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Best Way To Go From 5Mg To 0?


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#1 Zach

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Posted 10 November 2018 - 02:21 AM

Hey everyone.

 

I've been taking Cymbalta for about 8 months now for nerve pain. I was once at a max of 120mg/day. Cymbalta did not provide any relief so I've been attempting to wean off of it for a while now.

 

It seems as though every time I decrease the dose I spent the next few days vomiting and in extreme pain.

 

I tried to go from 5mg to 2.5mg but felt too sick to eat so I brought it back up to about 3.5mg (approx 15 beads).

 

 

I am thinking that I will try to decrease a bead or 2 each week, but I am really desperate to be done with this, as I have several other health issues that I believe this is interfering with.

 

My questions are for anyone that has recently dropped from a small dose to 0;

 

 

If I stopped completely now, approximately how long would I deal with withdrawal? If it's just a week or two I think I could get through it.

 

If I continue to decrease bead by bead, will I still deal with a similar withdrawal when I make the final decrease from 1 or 2 beads to 0?

 

How would this final withdrawal compare to the withdrawal that I would experience if I dropped to 0 now?

 

Basically, I'm trying to decide whether I should drag this out over several weeks or just try to get it over with now.

 

 

I greatly appreciate any experiences or insights that anyone can provide.

 

Thanks everyone,

 

I wish you all the best dealing with this nightmare.

 


#2 fishinghat

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Posted 10 November 2018 - 08:39 AM

Welcome Zach

 

Basically you asked...

 

"If I stopped completely now, approximately how long would I deal with withdrawal? If it's just a week or two I think I could get through it.

If I continue to decrease bead by bead, will I still deal with a similar withdrawal when I make the final decrease from 1 or 2 beads to 0?

How would this final withdrawal compare to the withdrawal that I would experience if I dropped to 0 now?"

 

Normally after the last dose significant symptoms last 6 to 8 months.

It will be similar but less intense.

 

If things do get too intense then you can always take a bead or two to take he edge off if necessary.

 


#3 AliYogini

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Posted 10 November 2018 - 12:24 PM

Hello Zach,
I can't offer you advice because we all react differently to this medication and withdrawal from it. I can say that I am in a similar situation. I've been on a long taper from 30 mg to my present level of 1.5mg. I too keep toying with the idea of just stopping it now, because I'm only at 9 beads. What stops me is that my withdrawal seems like it has been worse from 10 mg and less and is still nasty. In my early stages, I dropped a bead a day. Then it lengthened and varied depending on the severity of my withdrawal. Now I drop a bead anywhere between 8 days to 15 days, depending on what I can tolerate. I've never had nausea or vomiting during withdrawal. Mainly the brain zaps, muscle spasms, headaches, dizziness, shaky feeling, and feelings of anxiety and depression (even though like you I was put on it for nerve pain). Whatever you decide, good luck. If you decide to just stop, please post your experience. On a side note - I did skip a day unintentionally when I was at 2.5mg. Had the worse night of my withdrawal experience. Very severe paresthesia all over all night with chills and shaking. It was horrible. That made me reluctant to just stop.

#4 juli

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Posted 10 November 2018 - 12:32 PM

I would go slow and slower and even slower than you think you should.  No rush to get off the last bit of it.


#5 Zach

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Posted 11 November 2018 - 06:09 PM

Thanks for the replies.

 

I think I will carry on with bead counting.

 

Follow up question:

 

How many beads and how often do you decrease? 

 

I am currently at 15 beads. Should I reduce to 14? Or could I try 12 or 13?

 

 

I'm happy to hear any opinions and experiences.

 

 

All the best,

 

Zach


#6 fishinghat

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Posted 11 November 2018 - 06:11 PM

These last beads are very difficult. I would drop one bead every 2 weeks.


#7 Zach

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Posted 12 November 2018 - 04:35 AM

I am really torn up about this. I am in so much physical pain. It feels like my blood is on fire.

 

The thought of this taking another 15+ weeks is hard to deal with. I hate the idea of increasing the dose back up to slightly decrease the pain.

 

I have several appointments in the next couple of days, but I think I might try dropping from 15 beads to 0 afterward.

 

I am already on disability from work because of the crippling pain, so I could just shut down for a few weeks. I know it will be hell but every day is already hell anyway. If I can tolerate it for a few weeks maybe I'll be done?

 

I'm just really desperate to be off as I have some other pressing medical issues that need to be addressed and I feel that progress is being impeded by this.

 

I have been in so much pain for 2.5 years, I just want to be me again so desperately. I know this is short-term compared to a lot of you here, and I cannot tell you how much I commend you for persevering for so long. Your strength is genuinely inspiring to me.

 

 

It seems that the final tapering process is different for everyone, but I will post updates if people would like to hear them.

 

Wish me luck, and take care, everyone.


#8 fishinghat

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Posted 12 November 2018 - 08:27 AM

Only you can make that decision and we will continue to be here to support you. It will be an advantage to 'just shut down'. Realize that the withdrawal, on average lasts 6 to 8 months after the last dose is taken so lots of patience is needed. Some get lucky and have a shorter recovery time. Maybe you will be in that group.
  • mjz likes this

#9 gail

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Posted 12 November 2018 - 09:33 AM

Hi Zack,

We are with you whatever decision you make. Who knows, it could prove to be right decision!

Please update us! Thank you!

#10 mjz

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Posted 01 January 2019 - 08:05 PM

Hi Zach and all, I am really new here and have been reading around before deciding what to continue to do....... I want to be sure that I am thinking clearly, for this Duloxetine has me foggy even without decreasing little, tiny beads. Ok, one question I do have is do we need to place the little beads inside the capsule even when we have very little to take or do we just take the little beads without capsule?

