What Winners Do – An Addiction Recovery Blog Stories, Struggles And Success of A Recovering Addict Trying to Do What Winners Do

1. 

   kelly
   July 1st, 2009 - 15:36

   Denise- Now I took the xyzal for the withdrawals, I believe you are tring to come off of it, correct? I was on 60mg then 30mg, and i just could not shake it without the xyzal. It worked miracles. I don’t know how, it is like an allergy pill of some sort, but REALLY worked. Keep me posted if you get it. I would get wherever I needed to get it!!!

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2. 

   Rhonda
   July 1st, 2009 - 18:14

   WOW!!! I have stopped taking cymbalta (60mg daily) because all I wanted to do was sleep. I keep feeling kind of dizzy, and after reading all of these blogs am realizing that is the brain zap everyone is talking about. It is day 4 for me! I will never take anything like this again. I told my husband I’d rather deal with being a bit bitchy every now and then..then to be so tired and lethargic all the time. I did not follow a doctors supervision when stopping this medication, I did cut down by taking one every other day and then finally just stopping. Maybe that wasn’t the right way to do it, but by reading all of these blogs, it wouldn’t have mattered? I do have some benedryl on hand, so will try that, anything to stop this dizziness, brain zaps! I think that doctors are prescribing way too many medications. I look at those commercials for cymbalta now and think, yeah, I’m more depressed after taking it!!!

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3. 

   Beth
   July 2nd, 2009 - 18:41

   I have been on Cymblata for year in half and it worked wonderful for me at 30mg pm. Put I have been so tired lately that I cannot complete a task. Yes, it did calm me down with my anxiety and sadness but it also took my energy away. I had to have pre admission testing for an operation and they told me my liver enzymes where a little high. So I had a Hep test that came out negative so, I chalk the elevated liver levels to possible this medication so I took myself off this and oh my God , I thought I was experiencing episodes of Alzheimer bad and it has lasted a couple of weeks. Hot flashes that are off the charts and I am on a hormone patch. I spoke to my doctor and his thinks the hot flashes are a result of going off Cymbalta. I guess there is a price to pay for everything. I am now taking Omega 3-6-9 3xday and Sam-e. Still with brain freeze. Hope this goes away soon. Very scary. Now with all the media on too much medication. I agree. But I have to say it did work for the time I needed it. Now to Christine with the narcolepsy could this be because of the Cymbalta you are on and the dose?
   So many of us are tired on this medication.

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4. 

   Gina
   July 3rd, 2009 - 11:38

   I have never posted to a blog like this, but I wanted to say thank you for your openness to share such personal experiences.
   Yesterday my doctor prescribed Cymbalta and I did not give it much thought. I went and got the script filled and took one. When I got home I was tired so I laid down for a nap. My legs began to twitch…mildly but strange. After I got up I decided to google this drug. Dr prescribed it to me for nerve pain and depression. Wow, after I read many of these posts, I have decided to not take Cymbalta. I am just shocked that the doctor is not required to warn of the side effects…at all. I have to say the pharmacist tried to warn me. He was saying something about the 3 days without, and you get a “sorta terrible feeling” (his exact works). I laughed as I have been told about side effects before but just ignored. I will not discard these 2,294 testimonies of the terrible side effects of this drug.
   thanks again for saving me from complete disaster.

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5. 

   stacer
   July 3rd, 2009 - 16:34

   Man, thought I was going ape until I read all of the symptoms for withdrawl. My pain dr. put me on it 18 months ago…60 mg. I quit cold-turkey and have horrid symptoms. Those brain buzzes are the worst and I thank GOD for everyone posting so I can realize I’m not going crazy.

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6. 

   sue
   July 5th, 2009 - 10:29

   i have started my taper from cymbalta and one thing that i have read repeatedly on other sides is not to do the “every other day” thing becuz it just makes it worse (something about the half life of the drug). so just wanted to add that comment for those who are having problems taking the med alternate days! good luck to us all!

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7. 

   fergus3255
   July 5th, 2009 - 18:00

   They need to warn people of this….I’m going trough the same crab. No more anti-depressents for me…
   I’ll try alternative methods.

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8. 

   Floriene Farris
   July 5th, 2009 - 20:17

   My doctor suggested that Cymbalta would be good for my depression and fibromyalgia. I have been on Cymbalta for over one year. I decided to reduce the amount of medication, and try more natural remedies like water excises, yoga, and meditation. I did ween myself off Cymbalta and it was a rough journey. Anger was a major problem with me. I got mad if my family did not pick up after themselves which is a normal feeling, but what was not normal in my behavior, I took their belongings and threw them outside on the deck. I would see one little thing not put away and instant anger. I experience the dizziness, sick to my stomach, headaches, everything what others have experience. In the past I’ve been on other anti-depressants and discontinued them but never have I experience such a rough journey weening off a anti depressant like Cymbalta. I am still not 100% feeling great, I guess I will just have to wait it out. I appreciate all your comments, it really made me feel better in understanding what is going on with me at this time.

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9. 

   Nancy
   July 9th, 2009 - 04:28

   I want to get off the cymbalta after reading the blogs. I have only taken it for 2 mo. So my question is- should i go cold turkey or still need to wean off even though its been a short time on cymbalta?

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10. 

    rob_o
    July 9th, 2009 - 14:34

    hey gang as far as the head trimmers go,cutting way back or even out on the caffine helps a ton!!!!!!!!!!!

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11. 

    Darlene Ligon
    July 9th, 2009 - 15:53

    I had been on 60mg. of Cymbalta for almost a year. I Had chronic pain and peripheral neuropathy and I have to say it realy helped me. But in the past 4 months I started noticing I was losing alot of hair everytime I washed it. It would be handfuls, I had thick hair thank God, or I would be bald. I felt really fatigue, sores in my mouth and a rash on my face. I was convinced I had Lupus, but my dermatologist felt Cymbalta was causing the hair loss so it was his suggestion for me to go off of it. Today Is Day 4 and I have been through hell, this has been the worst time of my life. The dizzy spells, hurting all ove, and I just cannot function mentally. I am getting so behind in my work, I am a Workers Comp RN case manager. Will this ever be over, and is my hair going to stop coming out?????

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12. 

    Dave
    July 9th, 2009 - 17:01

    To all who have posted thx if not for this site I would have pulled the trigger. I am on day 4 cold turkey. I consider myself a 52 year old “bad ass” i mountain bike dirt bike climb and can walk into the baddest biker bar in town and not care. That being said I just came out of the shitter after bawlin like a little girl for twenty minutes. Without you guys talkin about brain zaps etc. I would have thought i was crazy.
    My plan for tommorow is to walk into my docs office and beat his head to a pulp I know I should have researched this now, but what the hell did I pay him for. I have kicked about every habit out there over my life with guts and willpower but what other thing on the planet takes 6+ months to kick and I was only on 30mg for nerve pain god help those on higher doses. Gonna try some of the tips I learned here PLEASE TELL EVERYONE about this evil shit its the only way to stop the drug companies and doctors from killing us for profit.

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13. 

    dave
    July 10th, 2009 - 12:23

    if you start deciding what people can and can’t say on your blog and withold or edit comments based on your opinion whats safe,appropriate or offensive for the public then you are using the same concept drug companies use to market their crap and withhold or water down the negative. Censorship mentality in a world where free expression has been all but eliminated is so hypocritacal to what this site is supposed to function as…a FREE forum of information. The fact you need to “moderate” my comments proves your just as copable as the companies who withhold data and cause so much pain. Maybe if people could read how tuff kickin this crap is. Raw and unedited as it happens without your moderation.
    Clearly this will never post, but food for thought stop thinking you have the moral high ground and let this site function free of your moderation or close this PG site and direct people to one not under a coperate mindset these people are trying to help each other let them be real Big Brother

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14. 

