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.
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August 15th, 2009 - 12:35
I was on 60mg of Cymbalta for a couple years. Well a few weeks ago I found out I was pregnant. So I decided I want to go off of it. My Dr. helped me to ween off of it. I went from 60 to 30 for almost 2 weeks then 30mg ever other day for about a week. Now I haven’t taken it for a week. The withdrawals really suck. So already being emotional from quitting smoking cold turkey and being pregnant I am emotional from going off of the Wonderful Cymbalta. I have a lot of zaps in my brain which I can say has gotten a little better. But I have a very hard sleeping at night and I wake up drenched in sweat and shivering. I was laying in bed this morning and I was so hot but so cold at the same time. I have had a lot of nausea which I don’t know if it is morning sickness or from going off of the meds. Maybe a little of both. I was blaming having such a hard time with these withdrawals because I have been on antidepressants for almost 10 years…but now I’m starting to think its just the Cymbalta. I hope these withdrawals get better soon and don’t hurt my baby in anyway. good luck everyone! After the baby is born I plan to do anything I can from ever taking an antidepressant again!
August 16th, 2009 - 05:35
If you all read the the little paper in the box when you got cymbalta, it does talk about the brain shock and all that. you need to educate yourselvs on medical terms. cymbalta cannot be stopped abruptely but you can use a similar drug to ween yourself off of it.
August 18th, 2009 - 09:52
OMG, I can’t believe what I’m reading. I’ve been on 60 mg 2xday for a year or two. I went off cold turkey about 5 days ago. I have now been home sick for two days because of headache, the “brain zaps” everyone talks about, dizziness, nausea, diarrhea and more. I think my “brain zaps” are different from yours. The loud buzzing in my ears is intolerable. When I take a step, my head feels like it is a cymbal that has just been struck hard and the reverberations are felt throughout my body. Are these the “brain zaps” that you’re talking about? It must be some electrical response inside the body, it is so strange. I have cried, slept alot and told my family I feel like I’m going to die. I was going to have someone take me to the ER except I have no confidence in the medical community anymore and feel better off with you guys helping me figure it out. It is VERY reassuring to know that I’m not nuts and there IS a way out, albeit slowly. I have never ever written on a blog before and this time I just had to. I wish we lived near each other so we could have a support group. I live in a Chicago suburb. Thanks everyone for all the input, you really did save me. I’m filing my complaint as Melissa suggested above. Thank you!
August 24th, 2009 - 10:23
I just recently went off 60 mg cymbalta and switched to 300mg wellbutrin. Because of the weight gain and sexual side effects. But i was very happy with the combo my dr gave me initially, which was cymbalta, clonazepam, and doxepin. but after gaining 60 lbs i had to stop. I am getting the brain shocks still and it has been a month since i have quit cymbalta. I can’t really tell if the wellbutrin is working or not, but i have noticed that when i am focused on my internet classes and listening to music, i do not get those brain zaps. I hate those. I’ve heard of swithing to low dose prozac may help. Do some investigating. good luck. let me know if you find anything.
August 24th, 2009 - 13:43
LIz,
When I had abrupt withdraw from Effexor XL, it felt like I was a gyroscope, and was being pulling around in circles tipping as the sensation persisted for several days. I felt dizzy, nauseous and very impatient. Noise really bothered and any sound was felt as pain in my head.Wondered if the Cymbalta withdraw was something like that. It was most unpleasant.
August 18th, 2009 - 09:55
Valerie, I think we go to the same doctor!!!
August 19th, 2009 - 06:15
I’ve been off of cymbalta for 10 days all of what I considered horrific withdrawal symptoms are basically gone. I have brief moments in the day that I feel like I’m drowning and horrible insomnia. I also feel like my feet are retaining water. Has anyone else had the sensation of water retention?
August 24th, 2009 - 13:39
I read Cymbalta can cause swelling in the feet, but who knows, maybe it can if you stop it. Are you feet actually swollen or do they feel that way, but are not. You probably know to elevate them and put some nice cooling foot cream on your feet, rubbing them to stimulate circulation and the nervous system in your feet. Call your doctor, but I know that is not always the most helpful. My doctor doesn’t believe Cymbalta has all the side effects here. She thinks meds are great, and keep adding new ones that I don’t take. Statins cause my peripheral neuropathy in both my feet three years ago, and they don’t publish that either.
August 22nd, 2009 - 05:19
ihave been taking cymbalta for over 4 years and i have tryed to get off but could not but now i went cold turkey and i be dam if i go back it is the most horrable med i ever heard of reading your comments i feel the same way everything all of u are saying its true i try to get off before but it was so bad that i could not but this time i dont care even if it kills me im not going to take it any more iam sick everydaythe worse feeling is that your had wants to fall off iam going to try the gmc store to see if they have any natual pills or something i went from 60mg to 30mg to nothing but i belive its worth the risk
August 24th, 2009 - 06:37
Well, bad news folks, I been off 60 mg. since June, I am STILL getting the brain zaps in the evening and wake up to them. I am still depressed and energy level is zero. I quit cold turkey because I was convinced tapering off didn’t work. Now I’m really becoming concerned about whether or not these symptoms will EVER go away…
August 24th, 2009 - 12:53
that is not good news they have to go away i cannot go on day after day like this i sure hope your getting some let up take care
August 24th, 2009 - 13:34
What do brain zaps feel like? I was down to Cymbalta 20 mg daily and my doc increased it to 60mg capsules so I cannot take less unless I open the capsule. Have some vitamins I will empty from their capsule for halving the dose. It was not bad to decrease except my neuropathy seemed to be worse at night. Am on Lyrica also and have halved that dose. When Cymbalta was increased my ears rang loudly, and I felt really strange. Am afraid of getting dependent on Cymbalta. Are you taking any vitamins? Some minerals not in many daily vitamins are good for the central nervous system. Might check with your local health store.
August 24th, 2009 - 12:52
This site was so helpfull I thought i was losing my mind or was going to be hospitalised couldnt take another day!!! Then i read that iam not CRAZY its normal that is so wrong on so many levels. I do have a question for whoever did anyone have major mind mental memory connectives or anything close before going off the drug???? that is what took me to the doc who took me off it was so bad i forgot my right from my left was trying to get on the freeway and went s the sign said to my right but low and behold i was in the left lane but i really beleived i had it right how dang scarey is that and this kind of stuff went on and on dont want to bore anyone am so glad to have others who understand the awfull mind zaps and thats a great discrition i was calling them like a short circuit its bad all day long ive never been so sick well any input is good i sure all who are going though this time it goes fast as can your felllow suffer
August 24th, 2009 - 13:28
Hello everyone. Just wanted to send a word of encouragement to all you are quitting this awful drug. It took several months for the symptoms to go away completely, but they finally did. I found that my withdrawel symptoms were much worse if I drank coffee, so I think that caffeine made it worse. Hope everyone keeps their resolve to get off of Cymbalta for good. My new prescription arrived via mail after I had been battling the withdrawals for about 8 days. I did not take any more of it. Good luck to all.
August 25th, 2009 - 01:35
Hello i have been on cymbalta at 120 mg for over 5 years now. And i would like to come off it. I take it for pain but am also on alot of other pain meds. Thay say ill be on them the rest of my life. ok i understand that and know i need them for the pain i have 24&7. the pain never stops. but i never did like the way cymbalta made me feel. Are it’s side effects. But after all the reading i have done about the side effects of comeing off cymbalta i just dont know.
August 25th, 2009 - 06:58
I have been taken off cymbalta. i was at 120mg then 60month and added wellbutrin. next doctor visit he said to stop the cymbalta and increase the wellbutrin. also gave me 100mg trazodone for any sleep problems. Well i have been off cymbalta for 4 days now. I did get the brain zaps. I called my dr and he said it should go away in about a week because wellbutrin should counter balance the discontinuation syndrome. He said i can take a low dose cymbalta only when the brain zaps become a problems. So what i did was open the capsule, take about 1/4 or 1/3 of the 60mg and the zaps went away. i may have taken less since it is hard to judge how much i poured out. But I am still, not depressed. One thing that i did notice with the brain zaps was, when i study for my college classes and listen to music, the zaps do not happen. I may be onto something here, i dont know. I would appreciate everybodies reply. They even went away when i was making dinner….. please try something similar and let me know if it did, or did not work for you.
August 25th, 2009 - 08:57
I posted a couple weeks ago saying that I went off of Cymbalta because I found out I am pregnant. I had been on 60mg for a couple of years and I feel 99% fine now. Just like once or twice a day I feel a little brain zap. I can’t believe the amount of people that are going off of this cold turkey! That is crazy and very dangerous. I have now not been taking it for a couple of weeks and I’m almost back to normal. As I read through these I have noticed the people that are having the hardest time with withdrawals are the ones that are quitting cold turkey. You need to go off of it slowly and you will be fine in a few weeks. I just don’t see how someone could even function when going off of it cold turkey. I will never go back on Cymbalta and I don’t plan on going back on anything after I have my baby. But if I were to…I would never choose Cymbalta again. The withdrawals were really crappy. But like I said…I got through it because I didn’t quit cold turkey. So for those of you that did….why don’t you call your Dr. and talk about a plan to go off of it slowly! Instead of putting your life in danger.
August 26th, 2009 - 09:56
I have been going to a chiropracter who also does acupunture in combination with herbal, nutritional suppliments to help me with the horrible withdraw symtems. NUTRILITE has some good detox and support for mood etc.. After over 2 months I still feel so sick I can’t function at times!
August 29th, 2009 - 16:02
Great! I am in the middle of the withdraw dilema & it is kicking my butt!!! I have gone 1 week without a pill after several weeks of slowly reducing my usage. Today, my body is burning, I have a headache and my senses are heightened beyond any anxiety attack I have ever had. It has been like a 10 hour anxiety attack. It is hell!!! And, same with my doctor who put me on this for fibromyalgia. After 6 months, nothing. I wanted off. He said, “lets give it a little longer.” At my last visit, when I said I want off of it now, he referred me to a rheumatologist. No wonder, he didn’t want to deal with this hell of getting me off Cymbalta!!!
