23 replies to this topic

[kmf]

Hello Everyone,

I have just joined this forum and am seeking info and support. I recently stopped taking Cymbalta after a an eight week weaning off period. I am feeling very bad from side effects such as tinnitus, nausea, brain zaps, eye pain, lethargy, flu like symptoms and many others. Has any one with drawn completely with no return of side effects? I am so scared that the effects could be long lasting or my goodness, permanent! I never realized that I could feel so sick for so long after weaning off over eight weeks. I do not want to take any more of that poison and I realize that everyone's physiology is different, but after being on 90 mgs, then 60, 50, 40, 30 etc to zero over a period of 3 years with the weaning taking place over the past 2 months when will I feel like myself again? I am a chronic pain patient which is bad enough without having to go through this horror now. My apologies for the long post, but am feeling very bad and am looking for some reassurance that this nightmare will eventually end!
Thanks!
K
ps has any one else suffered from constant tinnitus after stopping C ?

[TryinginFL]

Welcome kmf!

 

Everything that you have mentioned has been dealt with by others here.  Unfortunately there is no time line as we are all different.  I'm sorry that you are doing so poorly right now, but yes, there is an end!!

 

I went cold turkey off of 60mg in Jan. of 2014 and spent one hellish year.  I did not know about weaning off and just took the leap - worst experience of my life.

 

Much of withdrawal such as length of time and severity seems to be connected to dosage, time on the poison and age. 

Younger people seem to have an easier time.

 

I understand about the chronic pain as I have fibro and arthritis.  Are you currently taking any other meds?

 

I never had brain zaps or tinnitus, but many members have.  The eye pain can be excruciating.

 

I don't know if this has been helpful, but please know that you are not alone and you can do this!  We are here for you, so please come back with any questions you may have.  There is always someone who can help!

 

Liz 

[fishinghat]

Ditto what TFL said. It seems endless but it isn't. Sometime between 8 to 12 weeks off the stuff you will start to feel better. Slow at first butt eventually you turn the corner. Hell for sure but no not forever.

 

Time and patience.

[kmf]

Thank you so much TryingFL and fishinghat. I just woke up with the worst headache ever! I quit cigarettes cold turkey 13 years ago that was easier than this night mare. I cannot believe that it is still on the market! I think if I told my family and friends about this, they would think I am crazy!

[TryinginFL]

I understand the headache, kmf..

 

I had the headache from hell for 2 solid weeks when I first got off the stuff.  No fun, but it will eventually go away

 

My friends and long-distance family had to put up with my symptoms and frequent crying was one of the worst.  You'll be OK!

[kmf]

My doctor told me 8 weeks ago to go skip every other day for two weeks then every three days for two weeks, then every four days for a week and then stop. I have been reading on here about bead counting as some one had mentioned that the above method is incorrect. Any thoughts?

[kmf]

TryingFL, I also have crying spells for no reason. Read some where that some body's cat died and I was inconsolable. Thing is I am more of a bird loving person... :-)

[TryinginFL]

kmf,

 

Did you actually do that skipping days thing?? Bead counting is the best way to control your withdrawal and take as long as you need.  This poison only has a half life of 12 hrs so each day you did not take it you were in withdrawal and then when you did take it you were going up again....not recommended!

[kmf]

Thanks TryingFL! Should I try adding a few beads a day let's say ten and then come off of those I bead at a time?

[kmf]

And yes my doctor had me do that skipping days thing!!! Can't believe that he did not tell me that bead counting was better!

[TryinginFL]

When did you last take - and how many mg?

 

If it was within the last 10 days, you can probably start taking again - How many beads in that last dose?

 

I also want to add that your Dr. is clueless - like most of them.  They have no idea about how to get off this stuff cuz they only know what the drug reps tell them and they don't take the time to read the info that comes with the drug - even Eli Lily recommends slow weaning.

 

Sorry, but most Dr.s are asshats where this is concerned

[tinabee2002]

Welcome kmf! I wanted to let you know that I too am experiencing the ringing in my ears. I've been off about six weeks but I didn't do the bead counting - just cold turkey but I did start a new AD. The side effects of stopping this medication are horrible bUT there are many helpful people on here who have quit and lived to tell! Like fishinghat, Liz and others stated it just takes time. I'm still waiting to turn the corner myself! Just know you are not alone or crazy! There are many of us out here going through this same hell.

[fishinghat]

Hi Kmf

 

Yes, even the manufacturer recommends a slow steady taper and not the every other day thing. What TFL said about the 12 hour half life and the up and down withdrawal is very true.

