Kmrekl217:
Welcome! your experience is not unusual. it is actually typically no matter how well meaning a doctor may be. he/she is often (read "most of the time") unaware as to what happens when someone weans off cymbalta, or most anti-depressants. They are in the business of keeping patients on anti-d's not weaning them off. typically they are advised by the pharm companies to put the patient back on the drug if they experience symptoms of 'discontinuation". many doctors are not educated at all about these drugs, the prescribe based on what the hear or believe, not what they actually "know". personally, i came off cymbalta prior to finding this forum and did a cold turkey off a low dose quasi-taper to 15 mg, achieved by pouring out half the beads of a 30 mg cap. it was pretty much hell. forum member fishinghat is also an expert on the matter and can share with you additional advice. however, the method outlined below is considered a good one by many. you will not be symptom free, but the process helps minimize the difficulty of the experience.
the following is the bead counting method as provided by forum member Carleeta in the "Bead Counting How To do It" thread. The post itself can be found here: https://www.cymbalta...+bead +counting and then scroll down to post #25. However, i have copy and pasted it for you as well.
best of luck to you!
Using a % method to reduce Cymbalta (Duloxetine)
1. Identify the mgs for your capsule (ex. 60mg, 30mg, etc.)
2. Count the beads in each capsule (different companies will differ)
Each time you receive your prescription count the beads in your capsules. There should be an even number in each capsule. There may be times when the capsules in your prescription with vary therfore, you will need to calculate the average.
Here is an example: some capsule have 185 beads and the other capsules has 194 beads. In the event this happens, you will need to calculate an average. To do this you must add the differences together and then divide the total by 2.
Example: 185 + 194 = 379
379 divided by 2 = 189 (189.5 to be exact)
Use 189 or 190 as your total bead count per capsule.
3. Determine how many beads in each capsule equal 1mg. Once you have counted the beads in each of your capsules you will then divide the number of beads by the mgs.
Example 1: 60mgs of duloxetine
180 beads in each capsule
180 beads divided by 60 mg = 3 The 3 indicates, it will take 3 beads to equal 1 mg.
Example 2: 30 mgs of duloxetine
270 beads in each capsule
270 beads divided by 30 mg = 9 The 9 indicates, it will take 9 beads to equal 1mg
The numbers of beads may vary depending on the manufacturer.
In determining a 10 % taper or a 5% taper you will need to know how many beads equal the 1 mg.
10% Taper
If for example you would like to taper 10% of your 60 mgs, you will need to divide your percentage into your mgs.
Example 60 mg divided by 10% = 6 The 6 indicates the mgs you will be reducing
.
When reducing 10% of 60 mgs we need to remove 6mgs. Take the number of beads which equal 1% and multiply them by number of mgs you are reducing.
Using Example 1:
3 beads = 1 mg
6 mgs need to be removed from 60mgs for 10% taper
3 beads x 6 mg = 18. This 18 represents the number of beads needed to remove 10%
5% Taper
If for example you would like to taper 5% of your 60 mgs, you will need to divide your percentage into your mgs.
Example 60mg divided by 5% = 3 The 3 indicates the mgs you will be reducing.
When reducing 5% of 60 mgs we need to remove 3mgs. Take the number of beads which equal 1% and multipy them by the number of mgs you are reducing.
Using Example 1:
3 beads = 1mg
3mgs need to be removed from 60mgs for a 5% taper
3 beads x 3 = 9. This 9 represents the number of beads needed to remove 5%