August 31st, 2009 - 10:25
JUST CALL YOUR DR. AND TELL HIM ABOUT THE BRAIN ZAPS!!!!! IF YOU HAVE EXTREME ANXIETY THEN GET SOME KLONOPIN!! ANY RUN OF THE MILL DOCTOR CAN DETECT SYMPTOMS OF ANXIETY! MAKE SURE YOU TAKE YOUR Rx’s SO THE DOCTOR KNOWS WHAT IS CAUSING THE PROBLEM!! AND IF YOU ARE STILL SEEING THE SAME DOCTOR… GO INTO HIS OFFICE AND DEMAND THAT HE DOES SOMETHING ABOUT ANY SYMPTOMS YOU ARE EXPERIENCING. HE SHOULD HAVE KNOWN BETTER THAN TO STOP IT ABRUPTLY. THREATEN TO STAND OUTSIDE WITH A SIGN, WITH HIS NAME ON IT, AND WHAT YOUR EXPERIENCE IS. WAVE IT AROUND LIKE YOU JUST DON’T CARE.
September 1st, 2009 - 00:51
I ran out of Cymbalta for less than a week and had no idea that I would go through withdrawl. I am to blame for not reading more on the medicine I was taking. It was completely horrible! I was extremely angry all the time and lashed out at everyone around me. I was nauseated and vomiting and yes, the first thing I noticed was a change in my balance. I was off the Cymbalta for only four days and was completely suicidal. My doctor gives me the Cymbalta since I can’t afford it so it was either see him or go to the emergency room and check myself into the psych ward so I didn’t hurt myself or others. I would have seen him sooner, but of course the worst of the symptoms happened over the weekend so I had to wait untill Monday. Yes I am still on the Cymbalta. At the time I was so desperate to feel better that I got back on it to get rid of the withdrawl symptoms. I’m not sure where I’m going to go from here, but I will definitely talk to my dr. further about the possibility of getting off Cymbalta and how to do it safely.
September 1st, 2009 - 15:41
WOW!! Today was 1 week & 1 day off of Cymbalta….completely! I did the weaning from 60 mg to 30 mg….and I was completely INSANE also!! I just wanted everyone to know…I am getting better SLOWLY!!! There is HOPE…keep doing it, AND GET OFF THIS DDDRRUUGG soon!! I have NEVER been addicted to anything….and the pain physically & mentally & emotionally that I have been through ,,,and CONTINUE to go through, is EXACTLY what I hear from people that have came off of illegal substances!! And to think I got on this for a lil depression…. I would give ANYTHING to have THAT feeling AGAIN instead of what I feel!!
THANK YOU for this site,…it makes me feel TONS better to know i’m not alone…and i’m “NORMAL”!!
September 4th, 2009 - 20:13
I just took myself off of 30 mg of Cymbalta a day after a couple of months for diabetic neuropathy. It eventually worked wonderfully on the night leg pains. I slept like a baby. Good stuff! The daytime somnolence killed me. I slept all day and was useless. Peeing was slow and difficult (it inhibits the bladder nerves). This stuff is instant bi-polar disorder in a pill. Happy then sad. Good memories then bad memories. Bizarre vivid hallucinatory dreams. It’s almost a 60’s psychedelic.
A week ago in the bathroom I got totally disoriented and super dizzy. I started falling. Everything got blindingly bright and there was a sudden flash in front of my eyes like someone just took my picture. Uh-oh. The back of my neck got hot and tingly. That sucked big time. An infamous brain zap? Seizure? Brain tumor? You tell me. I said no more of this weirdness. I quit cold turkey 3 days ago. I am dizzy all the time and the old leg discomfort is returning. Leg cramps and sudden random body pains. I’ll deal with it with Advil and vitamins and prayer. The lower my blood glucose numbers….the less the neuropathy. The ball is in now my court. Strict control is the cure. Easier said than done…but I’m a game laddie.
Apparently Cymbalta starts gathering in the brain then slowly seeps down the spine gradually spreading out into every little corner of the nervous system. Every last microscopic nerve synapse is effected by it. It fundamentally modifies the neuro-transmitting process by inhibiting the uptake of serotonin and norepinephrine (sp?)….two vital bio-chemical neurotransmitters. They still don’t really know the mechanism by which it does it’s dubious magic. One of the side effects listed is anorexia….because it kills the hunger feedback nerves in some people and they stop eating. I lost my appetite for a week and had a sour taste in my mouth. Thanks Doc….but no thanks.
September 4th, 2009 - 20:51
Doodle! A follow up comment to your comment is called for here. Yes….medical marijuana is being researched as a pain killer as effective as morphine. In my old hippy days I was quite the happy stoner (I haven’t smoked herb in years….real life is weird enough as it is). I always had lower back pain from a slightly deformed spine and an old work injury. The dreaded spasms were crippling. The pain was as intense as being stabbed. Smoking weed alleviated all the pain completely. Long term physical therapy finished the job after I quit getting high.
Whatever floats your boat my brother! You have my blessing! I will not turn you in!
September 9th, 2009 - 16:59
CYMBALTA SUCKS – IT HAS CAUSED NOTHING BUT DIZZIENESS AND IT TOOK ME A LONG TIME TO GET BACK TO NORMAL – DONT TAKE IT IS REALLY A BAD DRUG
September 12th, 2009 - 17:06
I am currently laying on the bed with my laptop going through withdrawl symptoms as we speak. This is my 12th day practically bed ridden, I’ve had a total of about 4 showers. Seriously, I dropped from 20 mgs. I feel like I could die. Sweating and cold can’t hold anything down… SEVERE stabbing pain… I’d like to note my doctor did get an appt. with me right away (quite a big feat for his office, a usual 2 mo. waiting period) and valified what I was saying. In ten years my neurologist had never seen me like that. He was obviously shocked by my appearance. He always jokes about my vanity and that day I looked downright homeless. Suggested OXYCOTTON for the pain, Reglan for nausea, and I am medicating myself with marijuana. Because if I don’t, I have constant anxiety and paranoia. It also helps with the nausea- a lot. This is THE most insane thing I’ve ever gone through medically, and that says alot. I do have the “zaps”, they are the least miserable of my symptoms, though.
September 24th, 2009 - 21:00
xxxxx
September 26th, 2009 - 00:49
I have been on 60 mg for 6 months and tried to quit taking it because I am in the middle of a divorce and I dont get to keep my insurance. When I go off I get the “zaps” mine are 2 seconds long or maybe just one second. But I hear my heartbeat in both ears for 2 beats and I feel like my batteries are low for that 2 seconds. (if my body were to run on batteries) Like a “duh” and “braindead” feeling for 2 seconds.
One minute I hate my husband that I am divorcing and the next minute I am bawling because he is gone.
My kids are 14, 5,4,3, and 2 and I have no one to help me with the kids or with this darn problem I am having.
I also take ultracet for back pain so I tried to stop taking it in case it was making it worse.
I feel like a weirdo and I am at a loss for feeling “normal” I wont have my insurance after 3 more weeks due to divorce so I just dont know what to do.
I just want my brain back
September 26th, 2009 - 05:53
I have been off Cymbalta since Aug 3 and it is now Sept 26. The brain zaps are mild and only every other day or so. But now I am having continuing muscle aches and pains and walk like an old person. I walk each day hoping to alleviate this, but it doesn’t seem to help. I have also gained about 5 lbs, and have started working to lose it, but my stomach doesn’t seem to stop growling. I figure I was on this for two years and it may take two years to return to normal! Oh well, have a great day!
September 26th, 2009 - 17:10
Kathy and Gita—responding to your emails,
I have empathy for you. I don’t know what a lost marriage is like but I DO know what you are going through with Cymbalta. I’ve been taking Cymbalta for fibromyalgia pain. I decided I needed to take control and fight back. I wrote a letter to my doctor, just finished writing a letter to my pharmacy and am about to start a letter to the FDA and one to Eli Lilly. My letters probably won’t get me anywhere but I feel great just telling them all what I think and how I feel. They all need to know how dangerous this drug is for unsuspecting patients. I don’t know if you have received any type of warning from either your doctor or pharmacy. I received none, neither verbal nor through labeling. Had I received the info from my doc or had the med bottle been labeled with warnings for dependency and withdrawal, I never would have accepted the drug. I would have refused it. I would rather suffer with my fibromyalgia pain than take that poison!The patient fact sheet that came from the pharmacy states that Cymbalta creates dependency and withdrawal. There were labels on the bottle warning me about not taking it if I was pregnant, breast feeding and not to chew or crush the capsule. Dependency and withdrawawl are just as important and the med bottles must be labeled. I am still sick but feeling better. I have to take 30 mgm every other day for 2 weeks to detox and then call the doc back for evaluation.. I was only on Cymbalta for 23 weeks and then started weaning because of numerous side effects. That drug is dangerous and potent and creates havoc in such a short amount of time.
Write your letters and good luck to you both!
September 26th, 2009 - 17:11
Gita, read my response to you below.
September 27th, 2009 - 04:30
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September 28th, 2009 - 20:38
I too have stopped cymbalta, or should I say the demon drug. I was on it for several years with good results for my depression. The embarrassing sweats and the cost of the med was major factors in my decision to get off. After doing the tapering thing, 60mg every other day, then 30 every day for two weeks, then every other day for two weeks and finally every third day for two weeks; I must say the withdrawal has been HELL. The brain zaps, dizziness when moving my eyes or head, disorientation, extreme highs and lows; periods of wanting to rip out other’s throats; sweating, freezing, muscle aches, skin tingling, blurred vision, crying jags, screaming fits, etc. have gotten better, but are still there. I took my last 30mg a week ago. I crawled into bed over the weekend and tried to stay there both days, mostly sleeping. Before finding this website, I almost had decided I was either bi-polor (a diagnosis, I have never had), or had some horrid disease that the cymbalta had been masking. I cannot wait to feel better! If you have not taken this drug, DON’T. If you know someone who is taking it, be there for them when they get off it. I think my entire family, friends and co-workers think I have gone off the deep end! Frankly, I thought so too, but I am praying that the last of this crap gets out of my system soon so that I can return to being some what of a normal caring human being; not the blubbering, complaining, hateful bitch that I have been since starting withdrawal. LOL
September 29th, 2009 - 11:20
DENISE
Hang in there it took me at least 8 wekks two hospital visist one by ambulence to start feeling normal again the sweats seem to be the last to go, still having that issue. but the zap and confusin are at a minium and aslo the crying isnt that the pits it to will pass let your family read some of this web site that really helped my hubby to see i wasnt crazy LOLO you will feel better iam not 100 percent by all means but iam better today then last week so i will take that if need to talk i check this site everday good luck and be pateint your not crazy
October 6th, 2009 - 13:23
Michael
I have learned a little secret, that has at least worked for me. I am a diagnosed bipolar. My psychiatrist had me on Cymbalta 60mgs along with Depakote. I abruptly quit all medication because I flew to Africa to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro. I never felt a single withdrawal symptom over the course of 3 weeks in the bush. I think it was because of extreme physical exertion. I am not entirely convinced of the diagnosis (label) I have been given, and decided that a flat, unemotional, person is not what I want to be. That is what I am on Cymbalta. I discontinued it around 3 days ago and am experiencing the brain shudders (zaps) that people all seem to experience. The ones I had when I cold turkeyed Effexor were far worse. One thing I want to say though is that I acknowledge them, live with them, and I exercise everyday. It seems when I increase my activity, (endorphin levels rise) and I am able to overcome the worst of the withdrawals. I presently walk my dog for an hour or so when coming home, then work out on my home gym, and if I have the energy, do around 30 minutes on an elyptical in front of the TV. During this time, I am symptom free. Mornings are the best for me, that and later on in the afternoons after exercising. I havent had any of the really bad experiences, but I do have vivid dreams (not horrifying ones), sleep better, and have even caught myself with a smile on my face. The happiness is such a bonus. I had forgotten what it felt like to experience an emotion. I am also in very good physical shape as I had been exercising all along, then decided to then quit the cymbalta. I would recommend doing things in stages. Get in good shape, then quit with an exercise regimen. It worked for me. Cymbalta has done nothing good for my health, attitude, or self esteem. I am not sure of how many people it helps as you dont see those people posting here. Only the ones who have had severe reactions. I wish all good luck in your journey.