    Erika Barragan Pena
    July 10th, 2009 - 16:43

    About a year ago my physician prescribed cymbalta for my depression and vague aches and pains. It worked very will for me and I felt relieved to have found a great medication. A couple of months ago i found out I am pregnant with my first child and I had just started a new job. As soon as I found out about my pregnancy I consulted with my doctor to see if this medication was safe or not for my baby. being a cathegory C it might be best for me to be off the medication so i decided to wean off of it. Went from 60ml to 30ml according to my psychiatrist if I took the 30 for a week I could then stop it and end of the story. So I did it and after 24 hours of stopping my mysery begun. I have brain zaps every minute or so I feel nauseous all day long I have diarrhea and vomit. I feel slow and confused I have the chills , night sweats and horrible nightmares. I feel like crying at odd times. I feel angry and helpless. I even came to wish that I wasnt pregnant thinking some of the symptoms were attributed to pregnancy. I am oversleepy and in the mornings I can barely open my eyes i feel heavy and letargic. I had experienced bits and pieces of this symptoms before when I accidentally forgot to take my pill but I let it go because “it was my fault” however now I feel like an addict who cannot bear to be without it. yesterday I was driving home from work after a horrible day of symtoms and almost caused two car accidents because my brain zaps were so bad!!!

    I cried while I drove to the pharmacy and asked for my medication. As soon as I was given the bag I opened it like a 4 year old opens presents on the morning of Christmas day. I rushed my shaking hands and opened the jar in a frenzy. I did not have water but that did not matter, I swallowed the dry capsule in a gulp, then drove away/ My brain was spining by the time I arrived home. I laid in bed and could not sleep because of the nausea. I vomited and tried to sleep again. All night I had bizzarred nightmares, extremely vivid dreams that kept waking me up.

    This morning everything went back to normal, I feel great physically and emotionally but wonder how long before I can get off cymbalta. I dont want to hurt my baby, I feel scared and helpless. I need to wean off , I want to have a healthy pregnancy and be able to breastfeed when my baby is born. I am also concerned about my job, I had to call in sick a couple times and I am only in my 3rd week of work. They have been very understanding because of my pregnancy but I fear I may have more complications trying to stop cymbalta and I worry my job will suffer as a consequence.

    I have been lucky to have my fiance be a great support to me, I wish I could be drug free and happy so I can share the joys of pregnancy. But honestly I have been forced to be distant so I dont snap at him with my mood swings and crazy symptoms.

    I need help. I wish I had never been prescribed cymbalta!

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15. 

    Erika Barragan Pena
    July 10th, 2009 - 16:56

    I HAVE GREAT NEWS PLEASE CONSIDER THIS.
    AFTER LONG RESEARCH I FOUND LOTS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL AT STOPPING CYMBALTA!!! I AM GOING TO TRY IT AND LET YOU KNOW IF IT WORKS. AS I SAID BEFORE I AM PREGNANT AND IS A MATTER OF URGENCY FOR ME TO STOP CYMBALTA!!!!
    HERE IS HOW:
    open the current capsule and divide it in halfs. take 1 20ml zoloft(fluoxetine) a day with your cymbalta half. do this for 1 week.

    Open the capsules again and divide it in forths 1/4. take your zoloft pill with your forth of cymbalta for the second week.

    On the third week divide your cymbalta capsules into eiths 1/8 . take your eight of cymbalta with your zoloft do this for the whole week

    after you are done with your third week take 2 days of zoloft and NO CYMBALTA!!!

    after that you can stop the zoloft and DONE!

    for those of you who are curious like I was. the reason why this is supposely working for people is because Zoloft has a longer half life, that means zoloft stays in your body for longer and slowly leaves by itself! so you are not likely to have withdrawals with zoloft.

    I am not a doctor so ask your doctor if this is okay. But I wanted to share this because I know how hard it is to stop this stupid medication.

    GOOD luck and pray I get this done for good!.

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16. 

    denise
    July 11th, 2009 - 06:19

    Kelly,
    Still in the process of switching doctors so I can’t the xyzal yet. I am coming off of it. Started doing 120 for three days, then one day of 60. I repeated that twice, then did three days of 60 and skipped a day. I had a bad day or two. But recently, while still going through this pattern, I went on a trip for a few days to visit family. I took the 60 mg the day I left, and then the following day was supposed to be my skip day. Well, I forgot the bag in which I packed my Cymbalta. And I felt like I had the worst hangover of my life. At first, I thought maybe I had gotten food poisoning or picked up a bug somewhere. I really wish I had had that xyzal! I had to drive home on the third straight day off of the stuff–a 6 hour drive–so I didn’t want to take Dramamine. Luckily, the brain zaps weren’t too bad, but my stomach was still messed up. That was yesterday. I took 60 mg today upon waking up, but I am still having major brain zaps.

    Who knows? Maybe I did get a little stomach bug? I don’t know. But I think it’s the Cymbalta. I didn’t drink a drop while I was on my trip, but I swear it felt like a two day hangover. I’m glad it is raining today so I have an excuse to stay inside. I’m going to plant myself on the couch and knit. I don’t think I could walk very far without falling over from these brain zaps. Boy, does this suck.

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17. 

    Karla
    July 11th, 2009 - 12:05

    I am in hell! I have read so many responses on here about the cymbalta withdrawal and I am having the same thing. I am on the last week of taking 30 mg every other day and I think I am going to die if I don’t start back up on it. Today my husband called me a bitch for the first time in our 7 year marriage. A marriage that has never even had a cross word spoken between us. Never an arguement either. I started crying and he said he meant that I was being bitchy. I didn’t think I was, I was just making a comment about something we were discussing but good grief I guess I shouldn’t have done that. I have been on 120 mg of Cymbalta for 4 years and after talking to a pharmacist online while playing pogo games decided that I better wean myself off of it. OMG! This is misery and I am so afraid of it getting worse. I am doing some research to see if there is a class action suit against the maker of this drug because I want in on it. I am 47 and will probably be 57 before anything is ever done about it. The way I feel right now I will probably still be going thru withdrawals then too. I think I would be better if I could just rent a motel room and stay there for at least a week, alone. Then I could sleep and not feel guilty about it. My husband even accused me of being on meth because I can’t sleep at night. I am a bail bond agent and do deal with people like that, but I am certainly not doing it myself. I just can’t sleep. The dizzy spells and the feeling out of body is making me crazy. I gained about 40 pounds in the last 4 years, hope I can lose it when I get out of cymbalta hell. I see most of you say to keep up the good work and all will be well, etc., easier said than believed. But, don’t give in and get back on it!

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18. 

    kelly
    July 11th, 2009 - 16:23

    Denise,
    Hey! I’m not sure your method is so good. Personally I think you should do your 120mg every other day for 2 weeks, then 60mg everyday for 2 weeks, then 60 mg every other day for 2 weeks. That was the apporoach I did and I think it might be better than all this skipping around. GET THE XYZAL!!!!! Keep me posted!!

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19. 

    Dave
    July 11th, 2009 - 23:20

    Raise your hand if you heard this from your doc
    everyone reacts differently to withdrawals your reactions are unique…..really ive read hundreds of blogs all use word zap shiver storms the docs say just dizziness. Im in contact with a group trying to discuss legal action they say there attorney has taken on lily before Ill update after I meet with them if I can ever get past these unique symptons.

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20. 

    Donna
    July 12th, 2009 - 07:08

    I have been on different anti-depressants over the past year. I am very sensitive to this type of medication apparently and have terrible side effects with just about every one I’ve tried. I started with Celexa – I could not keep my eyes open at work to save my life no matter what time of day I took it! Switched to Paxil. Same thing but headaches, too. Tried Wellbutrin – didn’t really notice that it was doing anything at all, not matter what dose I took. Went to Zoloft, which seemed to help but at the dose I needed, the headaches were unbearable! Then tried Lexapro because a friend at work was having pretty good luck on that one. Didn’t take long before I was having night sweats. Waking up totally drenched
    Was going to try Prozac, but was also recently diagnosed with Fibromyalgia (which I had a feeling for quite some time that this was the true diagnoses instead of depression and ADHD). I discussed it with my doctor and since Cymbalta is also supposed to help with the pain of Fibro, I figured that would be a bonus.

