23 replies to this topic

[ofarrells7]

Hi,

I was on Cymbalta for about 2 months and hated how it made me feel. My Dr. had me wean down quickly because she was switching me to a different anti depressant. Needless to say, the first night I didn't take the Cymbalta was horrible... Tomorrow marks 6 weeks and I am still feeling very nauseous and still have diarrhea. My Dr. doesn't think it has anything to do with the Cymbalta anymore because I start to feel better just to feel horrible again. She said that I should continually get better, not have ups and downs... Does anyone else have any experience with this? Starting to feel better only to feel horrible again? She has run several tests on me and is now suggesting I go to a gastroenterologist. I still think it could be from the Cymbalta... Any thoughts???

[fishinghat]

Absolutely Cymbalta is the possible culprit. Ups and downs are classic with Cymbalta withdrawal. Withdrawal usually lasts 6 or 7 months but can last up to and over a year.  Now, having said that, obviously you have already been taking the new antidepressant. Please realize it can take 4 to 8 weeks for a ssri/snri to fully kick in so you may not be receiving full benefit yet. Do you mind telling me what AD the dr switched you to?

[ofarrells7]

Lord have mercy! That long??? My Dr. put me on Prozac (the one I was originally on). It's only been a 9 days so... Any other advice??

[Madison1]

I was on Cymbalta for about 3 years and (long story) stopped cold turkey not by choice. Horrible mistake! You weren't on it that long so hopefully it won't be as bad for you. My doctor put me on Prozac 20mg. It helped with the symptoms of withdrawal but also masked them I believe. I've been on Prozac since. I still have issues from the antidepressants but mostly I believe from the Cymbalta. I've had definite ups and downs for a long time. I've had more tests run than I can count and all were normal except vitamin deficiencies. When I started the Prozac it took a good two weeks before I noticed improvement. Maybe 10-14 days. 

[fishinghat]

Bottom line on Prozac, Like Madison says around 2 weeks for signs of improvement and 8 weeks for full effect.

 

When I went through mine I lived off of Imodium and Pepto for the digestive issues. Luckily they start to fade first. I also used hydroxyzine and clonidine for the emotional issues. These do NOT have withdrawal. Benadryl also helps with the anxiety as well but can not be used all the time.

 

If you look at the discontinuation warnings on the drug insert that comes with the medicine it warns of the gastric issues from Cymbalta withdrawal. You dr is an idiot.

[fishinghat]

https://dailymed.nlm...f2-c185fbad64ba

5.7 Discontinuation of Treatment with CYMBALTA

Discontinuation symptoms have been systematically evaluated in patients taking CYMBALTA. Following abrupt or tapered discontinuation in adult placebo-controlled clinical trials, the following symptoms occurred at 1% or greater and at a significantly higher rate in CYMBALTA-treated patients compared to those discontinuing from placebo: dizziness, headache, nausea, diarrhea, paresthesia, irritability, vomiting, insomnia, anxiety, hyperhidrosis, and fatigue.

During marketing of other SSRIs and SNRIs (serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors), there have been spontaneous reports of adverse events occurring upon discontinuation of these drugs, particularly when abrupt, including the following: dysphoric mood, irritability, agitation, dizziness, sensory disturbances (e.g., paresthesias such as electric shock sensations), anxiety, confusion, headache, lethargy, emotional lability, insomnia, hypomania, tinnitus, and seizures. Although these events are generally self-limiting, some have been reported to be severe.

Patients should be monitored for these symptoms when discontinuing treatment with CYMBALTA. A gradual reduction in the dose rather than abrupt cessation is recommended whenever possible. If intolerable symptoms occur following a decrease in the dose or upon discontinuation of treatment, then resuming the previously prescribed dose may be considered. Subsequently, the physician may continue decreasing the dose but at a more gradual rate [see Dosage and Administration (2.7)].

[ofarrells7]

Thanks for all the insight! Can't believe this horrible drug is still on the market! Hoping that things will start to get better here in the next couple of weeks!