October 6th, 2009 - 13:24
I would like to say to everyone in here that if you want to stop taking cymbalta then taper down properly. There are many different milligrams you can take so you can taper off 10mg at a time. You all were obviously not producing enough chemicals to make you happy and once you get happy you think that you do not need them. The Fact Is, you may never ever produce enough of these chemicals. If the price of cymbalta is what you are worried about then switch to something like effexor. I had no problems switching from 60mg cymbalta to 225mg effexor. many of your doctors have samples of these drugs anyways so there should be no problem there. But instead of seeing a family doctor or an internal medicine doctor, SEE A SPECIALIST!!!!!!! THEY KNOW MORE ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH!!! I am getting so sick and tired of watching people come in here complaining about the discontinuation sydrome! Taper off correctly and demand it from your doctor. It is up to them to restore you to the same state as when you first started the meds
October 6th, 2009 - 14:28
Hey Carlos,
You do not even have a CLUE ok. I have NEVER had ANY DEPRESSION in my life. I have ALWAYS been an Upbeat & Outgoing individual. And then because of medical reasons, I had to have a complete hysterectomy and Cymbalta is what my OB/GYN prescribed to me. After 6 months of 60mgs the doctor told me to start weening off of them and take only 30mgs a day! For 2 weeks my life was HELL with the withdrawal symptoms! It has been 1 1/2 years and I am finally taking 30 mgs of Cymbalta every other day but if i try to go down to 15 mg, I become so ill that I can barely get up in the morning. So your situation might be different but THIS DRUG IS HORRIBLE! IT IS A DRUG THAT I CONSIDER A “DEVIL” DRUG! SO GET REAL AND UNDERSTAND THAT SOME OF US WERE NOT PUT ON THIS DRUG TO “MAKE US CHEMICALLY “HAPPY”" OK! SINCERLY, Sondrea
October 6th, 2009 - 14:47
see, that is the problem, OB/GYN are not specialists of these drugs. your doctor should have had you go from 60mg to 50mg by taking a 20&30mg of cymbalta to make 50 mg. The only reason your doctor cuts your dose in half like that is because your doctor wants you to continue visits so the money keeps rollin in. Sounds like your doctor is pretty unethical.
October 6th, 2009 - 14:15
Carlos,
That is not true at all. I took Cymbalta for a year (gradually increasing my doses trying to get them to work) and I never worked at all. Plus I had to take it RIGHT at the 24 hour mark or I’d start getting BAD withdrawal. So, If I took it at 7am on Saturday, then on Sunday I’d better have it by 7am or by 8am I’d be having full blown withdrawal symptoms and I’d be sick the rest of the day, even after I took it. I was MISERABLE on and off it.
October 6th, 2009 - 14:43
If cymbalta didn’t work for you then you should try another drug. Not everyone responds to drugs in the same way. But i do know this. switching to effexor was a better fit for me, and i didn’t have any complications with the switch. And like i said before, see a mental health specialist and not a cheap doctor.
October 6th, 2009 - 14:47
Correction, my FAMILY doctor tried other medicines and they did not take the withdrawal symptoms away. Another Correction Mr. Carlos, my OB/GYN is a #1 Ranking Doctor in my state of residence. Not all, but most of your cheap doctors are the MENTAL ONES.
October 6th, 2009 - 14:53
just because your doctor is Ranked #1, which i highly doubt, i think you are making that part up. But I see alot of women who say that the treatment that their OB/GYN is giving them is not working. So maybe its time to see a pain management doctor. Tell me exactly why you were put on cymbalta and i can tell you a number of alternative drugs you could have used instead of that.
October 6th, 2009 - 14:58
Well, let me think about this….. Are you then, a Doctor? Because if your not, then your alternative to this drug, I have no use for. AND YES JOHN CARTER, PH MD IS A #1 RANKING OB/GYN.
October 6th, 2009 - 15:53
See there Carlos, you have only read half of what I’m typing! I am 43 years old with a 12 year old and a 3 year old and it took miracles to get both of them here. And when you have 3 Specialists tell you that if you want to continuing living to raise your 2 miracle children, you MUST UNDERGO a COMPLETE HYSTERCTOMY! You do whatever it takes to continue with life. I HAD NO CHOICE when it came to Menopause ok. HYSTERCTOMY WAS NOT CHOICE OR OPTION!
And no, Cymbalta was not prescribed to me for PAIN because I really didn’t and still don’t have any pain. It has been explained to me that all women who undergo Hysterctomy’s are prescribed with an antidepressants because of the depression we “supposivley” go through.
So Dr. Carlos, just what do you recommend that I take to replace my Cymbalta “addiction” with? And please make sure it is something that will not give me any WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS! THANKS!
To Everyone who KNOWS that Cymbalta is the DEMON Drug! Hang in there, because whether people like Carlos realize it or not, Many Pharmacist are trying to get this drug outlawed! I know this because my brother is a Nuclear & Compounding Pharmacist for the last 10 years (owns his own Pharmacetical in Dallas, Texas) and they are trying to get to do away with Cymbalta. THANK GOODNESS!!
October 6th, 2009 - 14:55
Correction again Carlos! My Family/Internal Doctor is the one who has finally been able to get me weened from 60 mgs to 30 mgs every other day. I do not spend money on continuing to go to my OB/GYN because that would be a “SPECIALIST DOCTOR” COPAY EVERY TIME! You just don’t get it do you!? I WENT TO A “PROFESSIONAL” AND A “PROFESSIONAL” TOLD ME TO TAKE THE DRUG CYMBALTA. All the people with complaints, on this website ARE “NOT” PROFESSIONAL DOCTORS. Therefore we have every right to complain about whatever symptoms we are having without ANYONE telling us that it is OUR fault because Truth be Known, IT IS NOT OUR FAULT!
October 6th, 2009 - 15:06
Let me guess, you started menopause and your doctor wanted to try something new on you, rather than sticking to what they know that works in medicine. Because they want to get brownie points from the pharmaceutical companies!!! Am i RIGHT?
October 6th, 2009 - 15:09
To Everyone who KNOWS that Cymbalta is the DEMON Drug! Hang in there, because whether people like Carlos realize it or not, Many Pharmacist are trying to get this drug outlawed! I know this because my brother is a Nuclear & Compounding Pharmacist for the last 10 years (owns his own Pharmacetical in Dallas, Texas) and they are trying to get to do away with Cymbalta. THANK GOODNESS!!
October 6th, 2009 - 15:22
See there Carlos, you have only read half of what I’m typing! I am 43 years old with a 12 year old and a 3 year old and it took miracles to get both of them here. And when you have 3 Specialists tell you that if you want to continuing living to raise your 2 miracle children, you MUST UNDERGO a COMPLETE HYSTERCTOMY! You do whatever it takes to continue with life. I HAD NO CHOICE when it came to Menopause ok. HYSTERCTOMY WAS NOT CHOICE OR OPTION!
And no, Cymbalta was not prescribed to me for PAIN because I really didn’t and still don’t have any pain. It has been explained to me that all women who undergo Hysterctomy’s are prescribed with an antidepressants because of the depression we “supposivley” go through.
So Dr. Carlos, just what do you recommend that I take to replace my Cymbalta “addiction” with? And please make sure it is something that will not give me any WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS! THANKS!
October 6th, 2009 - 16:57
Tricyclic anti depressants such as doxepin will give you the benefits of the supposedly depressing side effect of your surgery. And if you decide to discontinue doxepin, there are no side effects. Doxepin has many uses, on and off label. I’m not trying to argue, but every SSRI or SNRI antidepressant will give you the horrible discontinuation syndrome. But switching to another SNRI will probably be your best bet to ween yourself off of them. But if i were you i would look into doxepin. doxepin and cymbalta was a wonderful combo for me. I decided to switch to effexor after i was changed to wellbutrin and had lost the benefits of the cymbalta and doxepin combo. so now i take effexor klonopin and trazodone and i am doing better than ever! Pharmacists are not scientists and they do not know what they are talking about.
October 6th, 2009 - 17:12
I don’t want to argue with anyone about this either BUT you don’t take this drug so WHY do YOU even CARE whether we complain about it or not.
OK Well, Thank Dr. Carlos for your thoughts and comments, especially with regards to Pharmacists! I will say this about my brother who has been a Pharmacist for 10 + years, everything he has recommended for me regarding horomone replacement (natural replacements) have worked better than any Doctor or Scientist has ever recommended for me. I don’t have any Menopausal symptoms; hot flashes, sweats, moodiness, etc. NONE. The only thing HORRIBLE I have encountered with this Hysterctomy is from an Anti depressant that a professional supposedly, prescribed to me, that now gives me HORRIBLE Weight gain and HORRIBLE Withdrawal sypmtoms. My weight gain is now not a problem anymore because I’m back at the 135 lbs at 5′6, due to my PHARMACIST brothers recommendation of a certain medication.
I only have the HORRIBLE EFFECTS OF THIS HORRIBLE DRUG CALLED CYMBALTA. I DON’T LIKE THE DRUG AND NEVER WILL.