    I started out on 30 mg for a month. The night sweats from the Lexapro stopped fairly quickly. Then increased to 60 mg. It was fine – and actually helping with the pain – for about 2-3 weeks on the 60 mg dose. Then came the night sweats again. HORRIBLE!!! Waking up totally soaked, having to change the bed at least twice a night. I missed a day of taking it and OMG, I had this TERRIBLE DIZZINESS/LOW BLOOD PRESSURE THING THAT HAPPENED EVERYTIME I BENT OVER – even for a second – and stood back up. I have been experiencing bouts of this probably since being on the Zoloft, but it’s usually only if I am bent over or sitting on the floor for awhile and then I get up too fast – I know I just have to take it slower getting up. But that day after I missed that dose – I THOUGHT THE END WAS HERE! I did feel better within 2 days of being back on it, but the night sweats are killing me. Not to mention I don’t ever seem to get a good night’s sleep. I wake up exhausted all the time.

    So I started to wean myself of. Thankfully, I had enough samples left that I could do this. I started taking the 60 mg every 36 hours (day and 1/2) or so, instead of every day; I figured this is about 40 mg a day. Did this for about 10 days. Then went to 30 mg a day for about a week. Now I am doing 30 every 36 hours (to equal about 20 mg a day) and was planning on taking one every other day soon. I planned on doing this only for about a week, before going down to every 3rd day and then eventually stopping it.

    Today I woke up in what I can call NOTHING LESS THAN A TOTAL BRAIN FOG.!!! I feel like I haven’t slept at all in about a week. The night sweats last night were the worst I’ve experienced (which may or may not explain why I feel so exhausted). I had been having what I call ‘hangover’ headaches, but thankfully not today. TODAY I AM SO TIRED I DON’T TRUST MYSELF BEHIND THE WHEEL OF A CAR!!! Thankfully, it’s Sunday and I don’t have to go to work! So now I’m having a hard time trying to decide if I should continuing with the weaning or just get off it all together now. I really can’t handle the side effects, but continuing to put this poison in my body scare me even more!!

    THIS MEDICATION SHOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN APPROVED BY THE FDA!!!! I encourage everyone to report their symptoms – both on it and while trying to get off it – to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. You can also use a postage-paid form to mail in your comments here: http://www.fda.gov/downloads/Safety/MedWatch/DownloadForms/UCM082725.pdf

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21. 

    annie
    July 12th, 2009 - 11:36

    hi everyone-
    i haven’t had the severe side effects you’ve all been discussing, so i thought i should share how i got off cymbalta. i was so paranoid about the anxiety and depression returning that i didn’t want to take any chances. my psychiatrist (which everyone should be getting these meds from, not a regular doctor), which is great, recommended the following and i took it a step further. i was on 40 mg/day. i went down to 20 mg/day. i did this for a month. then, although theoreticallly you can get off them at that point (after two weeks), i split the capsule into 10 mg/day doses. i opened the capsule, took out half, left the other half in, and closed the capsule. it’s important to use the capsule so that the meds are digested more slowly. after taking 10 mg/day for one month, i split the capsule further into 5 mg/day. so i took out 3/4 of the contents and only kept 1/4. i did this for one month.

    i know this sounds extreme but it really alleviated some of the symptoms. unfortunately, i am still experiencing symptoms. i am very irritable and easily agitated. i have no patience! i’m in a bit of a memory fog and have had about two different episodes of nausea. i had no idea the nausea was due to the cymbalta but now i see that it is. i have been off of it for about 17 days. i lack the motivation i used to have (which was a result of my depression), and i am tired. i have a hard time sleeping at night without something medication, but that may be because i sleep during the day.
    i don’t have severe feelings, but i do get overwhelmed easily. i know this is all due to coming off an antidepressant, so i was expecting it. i hope it improves. i’ll keep you posted. anyway, i hope this encourages people to wean very slowly from their meds. you’re already taking them, so be patient and give yourself the time you need to get off of them. the idea is to stay off of them and the more time you give yourself to get off of them the more likely you’ll succeed (i think!).
    good luck to all of us!
    by the way, i really like the idea of switching to prozac while weaning from the cymbalta and then eventually weaning off the prozac.

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22. 

    Kelly
    July 12th, 2009 - 12:43

    I have been off of Cymbalta for 11 days now. I found out that I was pregnant and had to come off of the drug. My doctor did the common method of weening me off of the drug and at the end it left me feeling dizzy, sick to my stomach, chilling, hot flashes, I have experienced every side effect mentioned and added morning sickness from the pregnancy. However, today I am feeling much better although I am still having the “brain zaps” but few and far between.
    During my 11 years of taking Cymbalta I put on 30 lbs which was depressing in it self. I was prescribed Cymbalta because I had gone through a bad break up. My doctor told me that the pill would make me happy again. What he should have told me is that every broken heart hurts and that time would take care of that. But I took my Cymbalta faithfully.
    I tried to come off of the pill once before only to suffer the horrible withdrawl symptoms so I started taken the medication again because I did not have time for the pain so to speak.
    I am thankful that I now have my baby for my motivation to continue my journey off of cymbalta.
    Believe it or not…after being happily married for 5 years and my husband not understanding why I wanted to sleep all of the time and me not being able to explain why I slept all of the time even when I did not want to…I believe I now know why that was. Cymbalta.
    Over the past 3 days, I have cooked breakfast for my family and dinner and have not had the feeling of wanting to sleep all day….could it have been the Cymbalta? Who knows, but I look forward to a new life with my husband enjoying my days with our new little baby due Feb 12! Good luck to every one! Keep up the hard work!

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23. 

    DEPUTY E. OBRIEN
    July 12th, 2009 - 14:32

    IV BEEN ON THIS MED FOR ABOUT 3 MONTHES NOW FIRST TIME EVER USEING ANY THING LIKE THIS, JUST BEEN ON THE SAMLPE PACKS NOW IM OUT BEEN ABOUT 5 DAYS AND IVE NOTICED THE ITCHING ALL OVER AND THE CRAZY WIERED THING IS AFTER THE 4TH DAY NOT HAVING MY MEDS MY DAMN EYES WHEN I TURN REAL FAST OR JUST MOVE MY HEAD IT REALY FEELS LIKE MY EYES ARE FLOATING IN WATER AND BOBING SIDE TO SIDE AND SOMETIMES HAVE A WIRED NOISE IN MY BRAIN AND SOME KIND OF FEELING IN MY RIGHT CHEST AREA ONLY WHEN I MOVE MY EYES BACK IN FORTH RAPIDLEY ALSO BACK PAIN SEVERLY. THIS FEELING IS ABOUT TO DRIVE ME CRAZY AND OF COURSE BEING A COP AND HAVING TO DRIVE 12 HOURS A SHIFT AND MY EYES DOING WHAT THEY ARE DOING IS ABOUT TO CAUSE ME TO HAVE A WRECK. I MEAN IT IS SO BAD I CAN’T DRIVE BUT MY COMMUNITY NEEDS ME TO BE THERE FOR THEM. OVER ALL I GIVE THE CYMBALTA A 100% RATING A 5% WHEN NOT HAVING IT

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24. 

    kris
    July 12th, 2009 - 16:42

    I will warn anyone contenplating taking this medication , i have been on it for 4 yrs after dealing with a very tramdic car accident, along with being a alholic, recvering now for 2 yrs , i have recently asked to be cut back to 30mg form 60mg. i have nevr in my life been threw anything like this before. ive missed a dos and new right away what was wrong and corrected it. since the cut back , ive had very severe dizyness , tiredness , high heart rate, tingly feelings allover my body,random crying for no reason and many more. i used to do meth alot when i was younger and never exp. any withdrawls as bad as these. i was severly injured in this car accident and continue to take ambien to sleep , hydrocodon 10-325 3-4 time a day , i had broken my back in 3 spots , almost lost left leg , completly shatterd all the bones in my left leg. amung many other injuries, there was a passenger killed in the other car instantly, i felt the only way for things to ever bee right was to take my own life. cymbalta helped MASK thodr feelings , but if i had known what my doctor was doing to me i would have never let him put me on this !!!!! i warn you

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25. 

    Julieta
    July 12th, 2009 - 16:46

    I find the med helps me , and if I dont take it for a few days, my world just falls apart
    I get soo sick, I cry over everything , and i eat alot more. It pisses me off! makes me feel like I NEED the med!

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26. 

