4 replies to this topic

[brzghoff]

Hi Jan, and welcome!

 

i am sorry to learn about your chest pain and tightness - and the liver issue that you are investigating. i have never heard about chest pain as a withdrawal symptom before. however withdrawal, especially cold turkey, is notorious for inducing both mental and physical symptoms of anxiety. some folks don't feel any mental "worry" distress with anxiety, but do feel the classic physical symptoms such as chest tightness, shallow breathing, heart palpitations and sweating. of course, those are also symptoms of a panic attack. diarrhea, nausea and vomiting are classic symptoms during withdrawal. a lot of physical ailments can be traced back to the fight or flight system kicking in at inappropriate times. it doesn't matter if the C was prescribed for mental health or pain issues, the withdrawal symptoms are all over the place - some mental, some physical. 

 

was it your rheumatologist who put you on cymbalta in the first place? i am guessing you have seen someone to rule out any other causes of the chest pain, such as a heart condition. a big withdrawal symptom for me was physical pain in my joints - that fluish feeling at first but then it was like arthritis. i do have osteo in my hands and knees already, but nothing like what i was experiencing after quitting the C. the pain involved my shoulders, neck, elbows, fingers, hips, knees, ankles and toes. that pain lasted for about 6 months. i took the C for depression. were you taking it for pain or mental health?

 

time takes care of the gastro issues. standard over the counter remedies are what helped me get through it. the nausea and vomiting went away for me after a few weeks. diarrhea lasted about 3 months - but was never over the top. i think it was because i was in serious weight loss mode and my metabolism was cranking out again. the C made me gain almost 25 pounds that i shed in those first 3 months once i quit. i too had to taper quickly which was basically a cold turkey experience. 30 mgs to 0 in around a month. two years prior to quitting i had been on 90 mgs and cut that to 60 mgs with no problems, a year later i cut it to 30 with no problems. then 16 months ago i did my "cold turkey taper" and that is when all hell broke loose. for me anxiety has been the big struggle, both physical and mental. i am at a point now where i have many, many good days and few bad days.

 

also, the symptoms are cyclic. mine were interesting in that when the mental/anxiety symptoms cranked up, the physical gastro and pain symptoms cycled down - and then they would reverse. some folks get a total respite for a few hours, then days then weeks before they all kick in together. we all have a different rhythm.

 

i wish i could give you some more insight on the chest pains - but i never experienced that. hopefully another forum member will have some info about that. 

 

i was on the C for 10 years, and other antiD's for 8 years prior - so if i can get through it, you can too! keep us posted 

[fishinghat]

I agree with brz. The liver issue is common for Cymbalta while on it or coming off. The Blood test for liver function, Alt and Ast  (if I remember right) are easily altered by Cymbalta and can eventually cause liver damage. Manufacture's drug insert mentions this and recommends a yearly liver function test.