Sorry but I am very opinated and I will tell it like I live it.
October 6th, 2009 - 17:24
I have taken cymbalta!! i was on it for a year! with no complications. There was a point were i did try to cut my dose, and just like every other SNRI, it has discontinuation sydrome! Let me guess, your brother suggested you take a diuretic or something similar to adderall
October 6th, 2009 - 17:28
NO… I do take any DIURETIC or ADDERALL.
October 6th, 2009 - 17:26
And in addition, why are you complaining about cymbalta now?! you must be bored.
October 6th, 2009 - 17:28
so you admit that your doctor isnt as qualified as you thought because your brother the alchemist suggested natural supplements that have not been evaluated by the fda. Hey, why dont you just smoke some marijuana also, its natural!
October 6th, 2009 - 17:30
AND NO I’M NOT BORED I JUST GET REAL PISSY WHEN PEOPLE LIKE YOURSELF THINK THEY ARE MR. MD AND THERE NOT!
I WILL CONTINUE TO COMPLAIN ABOUT CYMBALTA UNTIL I AM COMPLETELY CYMBALTA FREE AND WHEN MY CASE GOES TO COURT.
ENOUGHT SAID DR. CARLOS.
ADIOS!
October 6th, 2009 - 17:37
Well i am very disappointed that you were not told of the discontinuation syndromes of SSRI and SNRI drugs. But that is what happens when a doctor thinks he knows everything such as your doctors. heck, you can even taper down 5mg’s at a time. All you are doing is wasting your money. heck maybe you should go to your brother for all your health problems.
October 6th, 2009 - 17:44
EXACTLY MY POINT! DOCTORS SHOULD BE MORE INFORMED ABOUT WHAT TYPE OF DRUGS TO PRESCRIBE TO WHAT TYPE OF PATIENTS.
AND I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT DOCTORS SHOULD NOT HAVE THE FREE WILL TO PRESCRIBE JUST ANY TYPE OF MEDICATION TO ANY PATIENT JUST BECAUSE THEY HAVE MD BEHIND THEIR NAME.
EXACTLY WHY I’M HEADED TO THE COURTS.
October 6th, 2009 - 17:37
I’M DONE DEALING WITH IDIOTS LIKE CARLOS THAT THINKS THEY ARE MR. MD OF ALL MD DOCTORS.
CYMBALTA IS A HORRIBLE DEMONIC DRUG THAT I WILL BE SO GLAD TO BE FREE OF!
October 6th, 2009 - 17:46
I cant believe you are actually calling cymbalta a demon drug. The only demon i see here is your #1 ranked doctor prescribing something that they know little about. AN OB/GYN IS NOT A QUALIFIED MENTAL HEALTH DOCTOR. So that goes to show how arrogant your doctor was.
October 6th, 2009 - 17:55
YOU KNOW CARLOS YOUR PROBABLY RIGHT ABOUT THE ARROGANT DOCTOR PART. BECAUSE HONESTLY, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF MY FAMILY DOCTOR AND MY SISTER IN LAW WHO IS A DOCTOR, I THINK THEY ARE ALL ARROGANT AND THE MENTAL HEALTH DOCTORS ARE AS WELL.
I guess I feel Cymbalta is the Demon drug because I have tried to replace it with Wellbutrin, Effexor, and two others and none of them gave me any side effects not to mention they are listed on our insurance as approved prescribed medicine. Cymbalta on the otherhand is not approved and it has all the side effects and withdrawals.
I just think the drug needs more testing and work before its given to patients.
Thats my opinion and story and I’m sticking to it!
I’m sorry that you are offended that I have my own opinion but thats how I feel.
Have a good evening!
November 17th, 2009 - 17:18
I agree, this is THE worst friggin drug and I’ve been weaning for a month now and it’s still hell! I am tired of complaining to my poor husband and I am sure he is tired of hearing me, but this is a good place to vent and also know that you’re not alone going through this. HAD I KNOWN, there is NO way I would have taken this drug. Someone called it demonic – I agree. I have never felt worse. Years ago I took Paxil and when I tapered off, it wasn’t a lot of fun but it was NOTHING like this damned drug. It should be taken off the market and for sure people should be warned about the withdrawal symptoms. Keep up the good work!!!
October 6th, 2009 - 18:08
From all the nasty banter going back and forth here I’m detecting some irritable Cymbalta withdrawal grumpiness. Cease fire. Peace out. I was taking the drug for diabetic neuropathy and the mental weirdness was appalling.
My Doc took me off it and I am now taking Neurontin 300 mg before bed time. So far so good. I’ll keep you all posted. I am very suspicious that my neuropathy symptoms may be caused by a degenerative disc and sciatica. I am on the case.
October 6th, 2009 - 18:34
that is good to hear joe. great success story there.
October 7th, 2009 - 08:30
Carlos,
Just so you know, A LOT is 2 words. So, get off your high horse and quit pretending that you’re better than everyone else. Oh and take an English lesson!
October 7th, 2009 - 09:20
YOU GO DEANNE! YOU GO GIRL!
October 7th, 2009 - 09:30
Dean, i never said i was better than anyone else, but all you people do on here is whine and cry and say “poor me”. maybe ya’ll should quit being so negative. And why the hell are you on here?
October 7th, 2009 - 09:53
She is RIGHT Carlos. Why are you on this Website? This is a Website for us that are on Cymbalta and trying to get off this drug and to share our symptoms, thoughts and stories with others who understand what we are going through. I look at this website as a helper for me to know that I am not the only one going through the HORRIFIC withdrawals of weening off of Cymbalta.
Deanne, I commend you! The headaches are HORRIFIC for me this morning. Hopefully the Motrin will help today.
October 7th, 2009 - 09:47
Carlos,
First of all, my name is Deanne, not DEAN! Secondly, I’m on here for the same reason everyone else is (besides you). For your information people have been posting to this for over a year now, and I get updates every time someone posts here. I didn’t say that you said you were better than everyone else, you just act like it.
October 7th, 2009 - 10:31
Dean, there is always another drug that does the same thing, such as effexor which has a generic, paroxetine. prozac. so dont tell me that they had not other choice. i know cymbalta is expensive, but usually doctors have plenty of samples on hand to take care of all their patients. I know my doctor does. All i am doing on here is telling people that there are other drugs that do the same thing as cymbalta and that it is easier to ween off of them. even a low does prozac will cure the brain zaps. It tells you that discontinuation of cymbalta is not recommended. Get a real doctor that specializes in these drugs instead of going to an internal medicine doctor
October 7th, 2009 - 09:52
Also, if you look back through all of the posts, some people quit because they could no longer afford to take it. Not everyone is in the same situation as you are. They weren’t able to wean themselves off of it.
October 7th, 2009 - 09:52
She is RIGHT Carlos. Why are you on this Website? This is a Website for us that are on Cymbalta and trying to get off this drug and to share our symptoms, thoughts and stories with others who understand what we are going through. I look at this website as a helper for me to know that I am not the only one going through the HORRIFIC withdrawals of weening off of Cymbalta.
Deanne, I commend you! The headaches are HORRIFIC for me this morning. Hopefully the Motrin will help today.
October 7th, 2009 - 10:08
Sondrea,
You’re exactly right. That is exactly why I came here. I felt so much better once I found out that I wasn’t the only one. I couldn’t BELIEVE that there were so many other people suffering the same exact symptoms. Just hang in there. It will get better. I haven’t had Cymbalta in over 10 months. It took a while for the symptoms to go away, but they will.
October 7th, 2009 - 10:13
Deanne,
Thank you! So there is light at the end of the tunnel uh? I’m down to 30 mgs every other day. Do you have any suggestions on what I need to ween down to next? 15 mgs every other day was what I was going to try to do.
October 7th, 2009 - 10:20
There is light, but it took me about 2 months. I would probably go down to 15 next, and then maybe 5 if it goes that low. The bad thing is that you’re going down gradually and still experiencing symptoms. Personally that didn’t work for me. I tried that in the beginning too, every other day. But, my symptoms were so bad on EVERY SINGLE off day that I decided I might as well just quit all together and get it over with. But, if going down slowly is working for you, then I would stick to that. I’m sorry you’re going through this.
October 7th, 2009 - 10:29
Thank you for your encouragement. The tapering off every other day on the 30mgs has been ok. The side effects that I have had are the headaches and the HORRIFIC nightmares but I tried “cold turkey” in July and lost 3 days of work from being so sick and exhausted.
I appreciate your support and encouragement, it TRULY helps make this easier to deal with
Have a great day!
October 7th, 2009 - 10:37
Sondrea, you can even open the capsule and empty out a little to lower your dose. since you are down to such a low mg. Take a little more than half and see what it feels like. if it doesnt help, take the rest that you emptied out. The capsule is not the delayed release, its the little beads inside that makes it delayed release.
October 7th, 2009 - 10:36
Deanne,
Ignore Carlos! I really think he is a Mental Case in itself! He just does not get it! Truly he doesn’t!
October 7th, 2009 - 10:38
I agree! If we ignore him, he’ll go away! Just like a stray dog.
October 7th, 2009 - 10:36
Again! My name is DEANNE!!!!!!!!
Secondly, you may “think” you’re trying to help people, but you’re coming off very mean and hateful and unsympathetic. So, please just go away!
October 7th, 2009 - 10:38
i dont see you giving any solutions
October 7th, 2009 - 10:41
wow, i see that anyone with a positive solution or a separate opinion in this whole forum is attacked because of their different views. you ladies are hormonal
October 7th, 2009 - 10:47
We might be Hormonal Deanne, however if we are Hormonal (which I doubt seriously that we are) THE DEMON DRUG CYMBALTA, made us that way! LOL!
Headache is finally subsiding! Yeah!
October 7th, 2009 - 11:56
LOL!! yeah!
October 7th, 2009 - 17:55
The only good thing about Cymbalta was it’s miraculous healing of my foot neuropathy. The swelling and numbness went away completely. I was scrambling up hills at my nearby park….pain free….and cranking my sluggish carb burning metabolism. The side effect of a side effect. The intense pain in the wee hours disappeared. If they could only isolate those properties for suffering diabetics. I’m now on 300 mg Neurontin and it truly helps with the foot symptoms….but the pain is still kind of faintly there at 3AM some nights…enough to awaken me. It is also prescribed to reduce anxiety. My chronic foaming NJ road rage went away! NOTHING bothers me lately. I’m loveable again. Cool!
