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weaning off cymbalta


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#1 terrigirl

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    i am taking cymbalta and want to get off

Posted 23 September 2009 - 11:38 AM

hi iam only taking 30 mg of my 60, been doing this for about 3 days any suggestions of when to taper down again?

#2 nursedeborah

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    I am reallly trying to get off Cymbalta, and not having, well I am having nightmares even with the decreased does, and clanging in my head.

    I just found this site, and I really need help, I can't do this, I fear I willl never get off this brutal medication.

    Deboreah Wesson

Posted 23 September 2009 - 12:15 PM

Slow down there is no race, you have just started the decrease.

Most stay on the same dose at leat 2 weeks is what I am finding
unless you don't have a hard time with the withdrawls.

You are only on day 3, what are you feeling like? My symptoms did
not start until day 6.

Wait and see how you do, also read lots of posts here first before
you think of decreasing, and how much to decreas.

I really didn't know anything when I first got here, but have learned
so much from the old timmers.

Debbie

#3 luv2lope

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Posted 23 September 2009 - 01:16 PM

I agree with Debbie
I am on day 8 and have cut my 60mg dose down a third. Have some slight side effects. I feel spacey, sometimes upset tummy, and have weird vivid dreams. I cant imagine doing this fast!
Nancy

#4 emmitt

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    Stopped Cymbalta 60mg cold turkey, want to see what to expect

Posted 23 September 2009 - 03:12 PM

Has anyone out there had emotional issues while on Cymbalta? I feel like I cry at the drop of a hat, am more paranoid and self conscious while on this drug. I am stopping 60mg/day cold turkey. Could someone please reply and let me know I'm not crazy?

#5 MaureenV

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    Am trying to get off Cymbalta 30mg and wondering about brain zaps.

Posted 23 September 2009 - 04:38 PM

Hi Emmitt,


The only crazy thing about you is trying to stop 60mg cold turkey. :))

I had such issues trying to alternate 30mg every second day with withdrawals - I then went to 15mg per day which led to a dramatic improvement, so it just goes to show that a regular dose at any level is better than skipping days.

I'm spending about a week at each level and am now down to 10mg per day, with virtually no symptoms.

I'm in no rush.

And yes, all the stuff you're talking about is typical of Cymbalta withdrawal.


Maureen.

#6 sammypuggy

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    Withdrawing from Cymbalta and found this website.

Posted 25 September 2009 - 08:43 PM

Hi Emmitt,

The first time I tried to go two days without Cymbalta (30 mg) I had a crying jag in my car. Had to pull over. I called my doctor who was on vacation and they referred me to his Nurse Practioner. I told her what happen. She said that Cymbalta was one of the worst drugs to come off of. I asked her about the crying jag and she stated it was probably due to the withdrawal. She suggested 20 mg for a time. I am still withdrawing from Cymbalta.

Very disturbing drug.

Bridget

#7 nursedeborah

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    I am reallly trying to get off Cymbalta, and not having, well I am having nightmares even with the decreased does, and clanging in my head.

    I just found this site, and I really need help, I can't do this, I fear I willl never get off this brutal medication.

    Deboreah Wesson

Posted 26 September 2009 - 02:11 PM

Emmett,
I don't think that any of of here would want anything more than to just be off this crap overnight
if possible,

I have yet to read where anyone has not had a hard time with the wirdrawls, take that back I just
read of one, nut she is still only on day 3. Mine didn't start until day 6, and then all hell broke
lose. I am not going to go into alll the brutal withdrawl symptoms I had, but will give you the site
that you can go to so you will be able to better know what's going on with yourself

http://prozactruth.com/cymbalta.htm

There is no hurry to get off this drug, just make it a goal. I even had to finally get Prozac to help
me with my withdrawl symptoms as they were just way to brutal on me mentally..

Beast of LUCK,
Debbie

#8 terrigirl

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Posted 02 October 2009 - 09:19 AM

hi ,first I would liketo say i am on almost 2 weeks of half dose(30)mg , When I asked about when to lower dose again it was a simple question addressed to those of you who have successsfully done so I had no intention of rushing and will stay on this dose as long as I need. I just wanted some feedback as to how to proceed and how long you waited before lowering again. Iam now starting to have some trouble with dizziness and feeling out of it. This is not the first time i have tried to get off this drug.Thank you to those of you who replied to me with respect and concern taking it slow. Nursedebbie Iam not some nut, thank-you. Maybe you didn't understand my question, in any case I don't appreaciate being called a nut. I think it was rude. I hope that while you are having difficulty withdrawing from this, people are not calling you un called for names. To every one else, thank so much for your support, please give me any suggestions you have

#9 nursedeborah

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    I am reallly trying to get off Cymbalta, and not having, well I am having nightmares even with the decreased does, and clanging in my head.

