3 replies to this topic

[Colinj70]

Hi, my name is Colin and i'm 45 years old and live in th UK. I started Duloxetine 6 weeks ago.

I suffer from Agoraphobia, Social phobia, Anxiety and depression which I have had for most of my life.

Here's a list of what I was prescribed 6 weeks ago along with the Duloxetine..

 

(Prescribed for many years on and off)

Diazepam 2mg as required,

Paracetamol/Codeine 500mg/30mg max 8 daily,

Zopiclone 7.5mg two at night. 

 

(Newly prescribed 6 weeks ago)

Duloxetine 20mg three at night,

Pregabilin (Lyrica) 150mg one at night,

Pregabilin (Lyrica) 200mg one in morning, one at night,

Propranolol 80mg one in morning.

 

I have never felt suicidal in my life until about 5 weeks ago and now I find myself thinking about it every day, not wanting to do it but thinking about the process and aftermath.
My whole life is a daily struggle which just gets harder each day and these tablets are making it much worse. Constant body shaking, falls, suicidal thoughts, no sleep, sweats, reduced and painful urinating, no energy and lots of other symptoms.
I think the combination of all these tablets may have some bad interactions but I don't know where to look, I emailed Mind.org.uk which is a UK mental health charity and they were no help at all.. I can't use a telephone or go out to see a pharmacist.
Reading the posts on this forum have scared me but i'm determined to get off this terrible drug.
Each 20mg capsule has 130 beads so could someone please advise how many to remove each day? I'm in such a state I really can't work it all out..

Thanks for any help, much appreciated

 

 

[fishinghat]

What a mess. First of all the Z drugs (such as Zopiclone) should never be prescribed with a benzo like Diazepam as they both react with the same receptors and cause each other to be more addictive faster. Propananol is mildly anxiolytic and had only arebound bp effect on discontinuing. I would think that clonidine or atenolol would be a better choice as they have a stronger effect on anxiety but propranolol is OK. Pregabilin has an anxiolytic for some people but is not typically prescribed for anxiety. It is usually used to treat pain.

 

Normally I would recommend a 1% drop a day (1 to 2 beads a day) but if you are having suicide ideation then you need to come off quicker than that. Don't go cold turkey though. That is a terrible experience for most. Talk to your dr about switching to Zoloft NOW. Lexapro and Prozac are other good choices. The dr will normally drop your Cymbalta a little each week for 4 weeks and increase the Zoloft a little each week for 4 weeks. That is a little fast in my thinking as it takes around 4 to 6 weeks for thee Zoloft to fully kick in. I don't know about in the UK but here if you call the drs office and say you have been thinking about suicide ever since going on the Cymbalta then they will have you come in immediately to see them or pick up a new script from the nurse to cross-taper over to Zoloft. Call the dr soon. Don't wait.

[gail]

Got to add my two cents worth here.

If you cannot see a dr real fast, I would drop right away to 20 or 30 mg.
A cross taper with Zoloft or Prozac would be a great idea. I tried both and it is nothing compared to that s*** cymbalta.

By the way, many members dropped from 60 to 30 with no side effects. You have plenty of that, no need to add more.

[Carleeta]

As I have been an agoraphobic and I know exactly what you are feeling and going through.  It's not easy, infact, it's scary, and very depressing, and living a life of fear feels terrifying.  Never, ever was I prescribed an anti depressant for this condition.  I was prescribed valium and at that time is was 2mg (which I don't think they make any longer). As my physicians and the psychiatrist knew my depression was caused by my fear of leaving the home and the feeling I would be stuck inside my home forever.  Thank God, they didn't prescribe anti depressants for me at that time.  I was able to get into a program for agoraphobics and am to this day able to do everything I did before I had agoraphobia.  

 

In your case, and in some cases many physicians or psychiatrists do use anti depressants to help with the depression side of this condition.

 

As Fishinghat has stated, you are in a mess.  Yes, the benzo, are way too much here.  Benzo when taking to much also have the effect of bring you down.  As they are muscle relaxers and are given to help ease off anxiety.  Too many of them are definitley not good for the condition you have.  As for the Pregablin is typicaly prescribed for nerve pain as for those from fibromylagia and other nerve disorders.  

 

I would wholeheartedly listen to the advice of Fiishinghat as far as the medications go.  As for your agoraphobia; I will tell you to just stay in the present and try not to think of the "what if".

I truly understand your fears because I have lived in your shoes and knowing what every minute of your life consists of.  I'm here for you Colin, as well as all the other members who have suffered from withdrawals of cymbalta.

 

You take it easy, you hear?  Just remember to listen to your body because you know it best.