Cymbalta Withdrawal Symptoms Being Kept Secret?
Home » depression » Cymbalta Withdrawal Symptoms Being Kept Secret?I wrote an article on how much Cymbalta withdrawal symptoms suck and I was pretty shocked at the amount of comments that are being posted from people who were going through the same exact Cymbalta withdrawal symptoms. The common theme is that no one was made aware of the Cymbalta withdrawal side effects upfront.
There was an article posted over at The Discovering Alcoholic’s website where he talked about Purdue Pharma’s misrepresentation of Oxycontin. The top executives blatantly downplayed the dangers and the addictive properties of Oxycontin with one thing in mind…the almighty dollar. It got me thinking about all of the comments being left on my Cymbalta withdrawal symptom post.
I understand that people aren’t throwing their entire lives away to get another pill of Cymbalta like what is sometimes done (myself included on that) with Oxycontin, but there really is a similarity here. For Cymbalta to cause such severe withdrawal symptoms in people for such an extended period of time there must be some real brain dependency going on here.
What’s worse is that some doctors don’t even realize that Cymbalta causes these withdrawal symptoms and so they are not weening their patients off of it at the speed necessary to avoid severe withdrawal. I had gotten sample boxes from my doctor with the informational sheet (which has “please remove from box before dispensing to patient” written on it) inside and no where did it list the severe withdrawal symptoms. It did say that Cymbalta should not be stopped abruptly. To me, that doesn’t really drive home the fact that severe withdrawal will ensue if it is stopped to quickly.
To me, if doctors are unaware of the severe Cymbalta withdrawal symptoms this could mean that the pharmaceutical reps are going in the doctor’s offices and are not giving the entire scoop on this drug. Possibly…obviously, I’m not there and I don’t know this to be true.
Because of Cymbalta’s pain reduction property, the FDA has now approved Cymbalta being prescribed to Diabetic patients to treat pain due to Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy. What I have been reading from patients making posts on message boards here and there is that it works for a couple of months and then is not so effective. Once that happens the patients end up having to continue to take Cymbalta for months and months after it stops being effective to ween off.
I’m not trying to say it’s some huge conspiracy like what happened with Oxycontin but it does make you wonder. Why aren’t Cymbalta patients being told upfront about the long weening off process and the severe withdrawal symptoms? Ultimately it is up to the patient to make an informed choice when starting any medication but it would help if the information was more readily available.
Posts
April 15th, 2009 at 8:50 am
I’ve been on Cymbalta since I was 16. It didn’t seem to be working when I was 17. I started trying to come off it when I was 18. I’m 22 now. And still on it. I can’t come off it. The brain zaps are horrible, but what’s worse is what I don’t see mentioned very much. I get horrible night sweats if the pill hasn’t been taken for over 26 hours. I’ll be sleeping soundly and wake up freezing and covered in sweat. I couldn’t handle them, so I stopped trying to ween myself off. I feel so hopeless about it. I think I’m going to try to make the homemade pills I’ve read about. (Going to the store, buying empty gelatin capsules, and splitting my dosages slowly.) But it still feels like a horrible journey that I don’t want to take.
April 15th, 2009 at 1:02 pm
Alison,
I hope the divided dosages work for you. I am finally free from this drug, and so thankful. I had almost all the symptoms everyone mentions while stopping it. Luckily, for me I did not have to adhere to a work or school schedule while quitting and am not sure if I could have managed if i did. My brain was so addled for days and days. I would forget things and could not concentrate. The nausea, dizziness and brain “zaps” were awful, and I also had some kind of zapping feeling in my chest, and for a second it would feel like my heart would stop. Did anyone else experience this sensation? I didn’t think I was going to make it, but I did. Please let us know how you are doing.
April 19th, 2009 at 5:04 pm
I took my last Cymbalta and had an appointment for the next day. Something came up at work and I couldn’t get there and they couldn’t get me in for a week. My doctor never filled my Rx. I called and the bitch who answered the phone acted like I was trying to score meth. Five days into no Cymbalta I felt like I had bees buzzing inside my body, I had mood swings, dizziness, cold sweats, I woke up every 20 minutes because I felt like I was falling… My husband wanted to take me to the hospital. I finally “scored” some cymbalta. I didn’t want to stop. I take it for Fibromyalgia. I am not happy with my doctor. Why would they do that to someone?