Note to diabetics….the best cure for neuropathy is absolute strict blood sugar control. The world has automatic metabolic transmissions….we have a 5 speed manual stick. Keep blood glucose numbers in the normal range….80 to120….zero pain and a great night’s sleep. Period. End of story. I will be the first to admit that self control sucks on ice. It’s like AA….one day at a time. Today I will not eat a glazed donut and three 100 Grand bars after a huge plate of tasty pasta drenched in Prego. Shame on me….because this damn fool will pay dearly at 3AM for those self-indulgent daytime sins. I’ve yet to meet a T2 diabetic that wasn’t a sweets craving Sugar Bear. Thank God for Splenda.
The mental side effects were frighteningly abysmal. I went Jekyll and Hyde on my family. Like King Julian in the ‘Penguins of Madagascar’ on Nicktoons when he ate the fermented lichee nuts.
I’m still in the delicate process of patching up the damage a month later. In the interim there a sudden tragic death in the family that threw us all into a tail spin. I turned stone cold nasty….and that ain’t me. I’m a calm natural born sweetheart. I said terrible things best left unsaid. Then came the monstrous guilt and suicidal self-loathing after my beloved cousin passed away. I’ve told my family about you guys and this dedicated web site in case they want to understand and forgive me.
I hate to admit it….but….as an artist….the vivid hallucinatory dreams were amazingly cinematic. A guilty pleasure. I miss them. Animated Salvador Dali paintings. I woke up each morning out of a parallel universe of my own creation in stunned disbelief as to where I just was. It brought back fond memories of my old Woodstock hippy freak stoner days….and it was legal. Breaking on through to the other side every night.
It’s also used for urinary incontinence. I didn’t pee right for weeks on this stuff. My Doc said it shuts down the ‘I gotta pee now’ neural feedback loop to the brain from the bladder nerve bundle and compromises the urine release mechanism. Nice. When I’m uncontollably wetting myself in the nursing home and need that feature I’ll gladly take it.
I think poor Carlos is on the receiving end of some of the nasty dung being flung I spoke about previously. Cymbalta rage feeds on itself. I oughta know. This hate came out of me I never knew I had in me. The unhappiest happy drug I ever took.
I totally agree….the stuff is a dangerous failure….and the friendly pharmaceutical chemists should go back to their labs and give us all something better.
Nuff said. Rant over. Pax vobiscum my brothers and sisters. The Old Ranger signing off.
October 8th, 2009 - 07:49
Hello. I was on here about a month back with the horrible withdrawl symptoms. Ever since I have been following this site. Deann and Sondrea, you’re not making things better by arguing with someone who doesn’t care about the pain that you’re in. (I don’t even want to mention his name) I’m not faulting you two by any means, I just want him to stop and you guys to focus on talking to the people here that are actually supportive. I had extreme rage from the withdrawl and that’s probably what’s fueling a lot of this. He knows what buttons to push to get you going but try not to fall for it. If he wants to leave an opinion, fine. Just be the bigger person and leave it alone. Hopefully he will move on. I wish you two all the best! It sounds like you two can lend each other some great support!
If I get a direct reply from that person, guess what? No response from me! Everyone take care of each other here!
October 8th, 2009 - 10:05
I agree, that’s why I said earlier that I am going to ignore him so he’ll go away. He has replied since, and I’ve ignored him.
October 8th, 2009 - 09:21
Kim,
Every word you said is absolutely true. Thank you for your inspirational comments. It has made me realize that I need to focus more on recovering from the bad side effects and withdrawals of Cymbalta and ignore the comments of individuals who are not concerned with my recovering process.
Tomorrow I will begin taking 15 mgs of Cymbalta. Please say a prayer that the withdrawals are not unbearable.
October 12th, 2009 - 13:39
We decided to take my mom off cymbalta after two years and it was just not working. She started being depressed and suicidal thoughts, etc.
The doctor said to stop cold turkey. Since there are no withdraw symptoms. She was on 60 mg. I knew better, so we went down to 30 mg. She feels awful. Vomiting, nausea, sweats, flu symptoms, and the mood is not so good. We’ve been doing this for a week. The Dr. said she need to get on again since that ’s not normal. I think he’s wrong after reading blogs. Can someone tell me when should my mom start feeling the difference? I am just worried. We don’t have any guidance besides the blogs. When should I go down to 20 mg. She’s loosing faith.
October 12th, 2009 - 18:49
i would switch to another snri that is easier to taper down the dose. if she wants to taper off cymbalta, take 2×20mg and a 15mg so that the dose is not dropped dramatically. cymbalta is very potent. use the different mg to taper down the dose. i do not recommend cutting the dose in half. so demand from the doctor that he prescribes 20mg and 15mg, in an sufficient amount so that she can taper down 5mg at a time. do you get what i am saying? DEMAND IT OR THREATEN TO REPORT HIM
October 12th, 2009 - 16:11
Jennifer….she will get better. When you’re in the fell grip of a suicidal depression….a month….let alone a day….is an insurmountable eternity. Great memories of happier times help. Have a ‘remember the time….’ family laughfest. The mind demons SSRI’s release are vicious. They despise happiness. There must be a better way. Are the geniuses at Eli Lilly hearing us? This is all your fault. The unhappiest happy pill ever conceived came out of your labs.
Apparently SSRI’s deplete the body of B-Complex vitamins….especially B-12. They both follow the same neural pathways. Fresh air….sunshine….and good nutrition help tremendously. I laughed my arse off watching ‘The Penguins of Madagascar’ cartoons (they’re addicting) on Nickelodeon. Very theraputic. The distraction of entertainment helps the healing….as does Beethoven….Vivaldi….or Willie Nelson. Whatever floats your boat.
Good luck and hang tough! Keep the faith friend! True faith comes out of the bottomless pit of God’s love for His children. Tap into it. It’s free.
When your miserable the misery tends to insidiously feed on itself. It’s a chemically induced Godless loneliness of the spirit. Darkness rules. A pitfall to be avoided. It ain’t a character defect by a long shot. This crap is misery in a capsule. We truly feel your pain. Please keep us posted. Tell your suffering mom that anonymous strangers are praying for her and dawn awaits.
November 17th, 2009 - 17:20
You Are Awesome. Thank you for that encouraging post. I feel like hell and I hate this drug so bad.
October 16th, 2009 - 21:15
Cymbalta sucks after being on it for an extended period of time I too am trying to wean off of this drug. I have all of the above described side effects, it is terrible and I am really scared, but I am deteremined to get off of this and be done with it, more than likely I have a couple of months to go the way it sounds by everyones descriptions. I decided to get off of it because it didn’t seem to be doing anything for my fibromyalgia pain anymore so I told my doctor I wanted to stop taking it. It is HORRIBLE, if I ever hear of anyone going on this drug I will STRONGLY advise them not to take it. I think we should all write to the FDA and report this terrible drug. My doctor said it wouldn’t be any problem getting off of it, either he has no clue about this drug or he is in denial.
October 24th, 2009 - 10:26
I have been taking cymbalta for depression and the drug works well for the depression that I will admit, however I have noticed that if i miss one dose I am dizzy and can not think, so this information is going to be helpful for when I wean off which I hope to do some day . Thanks you all.
October 30th, 2009 - 20:31
I too was on cymbalta (only for like three months). I was only up to 60 mg for like two weeks when I had to get off due to migraines. I didn’t think anything of it b/c I have weaned off of many meds many times. Well this was by far the WORST. I have been off of it for it around two weeks or so and I still get dizzy every night. I went back down to 30 mg and then I began opening the capsule, dumping a little out and then putting the capsule back together and that is how I got off of it. I would suggest weaning down to the 20 mg and then from there, dumping a little out and after you are o.k. on that amount you can dump a little more out and so on. I can’t imagine getting off of it after three years like some of the others have said. It was horrible after a few months!!!
October 30th, 2009 - 20:36
Well I went through the withdrawl so bad for so long I thought I would die. I finally called my doctor ( I was mad at him for not telling me about withdrawl syptoms so I did not want to call)
He put me on Celexa and within hours I was back to myself and no more zapping! The only thing I notice with the celexa is that if i miss a dose I feel depressed so I have to be sure to take it. I am not a depressed person I only went on cymbalta due to stress from a missing child and now a divorce and being a single mom of 5.
So celexa may be a cure for someone else as it was for me.
October 30th, 2009 - 20:37
Dumping some out is also a good way to wean off if you have a bunch of 60 mgs or something and don’t want to completely waste them. You have to be really be careful though that you know how much you are dumping out. I used the 30 mg writing on the outside of the capsule as a ruler to see how much i was pouring out. If you hold it up to the light you can see it. I would tap it and I started off pouring only a few beads of the medicine at a time.
October 30th, 2009 - 20:49
Kathy,
I don’t want to tell you what to do, but I would like to offer some advice if you don’t mind (I’m a psyc. major and have been through depression, anxiety, the whole nine). First, I want to say I’m very sorry to hear about all of your misfortune. I just want to warn you that getting on meds for temporary stress and depression isn’t always a good idea, b/c once you are on them, you can become addicted. Therapy is a much better way to deal with stress and depression when it isn’t clinical. Medicine for depression and anxiety (unless you truly have a chemical imbalance) is just a mask for the problem and unless you address the real stressor, it will not just go away. Grieving and experiencing painful emotions is natural and is a part of the healing process. I really think that therapy would be a much better alternative than becoming dependent on a medication.It helps us cope with some of those issues that we have in life that we just need a little help with dealing with. Good luck!
October 31st, 2009 - 13:12
I do agree with you, my situation is so grim. I was married to a verbally abusive deputy sheriff for 7 years and had 4 children. He became physical on the 8th of August. His family believes him and not me so they are more mean to me than a help. I have a 2,3,4,5,14 year old and am going through a divorce. I have no friends, my only family is my mom who is paranoid schizophrenic and no help to me. My divorce is final in one month and I have no help with the kids so making an appointment is impossible as I have no one to watch my kids. I am alone, scared and so very lonely. My 14 year old is borderline tendency and bipolar so she is a challenge and not much of a help. I work from home so I have no way to meet anyone at all. I am taking the celexa and am already dependant on it. I have no support to help me through this. I do think just a hug that I could get on demand would probably do more than the celexa ever could.