[ofarrells7]

So when you say that withdrawal effects can last for months to a year, what kinds of effects are you talking about? I am still feeling nauseous and am feeling very discouraged today! I just want to feel better! I hate that this is affecting my family, too! I'm almost at 8 weeks of Cymbalta and about 3 weeks on Prozac... Just want the nausea to go away! Sorry, just feeling very down today...

[gail]

Hello Of 7,

Looking up on my notes, nausea lasted five to seven weeks or so in withdrawal. This symptom goes away, doesn't last for months and months.

Did you have this before Prozac? I don't remember any nausea on Prozac, but it can be or not.
Prozac is a real good choice because of its long half life, by the way.

Of 7, soon it will be a thing of the past, I can understand you wanting to get better and as in all things it's a matter of time and patience. The good days are soon approaching, Prozac should be kicking in soon. Keep posting anytime!

[fishinghat]

Gail is right but the emotional issues can continue on for a long time.

[ofarrells7]

So yesterday, I was feeling better, best I've felt in a while actually... Then last night started not feeling so great again and now this morning is the worst I've felt in a while... Is this normal?? I thought I would start feeling better by now...

[gail]

Of7,

You know that in situations of withdrawal and trying a new med, it's a process of wax and wane for a while.
Geez, just life itself is a wax and wane thing. It is needed to let this process go on till It reaches it's end.

[fishinghat]

Common I am afraid but it will not last.

[ofarrells7]

I know I keep asking about this but I'm just getting frustrated with all this... I'm at 8 1/2 weeks off Cymbalta and 3 weeks on Prozac and am still experiencing nausea/diarrhea ALOT. I feel like sometimes it's getting better just to not feel well again... Is it normal for the nausea to last this long? Is it a more gradual, up and down process or will I just all of a sudden feel better? And when you say that the emotional issues last longer, like what and will they be as bad if I'm on the Prozac? Just cannot wait for this hell to be over!! It has really taken it's toll on not only me, but my family as well!

[fishinghat]

That is a little long for the digestive issues but Prozac can/but not always cause some of this as you up the doses. Once on a stable dose then this problem should go away. I must admit by 8 1/2 weeks it should be at least better. What dose of Prozac are you on  and how long have you been on that dose? Are they going to raise the dose more?

 

The emotional symptoms are rapid and excessive mood swings, crying, fear, terrible anxiety, etc. The Prozac should take care of these symptoms and you shouldn't have an issue.

 

The FDA says that about 8% of people experience long term nausea etc when taking Prozac.

[ofarrells7]

I do feel like it's somewhat better... when it's bad, it doesn't last as long... I guess I just expected to feel alot better by now... Prozac (fluoxetine) is the med I have been on the longest throughout my life and don't remember experiencing any digestive issues with it. I was on 10mg for 1 week, then have been on 20mg for 3 weeks now... my dr told me to up it to 30mg when I was ready but every time I try, I get really dizzy and feel weird. I haven't tried again in over a week... do you think that might help? My dr has run all sorts of tests on me trying to determine what is causing the prolonged nausea, but everything has come back normal except for a slightly elevated liver enzyme. I just don't know when I should think that maybe there is something more going on than the Cymbalta... Thanks for all your insight!

[fishinghat]

"I was on 10mg for 1 week, then have been on 20mg for 3 weeks now... my dr told me to up it to 30mg when I was ready but every time I try, I get really dizzy and feel weird."

 

You may need to wait a little longer or even go to 25 before trying 30. Prozac takes 6 to 8 weeks to kick in so it may be awhile for you to stabilize.

 

The ssri/snri antidepressants are weird drugs. They may work for you one time and not the next. You may have worse side effects the second or third time you try it. Isn't medicine wonderful?  NOT!!!

