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#1 PyperJane

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Posted 28 April 2016 - 09:08 AM

Hi! 

Newbie here! My boyfriend has currently been on Cymbalta for about 3 months. He went to his psychiatrist and asked to be weaned off Cymbalta or given another anxiety med. He was told that he can't wean down or just go off Cymbalta and was given a refill script. 

Needless to say, this really frustrates us. So I reached out and found this forum. We are ready to do the bead counting. He is on 60mg, with 320 beads inside. Since he's only been on it for 3 months we figure the sooner the better. Do you recommend another med to help wean, like prozac, which I've heard helps the side effects?

We are going to look into another psychiatrist, that will hopefully support this move away from this terrible drug. 

Any suggestions are welcome! 

Thanks so much and happy to have found this forum!

 

 


#2 lady2882Nancy

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Posted 28 April 2016 - 05:11 PM

Hi PyperJane

There is no recommended antidepressant to go on. it really depends on what works for the person but I do recommend he gets something for the anxiety as even those who did not take Cymbalta for anxiety often need help with anxiety at some point during the taper off.

I took Zoloft and that worked for me but I was in really rough shape anxiety wise by the time I started taking it.  I am one of those who cannot take SSRI or SSNRI antidepressants according to my psychiatrist as they do weird things to me so I was not on the Zoloft for long and had to look at other meds for anxiety.

If he tapers off slowly enough there will be very little withdrawals. If you can get another psychiatrist on board to help deal with anything that comes along like the anxiety that would be great.

All I can suggest is to keep as physically active as possible and drink lots of water. That seems to help flush it out of the system.

I now use Omega-3 Calm which is a High Potency EPA Formula. There are formulas that are just EPA with no DHA and they are the best at calming the brain. I have not been able to find any available here in Canada but there are some in the US.

All the best to your boyfriend and yeah you that you are there for him.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask and I will answer as best as I can.

Take care

Nancy


#3 TryinginFL

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Posted 28 April 2016 - 05:51 PM

Welcome PyperJane!

 

Has your boyfriend been slowly weaning?  Please check out "Are You New Here?" and move down to the topic "Bead Counting - How to Do It" which will give good advice on this method.  Please come back with any questions you may have.

 

This process will put him in control and be able to adjust as needed to keep withdrawal at a minimum.  There is no time limit here - it takes as long as it takes and we are all different

 

We're happy that you have found us, and remember - we are always here for you!


#4 PyperJane

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Posted 28 April 2016 - 09:07 PM

Thanks Ladies! 

He hasn't started weaning yet. I just counted the beads this morning. Now I need to do the math on how to wean him off. I know it will be a process but we figure better now than when he is 2 years or more in deep.

 

Nancy, some suggest Fish Oil as well. Have you tried that? I like the idea of the "calming brain". He did go off for like a day and was doing well, then just crashed. He said he felt to weird and he looked so tired. Like his head wasn't connected to his body. I will look into the Omega 3 calm. Maybe a natural food store?


#5 lady2882Nancy

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Posted 29 April 2016 - 12:09 AM

Jane

Yes my omega-3 is a fish oil based. Some complain about the fishy aftertaste but I have never had that problem.

The one I use is by Jamieson and I get it from a drugstore.

 

That crash sounds like a typical reaction when trying to go off cold turkey. Not recommended to do it that way and at least you know that he will have withdrawal systems if he tries to go too fast so it is better if he tapers off. The same thing can happen if you taper too fast.

 

Have a good night and take care


#6 ksaoirse

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Posted 29 April 2016 - 05:57 PM

Hi!

I went cold turkey...not really planned.   Honestly I didn't even thing about having withdrawal symptoms.  I ran out Sunday night (I have been taking 2 60mg per day) for about 7 to 8 months.  

RA and Fibromyalgia along with depression (who wouldn't be with this disease?).   So, maybe Tuesday morning I wake up totally engulfed in sweat, get up...don't think about it, and go straight to work after a quick shower.  Segway:  fortunately I work from home, or unfortunately  all depending on how you look at it.   I feel a little whoozy...but hey, I just figure my pain med kicked in fast and I should eat.

As the day progressed I find myself rubbing my eyes, get a sense that eyes are stuttering (like your computer mouse does with lag), totally weird.   Those of us with similar and unfortunate medical and/or psychological issues have learned to dig in and work through it, so that is what I do.  Next day...same thing...but a little voice inside is starting to whisper at me, but of course I just ignore it.  Well Thursday morning I decided perhaps I should do a little research thinking something is up. Est Voila!  Here I am today.  Really wish there was a way to cure all of our issues without meds....no one at all should have to deal with this doodoo...sorry to all who are!