April 21st, 2009 at 11:58 am
I’m frustrated too. My doctor gave me samples of the 30mg to help ween myself “safely” off Cymbalta. This has been a horrific experience. No one told me I would have flu like symptoms, dizziness, sleeplessness, sweats, or brain zaps. I had no clue what was going on until I searched the internet. Cymbalta was suppose to be a temporary fix for my depression, and now I’m sicker than I was before I started it. BOOOO!!!!!!!!
April 21st, 2009 at 8:04 pm
I believe that the lack of compassion for chronic pain sufferers by the medical community shows a complete lack of compassion and professionalism. I must confess that before I had daily, continuous pain I would have never believed how bad it can be myself. But it does show a certain callousness that the same medical professionals who are so quick to give their patients samples and write the initial prescriptions do not care about their patient’s continuing pain and suffering. I also know that if these same individuals found themselves without medication they needed for pain control they would have it within the hour, because they have the ways and means to do so. No patient, who has legitimate pain should be treated like they are drug seekers and addicts when their pain makes their quality of life miserable.
April 25th, 2009 at 7:20 pm
I to was dependant on cymbalta, everytime I tried to stop I had such horrid headaches I couldn’t lift my head up from the pillow. It really scared me, I would get body pain and shocks through my body. Horrible. I did get just below 30mg anything below that was hell. I had started seeing a new doctor and told him that it’s impossible to stop. He told me if I take 1 prozac it would stop the withdrawal. He asked if I wanted 1. I said yes and he got me 1 prozac and told me to take it right then. And he told me to stop the cymbalta. Do not take anymore. I was so afraid of that headache in the morning. It never came. I couldn’t believe it. It has been 5 days and I do get the shock feelings a little. Very little discomfort. But what a difference. I am now free of the devil drug cymbalta. I have no explanation as to why taking only 1 prozac helped. But it did. So if you can get your hands on 1 prozac and I do not know the mg. I think it was a high dose. Again I have no idea why but it worked. I am still in disbelief and keep waiting for the horrible symptoms to return but so far so good. So if you can at least give it a try. And good luck to all of you with this horrible evil drug.
May 6th, 2009 at 11:48 am
I am on my 4th day of withdrawal from this horrible medication prescribed for my lower back pain in 5 months ago; I was diagnosed 3 years ago with Medullary Thyroid Cancer and subsequently have 2 spinal lesions on L2 & L4. As if that wasn’t enough to have back pain and “cancer”…I am now going through agonizing withdrawal symptoms from a medication that was supposedly prescribed to manage pain! Unfortunately, I still have the pain as well as the “flu”, unable to stand for fear of falling and hitting my head on the nearest object! Patients Beware! In the future, I will certainly research what is being prescribed BEFORE taking medication; I have the right to REFUSE any and all medication! On the other hand, it is the sole responsibility and obligation of the company producing Cymbalta to share all information on this medication, including such severe withdrawal symptoms. Withholding such vital information from patients and doctors should be cause for legal action!
May 8th, 2009 at 3:34 pm
I am on my 9th day of cold turkey withdrawal and this is by far the worst day that I have had. I ran out of my medication and decided to quit. After 3 days, I called my doctor and she approved a refill but I have yet to pick it up as I truly want to quit. I have been crying like a baby today for no reason and I am now sitting in the dark. I was so angry at work today that it was very noticeable; people got out of my way. I felt like if someone said the wrong thing to me I could probably rip their head off! I have tried to stop taking Cymbalta a couple of times previously but after two days of not taking it on those attempts, the brain zaps would force me to go back on it. My refill is still at the store and I am tempted today but I am trying to hold out. I have not had the brain zaps this time but my mind is very foggy. If it gets worse, I may have to stay out of work. I’ll keep you posted.
May 11th, 2009 at 10:26 am
I have been weening myself off of 60mg a day of Cymbalta for the past three weeks. Tried going cold turkey at first, but found myself just wanting to die. I decided I’d take one every other day for two weeks, which wasn’t too bad. Then I went to one every third day. Dealt with nausea, depression, and fatigue, but I luckily had some ondastofren from a previous kidney infection which has helped with the nausea. I’ve finally decided that last Thursday would be the last time I took one. I am on the fourth day, and I am feeling so weak and light-headed, I can barely function.