    I just found this site, and I really need help, I can't do this, I fear I willl never get off this brutal medication.

    Deboreah Wesson

Posted 02 October 2009 - 11:22 AM

terrigirl,
I would never call anyone a nut. Please tell me where I said that to you.
That is totally not in my nature at all, and I totally understand what you
were asking.

I am here to support you, not make fun of you. I too was new, and had
to ask all kindsof questions! zi still do, I don't know alll there is about
this drrug, and what it is doing to us.

Sorry that you misread something , but
I know me, as does everyone here, and I never make fun of anyone
ever!!!

Hope your doing ok today.

Love,
Debbie

#10 libbyloo

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    i have been on cymbalta for 6 weeks and hate it, told doc wanted off who talked me in to staying on. he isnt in til tuesday and today is the second day i have gone without, i just cannot take this stuff.

Posted 02 October 2009 - 06:18 PM

hi, i have only been taking this toxin 60 mg for 6 weeks, week 4 had inconsolable crying, suicidal idealisations, told doc no more 3 days ago, talked me into staying on them. today is my second day without, the pharmacist said it would take 6 weeks before it effective. do you think since it has only been 6 weeks that the withdrawal may not be so bad? the 6 day episodes concern me. please someone advise, my doc is now away and his nurse consulted with another doc who said to ring next tuesday??????? what should i do.

#11 Houdi

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    I have been a member that you have knock off 3 times. I have withdrawn from Cymbalta and supported forum members that are in withdrawal. Find my old posts. I have pleaded with you to clean up this forum, and my thanks is you erasing me....three times! Thanks a lot! I come back here to pay forward what others did for me. You are quite disrespectful to the members of your forum that support others while you let the spammers take over! Shame on you after you started this for a good reason. Is it money now?

Posted 02 October 2009 - 06:43 PM

Dear libbyloo:

Welcome to the forum. I am sorry that you have to be here. We cannot give you medical advice, as we are not physicians. We will give you our stories; successful forays into withdrawal and our mistakes. From there, you are going to have to make your own choice, what you think will work best for you. And you should always consult with that illusive MD of yours. :) Ring up on Tuesday...well, that's helpful, huh??? I'm sorry.

First of all, from stories told here, the severity of Cymbalta withdrawal doesn't correspond to the amount of time with the drug. You may very well get off this drug without much of an issue. I think you are wise to be very concerned about your experiences of suicidal thoughts. You must be very careful, and if you feel that you will hurt yourself, please call for help immediately.

Are you taking Cymbalta now? I know you were at 60 mgs. And your MD talked you into staying on the medication. And you say this is your second day off, but then there is a discussion with the pharmacist telling you it will take 6 weeks to be effective. So are you completely off? Are you having any withdrawal symptoms if you are off totally? Or are you cutting down on the dose? I'm sorry, so many questions. Last question, what do you want to do?

Hope to hear from you soon....Houdi

#12 Houdi

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    I have been a member that you have knock off 3 times. I have withdrawn from Cymbalta and supported forum members that are in withdrawal. Find my old posts. I have pleaded with you to clean up this forum, and my thanks is you erasing me....three times! Thanks a lot! I come back here to pay forward what others did for me. You are quite disrespectful to the members of your forum that support others while you let the spammers take over! Shame on you after you started this for a good reason. Is it money now?

Posted 02 October 2009 - 06:56 PM

Hi terrigirl:

I am a Cymbalta survivor, I've been off Cymbalta over one year. Yeah!!! Welcome to the forum.

You ask how long to wait to lower your dose. That should be a personal decision for you. And how much you lower the dose is going to be personal too. If you are feeling icky, there is a good chance you will feel icky all through this process. I decided to push through and get on with it. I took a personal hit for it. But I did find some things that helped with the withdrawal symptoms. These may or may not help you as you travel through this withdrawal. But, here they are.

Benadryl helped me with the sinus pain, sleeping issues, and dizziness. I could only take it at night 'cuz it makes me sleepy. And I could only take one. Some people take something called bonine...kind of the same type of otc drug.
Dramamine helped me with the dizziness.
Ibuprofen and tylenol for general overall pain...body aches, headaches, muscle aches....etc.
Ginger root - I made a tea out of real ginger shedded and seeped into a tea. Helped with tummy issues and it is supposed to be really good for us.
Imodium - for diarrhea
Omega 3 - good for us withdrawing from antidepressants. Supposed to be good for us for other things too.
Potassium/magnesium supplements - natural muscle relaxants
I did add St John's wort, but not until I was really sure I was clear of any anti depressant in my system.
Lots of water and otc gerd medication, like pepcid, cuz I was so nauseous and couldn't always get to my ginger root tea. Someone else said peppermints are really good for nausea too.