I went to fill my script tuesday and just got pissed off at the walmart pharmacist when he said it would take a day to process my coupon if I didn't want to pay over $240, seriously dude???  So I said...FINE!  I WONT FILL IT!  thinking to myself I should make him feel bad if he read the news tomorrow about some lady jumping off the St Pete bridge, but i cool my jets and just walked away.

My question here is...how long will the withdrawals last?  I am committed to quitting now, nothing to lose I hope, just gain some extra $$ in the bank account.  Seems I am in pain no matter what I do, so why make it worse with cymbalta? 

Sorry...I do ramble....anyone have any input?

Karen


#7 TryinginFL

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Posted 29 April 2016 - 06:42 PM

Welcome, Karen!

 

I commiserate, as I went cold turkey off of 60mg in Jan of 2014.  DO NOT DO THIS!!! I spent that entire year in my own special hell because I did not find this forum until it was too late

 

If you have only been off the poison since Sun., please swallow your pride and have your RX refilled!  Immediately start taking it again - you might be able to get by with the 30mg , but if not, take the entire 60mg and I guarantee you will feel better very quickly.  Please stay at that dose until you feel stable and then you can start your bead counting down.  If you check "Are You Near Here?" and  move down you will find the topic "Bead Counting - How To Do It".  I wish I had known of this method but it was too late for me...

 

Please check this out and come back with any questions you may have.  This procedure puts you in control and you can keep your withdrawal at a minimum. 

 

Please keep us updated, and I'm so happy that you have found us!  We are always here for you :)

 

Liz


#8 fishinghat

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Posted 29 April 2016 - 06:53 PM

TFL is absolutely correct. cold turkey hell is not only brutal but a 5 to 9 month withdrawal is fairly common and some even take 1 to 2 years for complete 'normalness'. Now don't get me wrong there are a few, just a few that only take a few weeks but this is very uncommon. Don't underestimate this withdrawal please.


#9 ksaoirse

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Posted 29 April 2016 - 08:26 PM

Thank you for the replies!  I find this truly fascinating that I could have withdrawals from something that I have not necessarily been relying on.  I will consider your comments, however, I know I will not pick up the script this weekend, so that will get me into one week of without.  I was taking 2 60 mg a day, not 1 and not 30 mg; perhaps the higher dosage directly affects the withdrawal symptoms?  Do the symptoms linger? Change? get worse?  Honestly I have not really felt 'bad', just slightly whoozy....so, if this is as bad as it gets I am not feeling compelled to get back on only to get back off again.  

As I said, I will see how I am monday morning, if symptoms are the same or worse I will contact my doctor to let her know and see what she says.  The main reason Doc put me on was to treat my fibro symptoms...not depression, although I have been flirting with depression since 2012 when most of my issues started.   I am 54 and was diagnosed with RA in 2012 shortly after my most loving and unique cat had to be put down from a Brain Aneurysm, Mozart was so special to me, and my world caved in.  I will say that regular doc tried a few anti-depressants on me...but none stuck more than 1 week and I just pushed on through with a lot of prayer and help from congregation friends.  I wish this was the end, but of course that was the beginning of my battle with RA, complicated with my 24 year marriage coming to an end (two timing loser of a husband - NO MORE - amen), yet I only went on the cymbalta late last year 2015.  I have been through the menopause already, so sweats are a no brainer for me, I can focus fine...just have to concentrate maybe a little extra.  I have been taking Hydrocodone for perhaps 2 1/2 years, these might serve to take the edge off typical withdrawals...thoughts on this?  Still....I could be just kidding myself and be in for a reality check if cymbalta has been indeed helping me more than I think.  I guess I will know more Monday...but I look forward to your responses in the interim.

 

Thanks again.

Karen


#10 lady2882Nancy

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Posted 29 April 2016 - 10:58 PM

Hi Karen

I am hoping that you are one of the lucky ones when getting off this med.

I was also put on this med for chronic pain so I must warn you that many have rebound pain that is much worse then the pain that you originally took the med for. It will go away and get back to the level of your original pain but it can take awhile.

The only thing that really seems to help is to exercise as much as you can. I did a lot of gentle walking. I also just came across an article that says that taking omega-3 helps with the joint pain. It also helps with the brain zaps or swooshing experienced in the typical withdrawal.

All the best to you

Take care

Nancy


#11 fishinghat

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Posted 30 April 2016 - 08:36 AM

Sounds like a possible soft landing. That would be great. Keep us posted.

 

The symptoms have stages it goes through with the first 2 or 3 months typically the worse.


#12 ksaoirse

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Posted 01 May 2016 - 12:47 AM

Thanks for the info Nancy  and God-like.  Today has been a good day!  





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