67 replies to this topic

[invalidusername]

Can't say more than my friend have already done so - yes, you did absolutely the right thing for your daughter in seeking help. We are only too pleased to be a part of that chain. So very happy for you, and what a relief all round.

 

We love it when a plan comes together. Keep monitoring as you go and should you need anything, you know where we are!

 

Light and Love

[ncmom]

1. Hi Everyone - my daughter went back to school this Fall for the first time in two years.  (Yay!).  However, there are challenges.  School has ramped up her anxiety and with that came an unexpected (and seriously unwelcome!) surprise - resurgence of Cymbalta withdrawal symptoms.  My daughter describes these emotions as very distinct - she knows exactly where they come from or when she experienced them last.  So, anyway, in sort of a good way, it has lead to an awakening of sorts that she needs to address her anxiety that over the course of these two years has grown into something that is interfering with her life.  Along with therapy, we are considering some non-addictive medications to help her in the most extreme moments when she is most vulnerable.  I recall that Hat had in other posts suggested that hydroxyzine or clonidine might be helpful.  Is that still true?  If so, I have more questions - as I read about hydroxyzine, there are two types/manufacturers? Catapres and Kapvay - which each seem to address different problems.  Do you have an opinion on which one is more helpful for anxiety or are they the same thing?  Do you have any other recommendations?  Thanks in advance everyone.

[invalidusername]

Hey McNom - great to hear from you again... and some great news about your daughter returning to school, but yes, this will kick off the cortisol stress response and flood her with anxiety, poor girl. The two meds you mention are those of choice by Hat as the patient can verify their efficacy more or less straight away as they do not need a period of days and weeks (like some others) to get to the right levels in your system. Loosely translated, if she doesn't feel any difference within a few days, then the dose may be adjusted, but if after that, then they will never work. They also do not have much in the way of withdrawal by comparison to pregabalin and such.

 

Hat will be better to advise you further on your question re the manufacturer - he should be along later this evening. Again - good to hear from you!

[fishinghat]

Soooooo great to hear from you. I have been wondering how your daughter was doing. Remember it takes the nerves around 2 years to heal from the effects of the Cymbalta so it will improve more with time.

I still highly recommend those two meds.

Catapres is the brand name clonidine. The generic form is available and cost me about $7 per month.

Kapvay is the extended release form and is used more for bp control.

Hydroxyzine Pamoate is the most effective form of hydroxyzine for anxiety and is also around $10 a month. Both of these prices are without insurance.

I would also highly recommend a good psychologist for CBT training (cognitive behavioral training). They will teach her ways to help control her anxiety by numerous techniques (breathing exercises, key words, controlling heart rate, and much more).

[ncmom]

Hi Everyone - almost 10 months since my last post!  Well, we never did introduce any new medications to help with the withdrawal and my daughter just willed herself to get through - it's really the only way I can describe it.  She's doing FANTASTIC!  She's been C-free for 17 months and I would say that she has recovered almost completely.  She's writing her college essay this summer... on cymbalta, of course.  If she lets me, I'll post it here.  We've had to re-live a lot of the really dark times as she's been discussing her essay and what to write.  It's hard to even imagine that she made it, or that we made it.  As parents, it was without a doubt, the single hardest thing my husband and I have ever been through.  I know you all know that and actually that is what made me want to post today.  My daughter said yesterday as she was talking about her essay that one of the hardest things was never being able to talk to anyone (except us) about it because no one would understand or even believe her.  My husband and I discussed letting her get on this site during her taper, but some of the posts are so dark and discuss all kinds of personal problems that we just did not think she was mature enough to handle reading the content and I was worried she would do so unsupervised.  I wish there were a site dedicated to teens.  I had you guys and she didn't - that's a tough pill to swallow.  The work you do here is so important, not just for the people tapering, but for the friends/families as well.  Anyway, I'll leave off on a good note - she really is happy and she looks back on the whole experience with a little gratitude for making her the person she is today.  Thanks again - stay safe.  

[fishinghat]

ncmom, you have truly made my day. That is fantastic and I really appreciate you returning to tell us about the wonderful job your daughter has done. It is so hard for people to deal with that type of withdrawal. Your daughter can be very proud of herself and if she can deal with this she will be able to go on and be successful in what ever she decides to take on.

 

God bless to both of you.

[invalidusername]

That is fantastic news - and so grateful for you taking the time to post this wonderful outcome. It gives hope to all out there current in the throes of withdrawal.

 

You as a family have done so well, and I remember a year ago when you were going through this and how difficult it was for your daughter. The essay would be very interesting indeed, but of course, only if your daughter would allow us to read her work.

 

Take care and should you ever wish to stop by any time, please do so.

 

God Bless

 

IUN

[frog]

Hi there! I just reread your whole journey. Wow. I'm SO glad your daughter is almost entirely back to normal. I'm 9 months out. I think my withdrawal presented very similarly to your daughter. The intensity has calmed down a lot but I still go through waves of utter exasperation and crying and telling myself I'll never get better. It's very encouraging to hear that even 17 months on things can still be improving and changing even though it's so hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel growing closer, especially when you have medical professionals denying your experience. 

Congratulations to you all for sticking it out and beating this terrible drug!