[kmf]

Thank you Trying FL, tinabee2002, fishinghat! TryingFL the last time I took any C was about 5-6 days ago. Last night I opened a capsule put it in a container and took ten beads and took them and am not feeling as poorly today. Knock on wood... but I still woke up with a barrage of brain zaps going off in my head that's eased up a little right now but the tinnitus and eye pain are constant. I can't Thank you guys enough for responding to me so quickly and with such compassion and understanding! The "you have to go through it to believe it" statement is so true! It is so reassuring to hear that this will eventually End! I will do the bead counting. Maybe try ten more beads again today, because you guys are absolutely right the skipping days method then stopping cold turkey is Awful! Thought I was a candidate for the asylum yesterday...lol :-)

[TryinginFL]

kmf,

 

My suggestion would be to go back on your last dosage until you are stable - this could easily take a week and it means no more symptoms!

 

Once you are stable you can experiment trying 10% reduction to see how that goes.  If you have symptoms, go down a little until again, you are stable.  It is hard to say exactly how much to reduce because it depends upon what you can tolerate.  We have one member who could only reduce by one bead a day - but she is off the poison and OK!  This can take 3 or more months depending upon how you feel.  If you do well with a 10% reduction, then reduce a little more.

 

It is hard for me to give any instructions here, since I was a cold turkey survivor!  What I am telling you is what I have learned from other members' posts.

 

OH, another thing - do not take beads w/o them being in a capsule.  You can buy empty capsules from your pharmacy or health food store.  There are excellent instructions regarding all of the bead counting info in the topic ARE YOU NEW HERE? Called Bead Counting - How To Do It.

 

Please let us know how it goes!

 

P.S.  Everyone here calls me TFL - it's shorter and easier!

[Felicia]

KMF- how are your symptoms? I hope you are feeling better- I am weaning currently 10% over 12 weeks-

[BlueSky]

Hello there  ,

 

I am also a Newbie...Today is my first day on the "Cymbalta-Off" rollercoaster ride: I took 10 beads out.... Even before the withdrawal, my brain is not working very well : I didn't want to start a New Topic/thread,etc, so I am writing here. 

 

I read here about all the horrible withdrawal symptoms my other fellow sufferers had gone through, and I am not looking forward to what is ahead of me. But knowing what has been behind, I hope it is worthed to be myself again. I appreciate very much the words of support being offered in this forum! Thank you for being here!

 

After trying for a year various pain medications for treating the chronic pain in my tailbone, I was prescribed last December (2014) Cymbalta, also to help with my seasonal depression (Canadian winter , eh?...). I am taking 60 mg one capsule every day. But I'd rather be in pain, than being this "different, other person" as my husband described me...

I hope I manage...

[fishinghat]

Hello bluesky,  lovely name.

 

You will make it. Step by step.

[lady2882Nancy]

Hello BlueSky

 

As a fellow  Canadian I can understand the Seasonal Depression and strangely enough I was given this for chronic lower back and tailbone pain. And oh yes I gladly took the pain back rather then deal with the person I became.

 

I will warn you that if Cymbalta helped with your pain there can be some rebound pain that is worse than the original pain you started with but it does not last all that long thank heavens. It is just the nerves from the pain location over reacting.

 

It can be a bit of a journey to get off this drug and you may have some side effects but not everyone does so we will keep our fingers and toes crossed that you are one of the lucky ones that can get off it easily.

 

Stay well hydrated, get some omega-3 and vitamin C and a B complex and you will get off this drug.

 

What part of Canada do you live in? I am in Saskatchewan

 

Take care of you and be well

[gail]

Hello Bluesky,

Yes, what a lovely name. Better than White sky which we have most of the time.

Just my two cents here, LadyNancy is from somewhere in Saskatchewan, and I from Sherbrooke, Quebec. You are from Toronto, not far.

Winters are the worst with perhaps one hour of sun everyday. I also find that I am worst during winter.

If ten beads is good for you, great. That is a lot. We usually do it by Three to five beads. You will know real soon if it's too much.

Keep posting anytime, always good to see a Canadian coming to the forum. Real rare. Up to date, we are three of the same origin. I like that. Do you speak French?

[BlueSky]

Thank you, Fishinghat, Lady2882Nancy and Gail, for your welcoming words, for keeping fingers and toes crossed for me!  And nice to meet other Canadians also!

 

I live in Toronto, the winter weather in the city is not that bad, except I am not very much an indoor person: I like warm and sunny weather, the outdoors, plants, cats... I am sorry, I don't speak French.

 

Thank you for your advice and your support!