Hope some of this helps you and I hope you are one of the really lucky ones that gets through this very easily. That'd be the best story I could read here from you.

Post often and let us know what is happening with you......Houdi

#13 MaureenV

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Posted 03 October 2009 - 03:09 AM

terrigirl, hi,


I've realized madtabby has already made the point;

Debbie is unfailingly kind and supportive; i'm sure if you'd asked her to clarify the sentence she would have hurriedly pointed out is was a reasonably obvious mistype - after all, she had already posted some supportive comments to you, it's highly unlikely she'd have called you a 'nut' out of the blue.

I do hope you're continuing to make good progress

take care, Maureen.

#14 terrigirl

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Posted 04 October 2009 - 06:44 PM

hello, first i would like to appologize dto nursedeborah for my obvious overeaction to a typo. iam sorry if i was out of line. i also have been having some anger issues(obviously) if i think someone is talking to me the wrong way or looking at me the wrong way i instantly get angry, paranoia? I don't think this is a good sign, I also snapped at a customer today for asking me if i was going to blend in his hair some more. O f course iam , im not done yet i said. My co workers just sorta said whoa! I understand how those of you who are instantly angry are feeling,I seem to snap easily if i think i'm not being spoken to in anice way or looked at wrong. my co-workers are telling me im geting cranky, ( which is why i always start taking it again)how do we get out friends to understand that we don't mean to act like this? I worry that i will start yelling at my kids(one is 6 with adhd and sensory disorder and one 15) my 6 year old has been getting into trouble at school and getting sent home, so i have the added stress of that being a divorced mom.any tips on keeping my cool would ber greatly appreciated. Iam also leary about whether or not to inform my 6 yr olds specialists of my current withdrawing efforts while dealing with her issues

#15 terrigirl

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Posted 04 October 2009 - 06:49 PM

madtaby, I actually do have osteoarthritis in my knee so i sympathize if you are feeling painand swollen. i'm hoping that tapering off the cymbalta dosen't cause more pain in my knee, i think it may help with the inflammation right now. hope you start feeling less achy

#16 nursedeborah

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    I am reallly trying to get off Cymbalta, and not having, well I am having nightmares even with the decreased does, and clanging in my head.

    I just found this site, and I really need help, I can't do this, I fear I willl never get off this brutal medication.

    Deboreah Wesson

Posted 04 October 2009 - 07:41 PM

Hello terrigirl,
I am just glad that you found out I am a horrible typist. I still not even know which post it
was, and would love to see it.

I did write to you elsewhere, to let you know that was totally out of character for me, and
that I would never do such a thing to you.

I would never speak like that to anyone ever, and glad this had all been ironed out.

I am overly sensitive still because of this drug, and feel like all my nerve ending are on the
survace at times. You should see me driving, and a car pulls in front of me only to slow
down to a snails pace!!!! I also am thinking that people at my AA meeting are talking
about me, so know I am being paranoid, but at least I know it!!!

I know that both of us can make it through this hell we are going through right now,
and will all made really goods friends for a long time. We are are here for the same
reason, Cymbalta, and it's doing what it has done to us. This place is our life boat,
so we don't have to sink.

I hope you doing good right now, and getting a relief for a change.

Love,
Debbie

#17 MaureenV

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Posted 04 October 2009 - 08:05 PM

"I have yet to read where anyone has not had a hard time with the wirdrawls, take that back I just
read of one, nut she is still only on day 3."


There you go Debbie!! :))


*Wanders off wondering what wirdrawsl are*


Maureen.
:))

#18 nursedeborah

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    I am reallly trying to get off Cymbalta, and not having, well I am having nightmares even with the decreased does, and clanging in my head.

    I just found this site, and I really need help, I can't do this, I fear I willl never get off this brutal medication.

    Deboreah Wesson

Posted 04 October 2009 - 08:39 PM

Maurene,
I still am lost in the dark about what everyone is talking about!
Thanks for what you did say about who I really am.

Where is this post? I would just like to look at it, and see what I
wrote.

How are you anyway, and I loved you last comment to me!
Your reallly great, I need the humor! I have forgotten how
to do that because it went out the window with all my
feelings while on the drug, and I still don't have any yet.

Love,
Deb

#19 MaureenV

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Posted 04 October 2009 - 09:30 PM

Hi debbie,


I was going to quote the time of the post, but It may show it in my time instead of yours, so instead will say it is post number seven on this thread.

You will see it's meant to be 'but' and came out as 'nut'.


Glad you like my weird sense of humour.


cheers, Maureen.



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