November 2nd, 2009 - 16:57
I was wondering if anyone out there has lost their senses because of withdraw of cymbalta? I have no taste, can’t tell hot from cold, can’t feel anything my whole body feels numb, (even thought I eat something, I can’t tell weather it is filling) can’t smell anything and feels as if my tongue is 5 times its size, I also get the brain zaps. If anyone has had this, please let me know and if they can tell me how long it lasts?? Thank-You
November 4th, 2009 - 20:55
I have felt the brain zaps and the feeling of fullness even though I ate very little. I go from feeling hot one minute to cold the next. This goes on during the night with cold chills and night sweats. I have been going through this for about a month, but it does seem to be letting up. I am not feeling the “morning sickness” as much. I am able to eat a litle something in the mornings now.
November 11th, 2009 - 11:51
feeling of fullness is strange, I was starving all the time. it took me about 2 months or so to get rid of all of the brain zaps, dizziness, sickness etc.
November 11th, 2009 - 11:44
It has been nearly a year since I stopped Cymbalta and I still get brain zaps.
November 11th, 2009 - 11:58
Wow! So am I!! It’s really, really scary….
November 19th, 2009 - 13:09
I am sorry so many people are having problems coming off Cymbalta. I guess I am fortunate, I have been without Cymbalta for a week. I have fibromyalgia and my symptoms are the same with or without the Cymbalta. I know this sounds crazy but it wasn’t my choice to quit Cymbalta, it was God’s choice. My life was a mess financially without Him, so I decided to be “fearless” and let Him take control. He trashed the $155.00 per month Rx. I am fine, the only side affect is psychological, like quitting smoking cold turkey. There are many plant based and essential oils out there, along with prayer that can get your life back on track. Plants and essential oils are created by the greatest Healer of them all.
November 23rd, 2009 - 21:12
I have been on Cymbalta for a year now. My Dr. has decreased my dose from 60mg to 30mg a day. we are trying to titrate me off the drug. I have extreme dizziness, nausea, and periods of extreme fatigue. Thanks for all the blogs on here. I am a nurse, not working right now.I have been sick for about 2 weeks. It will get better.I believe that. Driving in a car, makes it worse. I am feeling a bit better, although I am miserable. hang in there. Promethazine works for dizziness and is not addicting. Good Luck!
December 1st, 2009 - 14:41
I am having terrible withdrawals from cymbalta, I am so irritable it’s not even funny, terrible brain zaps, feeling of being drunk, my eyes hurt all the time, I have no patience for anything right now, headaches everyday and I have weaned off this drug it took 10 weeks, took my last pill November 26, 2009, this is so horrible. A friend of mine brought me a magazine called Remedy and in that book is an email address: http://www.fda.gov/medwatch, I feel everyone that has taken cymbalta and had these terrible withdrawals should go to this site and click on the 3500 form, fill it out and mail it in, it is prepaid postage, just takes your time to fill it out, let the FDA know what a terrible drug this is. I don’t know how long this is going to take to wear off my brain, it has been five days since I have had any medication and it is just terrible, I can not express enough how bad I feel. Maybe someday the FDA will wake up!
December 1st, 2009 - 16:07
Ohhhh you sound just like me. Isn’t it terrible? I am sure my friends and family are sick and tired of hearing me rage about this drug. I have absolutely no patience and it scares me. I don’t know what’s been worse – the emotional withdrawal symptoms or the physical. The nausea and headaches has been gruesome. (I found that making fresh ginger tea and sipping at it all day helped some). Thank you for the medwatch address. I am going to fill that in and send it. I did call Elli Lilly and gave them hell but I’m sure that won’t go anywhere! This drug is evil! And the pharmaceuticals have a license to get us addicted to it and can even give us free samples! How nice of them. Isn’t that how drug dealers get people addicted????? Anyway, it’s a terrible drug and I hope it’s taken off the market SOON!
December 4th, 2009 - 17:03
i was on cymbalta for 6mths never will I ever go back, I weaned myself off this drug and its been 2weeks and I am very sick and dizzy. Never was over 125 pounds in my life and I gained 15. I am very sick and tired. Dont go on this drug if your thinking about it.
December 4th, 2009 - 21:53
I’m 48 years old and never been much on taking pills. They all pretty much make me sick. I have fibromyalgia and was perscribed cymbalta. I’ve been on it for 9 months. I lost my insurance and couldn’t afford the meds. So I just stopped taking it. I had know idea of the withdrawls. It’s been a week and I feel like I’m losing my mind. I cant sleep and when I do fall asleep I have nightmares. I’m so sick. I cant drive I’m dizzy, I have these weird shocking sinsations going through my arms, head and chest. When that happens my vision and hearing is impared. I feel like my brain is working in slow motion. That is when it works. This is the most awful thing I have ever went through. I will never take this medicine again. And to add to the horror. I gained 6 to 7 pounds ever month, the whole time I was in it. I don’t feel like I’m ever going to feel good again. I really do feel like I’m losing my mind.
December 6th, 2009 - 17:37
Oh Linda, it’s so much worse to quit cold turkey. Do you have any left that you can wean off with? Maybe call your doctor or pharmacist and see if they have any free samples (they are very willing to give them out to get you started). Get your doctor’s advice, but from what I learned and what I had to do myself is wean off slowly, and taper down some every week or so. You WILL feel better, it just takes time. Hang in there. I drank ginger tea for nausea and took gravol for the dizziness and tylenol Ex Strength for the aches and pains and got some sleeping pills from the doctor so I could at least get a few hours of sleep! It’s a terrible drug and most people need help with it. Good luck, and keep me posted.
Pat
December 6th, 2009 - 13:13
WOW!!! I have read the majority of these posts and my heart goes out to each and every one of you!! I wanted to let you all know that I was initially put on Cymbalta and within that first month, I wanted to start my car up in the garage and not come back! I went back to my Dr. and he had me get off of it ASAP!!! Hen then put me on Celexa and I have been GREAT!! I did go off of Celexa for a little while to see if I needed it anymore and I had NO withdrawal symptoms but did go back on it a month later because I realized I needed to stay on it longer. Hopefully this helps you all out!!!
December 6th, 2009 - 20:22
I did call my doctor when I ran out and told them I had lost my job and Insurance. They said they had samples but I would have to pay a 70.00 dollar office visit. I just didn’t have the money. So I guess I’m on my own here. The withdrawals are still horrible. And I”m getting where just the thought of trying to sleep is horrifiying. The nightmares just aren’t getting any better. I know they will in time but the waiting is getting more difficult. Thanks for the reply. Just knowing theres someone out there that understands and don’t think I”m just over reacting really helps.
December 8th, 2009 - 07:42
Linda and Lina – just wondering how you are doing. When I first came on this site I sounded just like you. So I just want to give you some hope because I feel good now, and there was a point where I didn’t know if I was going to make it! I see on here people suggesting other SSRIs to switch to. Not sure about that but I guess if you can’t afford one, you probably can’t afford the other?! I didn’t go that route so I really can’t comment on whether it works or not anyway. My pharmacist basically said my brain and my body had to adjust, and I felt like I needed to get this toxic “shit” out of me. So, I drank A LOT of water, made tea with fresh ginger (cheap and it works great for nausea), took hot baths with Epsom Salts (also cheap) (but make sure you drink lots of fluids when you get out of the bath as the Epsom Salts will draw out the toxins and the last thing you need is to be dehydraded) Massage is also wonderful for the pain and for drawing out toxins. If you can’t afford a massage therapist, maybe a friend or loved one could help with that. I know the sleeping part is bad too and the dreams and nightmares are terrible! I was fortunate and had a prescription for sleeping pills but I hear that Advil PM is good because the Advil helps with the pain and whatever else is in it helps with the sleep. It seemed to me that my aches and pains were twice as bad as BEFORE I started the Cymbalta, but that has calmed down now. I started weaning Mid-October, first from 60 mg to 30 mg, which I did for about 3 weeks (and that was absolute hell and if I had known better I would have opened up the capsules and tried to do it by going down only 10 mg at a time). From the 30 mgs that’s how I did it, by opening up the capsules and I had to eyeball it but I would try to measure and take out the same about for about a week or so until I “adjusted” and then wean down a little more, etc. I’ve been totally off the med for 3 weeks now THANK GOD! So try to baby yourself as much as you can. Each day is taking you closer to feeling good, so try to remember that. Every night I would say to myself “There, I have one more day in!” This medication is a terrible thing to come off of. And it is just awful that the pharmaceutical company doesn’t put anything in the insert about the side effects of coming off the drug, only the possible side effects of taking the drug! I bitched at them about that (I called Elli Lilly) and they said that the warning is put in with the professional write up! Well how nice of them! The guy tried hard to make me feel like I was overreacting and all SSRIs or SSNRIs have to be tapered off slowly. “YES YOU IDIOT! I DO know that. Many years ago I weaned off Paxil. It wasn’t pleasant but it was NOTHING like this” This is a drug from hell and I hope they take it off the market, but they are probably making SO much money from it that that won’t happen. Have you ever seen the ads for it on TV? Don’t they make it look like such a lovely drug and how nice your life will be if you take it! Well I’m shouting out to everyone and anyone to NOT take this drug.
Sorry, starting to get angry here and my intention was to give you some hope and let you know that it’s going to get better. Hang in there. Hugs
December 7th, 2009 - 03:06
We all need to support each other as I do not get much support from anyone at home or my husband. They think you look fine but have no idea about what’s going on in your head, it is the most awful thing that has ever happened me. I wish everyone would write to the fda and let them know about this horrible drug. I weaned off for 10 weeks and have not had cymbalta for 10 days, I feel at times the dizziness and brain zaps are getting better but they are still there, I sometimes wonder if lots of rest help, I take a sleeping pill at night as well. I have also felt the suicidal thoughts but try to put that at the back of head praying that this is going to get better, it just has too, I’m not a person that has the patience to wait forever, so I’m hoping my brain and this drug will wear off sooner than later. We just have to stick together and know this is going to get better with time.
December 7th, 2009 - 03:09
Also I have terrible, terrible nightmares, I wake up shaking and almost in ters.
December 7th, 2009 - 17:13
I have fibromyalgia, was prescribed Cymbalta for the pain and it only helped for about 2 months. Continued with the drug for another few months, knew nothing about the horrendous withdrawal side effects but had my doctor put me back onto the 20 mg of Prozac ( for hx of panic attacks) that I had been taking before starting the Cymbalta. No withdrawal side effects at all!!! I mean it, nothing, nada, zip. Tried Cymbalta again to see if it would work a 2nd time for the pain, took 60 mg for a year and again it stopped working and the pain started again. BTW picked up 35 lbs while on Cymbalta the 2nd time around. Stopped Cymbalta again and picked back up with the Prozac, then gradually weaned off the Prozac without any withdrawal symptoms.