I started taking St. johns wort two days ago in hopes of off-setting some of the hopelessness I’ve been feeling. I can’t tell right now if my symptoms are from the herb, or the withdrawls. I’m feeling pretty confident by reading these posts, that it is indeed the withdrawls.
I am not comforted by what I’ve read here so far….other than it *does* finally go away. But it’s going to be a long, difficult road, I can see.
I am disgusted to see how many “Doctors” have prescribed this crap so willy nilly. I began questioning my own doctor not too long ago, because she put me on this drug without bothering to research what was actually causing the symptoms I’d been complaining about. I’d gone in several times in the span of two years, complaining about abdominal pain. She did several blood tests which she said came out fine. We did a ct scan of my gall bladder. Nothing. She sent me to a physical therapist thinking it was maybe a back problem. It didn’t help. Finally she put me on Cymbalta, saying it helps with fibromyalgia and pain. Well, it didn’t help with the pain. It made me sweat a lot. I ended up in the hospital with a severe kidney infection. Since then, my urine tests come up with *extremely* high ph (she said shes never seen that before), but she didn’t bother to research that either. Now she’s left the medical field and is moving on to other things. I’m glad, because I don’t think she was really into her job as a doctor.
I’ve figured the reason why doctors prescribe this stuff, and it has nothing to do with caring about their patients. It has everythinig to do with the ‘kick-backs’ they get from the pharmaceutical companies. These drugs are not meant to help people. They are meant to make money.
I’m “shopping” for another doctor. In the future I will be MUCH more careful about what I’m prescribed. It’s about me and my body…not a doctors pocketbook.
Anyway, I hadn’t meant to turn this into a rant. I’m sure not all doctors are like that…I hope. I’m just not feeling good right now. This was a good vent, and also good to see that this Hell will not last. Good to see that I’m not going crazy either…
May 17th, 2009 at 7:47 am
You need to report your problems with Cymbalta to the Federal Drug Association FDA. They have to record your comments and when they get enough they will have to investigate it. Further, call the drug company and tell them your problem with addiction and dependency to Cymbalta. They are also supposed to record your complaints. Those complaints must be available to the FDA and any attorney who requests them.
I have neuropathy and was first placed on Cymbalta which did help some. I still was having pain at night and the doctor added Lyrica. All I wanted to do was sleep all day,and I was taking care of elderly in my home business. So I stopped the Cymbalta by titrating it down. I finally was off the Cymbalta, but my feet then bothered me at night. I now take one capsule of Cymbalta mid-day with my Lyrica dose and my feet are fine. Do not feel any side effect from Cymbalta.
About the depression, I asked my doctor to prescribe Testosterone gel. She found me a doctor who dose that. Research has found that this treatment for women helps depression. The local paper had an article about it a few months ago. It really helps my depression. I feel more confident, assertive and rarely feel like crying. The cloud feels lifted. You just put a small amount 1/2 tsp gel on arms and rub in. Easy and no side effects. I once tried testosterone in a pill and felt great but had crater zits on my face which were painful. Just thought I would throw this out there.