    Sandra
    July 12th, 2009 - 19:39

    Just wanted to pass along some hope to those who want to get off of Cymbalta. When I finally decided to stop taking it after about 4 years and 40 pounds later, I tried to go cold turkey from 30mg. I was so sick on the 3rd day (sleeping half of the day to try to get the brain zaps and nausea to stop) that I knew there had to be a better way. After realizing that my doctor had no idea how to safely go off Cymbalta and reading several posts on here, I decided to try the method of slowly weaning off of it. I went from 30mg to 20mg for about 2 weeks (when I felt my body had adjusted to the lower dose). I then split my leftover 30mg pills in half by using gel capsules. Went to 15mg for about a week, then to 10mg and finally to 5mg. I can’t say I felt 100%, but the withdrawal symptoms were so much less severe it was worth the wait!! I am now on my 2nd day of not taking it at all and so far so good. I really encourage those of you who want to stop to try this method. I just couldn’t bare to put my family through my suffering with me by going cold turkey. Not only that, but think of what your body goes through by such a drastic change ~ it can’t be healthy! Good luck to all of you and remember you are not alone!!

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27. 

    dave
    July 12th, 2009 - 23:38

    Sandra please update on how day 3 and 4 go because of the time release (i think ) my hell hit day 3
    I agree logic dictates weaning but this drug has the most illogical withdrawals. Ive spent the last 3 to 4 days reading hundreds of post from many forums the symptoms are amazingly consistent.
    But I am on day 8 after cold turkey method but I only took 30mg a day for 3 months should have been a beeze.
    I would like to tell people if solid trends develop
    so far either method sucks. Benadryl doesnt help me much seems to in other case. If this keeps up much longer Im going to try xyzal before willpower fades Good Luck

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28. 

    denise
    July 13th, 2009 - 05:04

    Kelly,

    I have located a new doctor from my insurance company’s list, so I hope to get in soon and get the Xyzal. I seem to do OK on the 60 mg. It was rough at first when I lowered the dose, but my body seems to have adjusted to that. I think that you’re right, however, that going three days on and one off might not be good. I think I’ll just stick with the 60 mg every day, as you suggested, for a couple of weeks. Within that time, I should be able to get in to the new doctor. Thanks for the advice!

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29. 

    Hariene
    July 13th, 2009 - 06:16

    Hi, I’m wondering if anyone can help me. I took 30 mg of Cymbalta for 3 weeks and then 60 mg for nearly 3 more. Last week my doctor told me to stop taking it altogther because my digestive system was being affected. My stomach would bloat out and sometimes my clothes would be too tight to wear–not to mention the constipation. Now I have tingling in my feet, hands, and legs, and an arthritis type pain in my right hand.

    Could this be a result of stopping the Cymbalta? Please help me if you can. Also, what does a brain zap feel like? Thank you.

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30. 

    dave
    July 13th, 2009 - 12:22

    Mariene good choice to get off this poison. Withdrwal symptoms are numerous the zaps being the most commom and most difficult to handle, I am having localized tingling in one quad ZAPS What are they? Im tring not to laugh or cry You will think your going crazy when they hit vertigo or dizziness cant begin to describe them.
    zaps shivers storms are a little bit of a simplification some come in waves of vertigo when moving your head or eyes to fast others come like machine guns and cause body spasms Please update your symptoms Im trying to collect data on people who were on cymbalta for a short period so far as i can tell after reading hundreds of blogs it doesnt seem to matter. I took 30mg daily for 3 months and in my 8th day of hell but i see a little light the minimum reported was 2 weeks the max over 6 months check out cymbalta surviors look for posts from greybeard a little to hippie for my taste but he gets it and voices hope well most of all YOU ARE NOT ALONE and your symptoms are real the only way i made it this far was reading other experiences Good luck

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    • 

      Katharina
      May 10th, 2010 - 15:48

      Dave, I know this is an older post, but I have some experience with depression, anti-depressants and recently, Cymbalta. I am mortified! I am a educated business professional, mother, wife. After missing a dose, a related to my Psychitrist how odd I felt. He told me he had never heard of the electical lightning storm – brain zaps I had that day. (I knew he wasn’t being forthcoming with me because a good friend of mine saw him a year ago for the specific purpose of getting of Effexor and they talked about the brain zaps.) I was thankful this friend was willing to share his story with me, otherwise I would have been blindsided. I had no problems coming off the other antidepressants. I was on the Cymbalta no more than 2 months. I am on day 3 without it. I am home “sick” today. I didn’t take off when the depression was at it’s worst (and I would say I was suicidal…very dark…but too doggone responsible to not go to work. As I typey right now, I am using the backspace/delete keys like crazy. I am physically miserable. The brain zaps make me feel as though I would be an extreme danger behind the wheel. I am unstable on my feet, disoriented, feel as though I am licking a 9v battery while riding rollar coaster. Right now, I feel the Cymbalta has done nothing but add insult to injury.

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31. 

    Dave
    July 13th, 2009 - 12:55

    Just read the deputy post who gave cymbalta a 100% rating AAAAAARRRGGGGGHHHH Soon your going to realise your an addict and congrats its to the most powerfully addictive substance known to man. Do yourself a favor research the studies read the posts and the hell people go through if your going cold turkey do everyone and yourself a favor give all your weapons to someone whos kicked this crap(they will never give them back till your ready) take 2 weeks off work and strap in, macho guys, yeah like me do not handle uncontrolable crying well, but we are dangerous when the rage hits. The idea of someone going through brain zaps on the job is crazy but your job!! your reaction times are screwed most people wont even drive…GET OFF THIS CRAP oh and keep the safety on

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32. 

    Woodsie
    July 13th, 2009 - 14:47

    You can make it! I am in week 5 totally free of Cymbalta after 60mg per day for 4 years. There was a two week phase out and then 2 weeks of a real bad hangover. Spinny and brain zaps, going crazy, mood swings and no appetite. The zaps are over, my appetite is finally back stomach troubles have greatly improved. Mood swings are still there a little bit but hey, that may just be my actual personality! Hang on it does get better.

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33. 

    Sandra
    July 13th, 2009 - 15:35

    Dave,
    Yes, the glorious 3rd day (when I went cold turkey) I thought I was going to lose my mind that day. Well, today is day 3 of no cymbalta after weaning down to 5mg. I can’t say it was perfect…I did experience some dizziness and tiredness, just kind of a foggy day. But compared to the 3rd day of cold turkey, it was manageable and I got through it. I will let you know what tomorrow brings. Thanks for your response!

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34. 

    deputy obrien
    July 13th, 2009 - 19:01

    dave i never said i was getting off the drug, i just ran out and yes i understand the job part, but im smart enough not to put me nor anyone in danger, i can say that just taking this for several months now and not having it for 5 days was getting bad worse every day. but i work for a good department and if i decide to get off they would understand to give me a month or two if needed does thid drug work for me yes, may not for all, but notwo people are a like so what symtoms you had dont mean i will have i could have worse could just have the head buzz me was my eyes,, ive taken other nut meds and this one works best for me so far…. i will stay on it until the doc says other wise you can show me 10-7

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35. 

    Ronda
    July 13th, 2009 - 19:07

    I have been taking Cymbalta for 6-8 months. Started at 30mg for a week then up to the “normal” dose of 60mg. Had been having neck pain for 2 years that was worsening and started having severe migraines due to the muscle spasms. Dr thought part of the muscle tension was due to ADD and anxiety disorder. Increased the meds to 120 mg to help with the pain. Decided it wasn’t doing anything for the pain and I was feeling worse. Spoke with Dr about stopping. He recommended weaning. I went from 120-60 with no problem. Then 60-30 didn’t think I was having any problems. Now maybe I know the extreme mood swings and sudden crying were from the withdrawal. Then I went from 30-0. OMG! I am so sick. I can’t move, the nausea is fierce. I haven’t eaten in over a 24 hrs. can barely swallow liquids. Just swallowing my own salvia makes me want to heave. Unbeliveable nightmares. I feel as though I am screaming at the top of my lungs i am so afraid but am not. I don’t know if I am awake or asleep. When I finely wake up I am afraid to go back to sleep.

    Reading the previous posts explains the nightsweats. I wake up drenched the bed is soaked. I end up having to change clothes and put towels over the sheets so as not to wake up my spouse. The sleepiness. I was driving and realized I could barely hold my eyes open. I thought I was going to have to pull over a mile from the house and call my husband to come get us.

