Cymbalta Withdrawal Symptoms Being Kept Secret?
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I wrote an article on how much Cymbalta withdrawal symptoms suck and I was pretty shocked at the amount of comments that are being posted from people who were going through the same exact Cymbalta withdrawal symptoms. The common theme is that no one was made aware of the Cymbalta withdrawal side effects upfront.
There was an article posted over at The Discovering Alcoholic’s website where he talked about Purdue Pharma’s misrepresentation of Oxycontin. The top executives blatantly downplayed the dangers and the addictive properties of Oxycontin with one thing in mind…the almighty dollar. It got me thinking about all of the comments being left on my Cymbalta withdrawal symptom post.
I understand that people aren’t throwing their entire lives away to get another pill of Cymbalta like what is sometimes done (myself included on that) with Oxycontin, but there really is a similarity here. For Cymbalta to cause such severe withdrawal symptoms in people for such an extended period of time there must be some real brain dependency going on here.
What’s worse is that some doctors don’t even realize that Cymbalta causes these withdrawal symptoms and so they are not weening their patients off of it at the speed necessary to avoid severe withdrawal. I had gotten sample boxes from my doctor with the informational sheet (which has “please remove from box before dispensing to patient” written on it) inside and no where did it list the severe withdrawal symptoms. It did say that Cymbalta should not be stopped abruptly. To me, that doesn’t really drive home the fact that severe withdrawal will ensue if it is stopped to quickly.
To me, if doctors are unaware of the severe Cymbalta withdrawal symptoms this could mean that the pharmaceutical reps are going in the doctor’s offices and are not giving the entire scoop on this drug. Possibly…obviously, I’m not there and I don’t know this to be true.
Because of Cymbalta’s pain reduction property, the FDA has now approved Cymbalta being prescribed to Diabetic patients to treat pain due to Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy. What I have been reading from patients making posts on message boards here and there is that it works for a couple of months and then is not so effective. Once that happens the patients end up having to continue to take Cymbalta for months and months after it stops being effective to ween off.
I’m not trying to say it’s some huge conspiracy like what happened with Oxycontin but it does make you wonder. Why aren’t Cymbalta patients being told upfront about the long weening off process and the severe withdrawal symptoms? Ultimately it is up to the patient to make an informed choice when starting any medication but it would help if the information was more readily available.
Posts
August 24th, 2008 at 10:58 am
I was perscribed Cymbalta 2years ago by my obgyn of all m.ds, and have been pill free for about 13 days and counting. (I’ve been weening off for over a year) I went from 6o everyday to everyother to every third, I then switched to 30mg and did the same thing. I must say the fist seven days were the hardest of all. I would wake up feeling like I’d been hit by a Mac truck and then I would cry for no reason for hours. I knew what to expect having experienced the withdrawl symptoms when going from from the 60mg 30mg. I had always been an advocate of antidepressants before this experience, but never again will I do anything so horrible to my body. Im sure smoking alittle crack would be less harmful to me than this shit has been. Although I feel better than I have in a few days, I am still not out of the woods. Im still very emotional for no reason, and the brain zaps make working really difficult. However, for the first time in my life I can say I actually feel alive for the first time in 8 years since beginnig celexa in my early 20’s. If I can hold onto this feeling I know I can stay off these horrible meds forever. Don’t give up!!! There will be light and the end of the tunnel. Hopefully!!
August 16th, 2008 at 4:37 pm
I was placed on Cymbalta 10 months ago ( for reasons other than non depression or mental health issues). I became worried and concerned that when I missed a dose of my 60 mg. (even one day), that I would become shaky and ill. I asked my Doctor to ween me off this medication. We did so slowly over 2 months. Yet, I was extremely ill in every way a person can imagine. The worst being migraine headaches that had to be treated with medication. I WILL POINT OUT AT THIS TIME THAT I HAVE NO HISTORY OF HEADACHES OR MIGRAINES. The week after MY last dose of Cymbalta (10 mg.)– so I was completely off Cymbalta, I started having seizures and became very ill. I spent 3 long days of touch in go in a Austin hospital. An excellent team of doctors saved my life. The Neurologists says ” it was Cymbalta”. A rare condition.
I have solid records….for even one person to read my words and chose NOT to take CYMBALTA will be a great accomplishment for me. I am now on an anti seizure medication. I am moving slow and my brain is dull. My doctor says this will improve in time. With blood pressures dropping to 84/44 & 80/40 in the hospital several times also, I’m looking at life differently. I’m glad I survived Cymbalta !
August 15th, 2008 at 7:59 am
My Dr. put me on Cynbalta for Neuropathy as well as panic/anxiety attacks.,60mg day. I have been on them for 1-1/2 months. It seems to help the pain in my feet somewhat, But now after reading this I am scared to death. I do have the ears ringing, What other side effects should I look for ???
August 11th, 2008 at 11:08 am
Hi everyone…I was put on cymbalta for headache control…I was only on the med for about 3 months…started on 30mg and then increased to 60mg…I was weened off to start another med, but i have not started the other drug only cause the cymbalta didn’t work so why waste a copay…I am on day 5 of withdrawal and let me tell you this is hell…the dizziness and lightheadness is the worst…the mood swings come in a close second…my poor family is being yelled at for something so little as not picking up the dog mess…I have been reading that people have withdrawal for as long as 6-8 weeks I’m not going to be able to deal with that and i know my family wont either
August 8th, 2008 at 8:36 pm
This is scary.