May 18th, 2009 at 6:14 pm
I have been off cymbalta for 5 weeks. Took 1 month of weaning. 60 to 30 wasn’t bad. It got worse moving down to 20 mg. My joints swelled and I began having symptoms of side effects same as going on cymbalta. I called Lilly and they said it would be out of my body in 5 days, but would not tell me how long I should expect withdrawal, since 1/2 life is so short. I sought acupuncture for joint pain, paid $100’s via phone consults for alt med supplements. Due to chemistry in my body being out of whack, the supplements that should have helped calm me, broke through brain barrier and did the opposite to me and kept me wide awake and wired. Any pill I have taken in the past for post surgical pain, is now giving me terrific side effects. I have been eating Advil like candy due to joint pain. That’s why I was hoping a pain pill would help, but made me nauseas. Didn’t last year before cymbalta. This doesn’t even cover the tingling, prickly sensation, agitation, mood swings, head issues, tinnitus, dizziness, and all that everyone else has mentioned. My shrink feels that after 5 weeks, this is no longer withdrawal. I went to orthopedic doc today and in waiting room read arthritis magazine article about meds that helped fibromyalgia. One of them was cymbalta. Out of all meds mentioned, cym. was the only one that said it caused the same symptoms when stopping as they did while taking it and they lasted forever. This from arthritis magazine…then, the orthopedic came in and said that going off cymbalta was miserable and dragged on, according to his patients. He said this to me as I listed it as the reason for my joint pain. He, an orthopedic doctor, has been the only one, except for websites and the people who are actually experiencing this, that acknowledge lingering withdrawal of cymbalta. I thought it was newer and safer, compared to Effexor, which I also heard was a nightmare weaning from, but then I find that cymbalta is even worse. I was duped and stupid…
May 21st, 2009 at 9:11 am
I have been on Cymbalta for 3 years for Severe Depression. When I first started taking Cymbalta it cleared up my depression and I have been doing really good with some little set backs. I have gained 20 lbs. since being on Cymbalta. Has anyone gained weight on it? I really noticed it about a year ago. It took awhile to get feeling better and doing things again. THen I really started noticing the weight gain. I would look at pictures of myself up until taking Cymbalta and couldnt believe how much weight I put on. I really want to go off of it because I do feel better and I am over weight. I have tried going off a couple times with all the side effects that everyone has descibed…had em all!! My biggest fear is not going off, I have definetly felt worse before, but its falling back into depression. It runs in my family. I know I have suffered from it a long time and Cymbalta was the only one that worked for me. I have been doing really good for 3 years but am very curious to see if I dont have to be on meds. I know the only way is to try going. RIght now I dont work and I think this would be a good time. So my question is has anyone gained weight with it and has anyone stayed off after taking for depression?
May 23rd, 2009 at 5:53 am
I have been reading what all have said about the withdrawal of this drug and I am wondering about the dosages I’m reading about. I was on 300 mg daily and then was taken off cold turkey. no wonder I thought I was dying and have not slept in 7 days. The brain zaps have prevented me from holding a decent conversation, having any mental focus at all, being able to drive, to think straight or even respond to my daughter as a normal human being. I’m 8 days into it and every day I think that it will be better tomorrow and so far it has not even been close. Yippee. I’m thinking I’d rather be unmedicated and deal with my bi polar than ever be subjected to this kind of treatment ever again
May 23rd, 2009 at 3:51 pm
My husband’s court date comes up in July. April 28, 2009 was the worst day of our lives. He had been taking cymbalta (free samples given by his psychiatrist) for depression. He went through the 30 mg. and started on the 60’s. I thought he seemed rather irritated, so he immediately stopped the cymbalta. Then he started to drink (after he had been abstinent for some time). All hell broke loose. I’ve never seen him like that… extreme mood swings, crying jags, then laughter… lots and lots of anxiety and worry. Overly active and facial tics or grimaces; refusal to go to the ER; rages; (his psychiatrist had discontinued seeing him a week before all this because she moved). I thought I had finally got him settled down a bit and he went to bed. I slept nearby and heard him get up, go into the backyard. Then a loud gunshot. In a panic I called 911. I was sure he had killed himself. He had fired a shotgun out over the back field. I count ourselves fortunate we are only facing a court date… NO more cymbalta!!! This is a horrible drug for some people.
May 28th, 2009 at 1:49 am
Say a prayer for me! last Saturday, May 23, 2009 I took my last Cymbalta and TRIED to quit cold turkey. On Wednesday, May 27, 2009 I went to my regular Physician with all the horrible withdrawal symptons and he put me back on the Cymbalta and now we are trying the “weaning off” process. I hate this drug and will diffently be reporting it to the FDA.
June 2nd, 2009 at 8:16 am
I’m 21 years old and just graduated college and decided that with entering a new chapter of my life that i would also do so without being on cymbalta for anxiety. I had felt the withdrawl symptoms before if i had forgotten to take it for a day, but boy did i not know what i was in for when trying to get off it. I was down to 20mg and happened to forget one day, so i decided that it would be my last day. Today’s only my second day off it, and while i’m writing this from work…im bundled up in a blanket and the garbage can is next to my chair because i feel AWFUL. whoever started describing that your brain has to catch up with your eyes could not have described it more perfectly. with that comes nausea and GI problems as a result of the nausea. I had no idea i would feel this bad until i did a little research last night and came across this website. My mother works for a pharma company (not eli lilly) but she strongly urged me to report this to the FDA, so i am passing along the message. We, as withdrawal sufferers should do what we can to make sure others do not have to experience this indescribable feeling. good luck to everyone getting off this horrible drug… im praying that it wont take a month for me to feel like myself again!!
