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I Am Clean And Free!


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#1 silverseed72

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Posted 10 March 2016 - 10:59 AM

Minus one year (back around 2000-2001) I had been on some sort of anti-depressant since 1996.

 

NO MORE!!!

 

After weening off of Cymbalta since December, I am now completely free and have not felt this good in more than 20 years!!!

 

I had/still have some side effects. My moods are deeper. When I get mad I really get mad. I was like that growing up though. I don't think these meds are mood stablizers, I think they are mood suppressants. I feel alive again now.

 

Sure I get down, but I am human. Let me be human.

 

I haven't had a cymbalta in 3 weeks now.


#2 gail

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Posted 10 March 2016 - 01:30 PM

Silverseed, this is Great news.

You have made my day! After 20 years, it sure looks as though it is possible to be free of antidepressants.

Second success story in a week. Felicia has also a great one.

Bravo! And thanks for the update.

#3 fishinghat

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Posted 10 March 2016 - 02:29 PM

Great SS. I think you will find that the extreme in your moods will moderate in time.

 

Nice to feel human again isn't it?


#4 lady2882Nancy

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Posted 11 March 2016 - 02:23 PM

Fantastic silverseed

 

I am so pleased with your success

 

I am sure that like fishinghat said those moods will not continue to be so strong but yes it is wonderful to feel human again.

No one ever said that we should not feel anything and I do not know why the medical profession wants to drug us the first time we have an extreme mood. Sometimes we feel sad, sometimes we feel mad but taking something that controls this and then stops us from feeling happy just does not make sense. We need to have feelings after all we are human and we have feelings for a reason.

 

Congrats on your success

Take care of you

 

Nancy


#5 TryinginFL

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Posted 11 March 2016 - 04:53 PM

Congratulations, SS !!

 

So happy for you :D

 

I will add that I am emotional now in a way that I can't remember ever being - was on the poison for 4 1/2 years and have now been off for 26 months

 

It is not necessarily a bad thing - and, as Nancy said - after all, we are human!

 

I wish you the best 


#6 silverseed72

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Posted 12 March 2016 - 07:17 PM

Thank you all. It is surprising to my exwife that I am finally standing up to her BS. I started dating her in 1995 and began antidepressants in 1996. I think she is really shocked to have me actually talking back to her.


#7 oldmate21

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Posted 24 March 2016 - 07:19 PM

Hi everyone, 

 

Thought I'd share my successful (well nearly there) getting off cymbalta story.

 

This forum seems to be a great place for people to get support; but personally, there's only so many stories about the 'hell of getting of cymbalta' I can read (although these stories should be shared with the drug industry and doctors to ensure they are more clear about what to expect on the drug) . Yes, it's awful, we can agree on that. But i also hope there's more examples shared of people who have successfully made the journey out of cymbalta. 

 

Personally, I've had great experience with Cymbalta (30mg) in getting me out of a chronic pain,depression and anxiety funk about 3 years ago. It worked total wonders. I'm in the medical profession, so I really did my research before I went on the drug and knew what i was getting into.

 

I've been tapering off for about 18 months now, extremely gradually. Like many, I open up the capsule and very gradually reduce the number of beads in there over time. About 4 months ago, I was down to  8-9 of those tiny beads per day. If I missed a dose, I'd get some withdrawal symptoms after 2 days or so. I'd take 8-9 beads and be fine. My doctor said I must be just getting the placebo effect at such tiny doses and I might as well just stop altogether; who knows, but I've felt compelled to keep to my plan and taper off very slowly and methodically. 

 

Recently I was down to about 3-4 of those tiny beads every 3 days. And about 14 days ago, I went off completely. At the moment, I have some slight flu like symptoms and some strange sensations when I move my eyes around. Also a little lethargic. Nothing major.

 

But the best thing for me is that I'm extremely busy at work at the moment. I don't have the time to dwell on my symptoms. I often find it's at the quieter times that I become more conscious of the withdrawal symptoms. The only thing that aggravates my symptoms is when I get really hungry - not sure why. 

 

So, in short, because i've tapered off so gradually and methodically over 18 months, I've managed to get down from 30mg to 0 without ever having to experience anything beyond mild withdrawal symptoms. 

 

I do understand that many others are trying to taper off much higher doses, and that some people have been living with anxiety and depression for years and so will always need to manage their moods with something. But for me, getting off cymbalta has been ok. 

 

So, lessons learnt from my end:

 

(1) If you're thinking of taking cymbalta for the first time, consider starting on the lowest dose possible. 

 

(2) If anyone (including doctors) suggests you go cold turkey getting off cymbalta, don't listen to them. It needs to be done very slowly and methodically. I wouldn't even jump from 60mg to 30mg to 20 mg. Pour 8-9 of those little beads out every 6-8 weeks. If your withdrawal symptoms are strong, maybe pour a little less out the next day and see how you feel. When your body adjusts to the slight change in dose, try pouring 15-20 beads this time and waiting another 6-8 weeks. Eventually, you'll only have a few beads sitting at the bottom of the capsule. Then you can start taking every other day, for perhaps another 6-8 weeks, then every 3 days, and so on. It took me 18 months via this method. 