 

I have been on 60 mg (2 at 30 mg, 30 mg twice a day). Been on for a long time......years. So am trying what fishinghat and others have strongly suggested.........bead counting. The first time I opened capsule, beads had a party all over. Aha, this may be more difficult that I thought ....... just the preparation, I mean. I was able to get them all back in except 4. Try as I might, I could not return the 4 to the rest of the beads. So for 3 days I have used the altered capsule with 4 less beads when I get up and the regular 30mg at 4 PM, which is my regular time.

 

For a bit of further information, I have just started on the Bemer pulse electromagnetic field therapy. This is my second day and I use it at strength one with no pulse twice a day for 8 minutes each time. This is very low and slow. It is suppose to be a wonderful aid. I hope so.

 

So I am using both hoping I can get off this devil of a pill. Over the past two years, I have withdrawn from Clonazapam and Cyclobenzaprine. Clonazopam was the misery people say it is. My doctor was aware of this. Withdrew at different times. So I have an idea.

 

That's my story so far. Please respond with anything you think I may be doing wrong or with suggestions for other actions. Thank you all.


#11 fishinghat

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Posted 02 January 2019 - 08:13 AM

Welcome AJZ
 
I think your approach is sound. Just take your time.
 
I would make a couple of suggestions.
 
First of all, instead of a pill with 4 less beads in the morning and a regular one in the evening I would suggest one capsule with 2 less beads in the morning and again the same in the evening. This will keep a more stable blood level of Cymbalta and help minimize swings.
 
Second, pick up some empty capsules from a pharmacy and use them when the time comes. When exposed to acid Cymbalta is partly converted to naphthol which can cause some symptoms of its own.
 
FYI
https://dailymed.nlm...f2-c185fbad64ba
"In extremely acidic conditions, CYMBALTA, unprotected by the enteric coating, may undergo hydrolysis to form naphthol. Caution is advised in using CYMBALTA in patients with conditions that may slow gastric emptying (e.g., some diabetics). "


#12 mjz

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Posted 02 January 2019 - 07:41 PM

thank you, fishinghat, that makes sense. just what I need!!! Will do.

 

Not sure what you mean by capsules from drug store and use them when the time comes........ when what time comes, FH?  Sooooooo new here :rolleyes:

and what acidic conditions please?


#13 invalidusername

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Posted 02 January 2019 - 08:00 PM

Hi MJZ...

 

Not much to add to what Hat has said, but make sure that when you get the supply of capsules that they are enteric coated so they survive the digestive process and to the liver. They usually cost a little more, but buy in bulk and it will save a lot of money and stress when running out.

 

The pills you get for your random health supplements dissolve in the gut and into the bloodstream that way, but the Cymbalta needs to get further in order for it to continue its "onward journey" to your grey matter!

 

This is what Hat meant by the acidic conditions, and "when the time comes" meaning when you run out of the capsules that the Cymbalta came in.

 

Please feel free to ask anything else and we will do all we can to help you.


#14 fishinghat

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Posted 03 January 2019 - 09:25 AM

IUN is correct. When you start the bead counting we usually save the removed beads and then later when we begin to run low on Cymbalta we use those extra beads in empty capsules to continue our wean,

#15 fishinghat

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Posted 03 January 2019 - 09:29 AM

By the way Zach, when I went through my withdrawal I couldn't find any empty time release capsules so I had to buy regular gelatin capsules. I asked my pharmacist and he told me *I don't know if this is true or not) that they don't make time release capsules. Either the medicine in the capsule is coated or they are made into a time release coated tablet.

#16 invalidusername

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Posted 03 January 2019 - 11:29 AM

These are the ones that I have used;

 

https://www.ebay.co....tm/132869683244


#17 fishinghat

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Posted 03 January 2019 - 12:27 PM

Excellent IUN.  I have not been able to find anything like this in the US. I wonder why.


#18 fishinghat

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Posted 03 January 2019 - 12:32 PM

Ahhh Haa!!! I did find some on Amazon. I had been searching for time release capsules and extended release capsules. They were under acid resistant capsules.


#19 invalidusername

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Posted 03 January 2019 - 03:23 PM

Excellent IUN.  I have not been able to find anything like this in the US. I wonder why.

 

Yes - I had a quick scout to see if I could find anything your side of the pond, but nothing showed up, but glad our friend here has found a supply via Amazon.


#20 PrincessNutella

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Posted 03 January 2019 - 03:50 PM

The material (acid resistant) would give the dosage form the property (modified release), I believe.

#21 doreen1063

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Posted 21 April 2019 - 10:02 AM

By the way Zach, when I went through my withdrawal I couldn't find any empty time release capsules so I had to buy regular gelatin capsules. I asked my pharmacist and he told me *I don't know if this is true or not) that they don't make time release capsules. Either the medicine in the capsule is coated or they are made into a time release coated tablet.

 

What about using time released Tylenol or asprin capsules? i'm wondering if I could get some at the store and dump out the contents and use the capsules?


#22 fishinghat

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Posted 21 April 2019 - 11:30 AM

Doreen, good question. I will check.


#23 fishinghat

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Posted 21 April 2019 - 11:41 AM

Well, I just checked and all the Tylenol  capsules I found were fast release and would dissolve rapidly in the stomach. The time release aspirin were all tablets. I didn't find any capsules.

Your idea is a good one but there is a couple things to watch out for. First that they are time release and not fast relief and the second thing is that they contain one of the chemicals mentioned above. These are the majority used for enteric coating but just because it contains one of these does not mean it is as thick a layer as the Cymbalta capsule.



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