June 2nd, 2009 at 8:41 am
I started taking Cymbalta at 60mg twice daily in 2005 for back and neck pain. Since then I have had lumbar and cervical fusions one year apart, the last one two years ago. When I asked my doctor if it was possible that I didn’t need the Cymbalta anymore he suggested a weening off procedure that I followed right down to 30mg once per day and all was going well. When I finished the 30’s and was not taking the drug anymore all hell broke loose day by day. First I began to feel stiff and lethargic, then the brain zaps started and I couldn’t move my head or eyes without being pelted by the brain zaps. I finally got a hold of my doctor on the third day and said I couldn’t take it anymore on my own, I could no longer safely drive a car because of the shocks and disorientation. I’ve been back on 60mg per day ever since and I deal with the symptoms of excessive sweating, reduced sexual drive, and dizziness. It really stinks to be addicted to this drug and I am glad the word is getting out. I once ran out of the drug about a year ago due to a miscommunication between my doctor and the pharmacy. I was so scared that they weren’t going to renew the Rx that I told the pharmacist that I wasn’t sure what I would do if I couldn’t get the drug and she replied “what do you mean?” and I said I might hold a gun to someone to get more. She just about freaked out and I was sorry that I said it but it was the truth. I have never been addicted to a drug before but now I know why people go crazy when they are addicted to something and they feel like they are going to die if they don’t get more.
June 2nd, 2009 at 9:38 am
sylvia: I posted all of my symptoms back in December. But, to answer your question I was on 60 mg. It took me a month to stop getting head zaps and I have now been off Cymbalta for over 5 months. Every once in a while I still get a zap or two and I haven’t lost my 26lbs I gained either.
June 2nd, 2009 at 10:08 am
I just sent a letter to the FDA. I don’t want this to happen to anyone else. I sent the following letter to druginfo@fda.hhs.gov
I am writing to you about Cymbalta. Back in December of 2008, I quit taking it and it was the worst experience of my entire life. I literally thought I was dying I went online to read about it and found that others were experiencing the exact same things I experienced. I see more and more posts from people every day about Cymbalta so I thought that someone should let you know.
I took Cymbalta for about 3 months for anxiety. I believe I started in September of 2008. In three month’s time, I gained about 30lbs. The SECOND I would get close to the 24 hour mark (since my last pill) I would start to feel absolutely SICK, miserable, brain zaps, head ache, nausea, dizziness, and everything. So, I finally quit cold turkey on December 2, 2008. One week after I had quit, my symptoms had not let up one single bit. I was MISERABLE!! I was constantly on the verge of vomiting. I got brain zaps about every minute, it was like 3 zaps in a row. These zaps are literally like an electric shock to your brain and it’s like your eyes feel like they are moving all by themselves and then it takes a few seconds to get focused again. Also during the 3 zaps, you can actually hear a zapping sound that sounds like “wah wah wah.” Also, my eyes did not move at the same speed as my brain. If I moved my eyes too fast, it would be a while before it would seem like my brain would catch up. I was dizzy all the time and my body ached. I could hardly hold my head up. I had a constant migraine. I had diarrhea. It was so hard to get out of bed in the morning. This was the worst experience of my entire life. By Christmas time I still wasn’t any better. I was well into January of 2009 before my brain zaps let up. It was almost February before the other symptoms went away.
If you go to this website: http://www.whatwinnersdo.com/cymbalta-withdrawal-symptoms-being-kept-secret/?cp=3#comments You can read everyone’s comments. As I was reading them, I was amazed at how everyone was feeling the SAME exact symptoms as I was. I was absolutely miserable.
PLEASE PLEASE research this and see what it is doing to people. I believe that it really needs to be taken off the market. Please help these people before they go through the same thing I did.
June 3rd, 2009 at 5:08 pm
I have been on cymbalta for almost 2 yrs now, and medicade has decided to stop payment for the drug, when my Dr sent a request to medicade as a needy order for cymbalta Medicade said to prescribe me Effexer xr and Lyrica. Im scared to death from what I have read about the two of those. I have exactly 31 cymbalta’s 60 mg can anyone tell me how to wean myself with that many? How do I space them? One everyother day for a week? then seprate one into 2 or 3 and continue like that? Oh my please help……..