 

(3) If you're freaked out by all the "getting off cymbalta is hell" stories, remember that many people post on forums when they are in the absolute pits. It can help them to share their stories, and many others feel comforted to know others share their experience. But if you're like me, don't read too many and get on with the practical task of getting off the drug slowly and methodically, eating well, being active, and keeping busy with work, friends and play, 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


#8 fishinghat

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Posted 25 March 2016 - 08:30 AM

Congratulations Oldmate!!

Great post and words of wisdom. Thank you for sharing.

 

As far as the placebo effect. That is crazy. I wonder why so many meds have very slow taper effects, benzos, heroin, barbs, ADs, etc. Many take months to come off of. Drs!!


#9 silverseed72

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Posted 01 April 2016 - 02:16 PM

This is the end of 6 weeks completely off. This week has been rough. I had many episodes of anxiety, feeling like I can't breath, fight-or-flight episodes. Keep me in your thoughts and prayers.


#10 fishinghat

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Posted 01 April 2016 - 02:47 PM

Hang in there SS. Not much longer.

 

God Bless


#11 silverseed71

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Posted 25 April 2016 - 08:12 AM

The past 3 days have been really bad. I had a lot of anxiety at work last week but this past weekend was even worse. I feel like I am in a dream, so much so that I went to Walmart yesterday morning at around 7am. On the way home I got pulled over by the police. He said I ran a stop sign and gave me a ticket. I am so much a law abiding citizen that this completely floored me. I go the speed limit. I check both ways 3 or 4 times before pulling out. I had a full blown panic attack when I got home.


#12 fishinghat

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Posted 25 April 2016 - 08:55 AM

Have you been doing better lately?


#13 silverseed71

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Posted 25 April 2016 - 10:56 AM

Have you been doing better lately?

Overall, I think so, but this weekend was so weird and then getting that ticket got my anxiety up so bad that I had to call into work today.


#14 fishinghat

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Posted 25 April 2016 - 01:12 PM

Ah, there will be set backs. Be kind to yourself and thanks for keeping us posted. Let us know how things go in the long run.


#15 lady2882Nancy

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Posted 25 April 2016 - 02:21 PM

Why do we all end up suffering from anxiety after we get off this drug whether we had anxiety before or not?

At one point I had so much anxiety that I was housebound which had never happened to me in the past.

I had been through a lot before with the things that happened but never reacted like I did once off Crapalta.


#16 Sleepyhead

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Posted 27 April 2016 - 07:49 PM

It's so nice to hear of your success stories getting completely off Cymbalta and becoming completely free of medication. It really is such a slow process. I sometimes doubt myself that I'm going too slow or there's something wrong with me that I need reduce slow because I get symptomsome if I go too quickly. I am 14 months in of reducing from 30 my I was on for about 5 months when I decided to get off of it.

Just recently I literally felt like I was going crazy. I was afraid I might take a seizure or just lose my shit. I work in a very high stress job and the stimulus overload was getting to me. TakING a benadryl and sitting in a dark and quiet room was the solution.

Then I calculated my taper. Even though I'm at 37 balls I realized that inside of 10 days I had tapered off 14 % which is very high for me. So that explained it. But still so bizarre that this drug and the process of coming off it has so much Control over my psyche.

I have heard that once at fewer grains the withdrawal can still be intense because each grain represents a higher % of reduction. I don't understand the why though I wish I could.

A weird experience I've been having lately and wonder if it's me or the withdrawal is when I push the shopping cart around the grocery store I feel wobbly and off kilter. This happens every time lately. It used to trigger some fright but now I just figure it's my brain being unable to sort out the movement of the cart but so strange.

#17 oldmate21

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Posted 17 May 2016 - 02:31 AM

Hi all, 

 

I wrote on this thread about 2 months ago - when I was just about off Cymbalta after about 18 months of tapering from 30mg (taking it very slow). I can say that i've been completely off Cymbalta for about 10 weeks now, and it's all going pretty good. I had a couple of weeks where some back pain/anxiety returned (which is why i originally went on the drug), but it seemed to be related to work-stress and eventually went away when things improved at work. I also did a bit of running and made sure I was eating well.  

 

I've noticed I'm feeling a little more emotional, in a very good and normal way. Very much feeling back in the world and connected to reality. 

 

I can see others are having a tough time. I wish you all the luck. 

 

I very rarely visit or post on sites such as these...but I did want to pass on a message to those of you who are worried that getting off this drug is impossible or who are frightened by some of the stories on this website. Take your time and follow the very wise advise of the regular visitors on this website and you'll be fine! The end goal might not even be to get completely off the drug but just to reduce your dose until you feel more comfortable with it's side-effects. 


#18 gail

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Posted 17 May 2016 - 08:22 AM

Thanks for the update Oldmate,

Indeed encouraging for all. You are doing good! Great.

#19 silverseed72

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Posted 19 May 2016 - 03:25 PM

Hi all, 

 

I wrote on this thread about 2 months ago - when I was just about off Cymbalta after about 18 months of tapering from 30mg (taking it very slow). I can say that i've been completely off Cymbalta for about 10 weeks now, and it's all going pretty good. I had a couple of weeks where some back pain/anxiety returned (which is why i originally went on the drug), but it seemed to be related to work-stress and eventually went away when things improved at work. I also did a bit of running and made sure I was eating well.  