    I just want to stop this stuff. I will never take it again. How long will I be so sick I feel like I am dying. I am supposed to go pick up my son from visiting his grandmothers in the morning, it’s a three hour drive. I don’t think I can do it. I may have to get my husband to take off from work to drive me. I haven’t functioned in over a month. It has to get better

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36. 

    Ronda
    July 13th, 2009 - 19:12

    I forgot to mention that I have put on 30 lbs while on this med. This is not okay. I had worked really hard and lost over 100 lbs through diet and exercise. I maintained that loss for almost 3 years. I didn’t put the weight gain together with taking the meds until recently. I have tried and tried to stop the gain and nothing works even though my diet has remained the same.

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37. 

    NancyB
    July 14th, 2009 - 13:55

    Dr. is putting my 31yo daughter on Lexapro. Anyone have any experience with this? Need info asap. Thanks.

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38. 

    Jeff
    July 14th, 2009 - 15:43

    I was given Cymbalta for the treatment of neuropathy in the feet. After taking 30mg/pday for 7 months I noticed no change in the feet, but my moods were fine. Since I was taking the medication for neuropathy with no notable changes in symptoms, I decided to go off the Cymbalta. My doctor said cold turkey shouldn’t be a problem since I was only taking 30mg.
    BIG MISTAKE. I have been off the Cymbalta for 3 days and I feel the worst I have ever felt. The flu would be a blessing at this point. All the symptoms listed in this thread are VERY real. Unfortunately for me I researched the withdrawal symptoms only after three days of hell. I am going to continue on cold turkey to hopefully rid my body and mind of this crap, but DO NOT advise anyone else to follow my lead. Wean yourself off this stuff and then stay away. To say it is awful is a major understatement.

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39. 

    kim
    July 14th, 2009 - 15:43

    Hello…I went on vacation and forgot 3 days of my med. I feel like I am going to pass out, throw up and my eyes are doing some weird things. When I am watching tv, it shakes side to side. If I look off to the side, I get so light headed and its like my sight wehnt bad…what the hell? I am not sure if I like being on these…damn. I never wanted to take them, but it was suppose to help my fibromyalgia…but is it worth being screwed up like this?

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40. 

    Jeff
    July 14th, 2009 - 15:44

    Oh, I forgot. To say my doctor is a moron for suggesting the cold turkey approach to withdrawal is an understatement as well. Good luck to all.

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41. 

    Paul
    July 15th, 2009 - 12:52

    Hey just wondering, I’ve only been taking 30 mg once daily for 4 days now and am going to switch to lexipro, should I expect any of these dreaded withdrawals?

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42. 

    Dave
    July 15th, 2009 - 13:09

    Wish more people would post all info helps I now have 2 people in my life who want off one on prozac other effexor which as far as I can tell is cymbalta
    I am now on day 10 and still worthless would like to help but my brain hasnt been rerurned to me yet I really thought it would be over by now. When I finally recover from this someones gonna pay. how do the people that cause this or turn a blind eye to it sleep at night

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43. 

    kris
    July 15th, 2009 - 13:16

    Everyone , i made it to dave 4 and buckled , went back to taking 60mg from the 30mg i cut to , there is NO and i mean no way that i can handle the things that this cymbalta widthdrawls were putting me threw , it was the worstthings ive ever been threw , and that was only 4 days , things wernt bad for day 1 and 2 when i droped from 60-30 , but but day 3-4 i was a complete mess!, i honestly dont know what im going to do.i have a 10 yr old son i have custody of and im afraid of putting him threw hell. buy day 4 i was screaming at him for things that never would have gotton to me before. i would def google cybmalta lawsuit and look into le gal suits there 1,000′s of them.

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44. 

    Dee
    July 15th, 2009 - 13:32

    You’re right, Dave. I haven’t written in awhile.
    I went cold turkey 3 months ago. The brain zaps plus the most horrible of the physical symptoms went away around the 2 week mark. Actually the brain zaps lingered until the 8th week, but pretty much everything else was gone. What then came was deep depression but I’m going through a breakup so it might not be the same for everybody plus I took pain pills, which I think reactivated symptoms. But I will say that I’m now sorry I went off cold turkey. After my experience and a lot of research, I today started on Zoloft (which I had taken previously with no side effects going off it). For me, and other bloggers have said it, I should have gone to a lower dose of a different drug (Prozac was mentioned) and then wean off of that after awhile. The pharmacist – I don’t trust any dr. anymore – said that after 3-6 months (and I hopefully will have my depression and life in check by then), I should be able to wean off of the Zoloft which is my intention. But, no mater what, it gets better and better every day. Being off of that poison still feels so good.

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45. 

    Dave
    July 15th, 2009 - 17:52

    thanks for the updates hearing the pain reminds me not to go back hearing the recovery helps me go forward THX

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46. 

    Deb
    July 16th, 2009 - 06:00

    I have been sitting here for an hour reading all of these posts because I am starting to wean myself off of Cymbalta 60 mg. I am now terrified! I am starting a new job soon after being unemployed for a year and a half (which along with dealing with a husband with narcissistic personality disorder is why I started Cymbalta) and I am afraid I will have trouble performing in my new job while weaning myself off of Cymbalta. I am going to go for it anyway because I want off of it for good. My question is directed at all of you who gained weight on Cymbalta (I gained 20 lbs over the last 6 months). Were you able to easily lose the weight after stopping Cymbalta. I really can’t afford to buy new clothes and I never had trouble losing weight before Cymbalta. Thanks for all of your posts!

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47. 

    archie
    July 16th, 2009 - 14:52

    7/19/08 my beloved wife , mother of 3 passed away.
    accidental overdose due to her misplacing her cymbalta while her doctor was on leave. I was out of town ,she described horrible systems. I left my job and came home she was gone before the second week of withdrawal.
    do not take any of this lightly. My wife battled mild depression and anxiety for years but less than 6 months of taking this drug and she changed so much that im still at a loss. Get off it -take the advice of those here who have had success. I thank all those who post as you are my reminder that this did not have to happen and should not happen again.

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48. 

    Robin
    July 16th, 2009 - 17:17

    I took Cymbalta for a little more than 2 years, ending up on 60mg per day. I wanted to stop Cymbalta because I had found how badly it can damage your liver. I was never told by anyone that I needed to have my liver checked periodically while on this medication. I had tried several times to wean off of this drug but suffered the withdrawal symptoms regardless. I read a womans story on the net. She said she tried to wean also and it was horrible. She just decided to go cold turkey and was determined not to ever take this drug again. I have experienced the hypermania, brain zaps (TERRIBLE!!!), nausea, mood swings, hostility, dizziness, panic attacks, decreased energy levels, palpitations, depression, crying spells, INSOMINIA, bad dreams, and minimal neck pain. I have been without this drug now for about 20 days. The brain zaps are still awful, minimal nausea, mood swings are still very prevelant. I continue to have a few crying spells and dizziness but getting better. The hypermania, panic attacks and depression are improving as well but still somewhat noticeable at times. Insomnia is still a bit of a problem, but the nightmares are decreasing. Don’t give up!! I am starting to feel a little better. I never want this drug in my system again. I saw NO difference in weaning from just stopping cold turkey. They are both awful. Good Luck to anyone who is trying to conquer The Cymbalta Demon.

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49. 

    Kirsten
    July 17th, 2009 - 08:40

    Hi Everyone,
    I went off of Cymbalta cold-turkey three years ago. It was hell. I was scared to death that I was going to die, that if I managed to live my brain would never be the same. Things got much better within 4 weeks. My depression and anxiety slowly abated over the next 6 months of healthy living and no meds. Don’t despair, you can do it and life will be much, much better for you! Hang in there.

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50. 

    Brett Oslund
    July 17th, 2009 - 13:07

    I was on Cymbalta 30mg a day for five days when I read this article and decided to not get involved with the drug. I stopped taking it thinking that I had really dodged a bullet. WRONG. It is a week later now and I am still dealing with “Brain Zaps” diareah and severe anxiety to the point that I do not want to leave the house to go to work. But I do. This is AWFUL! I even have a huge cankor sore on my lip! Never Again!