June 4th, 2009 at 6:58 am
I have been on 60mg/day of Cymbalta for the last 3 or 4 years.
I have tried to “quit” several times in the past but have given up due to the horrific withdrawl symptoms. I am currently trying to ween myself off because my husband and I are going to start trying to concieve.
It has only been 3 days since my last dose and already I am ridiculously uncomfortable….nightsweats where I wake up DRENCHED, dizziness the likes of which I have never felt, confusion and overall malaise.
Cymbalta initially worked well for me, but getting off of it is pure hell. I feel like I should be in detox, like they do for heroin addicts. I can barely function.
June 4th, 2009 at 12:16 pm
Are they NUTS approving this for diabetes???? I am two weeks into withdrawal, and hypoglycemic (which means high risk for becomign diabetic). I felt so bad on about day 5, that I was seriously thinking about having my family take me to the ER. Blurred vision, confusion etc - which are also symptoms of high sugar. This medication is definitely not good for diabetics.
June 8th, 2009 at 9:01 am
hey,ive been on my pc all nightnot sure if i am more relived or frightend by all that ive learned.i am currently on 60mgs cymbalta daily and doing OK. but i took my last pill fri. morning and forgot to call in refill,sat. i started feeling REALLY bizare guess u refere to them as “brain zaps”,like if i move my head or hands the sensation comes millaseconda after the action.kinda like trails but very disturbing.my thoughts areare jumbled and disconected ,muscle aches pins and needles in all my extremeties.i thought i was looseing my mind.agitated shaky couldnt even answer my phone.by sunday i was conviced i was having some kind psychotic break.then the pharmacy called and said i needed to pick up my script,when i spoke to him he told me it eas the lack of cymbalta in my system that was wiggin me out.i had no clue.Q:why didnt my dr warn me?,or the literature, or any one?I am scared s-itless.what do i do now?I dont EVER want to go thru this again!!!!!
June 8th, 2009 at 2:42 pm
I was prescribed 30mg of Cymbalta in January, 2009 because I was having aches in my entire body. I now think it was from severe stress. My doctor thought I might have fibromyalgia, so she gave me free samples of Cymbalta. I’ve been on it for five and a half months and have started to try weaning off of it. I am now taking one pill every other day. So far, the only side effect I have noticed are the brain zaps and headaches. I also have gained ten pounds and couldn’t figure out why!! None of my shorts from last summer fit me and now it makes sense why! I’m really nervous about stopping this drug completely but I want to be free of it forever!!!
June 8th, 2009 at 8:04 pm
Anyone wanting to stop Cymbalta should first let your physician know what you are going to do. He does not have to approve, but should tell you how to stop it with the least side effects. Halving the dose every five days or so is usually the way it is done. Be sure to drink plenty of water/liquids so it is flushed out of your system faster. Take walks and get some fresh air. Have Acetominophen ES on hand for muscle aches. Let your friends know you may need them. I still need one capsule of 20 mg. a day to help top off the Lyrica that I must take for my peripheral neuropathy in my feet caused by statin meds. For some reason I must have the Lyrica or else my feet burn like fire and ache and hurt when anything touches them when I am trying to go to sleep. Don’t try to do it alone. And do report it to the FDA, web site is entered a couple messages above, which was really nice of Melissa.
June 9th, 2009 at 3:38 pm
What frightens me most about the withdrawal symptoms, is the anger, bordering on violent behavioral component.
I am typically very mild mannered, and am finding it very very difficult to subdue my desire to express myself inapporpriatly (angry/violent).
I am also experiencing facial numbness along with the general, depression, zapish brain symptoms,general dizziness, and clouded thought process.
4 day Cymbalta titration while stepping up on a new drug for fibromyalgia, Savella, has set me into, what can only describe as a controled manic episode. I want to either quit my job and move to the mountians, or punch someone in the head. (SOOOO unlike me)
It is taking every fiber of my being not to do something rash!
Currently taking Xanax as needed to reduce occurance of the lovely panic attacks which, for me, has also gone along with the withdrawal.
Has anyone else experienced incidences playing out violent scenerios in their mind, while withdrawing from Cymbalta?