My question is why, why, why would someone go COLD TURKEY when there are alternative ways to get off of this drug. Please consider talking to doctor about an alternative anti-depressant (SSRI) to help you off the Cymbalta and then wean off that drug. Both times it was painless…..please consider this. The hell some of you are going through is unimaginable. Good Luck and God Bless.
December 8th, 2009 - 07:48
From what I can see, people have gone COLD TURKEY because they ran out of the medication and didn’t have the money to refill their prescriptions. Probably had NO idea how terrible it was going to be to just quit! I was fortunate and could wean off it, and that was bad enough! Also, many people take this damned drug for pain and maybe don’t realize that it is also an anti-depressant and they could switch over to an SSRI. My doctor certainly didn’t prescribe that route – just told me to wean off it!
December 7th, 2009 - 17:19
I can see that most sights are out to make money off of our hardship. if you would like to not have to pay and still need someone to bounce some thing off call me direct at Area code 509-679-1737 My6 name is michael W. Nelson
December 8th, 2009 - 16:40
Hi…I am experiencing terrible withdrawl symptons. I came on this site to see what others have been experiencing. I am scared because my doctor told me that I wouldn’t experience any withdrawl symptoms…and that I could stop Cold Turkey. Well, I am trying it and to say the least, I am proud of myself but scared. Especially when the nurse on the phone told me that I shoudl have someone with me at all times in case I was suicidal and I didn’t know it. Thank you to those who understand “brain zaps”. I don’t know how to describe to people what I am feeling…and I am not sure if they will understand what “brain zaps” are without experiencing them. Please let me know how long it took people to finally feel like themselves. I would appreciate it. Thanks.
December 8th, 2009 - 22:13
i want to know how to come off this terrible drug completely without having to go through all the terrible withdrawl symptoms? cam anyone help me with this?
December 9th, 2009 - 03:05
First of all I want to let Pateo know that Linda and Lina are the same person, when I made the blog I didn’t see that I left out the “d” and then when I sent it I saw I had made a mistake and found I couldn’t correct it, sorry about that,and next I am so about every word you are saying, you know I had talked to my doctor and a health food store about something to stop the dizziness and brain zaps and they both said “no” nothing can be done, I too thought if I could clean my system of the bad toxins it would help things along, I was told no it just has to wear off.
Kerri & Alan, I don’t know if you will ever get off of this drug without some sort of withdrawals, it will depend how your system handles it. I had talked to my pharmacist after my doctor told me to just stop talking 60mgs of cymbalta, THAT DID NOT WORK, I hear that some of you have to stop COLD TURKEY because of insurance, I feel so sorry for you people. I was able to wean off and it is still a horrilbe struggle. I feel for all of you who had to just stop, it is so awful, know that I care about what you are going through and you are in my thoughts everyday, we have to support and keep each other going. The pharmacist told me to wean off and my doctor then okayed for me to do that and it took me 8 weeks and that was by taking 30mgs. everyday for two weeks and then every other day for 2 weeks and then taking 20mgs everyday for two weeks and then every other day for 2 weeks. I did that and took my last pill on Thanksgiving night, I had withdrawals all the way through trying to wean off and I have not had any medication since Thanksgiving which has been 11 days and I am still having alot of withdrawals, nightmares, body freezing cold, can’t get warm and night sweats, I am not here to try and scare anyone, my doctor also said it shouldn’t be a problem to stop this medication, my doctor said there aren’t withdrawals and if there are it doesn’t last long, well I am here to tell you it does too last long and it is this drug, I know for a fact that if I went back on the 60mgs. my head would straighten out and the dizziness and brain zaps would stop, but I would still not be able to function because it was affecting my work, my ability to think and function, but I am NEVER going back on this drug, I will fight this all the way until I am better. I go see my doctor next week and I am going to print off all of these blogs and show them to him and see if he changes his story. I keep hoping like Pateo says everyday I get through is one day closer to being back to normal and I can’t wait for that day to come, I am not a very patient person, so it can’t get here soon enough but I am trying to be strong and praying this is going to pass very soon. I feel too that if you get lots of rest, that is time your brain is not having to think about other things or stressing out and is resting and the drug is wearing off, I could be blowing smoke, but I truly believe lots of rest is a key if possilbe. I feel like things are better then they were at first but I still have a long way to go. I can’t wait until I can come here and blog that I am truly over this horrendous brain zaps and dizziness and tell everyone how long it took me to get better. I know we are all asking each other how many days, weeks or months this will take, well believe me I am counting and will be glad to let everyone know when it ends for me.
December 9th, 2009 - 22:42
The Lina blob was not me. There must be two Linda’s. I’m The Linda thats 48. My last blog was Decenber 6th. I just wanted to clear that up. From now on I’m write as Linda W. I’m still having all the same withdrawals, but I’m just trying to take it one day at a time. The brain japs, nightmares and mood swings get to be a little much to take but I’ll make it. I just wish there was some way to get this drug off the market, so know one else has to go through this. I wish every doctor would have to sample these drugs themselfs so they could make an edgucated judgment on wheather to use these drugs at all. I’m sure Cymbalta isn’t the only demon drug out there. But for me it is the worst I have ever taken.
December 10th, 2009 - 09:13
Well, it has been a couple days that I have tried to stop Cold Turkey and I just can’t handle it anymore. WHen I read these responses to my blog, I am so scared. I cried for about an hour last night, feeling like I am a drug addict. It is so frustrating and everyone in my family keeps saying that they are proud of me for doing this. However, I feel like such a failure! I took a pill this morning, just 30 mg, but this morning I am experiencing the sickness and the terrible headaches…not to mention the stupid brain zaps. I just want to be normal again, I just want to get through this.
Thanks to everyone for their support even though you don’t know me. It is what is helping me get through right now.
December 10th, 2009 - 10:43
Keri, I don’t think cold turkey is the way to go. In fact, it’s torture! Weaning off is easier, though even that is hell. Let your body adjust to the 30 mg (were you on 60 before) and then in a week or so (your body will let you know when it can handle a little more of a shift) taper it down to maybe 20 (Open up the capsule and take some out) At some point you can do a capsule every other day and then adjust to that, etc. I’m a survivor so I want you to know you CAN GET THROUGH THIS! I didn’t think I would. I have never felt to terrible, physically and emotionally. So take it one day at a time. Call your doctor and tell him you need something to help you. Some people go on another SSRI and that seems to work for them. In the meantime, Gravol, Tylenol, and TLC! Hugs to you
December 10th, 2009 - 14:33
Right after I was put on Cymbalta, I started experiencing SEVERE memory problems, numbness/tingling in my extremities, pain and problems walking, frequent headaches, and trouble falling and staying asleep. When I confronted the doctors, they said it was all in my head and tried to up my dosage. I am NOW completely off if it. I weaned myself off because I wasn’t getting any help from the medical community. You can wean yourself off. Cut the dosage in half and take it like that for about 2 weeks, then cut that dosage in half for another 2 weeks, then cut that one in half for another 2 weeks, anyway, you get the idea. It took me a total of 6 weeks w/o the side effects. Originally I tried to quit cold-turkey and was having all the problems being described here. Also, my best friend’s husband was put on this so-called miracle drug, and he’s experiencing the same problems that I am also. The doctors are doing the same thing to him and telling his wife that he can’t be taken off. He is on a REALLY high dosage and believes that he absolutely needs it. They’ve totally brainwashed him. I am now having seizures and the doctors still don’t know what’s causing it, but it’s funny how I wasn’t having ANY of these problems until they put me ON Cymbalta. My friend believes that her husband is also having seizures now because he also has black-out spells. The moral of this story is…YOU WOULD BE WELL ADVISED TO STAY AWAY FROM CYMBALTA! I feel a class-action lawsuit coming on eventually and I certainly plan to be a part of it!
December 10th, 2009 - 20:05
Wow, I have been off Cymbalta for 3 years. I have seizures still about 1 a month. I have headaches still and numbness in my right arm and shoulder. Very painful. Sleep… haven’t had a pain free restful night in 3 years. Very difficult, as I am trying to keep my job as a teacher.
December 16th, 2009 - 13:04
I am on 30 mgs right now and am feeling tons better. I can only hope that I can feel this way when I wean myself more and more. To tell you the truth, I sought out my psychiatrist when I was feeling more down and tired all the time and he put me on a higher dosage of this medication. However, since only being on 30 mgs, I have experienced more happiness and energy than before! My family has even seen how happy I have been. I am wondering if my psychiatrist would have just kept putting me on higher dosages if I would have kept telling him that I was feeling worse. Now I just feel like it was the medication that was making me worse! I wouldn’t be suprised from what I have read on this site! Thanks so much for all your thoughts and prayers. It is far from over but it is a start!
December 17th, 2009 - 12:58
My pastor convinced me to come off Cymbalta, because if I had enough faith I could do anything. Everything went well for a week…then it hit me. I almost lost everything I worked so hard for.
I have started Celexa recently. I have fibromyalgia, but I feel great now on the Celexa. I really and truly believe I was overdosed on the Cymbalta. There is a thing called Seratonin Syndrome. What I am reading and what I experienced is what my niece who is a doctor described as seratonin syndrome.
My advice for anyone is change to another safer seratonin based anti-depressant. If your doctor won’t change, change doctors.
Changing doctors is not a crime, you don’t owe him anything. But you do owe yourself something and that is to enjoy life no matter what you are suffering from.
Some doctors think they are God, other doctors realize that their profession is a gift from God.
Cymbalta made me a nasty mean evil person, and that is not what God intended me to be.
December 18th, 2009 - 03:04
Audrey, that was actually a wonderful statement you made and I am so happy your pastor convinced you to get off Cymbalta. I too have been struggling with withdrawals and I pray to God every night I will get through this and he will give me the strength to continue to fight to get my life back, yes it does take a lot of faith, I was so happy you said the things you did, it really gives me hope.
Thanks so much for the meaningful statements, how true it is!
December 18th, 2009 - 08:33
Don’t cold turkey Cymbalta…make sure you can get another seratonin based drug to change to. Celexa is generic, so it doesn’t cost a lot. My pastor doesn’t believe fibromyalgia is a real illness, so his suggestion at the time, was not faith based.
I know God wanted me to change to a different medication, but not by endangering my life.
Through God, I am making some wonderful changes in my life, I believe in myself again. I almost lost a dear friend due to Cymbalta and the hateful things that would come out of my mouth.
