2 replies to this topic

[annakate]

I've been on cymbalta for a year now for fibromyalgia.
I tried zoloft, effexor, lexapro, prozac, wellbutrin and some others as well before i finally agreed to try cymbalta.
i have to say that it's the only thing that's helped me with the fatigue and pain but i am weaning myself off due to cost as well as concern for my health and well being.
i started on 60 mg and then had to go up to 120 mg for a few months but then came back down to 60.
my doctor told me that i will probably have to be on it for life, so i went and found a new doctor!

i seriously think that pharmaceutical companies make up medical conditions so that they can sell us their drugs and get us hooked on them.
i've turned to holistic medicine and feel that it's the only way to go. i have cabinets full of pills and i'm sick of it. i want to eventually get off all prescription meds over the next few months.

anyway, i weaned myself down to 30mg and felt fine with no side effects. so i went to every other day and still felt fine.
so i decided to stop altogether a few days ago.
now i have horrific heart palpitations and feel like my heart is going to jump out of my throat!
i am dizzy and nauseous and have uncontrollable muscle twitching.
i had bad muscle twitching for 3 weeks when i got off klonopin, but wasn't expecting it from getting off of cymbalta!
i have also been extremely tired and can't wake myself up in the morning.
i know that i'm asleep and want to wake up but i can't move and i can't wake up. it's the weirdest feeling!

i've been off 4 days now and am wondering when i will start feeling normal.
i am disgusted by western medicine and how doctors are so quick to stick a prescription in our hands.
i've turned to nutritional supplements, herbals, meditation, yoga, exercise and doing anything to boost my immune system.
our bodies were made to heal themselves and i am trusting that my body will do so given proper nutrition, exercise and rest.

i am fighting the urge to pop another cymbalta!
i am just going to dig in my heels and get through the withdrawal phase.
cymbalta is a dangerous drug and should not be pushed by docs and pharmaceutical companies as a wonder drug.
i see a class action law suit coming on.
and what is this about birth defects that i'm reading about?
i don't even want to know what it's done to my liver.

does anyone know how long it really takes to get over the symptoms? 3 weeks? 4 weeks?
i'm trying not to be angry.
just glad that i'm finally off it now and will warn everyone i know about the evils of this drug!

[MaureenV]

Hi Annakate,


Your symptoms are typical of the experiences of many who try to wean off Cymbalta. Although the information given to us and the doctors says to not withdraw suddenly, the drug companies don't go any further with their information because they don't have to.

What most have found is that the slower the wean the easier the withdrawal symptoms, but obviously it takes a lot longer.

There are a few of us here who've only taken C for a matter of weeks, and still had problems. I never really got to taking 60mg per day on a regular basis because of the side effects (not Cymbalta's fault - I have a number of pre existing conditions which C. , like lots of drugs, even over the counter ones, can aggravate).

THE MOST IMPORTANT PIECE OF INFORMATION WHICH I BELIEVE IS MISSING, IS THE INFORMATION ABOUT WEANING BY CONTINUING TO TAKE A DOSE EVERY DAY, RATHER THAN DOING WHAT MANY OF US HAVE DISCOVERED, AND TRYING TO TAKE ONE EVERY SECOND DAY AND SO ON.

It may work for many drugs (steroids esp) but doesn't for this one.

I went from taking 30mg every second day with lots and lots of problems, to changing on the basis of the advice here to opening the capsules and emptying half out so I was taking 15mg every day instead of 30mg every second. The improvement was dramatic.

Provided I have no problems with this, I intend to go on like this for a while. As someone who would probably be dead now if it wasn't for prescription drugs (I had to take MASSIVE doses of blood pressure drugs for 20 years until an adrenal removal solved the problem) I don't have a problem taking them.

I DO have a problem with the drug companies not doing everything they can to ease the transition for those affected, just because they don't have to.

Hopefully many others will reply and you'll get a variety of opinions, including to stick with the withdrawal. Have to confess, given my experience, (if you've got any 30mg caps left) I'd be tempted to take a lower dose for a while before dropping again.

regards, Maureen.

[nursedeborah]

This is a noxious drug, and it is dangerous. Please look it up on google. I have posted many
sites that you can go to for the withdrals, to find out what this drug does to you being on it,

I am on day 10 of a very slow withdrawl, and started having the nightmares on day 7!!!!
Along with about 30 other withdrawl symptoms.

This drug ruined my life, took away my feeling, motivation. Please read others pots here!!!!

Love,
Debbie