21 replies to this topic

[natboo]

I am only able to compare cold turkey to the take one skip a day method, as I did not try slowly tapering my dose. I noticed that when I would skip a day I would of course feel horrible from the withdrawal, but when I would take my next pill after the skip I would feel even worse, in fact, I would puke after taking the pill following the skip.

Slowly weaning your dose sounds like the best way, but I just wanted to be done with this crap, so I picked a time when I knew I could rest and take it easy and bit the bullet. I think my withdrawal was definitely easier than most, and because of that I will probably not post here anymore. I do not want to give anyone false hopes about what they can expect during their withdrawal.

I wish the best to everyone who is going through the horrible process of regaining their life back after Cymbalta.

~Natalie

[MaureenV]

thanks for the update, Natalie.



I can well understand what you're saying about feeling worse with the alternating days method. I didn't realize until it was explained to me that with the short half life, I was going though alternating withdrawal and re-introduction of drug to my system.


I haven't seen any posts here at all from someone who's found that method successful. However slowly people come off this drug, it would appear that even cold turkey for some is preferable to that method.


good luck, Maureen.

[jjlaquay]

Natalie, I hear what you are saying about giving people false hopes. I don't think my withdrawal is anywhere near as terrible as others. This has been a short but steady taper and now it's been close to 48 hours since my last dose. Best wishes to you!

[Quadgirl21r]

I am one week into the cold turkey Cymbalta withdrawals. I feel so much better! I'm no longer suffering the side effects of the medication and the withdrawal symptoms are so much better today. I still have the "shocking" feelings, but figured out that they were due to dehydration, caused by the beginning of the withdrawal. I am pushing lots of fluids and resting a whole lot. I am so thankful that I went this way instead of dragging it out over months of weaning. Once I feel up to going back to work (I work in a neurology office), I'm going to have a long talk with our drug rep!

[nursedeborah]

Glad you doing so well. My withdrawls didn't really start right off the bat, but took awhile.
Everyone is different. It is not from dehydration that we get the brain zaps, it due to the
medication, and during the withdrawls. It's the re-wiring that the brain goes throught due to the drug.

Your reallly lucky!


Debbie

[MaureenV]

Hello,


I agree with Debbie; I have an artificially control fluid balance (due to a damaged pituitary) and my body is frequently a little bit too high or too low on fluid (brilliant as the drug is, it's never going to replace the amazing human body's response). There is absolutely no difference in the brain zaps in those different times.

Just thank your lucky stars that you're amongst those who have not suffered greatly from the withdrawal syndrome.

We'll never know what percentage of people are affected, because Eli Lilly only tested for withdrawal symptoms after NINE WEEKS. Pretty ironic given the drug is not considered to be the sort of thing you're ever on for just two months.



Hope for your sake it all continues well.


Maureen.

[Cecile]

Natalie must have been on a low mg's and not for a very long time if she got off cold turkey like that soo quickly!!!!.. ur very Lucky....

[natboo]

Actually I was on 60mg Cymbalta for over 4 years, but lucked out on the withdrawal. I was very prepared for what may happen, because my mom went off the drug about a year ago and it was hell for her. I let myself just lie in bed a lot also.

~Natalie

[MaureenV]

HI Natalie,


I wonder if preparing for the worst actually made the symptoms not seem so bad. Although i'm sure you're capable of telling the difference between mild and severe. :))


One of the difficulties for many of us is that these symptoms catch us unawares. I didn't know it was the withdrawal making me anxious and temperamental for a week or so; if I'd known in advance I could just 'blame' the drug I think I'd have handled it better.

Hope you continue to stay well.

regards, Maureen.

[MaureenV]

Hi Cecile,


The dose of the drug and the length of time on it do not seem to feature strongly in the degree of difficulties people have.


You and I are both coming off what's considered to be a low dose. In Australia, 60mg is not even prescribed on an ongoing basis. After a month on 30mg I was automatically given a script for 60mg, the 30mg just being considered a 'step-up' or step-down' dose.

Eli Lilly probably have an idea of the reasons for the difference; it's criminal that they don't disclose what THEY know to doctors.

Maureen.

[Cecile]

OOh natalie that's a high dosage 60mg for 4 years!!! dang girl!! I give you props for being strong..i wouldn't have been able to do it that long!!! i felt not human souless inside no emotion no tears!!! when i was sad..that's when i new something had to be changed...I was on 30mg for 1 year...and i though i had it bad!! keep ur head up!!! don't look down!!!
best of luck
Cece

Maureen,
Your right we are on a low dosage and i can't believe i'm going crazy coming off this 30mg dosage i couldn't imagine what people are going threw on the 60mg!!! damn..that's pretty messed up what the E. Lillys doing to people!!!

Cecile

[nursedeborah]

Natalie,
I was on the same dose for the same amout of time. It has been really hard for me to tolerate the
withdrawl symptoms. I had to go down really slow, and still had them really bad.