I have been on Cymbalta for 3 months and want off. I have ringing in my ears.
Now I am on blood pressure meds, I was border line before I started taking cymbalta. Now I am on med for bp and also for thyroid. I believe my depression was related to the thyroid now, as well as the bp problems.
NOW I am on cymbalta and afraid to get off it. Doc said the ringing in my ears was not the cymbalta, I know it is.
SO< now what? How long will the withdrawl last?
August 3rd, 2008 at 9:05 pm
This drug is awful! I have been taking it for a few years. My doctor prescribed it after my mom died. He never mentioned side effects. All he said was that I needed it for depression and like an idiot I did not question him. Now I want to stop taking it. I told my doctor that I wanted to come off Cynbalta but he said No. I think he knows about the side effects but never mentioned them to me. I decided to stop on my own so I stopped taking it. The effects are HORRIBLE! The dizziness, nausea, sweating, and eye pain are unbearable — especially the nausea. I don’t feel like getting out of bed. Since my doctor refuses to help me come off Cymbalta my question is what is the best way to do it myself?
August 1st, 2008 at 3:07 am
I went off Effexor XR after 8 months because I felt my anxiety was increasing and I was then prescribed Cymbalta 75 mg daily. I have a generalized anxiety disorder, have had cognitive therapy, use relaxation skills, and am a master’s level mental health and family counselor. I know a lot about this stuff. I have been on Zoloft, Lexapro, Paxil, and Effexor XR, off and on for the past 15 years, and NEVER, NEVER, EVER experienced the discomfort and side effects of using and subsequently stopping an antidepressant. Cymbalta did not help at all and now that I have been weening myself off by taking it for 3 weeks of 37 mg. ea day vs. the orginally prescribed 75mg and then every other day for two weeks and then I quit altogether about three weeks ago. I have the dizzy feeling of “like I’m having mini seizures, brain tremors” at least 10 times a day, nausea, diarrhea, body aches, crying, laughing, and very, very spaced out. I am really physically and emotionally suffering. I am waiting it all out for a better day! I wish I had never taken Cymbalta! It’s like I’m in Detox. I told my husband, it feels like I need to go to the hospital. But, why would I do that? They would just give me more drugs.
July 30th, 2008 at 7:38 pm
A couple years ago I went through the Effexor withdrawls and swore I would never go back on that drug for depression again. I had to go off because it increased my BP. I was med free for almost 1 1/2 yrs but my depression became unbearable and when the suicidal thoughts came I was in the docs office the next day and he prescribed Cymbalta. What a wonder drug! My boyfriend used to tease me about the blue bird of happiness flying around in my head. Cymbalta really has worked better on my depression than any other drug I have taken - and I started before Prozac was invented, so I have been through many of them. On Cymbalta I have experienced the blurred vision, but ignored it because I wanted to keep that little blue bird in my head. But now, 9 months later, I once again have high BP. And now I learn that Cymbalta and Effexor work the same. I guess my doc didn’t remember about Effexor causing high BP in me….to bad for me, cause now I have to go through the same withdrawls again. I have the 30mg pills and I was doing fine with a pill every other day. After 2 weeks I stretched it to every third day and immediately woke up feeling eh, and the next night vividly dreamed I was depressed and crying..woke up that morning feeling even more depressed and took a pill - but I really have to stop the Cymbalta because my BP ranges from 144/92 to 160/102 - not good. This really stinks because I already played this scene 2 years ago - and if my doc was paying attention to my health file which he was holding - he would have known not to prescribe Cymbalta for me. Also, shame on me for not researching before taking - but then I was desparate to feel better. So bye, bye to my little blue bird of happiness - if needed my next stop will be the health food store for something herbal instead - I’m through with prescription drugs. Thanks for letting me share. Good luck to you all.
July 29th, 2008 at 7:26 pm
HAD AN APPOINTMENT WITH MY EYE DOCTOR TODAY BECAUSE OF THE BLURRY VISION I’M HAVING. HE SAID IT WAS CAUSED BY THE CYMBALTA I HAD TAKEN BUT THAT IT WILL CLEAR UP. IT WILL BE 6 WEEKS THIS FRIDAY THAT I HAVE BEEN OFF CYMBALTA (THAT I TOOK FOR 3 MONTHS)AND I CAN HONESTLY SAY I’M ALMOST BACK TO BEING THE WAY I WAS BEFORE I TOOK IT FOR MY FIBROMIALGIA PAIN. I WILL NEVER TAKE ANOTHER DRUG FOR MY PAIN, I WILL STICK TO ADVIL OR ASPRINS FROM NOW ON WHEN THE PAIN GETS TO0 BAD. NO PAIN WILL EVER COMPARE TO THE HORROR OF COMING OFF CYMBALTA. THE ELI LILLY CO. NEEDS TO BE SUED BIG TIME FOR PUTTING THIS DRUG ON THE MARKET. I SEE ADDS FOR IT EVERY DAY ON THE TV AND WONDER HOW THEY CAN LIVE WITH THEMSELVES FOR MAKING PEOPLE THINK IT’S A GOOD THING. WELL AS I SAID BEFORE IT’S ALL ABOUT MONEY, MONEY, MONEY AND THE HECK WITH WHAT IT DOES TO PEOPLE.