I did lose a job, but as always God was there to pick me up.
What we need to do is keep in prayer the people on this site that are really suffering from the effects of Cymbalta.
In the name of God I pray that the people who visit this site will experience divine healing; and that God will be with them through this Christmas season and the New Year. Amen.
December 21st, 2009 - 15:00
i ran out of cymbalta four days ago, thought no big deal i can wait to pick up the refill… i thought and still think i’m going to die… so glad that if found this page and know now i’m not crazy.. all weekend i have been trying to explain to my husband the side effects i’m feeling and someone wrote “brain zaps” that is it, thats exactly what i’m experiencing. that and the extreme dizzy spells, nauseau and yelling @ my kids for the stupidest things and knowing its stupid and stil doing it… i really can’t stand it. taking a pill today and at this rate i’ll never go off em. great..
December 21st, 2009 - 16:37
brandace, I totally know what you mean, I have no patience for anything, my husband is getting the short end of the stick and I am constantly yelling at him for stupid things and I have apologized, you just can’t control yourself. I will never go back on this crap and have even written to the FDA which I feel everyone should, so this stuff gets pulled off the market, I have convinced my doctor to check out this site because he is now worried, cause he has a family member who is on 90mgs. , my doctor told me the pharamacital companies don’t tell them all the side effects, just basically what the drug is used for and they get paid for prescribing it. I still am having trouble and was weaned off, took my last pill Thanksgiving and am still having problems, I have some good days and some bad days, the last two days I have felt like I am drunk, my head is spinning, I’m blubbering. Hang in there, I will never take another one of those pills, I am determined to get off. My doctor also put me on B-12 shots once a week telling me that any mind altering drugs will deplete the brain of B-12 and that is ability to function and think and also mind altering drugs can mess up the neurotransmitters, so I am going along and trying it, I have only had one shot and thought I felt better instantly that day but now it has worn off and I am ready to see if the second shot will make me feel better or if it is all in my head, the doctor has also started me on B complex as well. I will survive and you can too, give it your all!
January 13th, 2010 - 02:03
I cannot tell you how much your comments have helped me. Thank you to each one of you. It is so good to know that I am not alone and I am not crazy – though I really hate that anyone has to experience any of this. It has been hell. After being on Cymbalta for 3 years I finally decided to get off of it – had been thinking about it for some time. I did not have a clue that stopping the drug would be so difficult and hellish. I had been feeling bad while taking the prescribed amount because (I now know!) sometimes I would forget to take it and find myself in a tail spin of total confusion and dealing with symptoms that I could not even wrap my mind around. I did not know that even delaying the time of day I took my Cymbalta could propel me into withdrawal symptoms. Like I said, I was clueless. I guess the reason being that the years I had been on Zoloft and Xanax I had never experienced bad side affects or even withdrawal symptoms when my doctor took me off of them to get me started on the “miracle drug” Cymbalta!! Ha! I have been on 60 mg per day and began (under dr. care) to alternate 60 mg with 30 mg every other day for two weeks. Started this the first of December 2009. I did this for 2 weeks and then began 30 mg every day for 2 weeks. It has been a wild ride and scary as hell. I was afraid of the next move to lowering my dosage to 30 mg. every other day…..I delayed it a week. Then decided to just do it. Five days ago was my first day without Cymbalta, it was a horror – did not sleep at all, felt like I was dreaming but was awake, pins and needles, electric shock feelings in legs, arms, severe pain in stomach, nausea, headaches, vision blurring, lights and black spots that come and go, moments of weepiness, anger, sensitive to loud noises or sudden moves. In other words, much like you all have reported. I have decided that I am going to ride this out no matter how long it takes, I will not give up. I will get off of this crap. The doctor prescribed Zoloft for me to begin right away while I am tapering off Cymbalta. I got the Rx filled, but honestly, I am afraid to take it. Today I did not have my Cymbalta and actually went to work, felt a bit spacey, came home exhausted from trying to focus thoughts and being physically “upright” if you know what I mean – but NO BRAIN ZAPS today, but am dealing with the vision stuff. My last 30 mg and final pill will be on the 21st. Wish me well. In the meantime, I am trying to keep a good attitude, take my vitamins, do my yoga stretches, drink my Chamomile tea, take my Melatonin at night, sink into meditation CD as often as can. I am determined to get through this. I will post again to chart my progress and to check to see how others are doing. I appreciate so much the information that has been shared by you all. I do plan to register my complaint with the FDA as well and to tell anyone who will listen to stay away from this devastating drug! This has been just plain crazy! I sure didn’t see this coming.
January 13th, 2010 - 12:59
I had a conversation with a dental assistant who told me of a friend of her’s who was recently temporarily institutionalized for Cymbalta psychosis. He flew into wild angry rages and threatened everybody. Totally unlike him. Her mother was just prescribed the drug for fibromyalgia and I told her to be aware of any weird behavior uncharacteristic of her mom and informed her of this website.
I can’t believe they’re still peddling this poison. It literally cured my diabetic peripheral neuropathy 4 months ago but turned me into a nasty dysfunctional ogre that slept all day. A total headcase. I just spewed out crazy stuff like I was a possessed madman. My wife gave me wide berth. I was unrecognizable. I’m still in the family doghouse for some of the nasty crap I said to people. I’m still trying to heal the open wounds I inflicted. Bloody awful. I dredged up old dead grudges from 30 years ago. Unforgiveable.
Good luck to all and shame on the medical profession for still using this weird crap. There are safer alternatives. I guess our perfect little medical gods aren’t as smart as they fancy themselves to be. I call it drive-by pop-medicine. I am now taking Gabapentin to treat my problem and so far, so good. It’s not as effective as Cymbalta….but I sleep well at night. Good enough for me….considering the alternative. I wonder how many assaults, suicides, divorces, and homicides this junk is responsible for. Kind of strange for a feel good wonder drug.
I now work daily on my sugar control like a recovering addict, so I don’t have to take pharmaceuticals anymore. One day at a time. I hear that medical marijuana is an effective painkiller for my problem. Cool! My doctor grins and dismisses me when I suggest it. No way Jose. He knows I’m an old 60’s hippy stoner and the munchy attacks would put me into diabetic seizures. I would morph into a cereal killer.
Self control is a lonely personal struggle….but definitely worth the effort. I lean a lot on God’s love and prayer. Lord give me the strength this day to survive my cravings. He tells me to shut up and hit the treadmill. A bowl of tasty pasta at dinner means intense maddening foot pain at 3AM and a lousy night’s sleep….if at all. The ball is in my court. This I know. Physician heal thyself.
January 15th, 2010 - 20:16
I work in an inpatient chemical dependency center (10 yrs – 30 yrs total in the field) and was connected to your website in relation to a Google search for addictive thinking and causal core beliefs; and CYMBALTA caught my eye. My wife just is coming off of 4 months of living hell of withdrawal from the drug, which she was on for about a year-and-a-half for depression. She went off Cymbalta only over a 2-week wean period, as per medical doctor’s and her psychiatrist’s advise. The drug had ceased being very effective for depression as well as causing some side effects of all-over body pain, low-grade fever off-and-on, sweats and then chills, etc.. Withdrawal, however, was far worse: several-hour periods of severe abdominal pain, off-and-on fever, sweats, chills, nausea, diarrhea, occasional vomiting – all over a period of 4 months (which was suspected as gall bladder, pancreatic, heart, gastric, or ulcer problems – incurring 3 CT scans with dye, 4 special ultra-sounds, 3 trips to ER, 2 short stays in the hospital, endoscopy, and more and more blood-work) – horrific and expensive – only finally to be attributed to Cymbalta in this very wearisome process of elimination. And, as everyone has indicated, no warning from anyone as to these effects of withdrawal; matter of fact, we have never seen so many doctors scratching their heads and medically befuddled. The final insult was a doctor who said it was all in her head (which, actually, may have unwittingly been the closet diagnosis – though that wasn’t what he meant!). There’s a strange relief, though, in knowing that my wife wasn’t “nuts” in this experience, but it is more common than not, unfortunately for all who’ve experienced Cymbalta withdrawal.
January 15th, 2010 - 20:52
Rodger, I am sorry to hear your wife’s story. I feel your pain! I myself am trying some herbs and vitamins.
Please join us in reproting her trauma to the FDA.
Take care!
January 22nd, 2010 - 17:01
all these comments just make me say “ugh” why did i have 2 start taking this medication. as i wrote a month or so ago i ran out of cymbalta and went like 4 days without and just the thought of not taking it again is soooo scary. i just don’t dare not 2 take it all the side effects of stopping were way 2 much. i hope the FDA comes up with a drug to help curb the side effects soon.
January 24th, 2010 - 22:00
Have been taking Cymbalta 30 mg for 90 days. I am getting myelf off this crap immediately. I started by not taking a dose for 3 days with minimal effects then reduced a dose to around 20 mg on day 4. I will take my next dose in 3-4 days reduced dose that is. The weird thing is i recently had a torn retina repaired and i truely believe this garbage caused the problem. Any suggestions woud be appreciated.
January 28th, 2010 - 13:37
Compounding Cymbalta to 5 or 10 mg doses is an option!! Reducing by 10 mg per month worked for me without the ‘zaps’. Please share this with everyone! Ask your pharmacist and your doctor!!
God Bless You and Your Family:)
Julie
January 28th, 2010 - 13:35
Compounding Cymbalta to 5 or 10 mg doses is an option!! Reducing by 10 mg per month worked for me without the ‘zaps’. Please share this with everyone! Ask your pharmacist and your doctor!!
God Bless You and Your Family:)
Julie
February 8th, 2010 - 16:38
I’ve been on other antidepressants in the past; I’d NEVER go on Cymbalta again! Per my doctor instructions, I’ve been lowering the dose systematically and taking every other day for 2 weeks. I was down to about 10 mg every other day. Now I’ve stopped, and I got up this morning, and the room was spinning and I was so sick to my stomach. And crying. My poor husband was ready to take me to the ER. I feel a bit better now, at least the room is not spinning. I hope this doesn’t happen again tomorrow morning. My doctor had wanted me to take Prozac for a week to help with the withdrawal, but I didn’t want to take something else, now I’m thinking maybe I should have. Oh, and the vivid dreams, it’s like you don’t get a break, even when you’re sleeping. I hope this junk gets out of my system soon. My doctor had warned me about possible side effects of going off of Cymbalta, but I didn’t realize it would be this lousy. My sympathies to all, and thanks for the support.