10 replies to this topic

[Ramona80]

I've had both withdrawal, and then later what amounted to an overdose of Cymbalta. I was not able to tolerate the increased dose the doctor got me up to, and it gave me a whole new assortment of symptoms. Although these symptoms were physical, not emotional, they came under the umbrella of anxiety.

 

I've come down in dose quite a ways now, but I'm concerned that these symptoms from the high dose are still with me. 

 

I realize probably not too many people on here had both Cymbalta withdrawal problems and then intolerance of a too-high dose... ?

 

I'm concerned...I had really hoped once I lowered in dose quite a bit, that I'd see these things fading away (particularly the muscle jerks). Maybe I need to be off Cymbalta completely before I'll see them start to fade?

 

My nervous system has had a lot of trauma in recent months, with both the withdrawal and then, shortly after, the too-high dose. Maybe it's going to take time for all of this to work itself out.

 

I am trying to have hope that eventually my nervous system will be able to heal from all this. I really don't want to be stuck with these anxiety-related symptoms forever. 

[TryinginFL]

Ramona,

 

Most everyone here has suffered anxiety at some time or other.  It is very common during withdrawal.  Mine was horrible - the freezing kind - and it still visits at times, even tho I have been off the crap for over 19 months.  However, I am sure that I am older than you - age plays a factor.

 

Do you have a benzo to use "as needed" when it gets bad?  Should you not want to take that, you can ask your Dr for Clonidine or Hydroxyzine which have no withdrawal.  Many have used these as well.  Some feel that Benadryl is a help but I never found that to work for me.

 

I take Alprazolam (Xanax) but have taken it for so long that it is probably no more than a placebo, but it works.  The brain is a strange thing!

 

Since we are all different there is no time limit to recovery.  It's just over when it's over, but things slowly fade.   Your body and mind take time to heal, so remember to be kind to yourself!

 

Please continue to taper slowly and things will eventually change.  I'm sorry that you are having so much trouble.  I really understand!

 

Liz

[Ramona80]

Thank you, Liz! Yes, I am taking something for anxiety, and another med for sleep, and both are helping.

 

I still get muscle spasms, flutters, jerks, which were brought on by the high dose (90mg) of Cymbalta I was on. They are less, now that I'm on the anxiety med, but they are still there. I had hoped they would diminish as I lowered my Cymbalta dose, grrr. They are technically caused by anxiety, said the doctors in the hospital. My brain has been in a constant fight or flight state, which for me has caused insomnia, the muscle jerks both during the day and when falling asleep, scary-high heart rate, among other things...I've never experienced these things before this whole Cymbalta mess. I just don't want these changes to my nervous system to stay forever.

[gail]

Hi Ramona,

I cannot relate to this type of anxiety.

But have read about it often. Go in the Search box to your upper right and enter the words "muscle jerks" it will bring you at the right place.

You will see that it is fairly common. Have a good read!

[fishinghat]

Hi Ramona

 

Remember, nerves heal veeeerrryyy sslloooowwllyy. It will turn around almost without notice but it will get there.

[Carleeta]

Ramona, oh my, anxiety will creep up on everyone at least once in their lifetime. With us it appears to come as part of the withdrawal process. Some members have prescriptions to help with this issues and others are not. If you choose not to receive a prescription there are other ways to ease the anxiety symptoms. Exercise is a great way to reduce anxiety. Even if its just a walk. One thing to remember is everything is a 'day at a time'.

[FiveNotions]

Ramona,
 
The anxiety was, and has been, the worst part of withdrawal for me ... but I assure you, it does fade ... it does get better ... and we do learn to live our way through it ... just coming here to talk about it can be a big help .... so keep posting !
 
it was overwhelmingly intense during approx. months 4-8 of my process ... but I quit cold turkey, and I'm sure that made it worse ... I still get what I call "stomach worms" (or huge butterfly flutters) at various times during the day ... used to be in the morning when I woke up, but now it can hit at anytime, and for no reason ...
 
What's helped me tremendously is clonidine ... it's a bp med that's prescribed off-label for anxiety ... since I have borderline high bp (thanks to crapalta), it's a great choice for me ...
 
As for the muscle jerks / spasms, have you tried chelated magnesium supplements? It helped me, as did hot soaks in Epsom salt baths (another form of magnesium, and it can pass through the transdermal membrane to get straight into the muscles -- that's why athletes use it).
 
Just be careful with the mag. supplements, check to be sure there aren't any interactions with other meds you're taking ... FH posted a link to info. on that, but now I can't find it, so here's similar info. from a different source:

https://umm.edu/heal...-with-magnesium

And, it can cause anxiety (rarely) in some people ... TFL can't take it for that reason.

[Ramona80]

I did try chelated magnesium shortly before I was hospitalized in July. It didn't seem to help me, but it could be that I just didn't take it for long enough. However, a blood test showed that my magnesium level is at the highest level of the normal range, so I'm not deficient at all in it. The other meds I'm taking for now are helping quite a bit. Thank you for the suggestions. I will keep them in mind! I asked my doctors about clonidine in the past, and they didn't want to go that route, but I will bring it up again if needed.

[Carleeta]

Ramona, if you blood level for magnesium is at the highest level,I would suggest you should not take any more magnesium. Too much magnesium in your system could cause  irregular heartbeats, low blood pressure, and just a few to mention.  Therefore, this could amplify your anxiety symptoms. Therefore, my suggestion to you would be to listen to what your body and mind is telling you for you know it best.  wear a rubber band around your wrist and snap it every time you feel anxious.  Once you snap it, your mind will automatically shift to the feeling of the snap. Do this as often as you need to.  Once you snap it, go and open your freezer and put your head to it as closely as you can and feel the coldness on your face.  This technique will shift your mind away from the anxiety, even if its temporary. Once you come out of the freezer (making a joke here), get a piece of paper and write down the alphabet backwards. If you find writing the alphabet backwards a bit nerve wrecking, then visualize the rainbow and name all the colors. This should make you center yourself and find you are starting to breathe normally and lessen the anxiety if not take it away for a period of time.  Do all this all day long if necessary, there is no limit to any of these techniques.  Best of luck to you

[fishinghat]

Carleeta is right. Most suffering from anxiety have low or near the low end of the normal range. Just consider it as one less thing to worry about.

[FiveNotions]

Ditto what Carleeta and FH said ... too much magnesium isn't a good thing ... and, if your doc(s) decided not to consider clonidine, ignore that suggestion, too ...

You've come a loooong way in this process, Ramona ! You're an amazing inspiration !