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Weaning Off 60Mg From 2/6/17: My Story So Far....


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#1 magikpoet

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Posted 03 June 2017 - 06:32 AM

Hi all,
I think I'd like to keep a journal of my experience weaning from Cymbalta 60mgs after 5yrs. Wish me luck! Drs told me to go 30/60/30/60 for a week or 2. Ive read others experiences of doing that here but I'll see how i go and hope I'm ok! If not, I'll have to reassess I guess.

I've been feeling fine today after having the 30mg yesterday. Took 60mg tonight. I've been feeling very positive in myself lately and am hoping I am in a place where i can finally be free of this awful drug!

I'll appreciate any and all support, thanks.
Magikpoet.

#2 fishinghat

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Posted 03 June 2017 - 07:45 AM

Welcome Magikpoet

 

That method is not recommended by the FDA as it causes the blood levels to eise on the day of the 60 mg tablet and drop a lot on the day of the 30 mg tablet which can cause you to repeat the same withdrawal over and over. Having said that, that commonly works from 60 to 30 but not below that. The dr will usually say 30/0 alternating and that is usually a receipt for disaster.

 

I hope all goes well for you and please keep us posted.


#3 gail

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    5 months on cymbalta, scary side effects, to get help and to return the favor if I can.

Posted 03 June 2017 - 10:12 AM

Hello Magicpoet,

I agree with Fishinghat.

The thing you can do though is to drop directly to 30mg for a few weeks and see how it goes. Many did that with no problems.

If all is good, we pick up from there. From there, you can bead count or drop to 20mg. If dropping to 20 is problematic, then up to 30 and bead count.

Not everyone has withdrawal, 30% have tough ones. Keep us posted. No yo-yoing at 30 then 60, really a bad idea.

#4 magikpoet

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Posted 05 June 2017 - 04:06 AM

Thanks fishinghat and Gail for your responses. :)
Doing pretty well so far 3 days in, so have had 2 x 30mg days. Tonight I can feel I'm getting a bit anxious, feeling a little hyped. Might do some meditation before bed. Bowels are a bit overactive today as well, I'll have to monitor that. Sorry if its tmi but honesty is best i feel.
Wouldn't the 30/60/30 just kind of average out to 90mg in 2 days though? I'll try to find more info on this.
Mood is stable today, pretty happy in all.

I'll keep you posted.
Magik.

#5 fishinghat

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Posted 05 June 2017 - 08:48 AM

The alternating day thing is a bad idea because this medicine has a 12 hour half life. So if you take a 60 mg pill at 8 am (example) then your blood level rises to a certain level. At 8 PM your blood level is at half of that and at 8 AM the next morning it is at 1/4 that level. You take a 30 mg pill at 8 AM that morning and the level rise to one half of the previous dose 60 mg dose. At 1/4 by 8 PM and at 1/8 by 8AM the next morning. A drop of 75% of your original level. So then you take your next dose of 60 mg, return to your elevated blood levels and start the drop all over again. This has been shown to cause repeated withdrawal due to repeating the drop over and over again.


#6 magikpoet

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Posted 06 June 2017 - 03:23 AM

Oops hit reply too soon! Thanks for your info fishinghat, makes sense. I called my local compounding pharmacy today and they actually can help me taper slowly! No counting beads for me! I'll see if I can find info on here tonight, but they need to know what doses I want. I'm thinking 10% decreases? Wht do you think? They'll make it in a liquid suspension so i can titrate as needed if i get symptomatic. Sounds good to me, just need my dr to write them a letter!
Magik.

#7 fishinghat

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Posted 06 June 2017 - 08:20 AM

With bead counting a person normally starts at 1% or less per day. If you get it in 10% doses then you can adjust the volume you take yourself and control the drop.

 

That is the first time that I have heard of a compounding pharmacist being able to make a Cymbalta suspension. Cymbalta is not water soluble so it would have to be an oil suspension. Other similar compounds use a milk type suspension. Very interesting. I always thought that would be possible. It will be interesting how it works for you. Please keep us posted.


#8 magikpoet

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Posted 13 June 2017 - 10:45 PM

Update: 
I'm doing well!
Compounding pharmacy made me a suspension (liquid) (that tastes like it came from the depths of hell!) But as long as I chase it with some cordial its survivable. At 60mg per 2mL I started on 1.8mL, 10% less. I was having it at night like my pill but decided to change to am as I was beginning to withdraw while still at work about 3pm. So took half one night and other half the following morning and have now moved to mornings. Been working much better as I'm asleep when i withdraw now. 
Only symptoms, anxiety and brain zaps/foggyness. Oh got a little teary the other night, but likely that was pms.
Feeling good, hoping this proves goes smoothly!
Magik.

#9 magikpoet

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Posted 20 June 2017 - 08:50 PM

Hi everybody. Just checking in! I'm still doing well on my liquid suspension of duloxetine. I'm down to 1.4mL which is 42mg from 60mg only a couple of weeks ago! I feel a bit anxious/hyper in the morning when the next dose is due but that's it! I'm taking it with orange juice as it tastes disgusting but survivable!
Magik.

#10 marylynn

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Posted 24 June 2017 - 10:11 AM

I need advice. I started cymbalta 3 months ago. I started at 20mg and felt good.

I increased to 40 mg 3 weeks and my trigeminal neuralgia has gotten worse. My dry eye has gotten worse. I gained 6 lbs and also can't sleep well. I feel so tired. So, I am going off. I am on a FB group which recommends going down 10% of dosage over a period of time. I was only on for 3 months and according to their formula I will be off it entirely NEXT March. I can't fathom doing this. Almost went crazy (Not really) bead counting yesterday. I took 12 beads out of my capsule and was instructed to stay at that for 7 days and then remove 10% after that.  I believe we are all so different and that the chemistry is so varied of our brains that it is not a good idea for me to stay on this for almost 8 more months.

Thoughts?
Marylynn


#11 brzghoff

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Posted 24 June 2017 - 11:09 AM

hi marylynn,

 

i responded under your other thread "conflicted..."

I need advice. I started cymbalta 3 months ago. I started at 20mg and felt good.

I increased to 40 mg 3 weeks and my trigeminal neuralgia has gotten worse. My dry eye has gotten worse. I gained 6 lbs and also can't sleep well. I feel so tired. So, I am going off. I am on a FB group which recommends going down 10% of dosage over a period of time. I was only on for 3 months and according to their formula I will be off it entirely NEXT March. I can't fathom doing this. Almost went crazy (Not really) bead counting yesterday. I took 12 beads out of my capsule and was instructed to stay at that for 7 days and then remove 10% after that.  I believe we are all so different and that the chemistry is so varied of our brains that it is not a good idea for me to stay on this for almost 8 more months.

Thoughts?
Marylynn





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