I finally caved in and got on Prozac to help with the withdrawl symptoms, and so far it's helping.

It has only been a few days, but I do have more energy, and I had also decreased my Cymbalta
from 40 mg to 30 mg. I am just tired sometimes, but I also have a really bad back.

You can do this, don't let someone who say's wow that's alot scare you. A dose is a dose that's
all!

If you need to talk let me know.

Debbie

[barney59]

Just thought I would chime in. Im on Day 7 coming off of 120mg per day (60mg am & 60mg pm). I was on that amount for about 2 yrs. On cymbalta totally for about 3 yrs. Saw my Dr. the other day, he was shocked to see how I was. He is a great Dr. and I don't blame him whatsoever. They only know what Lilly wants them to know. B

[MaureenV]

They only know what Lilly wants them to know. B



Barney - that's what I keep saying too.

My GP is fantastic. If I had been able to see her at the relevant time she would have allowed me to stay on 30mg (after one moth on 30mg), which is all I needed - she would have listened to me; instead I had to see someone else who was adamant 60mg was the lowest theraputic dose.

I can guarantee you that there is one GP at least in Australia who will not prescribe Cymbalta again;


Are you really going cold turkey from 120mg???


Maureen.

[MaureenV]

Natalie,
I was on the same dose for the same amout of time. It has been really hard for me to tolerate the
withdrawl symptoms. I had to go down really slow, and still had them really bad.

I finally caved in and got on Prozac to help with the withdrawl symptoms, and so far it's helping.

It has only been a few days, but I do have more energy, and I had also decreased my Cymbalta
from 40 mg to 30 mg. I am just tired sometimes, but I also have a really bad back.

You can do this, don't let someone who say's wow that's alot scare you. A dose is a dose that's
all!

If you need to talk let me know.

Debbie

Debbie, I'm going to tick you off. :))

I don't want to hear you say you 'caved in'. That sounds like some sort of weakness and you're certainly not that.

Taking some prozac in order to help you get off Cymbalta faster is a wise, considered decision, with your own BEST health outcome in mind.

So no more making it sound like is was a backwards step, o.k.??


:))))))))))

Maureen.

[barney59]

my mistake. not cold turkey exactly. Dr weaned me off over period of 3 weeks. definitely not long enough. After seeing me the other day, he realized the wean should have been far longer. I could barely talk, all I could do is cry. I have seen him since 2003 and he knows that is just not me. He apologized several times, but HE DID NOT KNOW. I find no fault in him. It is Lilly & their reps I find at fault.

[Cecile]

I think my Dr. has no information about withdraw effect either..it's horribel and i have been looking around for another dr.

[nursedeborah]

Maurene,
I didn't see you sweet reply, and it was a good call. I remain so negative in my thinking sometimes.
I have even said it was a kind thing to do for myself! then turn around, and out myself sown for it.

Talk about not being really mentally stable sometimes, or thinking clear, add my memory, and my
feelings jumping all over the place.

Thanks for the kind words, and support,
Debbie

[Cecile]

Barney59

How are you feeling now??? are you still weaning off Cymbalta..Yes i do think 120mg is alot for weaning only for 3 weeks!!!! wow! I'm on 30mg and waning for almost 4weeks and I can't even take the side effects anymore!!!!!!!! I started to look for another Dr. since he obviously doesn't know what he's doing...

Cece

[MaureenV]

Barney, I've been weaning off 30mg as slowly as possible for over a month now, after finding this site due to the problems I was experiencing trying to take 30mg every second day.

When I eventually had no symptoms on 10mg (and they'd been mild from 20 down to 15 down to 12.5 down to 10) I figured it was safe to consider stopping; split the last 10m into two 5s. By the end of the second day of five mg the brain zaps were back (mild, but back nevertheless), I'm now getting pain in some parts of my body which were injured in the past (some of which haven't hurt for decades).

This is probably depressing news for you, but thought I should share it in case you considered going back on Cymbalta and weaning more slowly. For many of us, weaning at snail's pace is not even enough to completely ward of the symptoms, which just goes to show ...


take care, and keep in touch,

Maureen.

[nursedeborah]

cec,
Why would you say such a statement that the person hadn't been on this drug that long, or
that high of a dose.

I am really noticing that you do that all the time here.

How would you feel if you were not supported, and questioned that way.

You don't direct it to the person, but ask someone else, or just write it .

I know we are all having a hard time right now, but it really bugs me
because I would not want it to hurt someone, and make them not
come back. See my point?

We all are so very sensitive right now, well I am, and I just want us all to
band together, not talk bad about another, or question them.

Love to All,
Debbie

[barney59]

Maureen

Don't worry, I will NEVER touch Cymbalta again! At first my Doc wanted me to go back on it. That was before he actually saw me. I told him I will just deal with this hell as best I can, but I refuse to go back on it. P.S. Maureen, I was lucky enough to visit Australia while working in the travel industry. Loved it! Beautiful cities, friendly people. I hope one day to get to visit again.