[ofarrells7]

So here I am again wondering what is going on... I've only had diarrhea 1-2 times in about 2 weeks so that seems better and I thought the nausea was getting better... that was until tonight! Here it is 2AM and I'm still up cuz of the nausea and warm, tingly feeling/shivering I asked about a few weeks ago. Worst I have felt in a couple weeks and don't really understand what is going on... Going on 11 weeks off Cymbalta and going on 6 weeks of being on Prozac so thought things would be MUCH better by now, not just a little better sometimes... Also, I have noticed that every time I get that weird tingly feeling/shivering, I have a mild fever (usually about 99*-100*) and it seems to pass when the weird feelings pass... I have a few people telling me that this all has to be from something else because of the mild fever... has anyone else ever experienced a mild fever like this before? Just hoping this is all going to get better VERY SOON!!!

[gail]

Hello Of,

That is intriguing, I don't know but surely Fishinghat will know the answer. He'll be in soon.
I will check his answer to this, I am curious to know! Stand by.

[fishinghat]

A few have complained of a mild fever but not many. Something to consider, an upset stomach can generate a mild fever, usually less then 100F.

Hang in there O'F. The stomach issues pass first and then the emotional pass....but slowly.

[ofarrells7]

So tomorrow starts the 6 week mark of 20mg on Prozac... hopefully, I should start feeling better within the next couple of weeks then, right? The 2 things I am most concerned about is the nausea and the anxiety. I take 4-8mg of Zofran 2-3 times a day, 100mg of Gabapentin 3 times a day and 25mg of Phenergan at bedtime... Is there anything else I could be taking to help with the anxiety? The gastroenterologist wanted me to take Avitan, but I refused... Any thoughts on that?

 

Fishinghat, you wrote that "the FDA says that about 8% of people experience long term nausea etc when taking Prozac." Any more info on that? Like how long term?

 

Sorry for asking so many questions, I'm just at my wits end with all of this and have many people telling me that there has to be something more wrong with me so just trying to get answers and get to the bottom of all this! I am in the twin cities area of Minnesota, does anyone know of anyone, dr or otherwise, that I could talk to that would be able to help me more with all of this?? Thanks for all the insight, it is much appreciated!

[fishinghat]

First Prozac takes 6 to 8 weeks to fully kick in. Like you say, hopefully soon.

 

I assume you meant Ativan, a strong benzo. excellent for anxiety but very addictive with its own withdrawal. I respect your effort to avoid this drug. There are a couple things that might help the anxiety. First of all Benadryl, it can not be used all the time as your body builds tolerance to it but an occasional dose helps. Two prescription meds that help many are clonidine and hydroxyzine. Neither are addictive nor do they have withdrawal. You might want to talk to your dr about those two.

 

I know when I had all my stomach issues I basically lived off of Imodium and Pepto, especially pepto.

 

Unluckily the FDA did not define how long is "long-term). Also have you given any though about the Prozac causing your stomach issues? It is sort of famous for that. Did you have these issues before you started the Prozac?

 

I wish I could help more but all I can say is that the stomach issues and the severe anxiety are par for the course. For some people the anxiety lasts for months and months but I am surprised by the stomach issues. Usually around 8 weeks they start to let up. You are well past that. Have I heard of others on this site where the stomach issues lasted this long? Yea, but not very many,  by now it was starting to fade so they new they could see the light at the end of the tunnel.

 

I still think this is just the withdrawal but only time will tell.

[ofarrells7]

I don't know if the Prozac could be causing the prolonged nausea or not... I have been on it several times and the longest and don't remember having any issues with it... But like you said, you can react differently each time... I would just hate to stop taking it when I am so close to the "kick in" mark and just make things worse... What would probably happen if I quit taking the Prozac??? I was feeling like I could see the light at the end of the tunnel until the last couple of days, that is why I'm so confused and frustrated... I guess I will give it a couple more weeks and see how I am feeling and go from there. Thanks!

[fishinghat]

Yea, just wait it out some more. Like Gail says, it waxs and wanes. Hang in there.