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51. 

    Dave
    July 17th, 2009 - 17:22

    Low point today while waiting for my doc the check in nurse saw me high-lighting parts of blogs (I try to bring in 20 or so each visit in an effort to get them to stop dispensing this poison) She asked if I was doing research on cymbalta said yes and she replies with a lilt in her voice we have a lot of patients on that. While trying to make my point, I’m sure I sounded like a guy with his pants around his ankles screaming at telephone poles, it dawned on me I’m at a differnt Doc then the one who gave me Cymbalta but This office is also widely spreading “addiction hell” for profit.
    I tried to warn my doc some day some patient that she gave this drug would stop using it find out the truth and come looking to make her pay if I were weaker or maybe stronger I would have taken vengance out on my doc. I know that would be a drop in the ocean but the desire to make someone answer when ELIE and the machine seem untouchable is tempting,I am on day 12 and hope the two week mark brings some relief I want my fucking life back!! On a lighter note Im coining a new word and I know its not PC but doing simple tasks is so difficult I told my wife your married to a Cymbatard

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52. 

    MJ
    July 18th, 2009 - 05:30

    I am so sad that so many people like myself have suffered at the hands of cymbalta. I have been on Cymbalt (20mg) twice. Both times were over a year. When I first began cymbalt it worked great. No side effects (or so I thought)and that was comforting since I had tried so many other medications. However as time marched on, the medication made me emotionally and pyshically numb! I was also tired ALL of the time. I would take naps all day long and still be to sleepy. I had zero energy for my children, husband and my home. I gained 25 pounds taking this medication. I too watched what I ate and tried to exercise but zero energy made that impossible. The first time I weened off of cymbalta I too got brain shivers…as some of you call it. I also would black out for a few seconds….scary. It was difficult to ween since I was already on a very low dose and I had time released caplets. I did my best but in the end I knew that was prolonging the agony and I just need to stop! The first time I weened off the symtoms I mentioned above last about 10 days. The black outs and the brain shivers were horrible. Now I am into my fifth week of weening the second time. I still have the black outs but not that many as the first time, but they have lasted longer. Inaddition I also have become VERY VERY emotional and angry. I did not have that the first time. I hope this helps!

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53. 

    Chelsey
    July 18th, 2009 - 13:10

    I am on day eight of quitting Cymbalta and re-starting Effexor. I was on Citalopram before the Cymbalta and only switched because my other doc started me on weight-loss meds that seriously conflicted with the depression med. Cymbalta is too expensive so I am trying to go to Effexor thinking it would be basically the same but with a generic option. I quit the cymbalta cold turkey and started the Effexor the same day – been sick, tired (sleeping for days at a time almost), dizzy, shaky and moody ever since. I feel like it should be getting better after a week but seems to be getting worse! Urgh! I wish I could get off all meds, but have tried that before and it was worse!
    I am heading for my medicine cabinet to find some bendadryl to see if that helps. thanks for the suggestion. i don’t think i am going to start back any cymbalta and try to taper, i am just going to try the benadryl and try to ride out the withdrawl! wish me luck – I will update on how the benadryl helps!

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54. 

    moriah lenart
    July 18th, 2009 - 19:12

    Hi everyone. It is a big relief to me to come across this site. I’ve been on many different antidepressants over the last ten years. Cymbalta is by far the worst. I will tell you what different meds I have been on for anyone who is interested. I was on Paxil, Prozac, Zoloft, Effexor, Abilify, Rimadyl, Amitriptylene, and there were a couple others thrown in there as well, Seroquel, Wellbutrin, and the wonder drug Cymbalta. I never had too much of a problem getting weaned off any of the other meds, even the Effexor I had taken for two years, but that was replaced with Cymbalta. I have been on Cymbalta for almost five years, at a dose of 120/mg. Since it’s in the same class as Effexor, I already was prepared for the electrical shocks in my head tha came with a missed dose. I was not prepared to feel those brain shocks within 2 to 3 hours of when I usually took it. I’ve been wanting a baby for a while, and wanted to first get off the Cymbalta. I hae fibromyalgia, and I do have to admit that while I was taking Cymbalta, I was not feeling any physical pain. When I first started the Cymbalta, I had a lot of twitching in my legs, and nervous, sleepless nights. I did get used to it, and in time those symptoms went away. I gained weight while taking Cymbalta, as it seems many others did as well. I weaned myself off of Cymbalta by going from 120 to 90, to 60, to 30, to 15, and then off. It’s been almost two weeks since my last dose of Cymbalta. I was due for my period, but still have not gotten it, and the doctor confirmed that I am NOT pregnant. So now I’m wondering how long will it be until I start having my period again, so my husband and I can try for a baby?? Because I will tell you this, Cymbalta obviosly has screwed with my hormones, and if went beyond that and did something that will not allow me to ever be a normal woman with a period and a chance to get pregnant, HEADS ARE GONNA ROLL. I am so not kidding people, this is bad. I’ve had severe nausea, and at first thought it was nerves or pregnancy, but now I know it’s Cymbalta. The nausea is bad enough to keep me up all night, and make me sleep all day. I’m hungry a lot. Every time I eat, within 20 minutes or so, I start to throw up. Not all at once, but mouthfuls, every 30 seconds, to few minutes, over a period of HOURS. One night it was more than seven hours. The next day I went to the doctor, wanting to know if I was pregnant even though my at test was negative. I wasn’t. I was slowly sipping on a sprite, and while talking to the doctor, started the throwing up thing again, and couldn’t control it at all. I was throwing up yellow bile. She gave me a shot of fennergan (sp??) and some to take home, I go back to see her Wednesday. All my labs came back normal that were done that day, but now that I know the vomitting is from Cymbalta, when I go back I’m having her check my liver as well. I should note, this is not the same doctor that put me on Cymbalta, this is a medical doctor, the one who put me on the Cymbalta was a Psych doctor. I’m still throwing up. I can’t do anything, I’m so sick. Oh yeah, and when I went to the doctor the other day, I was dehydrated, but I couldn’t tell it because the withdrawals were so bad, I didn’t know that I was dehydrated as well, I am very lucky that I did go, because if I hadn’t, I would have just continued on, and probably gotten very sick from dehydrating. So I have physical pain all over, fibromyalgia maybe, cymbalta probably. The throwing up won’t stop. If I take the fennergan, I want to sleep, and then I’m in a really bad brain fog for a while. I want to beat up someone or something. I want to take a baseball bat to glass dishes and hear them shatter. I want to drop various items from extreme heights and watch them go splat on the ground. I am so irritable, I know it’s not fair to my husband, or our dog. I quit smoking after years, and it was WAY easier than this. Now I smoke again, but I will never ever take cymbalta. It would be a cold day in hell before I took that, and even then someone would have to shove it down my throat past my cold dead lips. I hate this. It’s really bad, worse than anything I have ever been through in my life. I continue to throw up some watermelon that I ate about six hours ago as I write this, once that’s all out of my stomach, then I’ll start throwing up the pizza that was my supper. I’m going to continue reading more posts about this, and Monday I see my psych doctor, at which time she will catch HELL from me. Does anyone know how long till I start getting my periods like normal again?? I was always so regular I could set my calendar by them. I do not want to go through this for six months. I can’t. I won’t go back on the Cymbalta, but my fear is that I will get addicted to something else. I do take benadryl sometimes at night to help sleep, but I haven’t noticed any difference between the times I take it or when I don’t in the severity of symptoms. I will ask about Xyzal and see if that helps. I just don’t want to get addicted to anything else. I never considered myself an addict, but with the withdrawals I’m having, what else can I claim to be?? I’ve never done street drugs. I drank before, but wasn’t an alcoholic. I can stop everything and make it through, just not this stupid Cymbalta. I also wanted to mention that it’s not like I stepped down the dose for a day. I stepped down the doses over a four month period. I took my time, tried to do it right, and this just really sucks. From what I’m reading, there are people out there that were on a relatively low dose, for short periods of time that are going through this too. If there is hope, please, please let me know. How much longer will the vomitting continue?? How long till I get my period back?? Will the electrical shocks ever go away?? I really hope there’s light at the end of the tunnel. And thanks again everyone for not being afraid to speak up, and for sharing your experiences. I am always afraid that if I try to do or say anything, someone will tell me, oh, you have depression, it’s documented. It’s a powerless feeling, because when I try to speak up I’m ignored, because I’m not a doctor, because I have depression, because I’m weak and have to have a medication to get on with my life. Well no more for me. I don’t want any more meds, I just want this horribleness that is cymbalta withdrawals to stop. Just to mention, I only went to look up cymbalta withdrawal, and the search came up with several variations on cymbalta withdrawal hell. I’ve never seen a LEGAL drug that was so hard for so many people to kick.