[SarahJane]

I had been on Cymbalta for about a month.  I came off cold, with no tapering.  I had the same side effects and I have to say, this has scared me so much that I am not going to try anything further for my anxiety.  I have started to feel better, but still have some dizziness, just not as bad. I still have nausea and some tad aggression, but I can say that last week getting up was the hardest thing to accomplish.  I am a rise and shine person at like 530, I couldn't last week.  This week I am back on track.  

 

I don't know how long everything is suppose to last, but I am, I think on the down hill side of this.  There is hope and light at the end of the tunnel and this group is such a great support.  Welcoming with open arms and I think that also helped me tremendously.  

 

You can do it, hang on.  Some days I wanted to cry but it will be ok.  

[Randolph]

My husband successfully withdrew from Cymbalta over a year ago. It wasn't easy but well worth it. He's doing well now.

 

We took a multi-faceted approach to his withdrawal and recovery. I decreased the Cymbalta beads in the capsule, taking out 2 additional beads each day until they were gone. (Hint: dump the white beads in a dark blue bowl for counting) Even so he had brain zaps and was very depressed and very angry! 

 

 He started taking Sam-e plus B-Complex for depression. (we like Jarrow brand Sam-e) He uses a full spectrum light while he works to help his Seasonal Affective Disorder.  You can buy them at Northern Lights (I have no affiliation with them). He takes vitamin D3 and a few other basic supplements.  We do yoga to help his mood and back pain. 

 

We make delicious smoothies that helps both of us nutritionally. And I found a tasty cookie recipe on this site for Maple Walnut Cookies.  It seemed to help with brain zaps and mood. Just do an advanced search for Maple Walnut Cookies. 

 

All I can say is Cymbalta is very addicting and destructive in the long run and I cannot believe the doctors are still prescribing them.  Although Cymbalta is just one of hundreds of dangerous drugs dispensed in our society. 

 

Good luck.  I promise it gets better!

[BlueSky]

Today is the 7th day... I continue with the 10-beads-less approach...
 
Trying to concentrate on what I wanted to say: Oh, yes...symptoms... 
 
I am not sure if these symptoms are before or after me trying to get off Cymbalta, it felt all "kind of natural to me", so I will try to list them in no particular order:

• Difficulties with memory: forgetful, sometimes not even remembering doing something on purpose so I don't forget it; (packed an item in my suitcase, so it does not brake; came home, couldn't find it it my luggage at first, started wondering if I took it with me... there was no memory of doing any of the packing and where I put it...); no sense of direction, getting lost despite the GPS in the car, on my phone and the printed directions... 
• Difficulties concentrating: can't do even simple math: (5+8=?...), then feeling agitated and annoyed, forced to use the calculator all the time
• Feeling flat: not happy, not sad...actually I'd say feeling NO emotions whatsoever...The ONLY benefit of having NO feeling was, that I lost suddenly my best friend to cancer and I felt so numb, I hardly cried, just moved like in a dream, zombie-d out; still very hard to comprehend her loss:( ... I used to be the "social butterfly", now I'd rather hug my cat (if I he let's me:wacko: ) and read in bed; sometimes I don't go out from the house because I don't feel like going out in the cold (really, really hate winter, looking forward soooo much to temperatures above 15 degrees C= 59F    )
• Challenges with my balance: I keep bumping onto corners, the door frame; my legs barely have a week without a new bruise from hitting something on the way...
• I feel dizzy almost permanently, especially when I look into far left or right, when I move up, get up or turn around; I've had issues with my balance before including having severe vertigo for a week: kept on spinning and spinning, having moving images with closed eyes, feeling like being hangover...
• Hot flashes all the time: almost every half an hour, last 2-3 minutes with sweating, sometimes with anxiety (feeling like going mad for 2-3 seconds); doctor said hot flashes might last from a month to a few years with pre-and-menopause... I am one of the "lucky" less than 0.01% ones to have them for longer than 5 years...  waking up during the night 3-4-5 times, sometimes bathed in sweat, then start shivering;  and then can't fall asleep for hours...  So the doctor prescribed herbal medications: red clover, black cohosh, etc...
• It reaches a point that I take so many pills, that I feel like the pharmacy around the corner; my son laughed when he saw my emergency twist-on box, said I looked like a dealer:rolleyes:...But since I get migraines, I always have Advil in it; I have aspirin, Cymbalta, some Valeriana, and Benadril; just in case...   

I think I should stop here; this post is becoming too long...
 
Thank you for your support!
 
The stronger shaking has began...   not fun whatsoever... And I have a job interview tomorrow...
 
My cat is a Russian Blue mix (my 3rd Russian Blue cat...), his name is Sky...therefore...BlueSky;)

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