down on sugar. I do not want to go back on Cymbalta but this pain, if permanent, is affecting my quality of life. :-(

[gail]

Hello Shouldclean,

Welcome to the forum. Unfortunately, I cannot answer your question about fibro, as I am not familiar with that.

But others know a lot about it and should be here soon to help you.

Morning anxiety is an often heard about topic. Have had that to different degrees in the last years. Cymbalta or not, it's "popular".
Do you take anything for that or is it mild enough to cope with?

Stand by, you will receive answers soon by the gang.

[thismoment]

Hi Shouldclean

 

Just a caution: I'm sure your physician will agree with your diagnosis of fibromyalgia and will happily write a prescription for another SS/SNRI. I don't think I'd be going out on a limb when I say virtually all of us who have withdrawn from psychiatric medications (especially duloxetine) have had many symptoms of fibromyalgia.

 

Your symptoms would naturally be reduced some on the Nyquil which contains dextromethorphan which is a serotonin agonic.

 

How long will the withdrawal symptoms last? It's a difficult question and the answers are not satisfactory: recovery time depends on length of exposure, age, general health, control of anxiety, psychological makeup, support system (home and medical/counsel), DNA, and luck! Everybody appears to have a different experience with respect to length of recovery, and there will be a difference in what each is willing to acknowledge as an acceptable level of recovery. 

 

Your length of exposure would be considered long-term at 5-6 years, so your recovery time would likely be longer than someone who had only been on a year. But the numbers don't happily conform to a linear graph, so it's a bit of a crap shoot and you'll just have to wait and see. My guess would be measured more in months than weeks. I was on for 2 years and I found that I was over the hump and feeling very optimistic at 6 months out. Your results could be shorter or longer; it's difficult to say.

 

But you will get through this.

 

What to do about the pain. My opinion is that pain medication is more appropriate for pain than psychiatric medications.  Personally, I would opt for an opiate or opioid for pain. Of course these medications are just as addictive as the psychiatric drugs. On the up-side, there are literally thousands of clinics across the country that are set up to guide patients safely through withdrawal from opiates-- however, there isn't a single clinic I know of dedicated specifically to helping those withdrawing from psychiatric drugs.

 

I hope this helps.

 

Take care.

[gail]

Should clean,

Just one question, why were you prescribed Cymbalta?

[lady2882Nancy]

Hi Shouldclean

 

I am very familiar with the pain post Cymbalta and the best thing you can do is to exercise. Gentle stretching, yoga and walking will get rid of that pain faster than anything else. This is just another wonderful side effect that isn't listed in the withdrawals.

 

You said in your post that you aren't sleeping like you used to and that is the number one reason people are misdiagnosed with Fibro. If you don't sleep enough then your muscles and joints react with pain. Then the pain prevents you from sleeping properly and the vicious cycle begins. I was that way.

 

Once my sleep problems were resolved then all but my arthritis pain went away. Cymbalta blocks the signals from the nerves to the brain so after all this time the signals are finally reaching the brain again and it seems like an overload. In a way it is but don't give up now. You can get through this just like so many do who have this problem.

 

Take Ibuprofen for the pain and get something for the anxiety like Hydroxyzine or Benadryl and exercise gently and you will start to sleep again and the pain will ease. It does take some time and some need a sleep aid but you will get through this.

 

Nancy

[Shouldclean]

Hello, I was prescribed for depression. I really don't want to put any more chemicals in my body . Trying magnesium and turmeric. I am going to hope this is still just withdrawal although it's amazing how little the medical community knows or acknowledges it as such. :-/

[gail]

SC,

What a mess this crap can do. They give it for depression, and you wean and end up with fibro symptoms for a while. They give it for fibro, you wean and end up with anxiety and depression for a while.

Lady Nancy seems to know about this more than I, she has been there.

Read her post again, about sleep, pain, vicious cycle.

Wish you well in this bumpy ride!

[thismoment]

Shouldclean

 

Anxiety is a kind of mind-state catalyst-- it flows between moods and de-stabilizes everything it touches, yet it maintains it's unique character-- you always recognize it! When you are desperately in need of sleep, anxiety will keep you awake by energizing that criticizing nattering voice in your head; if you momentarily feel positive about something, it will bring you down; if you are feeling blue, anxiety will pull you deeper into depression; and, it will chip away at your confidence until it finally shatters.

 

Get the anxiety down.

 

At your stage it's extremely difficult for you (or your physician) to tell if symptoms are coming from withdrawal, from the return of an earlier medical condition, or from the beginning of some completely new illness. But with anxiety flowing like a sociopathic spectre through the walls of your moods, thoughts, and mind-states, it's impossible to tell-- and it will likely drive you toward another psychiatric drug to stop the muddled horror show!

 

Sleep is critical for balance, stability, and clear insight.

 

Anxiety seems otherworldly, supernatural. Lady Nancy mentioned hydroxyzine for anxiety, and I agree. It's a good place to start because it's not addictive like benzodiazepines. But having said that, I'd rather be addicted to a benzo than be haunted by anxiety. 

 

Once you get anxiety under control, the frenzy dies down and you can find moments of peace. Then you can more readily accept the notion that withdrawal needs time for symptoms to diminish. Symptoms don't just stop, they fade; once you feel symptoms begin to wane you'll know there is improvement and healing taking place. At that point the best you can do is take care of yourself and find distractions to keep you engaged and moving forward. Maintain your good standards, your health, your hygiene, and your dignity: feed your self-esteem and that will accelerate health and well-being-- you will begin to flourish once again!

 

How long before there's a light at the end of the tunnel (meaning you know you're getting better)? A few weeks, a few months, maybe 6 months-- it varies, but hopefully you will sense improvement within a few weeks and that will boost your confidence and strengthen your resolve to see the process through. I got positive indications after 4 months or so and was convinced after 6. But in the meantime I went to the doctor many times with a great variety of symptoms-- in time they faded away.

 

I was offered another psychiatric drug on more than one occasion. 

 

The only way you will know what's what is to endure the symptoms and wait it out; when it begins to break you'll know-- and it could come sooner than later. Coming here helps. Rant. Ask questions. Write a story. I wish you all the best in your recovery!! I hope this helps.

 

Take care.