 

I've noticed I'm feeling a little more emotional, in a very good and normal way. Very much feeling back in the world and connected to reality. 

 

I can see others are having a tough time. I wish you all the luck. 

 

I very rarely visit or post on sites such as these...but I did want to pass on a message to those of you who are worried that getting off this drug is impossible or who are frightened by some of the stories on this website. Take your time and follow the very wise advise of the regular visitors on this website and you'll be fine! The end goal might not even be to get completely off the drug but just to reduce your dose until you feel more comfortable with it's side-effects. 

 

 

YAY!

 

I've been off of any kind of anti-depressant now for 5 months. At this point in my life I am having some very warranted anxiety though. I need some good vibes and prayers sent my way. Thank you!


#20 gail

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Posted 19 May 2016 - 03:34 PM

Hi Silverseed,

So nice to see you. Got that. And do come back for updates, we care.

#21 TryinginFL

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Posted 19 May 2016 - 04:43 PM

Hi Silverseed,

 

Yep, the anxiety is the worst...it really hangs on for a long time - at least it did for me. It was the "freezing" type where I couldn't do anything.

 

Have you tried Benadryl?  Many swear by it, but it didn't help me.  Then again, we are all different so give it a shot if you haven't already.

 

Sorry to say I still had anxiety 1 1/2 years off...now it is only occasionally

 

I wish you the best and remember that we are always here for you! :)

 

Liz


#22 lady2882Nancy

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Posted 19 May 2016 - 06:28 PM

Hi silverseed

 

Sending those good thoughts and prayers your way.

Hang in there you can do it.

 

Take care of you

 

Nancy


#23 silverseed72

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Posted 20 May 2016 - 09:52 AM

I've eating Tums and drinking Pepto like it's going out of style. I've got a new workmate that is an a-hole. We are now in cubicles which is nice for privacy but I am feeling claustrophobic now. I have issues at home so it's no joy going back home. My brother just evicted my room mate (my brother owns the house I rent). I've got issues with the neighbors.


#24 fishinghat

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Posted 20 May 2016 - 11:51 AM

Enjoy the good things, change the bad things that are in your control and be patient with the bad things that are not in your control. They won't last forever. No if I would just listen to my own advice.


#25 silverseed72

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Posted 20 May 2016 - 12:24 PM

Thank you Fishinghat. It's hard and I know things will come out better on the other side. It's just a pain in the behind. I can't eat or sleep. The last thing I had was a chicken finger yesterday morning at around 9:30.


#26 gail

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Posted 20 May 2016 - 02:31 PM

Hi Silverseed,

Good menu here, thumbs and Pepsi and a chicken finger!

Sounds divine for losing weight and a bit of marbles...already lost what was left of mine...

Good thing that everything has an expiration date!

I know, nothing funny about the situation but know that prayers for you were deposited at Lourdes. Thanks to FN for finding this Lourdes site.

Yep Fisherman, good advice and in the middle of a crisis, I wish that I could follow it also!

#27 Geebers

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Posted 25 July 2016 - 03:22 AM

Not sure how this works. I'd like to post to an old forum,but will others be able to see it. Here goes anyway! It's 4am. Just needing a little support. I am having severe back pain due to a herniated disk. As part of the Cymbalta withdrawal,I have lots of energy in the day. Almost obsessive about organizing and cleaning the house. This triggered my back symptoms. I also now realize how heavily medicated I was. I am just becoming aware of how much weight I gained. It seems I was just oblivious,too medicated to care. Feeling frustrated with doctors! I asked that they check out this site because I don't think they have an understanding of what patients are going through. The new pain specialist had the nerve (no pun intended) to tell me everyone has a herniated disk. She isn't treating everyone! Hopefully,tomorrow will be better. Thanks for the late night/early morning rant.

#28 FiveNotions

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Posted 25 July 2016 - 07:14 AM

Hi Geebers, so glad you came here to rant and vent a bit ! I've been wondering how you're doing ... and I'm so sorry about your back problem ... :(

 

I understand what you mean about realizing how heavily medicated you were, and about the weight gain ... getting off crapalta was, for me, like waking up from a bad dream that I didn't know was a dream ... or bad ... until afterwards ... I realized I'd gained a ton of weight, that I'd been drinking like a fish, that I'd been spending ridiculous amounts of money on bizarre online shopping ... that I'd lost chunks of my memory ... etc etc etc ... 

 

What you're experiencing is all part of the process of de-toxing from the drug, and it's temporary ... a phase that will pass / fade shortly ... give yourself permission to rest and relax as much as possible ... and please do keep posting here to let us know how it's going !

 

although having a disc problem due brought on by the energy / activity surges sure does put a crappy frosting on the crapalta-withdrawal cake, doesn't it ?  :wacko:  :unsure:


#29 Carleeta

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Posted 25 July 2016 - 06:51 PM

FiveNotions........Amen!





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