Any missed work at my current place of employment is considered intolorable. The constant PUSH, PUSH, PUSH is wearing down my ability to contain my anger.
I keeping saying “in my mind, of course,” PLEASE allow me to get better!!!!
Frustrated and losing grip!
Julie
June 12th, 2009 at 11:18 pm
I took 60mg of Cymbalta for 2 years after taking effexor for over a year. It worked well at first, I had more energy, I wanted to live life. although it took away my libidi. I just didnlt have desire. My doc had me take 30mg for 2 weeks then quite. The first couple of weeks was the brain buzzing all the time. I’m so irritable. I actually had somebody I hung out with for the first time as my son why I was so angry. We were playing board games with a big group of people and I thought I was having fun. My bod feels tense all the time. I can’t relax at work, the gym or even at home in front of the tv with my kids. It’s been 3 weeks. The breain buzzing is minimul. But I can’t relax, I dread every day and I get nasous alot. When is this going to end?
June 15th, 2009 at 2:38 am
My mom was diagnosed with depression about two months ago and was prescribed to take cymbalta 60. The weekend of the 13th June 2009 she ran out of supply and was going to get the medication on monday. During the weekend she complained about brain zaps, being dizzy when standing up. On monday morning she collapsed at her workplace, could this be the results of the cymbalta 60, Is her system dependent on it, what dangers does she face if she stops taking it? Please help my mom…
June 16th, 2009 at 4:18 pm
awful med. Been on this for about a year - trying to ween off. All i want to do is cry. My lab work is also coming back with my liver enezems high. BAD DRUG. Someone needs to get a Class Action lawsuit against Lilly. Good luck everyone. I hope i will never have to take another cymbalta
June 18th, 2009 at 5:33 pm
Francis,
Your Momis suffering from cymbalta withdrawl.I cannot be stopped abruptly,even for 24 hours without having the problems she had. I have been on it for 4 years now and am successfully getting off it. but Ihave experienced those type of symptoms if I forgot a pill even for one day.
I am using the method I found on another website of opening the 30mg capsules and taking half the micro spheres inside the capsule between 2 empty capsules. I am going to slowly decrease the amount of micro spheres I take daily until I am done. It may take me a month or 2 months before I get completely off it. But patience and persistence will pay off!
June 21st, 2009 at 12:38 pm
I have recently ran out of my prescription for Cymbalta and it’s been two days without. These ‘brain zaps’ that everyone is talking about is exactly what’s going on with me right now. The sweats have just started at the end of the second day. I can feel a little edginess as well. My doctor also has me on buspar which is for anxiety which I suffer from. I’m not sure whether to just roll with the withdrawal right now or what. But when is really the right time to continue with the withdrawal especially if it’s going to get worse?
June 21st, 2009 at 10:50 pm
OMG, I have been out of my Cymbalta for a week now and I was telling my husband how I feel dizzy, uncoordinated,sick to my stomach and no energy. I also have been having weird, scary dreams and wake up with puffy eyes as if I had been crying. Also Very sad, anxious. This is all very frightening. I get my cymbalto free through a program called Lilly Cares, but I don’t have the 125.00 for the office visit to my doctor to pick them up. I am now thinking I will try to get my meds, because after reading all this, I just don’t have the energy to continue this battle. and, of course during all this, my cat has passed away. I don’t need the hassle. thankyou to everyone writing and sharing their person experiences. …..class action suit anyone???
June 22nd, 2009 at 10:56 pm
I just took my last 5ml dose after trying to ween myself off for the last two months. I have been opening up the pills and making smaller doses. Julie, too am usually calm mild mannered person and my co-workers constantly tell me how amazed they are at how calmly and rationally i handle tough situations. Not since i started going off cymbalta! I have barely been able to contain my rage towards everthing for the last few weeks and I’m super irritable. I am nauseous and hostel and crying uncontrollably all the time for no reason and at awkward times. Making it all worse is the insomnia. Some of the worst insomnia i’ve ever had and lack of sleep is only making fuse shorter. I’ve just gotten down to the 5ml dose and I wish someone could how much longer I should expect this to last. I know it’s not me and that it is the withdrawal but I don’t know how much longer I can take this. Does anyone know how long these feelings last after the last dose? Good luck to all of you I know this is hard but it has to be done. I am amazed that they are not required to tell you about this when you go on the meds,