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55. 

    moriah lenart
    July 18th, 2009 - 20:07

    Ok, if approved my post was 2348, and I just wanted to add a few more things to it. At the suggestion of my husband, I am going to start drinking lots of water to hopefully help flush the remaining cymbalta out of my kidneys. I’m pretty down right now, but I will keep all of you in my prayers, and we’ll make it through this. I have been having the loose stools as well as peeing a lot. Also, when my nerves get bad, I have colitis attacks, so that doesn’t help. Today I snapped on a friend of my husbands, the guys have been friends for more than thirty years, and I just completely snapped on him. I mean he’s an idiot to start with, but I will say I felt guilty while going off on him, but release at the same time. And I wanted to mention one other thing. I never noticed any sexual side effects while taking Cymbalta. But since I’ve stopped taking it, I orgasm much faster, easier, and longer. Just thought I’d see if anyone else has noticed this. I really hope this is all over soon. I have so much pain in my back I feel like I can’t move. I can’t wait to be able to start having some motivation to work out and lose weight. The doctor that put me on Cymbalta said weight gain shouldn’t be an issue, that one of the side effects of cymbalta is actually weight loss. She was wrong. My husband couldn’t figure out why it seemed like I was gaining weight, because he said he never saw me eat much. I didn’t eat a lot, but what I did eat was either really sugary, or fast foods that I would have a craving for. I’m going to look to see if there’s any lawsuits going on for cymbalta, because if there is, I definitely would like to get my opinion in the manufacturers of this drug, and to the doctors who push it was well.

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56. 

    denise
    July 20th, 2009 - 06:05

    Hi there. I have been in the process of weaning off of Cymbalta, as I previously mentioned. I went from 120 mg down to 60 mg and was trying to skip every three days, but quit doing that after going through really bad withdrawal symptoms. I just stuck with the 60 mg dose until I could get in to a new doctor. Today I started with my new doctor and she is switching me to Effexor. She is having me start on half of the target dose, and then if I tolerate it well for a week, I’ll double it. Since I didn’t take my Cymbalta before going to the appointment, I will take the Effexor when I pick up the prescription in a little while. I am just so happy to be done with Cymbalta! Has anyone else switched to Effexor? If so, how did it work for you? I have ADD; not depression (although I was starting to feel depressed from the Cymbalta, I believe.) My doctor says that she has seen success with adults with ADD with Effexor. I hope so, but I also have to admit that I am kind of apprehensive about going on another antidepressant for ADD, rather than a traditional ADD medication. The only medication I was ever on for ADD was Cymbalta, and I honestly would rather deal with ADD, untreated, than go through that again!

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57. 

    Nancy
    July 20th, 2009 - 10:35

    I missed one lousy 20mg dose and today, I’m seriously irritable, crying, and brain zaps. I had to run out at lunch, got in the store and had to leave I was so miserable. It’s hard to work and I’m working 4-10′s. Today, I just hate everything. I know it’s the missed dose, but good grief. I just can’t handle the withdrawals and live.

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58. 

    Cate
    July 20th, 2009 - 12:34

    Hi everyone.

    Interesting to read all these stories about Cymbalta wd. I started going off of it this last Saturday, and I’m miserable. I’m sitting on the couch in the dark right now because I can’t do anything else. If I get up I feel like I’m going to throw up anything I’ve eaten in the last day, I can’t move too quickly or risk getting extremely dizzy, and I can’t sleep well at night because my head is so fuzzy (it almost feels like I sleep TOO hard, and the dreams have been crazy, especially when I miss a dose). Oh, I’m also emotional as hell. Can’t forget that one. I’ve been flipping out if people so much as touch my hair.
    I started on 60mg a day for anxiety, four years ago. I was a freshman in college. I came out of a an all-girls college prep high school at the top of my class with a scholarship to my university. Now I’m in my fifth year there (I don’t even have a minor declared, btw) because I’m lucky to have been passing at all. I haven’t been able to focus on my schoolwork and nothing matters to me anymore. I’ve also seen a fair share of weight gain in the past years. My sophomore year I joined the women’s ncaa div. 1 rowing team and actually GAINED weight during that year of intense training. I also had my period disappear on me for nine whole months for no reason at all.
    So this summer I’ve decided to take my life back and get off this awful medication. My psychiatrist is convinced that none of my symptoms have anything to do with Cymbalta, that I’m just messed up or need another medication instead. I’m only 22 years old, I shouldn’t have to deal with shit like this. But I’m done now. It didn’t even fix the original problem I was taking it for, but instead it created more.
    Thankfully my parents have done their own research into the withdrawal symptoms and have been more than accommodating; they’re letting me stay in a dark cool room most of the time, thank god.

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59. 

    Dave
    July 20th, 2009 - 13:06

    Nancy Please keep telling yourself its not you, its not your life its that sadistic drug your on.Im on day 15 and starting to see hope, yesterday was better then today but Im getting glimpses of my life back My daughter in law is at my house trying to detox of this shit she was given it for fibermyalga, not spelled write I know, shes on day 4 and in hell. Start weaning down ASAP then take 2 weeks a good friend and quit this toxin before it kills you like it has many others. Dont look to blame anything not abuse, life anything on your mood swings its THE fu***** drug Ill be online if you need anything Breathing is crucial Hang tough your not alone in this fight

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60. 

    Dave
    July 20th, 2009 - 13:11

    Hey greybeard if you checking in please explain to Denise the main drug in effexor and why she needs a new doc thx

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61. 

    denise
    July 20th, 2009 - 13:59

    Dave,
    Are you saying Effexor is just as bad?! Crap. Am I ever going to get off this medication merry-go-round?! This doctor at least said we’d try this and see how it goes, and she wants me to check back in a month. She did say that if this doesn’t work, then we’ll try Straterra (spelling?) for my ADD. I have inattentive ADD; not hyperactive. Honestly, with how I felt on the Cymbalta (like a zombie) I would have welcomed a little hyperactivity in my life! I am sick of feeling like that. Today, I didn’t take my 60 mg before going to the doctor, then dropped of the prescription for the Effexor and went home and ran other errands. By the time I went back to the store and did grocery shopping and got home, it was time to make dinner. I was going to take an Effexor, but noticed it said to take with food, so was going to wait and take it with dinner. I forgot, and then remembered while out for a walk and wondered if it would be too late in the day to take it, as I’d prefer to take it in the morning. Anyway, I started feeling kind of dizzy and nauseated while doing dishes, so I went ahead and took the Effexor, since I don’t want to wake up with the DTs tomorrow morning from no meds. I have to take my son to the pediatrician in the morning and can’t afford to be sick, you know?

    I asked my new doc about the Effexor, because I was suspicious that it was too much like Cymbalta, but she said it was similar, but not exactly like it. She said it kind of works on a different brain system. She said that other patients with adult ADD do well on it.

    Where would you recommend I do research on Effexor? Have you found any good websites? Thanks.

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62. 

    Karla
    July 22nd, 2009 - 01:50

    Hi again everyone! I am no longer in the Cymbalta hell. At least not as bad as I was. As I said in my last blog, I was on 120 mg for 4 yrs. I didn’t get the permission from my Dr. to go off of this killer drug, I just did it. I now have fibromyalgia, from taking cymbalta.

    I took the 120 mg every other day for one week. Then I took 60 mg every day, then dropped to every other day. Then I dropped to the 30 mg every day for a week and finally went to every other day. This has been about 12 to 15 days now. I absolutely had to take meclizine for the dizzy spells. I couldn’t even move my eyes without feeling like my world was spinning. I still have a few of those a day but not near as many.

    I cry a lot more. One of my closest friends passed away Sunday and I have been more emotional that ever. I even get emotional over watching the tv. good grief!

