Hi there,
I'm new to the site and appreciate anyone's thoughts on the following - and I apologize if any of this has been covered before.
Background: I was prescribed Cymbalta 3 years back for anxiety, and have been off it completely for six weeks following a gradual (2-month) taper from 60mg daily. I went through what seem to be the standard withdrawal symptoms (fatigue, lethargy, dizziness, brain zaps) a few weeks back and those have mostly subsided (thank goodness!)... but what I'm dealing with now is absolutely crushing depression and panicky feelings accompanied by physical symptoms including extreme muscle tightness, nausea, and headache.
I have had depression in the past, but this is something else completely: I'm able to leave the house, be social, and do things with friends, but it's like a see-saw. I'll be fine one moment, and then - as the physical symptoms creep into my consciousness - it's like a deep, dark negativity enters my core and blocks out all the good. It feels completely hopeless, and I'm starting to have some pretty scary thoughts - nothing I'm planning on acting on, but I'm completely freaked out that I'm having them at all.
I guess my question is, "Are these side effects of Cymbalta withdrawal that are late-hitting, or is this the resurgence of something else that is more foundational?" If anyone has had any similar experiences, I a) hope you're doing much better, and would much appreciate some additional perspective.
Thank you!