    So, just a note to tell you it will get better….with time and patience. Good luck all and I would be very interested in a class action law suit. No one should ever have to go thru this!!!!

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63. 

    SteveM
    July 23rd, 2009 - 06:43

    I made a presentation at the June FDA Psychopharmacologic Drugs Advisory Committee Meeting. FDA has posted my slide deck on its web site:

    http://www.fda.gov/downloads/AdvisoryCommittees/CommitteesMeetingMaterials/Drugs/PsychopharmacologicDrugsAdvisoryCommittee/UCM172866.pdf

    I don’t know if that means that someone is paying attention. But we’ll see.

    Steve Mack

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64. 

    Kirsten
    July 23rd, 2009 - 08:07

    Steve,
    Great presentation! Thanks for doing that. Now we have something “official” to direct our doctors to for education. Thanks for letting us know!

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65. 

    Erika Barragan Pena
    July 24th, 2009 - 07:58

    HEY EVERYONE!!! IT WORKED!!!! I AM ON MY 3RD DAY OFF CYMBALTA AND FEEL LIKE NEW!!!!! please read my posts from before and try it. IT WORKS! Good luck everyone and take care!

    ERika

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66. 

    Cindy
    July 26th, 2009 - 12:19

    I cannot beleive how amnylives have been touched by the ravages of Cymblata yet ther continues to beno mention of it int he medical literature. I am a nurse practitioner that is living the w/d hell for the second time -unsuccessful the first time 2 years ago and now hanging on by thread again.

    I am 80 days out- I was only taking 20 mg every other day!But, still feel my palapating heart every second and cry for no reason, body aches, fatigue and aggitaion.

    WHen will it stop?

    Please help.

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67. 

    AndreaJ
    July 26th, 2009 - 17:36

    The FDA = federal drug administration and big pharm are addicting people to psychiatric medication. People who don’t need the medication. They get on the meds and start experiencing different symptoms but instead of stopping the medication all together the doc puts the patient on two more psychiatric drugs. Usually its an anti depressant, an anti anxiety and an anti psychotic. The majority of these pills are immensely expensive and getting most insurance to cover them is a huge hassle and most of the time they will not cover them at all. I have been on psych. meds for over 13 years. Started when I was 15. First of all u dont give these meds to teenagers and even 18 19 yr olds should b monitored very closely on these drugs. You would think in 13 years one of the meds would help. I have tried close to twenty different kinds of medication. Long story short I have a thyroid condition which went undetected for years which could b the reason for my psych problems. Why didnt any doctor think of that before prescribing me pill after pill with no success? Money plain and simple. Doctors are bribed by pharm. companies everyday. These companies send representatives to every clinic, hospital, medical facility where drugs are prescribed. They come with suitcases full of samples and perks for the doctors and even nurses. They by doctors vacations, fancy dinners, all kinds of luxurious items. Most patients are not aware of this.
    Yes there are drugs that help people. But before u spend a decade trying a million different meds get a full body and mind check up just to make sure u really need these meds. It will save you years of loss, heartache, depression, insanity, shame, anger, and guilt.
    Don’t be afraid to stand up either. Of course the doctor is going to say you are crazy when u mention the brain zaps. If u r crazy then u need more meds.

    I have experience so many brain zaps Im surprised I can still think. Psych med withdrawal is real and can be harmful.
    I believe such withdrawal was a big contributor to my relapse after over 2 and a half years of sobriety. I felt like I needed to fill a hole in myself I was so down and angry all the time. I was watching myself become overly emotional for no reason at all. I tried so much to counteract it but nothing worked so one day I gave up. I figured I had tried everything and no one believed me. I was in agony. Since my relapse it hasnt been easy at all trying to control the already horrendous cravings especially for opiates.

    Now that things are in perspective I can see myself staying sober.

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68. 

    Proteus
    July 28th, 2009 - 15:47

    I’m on day 2 of going cold turkey off of Cymbalta (60 mg/day) after being on it for about a year. However, this won’t be the the first time that I’ve had withdrawal symptoms. About six weeks ago, I skipped three doses but thought that the “brain zaps” were due to a case of constipation. I had no idea that they could be related to a safe prescription drug.

    I may not have ever connected the dots without this site, and I wouldn’t have started research if the side-effects hadn’t been getting worse lately. In May, I was falling asleep at midnight; as the weeks passed, it became 1am; finally, 2am. My MD suggested that taking my dose at night might help me sleep. After not sleeping a wink all night for two nights out of five, I knew something was very wrong. In fact, as I listened to my body, it was telling me that I was dying.

    I now realize that it’s not just my quirks that cause me to feel tired a lot, to take naps when I shouldn’t, and to feel like not reading all summer (something that I look forward to all year). And there’s more: I’m a math professor, and last summer I spent most of my free time working on mathematics because I’m lucky enough to be in a field that I enjoy. This summer, I had to drag my feet even to read one book (and I only did that because I need to teach out of it in the spring). I want to make this clear to anyone who might be contemplating taking Cymbalta: the drug that was supposed to clear my head in order to help me with my job and my hobby did the exact opposite.

    To be truthful: last summer, Cymbalta worked for me. I was under constant anxiety attacks, and it is impossible to concentrate on mathematics with alarms going off in your head every five seconds. But just a week ago, I was wondering if I would have a job next year because I no longer cared about what I was doing. All I wanted to do was lay in bed all day. In fact, I was just beginning to get the nerve up to ask my wife how we might be able to afford that financially.

    Thanks to this site, I know I’m not alone and that I have to fight this. I’ve got vit B’s, C, Brewer’s Yeast, Ginko, Flax Seed, Hemp Seed Oil, Dramamine, Benadryl and a number of other supplements to help me get through. At day 2, I realize the worst is to come, but I’m starting to “wake up” and be myself again. Not yet ready to crack open a graduate-level textbook, but I’m getting good and riled about how I will fight this damn drug until I purge it from my life. With the grace of God, I will.

    I do want to ask if anyone here has tried (legal) herbal smokes, sometimes branded as marijuana alternatives, as a way to help get through detox and to help with fibromyalgia and depression symptoms. Also, any info on the effects of alcohol, tobacco and caffeine would be appreciated. I’ve had a little luck so far with a combination of herbal smokes and red wine, but I don’t want to engage in anything that will cause me to fail in the end.

    Thanks everyone.

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69. 

    Dave
    July 28th, 2009 - 22:51

    Sorry haven’t checked in, thanks for the effort your putting in Steve glad to see someone making progress.
    I’m not sure if quitting cold turkey was a good idea but I it was a good 5 days in before I knew what was happening I had no warning it could be Cymbalta so by the time I logged on to research it I figured the worst was over.
    Now I wonder if the damage is permanent I saw a glimmer of hope but the last 4 or 5 days went real bad. Been off 3weeks 4 days I’ve lost friends and possibly my marriage. My wife and kids want to take me to Vegas for my birthday but my rage, tears and fatigue are so bad I’m sure I’ll say or do something catastophic.I was never depressed in the first place now I understand fully what that means and why people seek any medication possible to get out of it.
    I don’t know if I should try something else I take all the vitamins and omega 3 plus Benadryl sometimes I can’t fathom trying to exercise ( I used to be a gym rat) now I am caught in a steady funk that makes me wonder if cold turkey did irreversible physical damage

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70. 

    Liz
    July 29th, 2009 - 08:59

    I quit cold turkey around the 1st of June. I am still having vertigo, brain zaps and most of the other symptoms that goes along with withdrawal. I am feeling a little better, but I think it will be a while before they stop altogether. I took 60 mg. Cymbalta everyday for approximately 6 months, then quit cold turkey bcause of the side effects. I had begged my doctor to take me off this med, but she just kept saying try it a couple more weeks…try it a few more weeks…finally I just quit col turkey and it’s been hell every since!!

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71. 

    Laurie
    July 29th, 2009 - 10:44

    Steve M….I been sent the link to your presentation on Cymbalta at the FDA. I’ve been involved in the ssri withdrawal debacle for 5 years now and have testified at the FDA numerous times. I also have a site for ssri withdrawal. Contact me!

    lsyorke@aol.com

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72. 

    kenneth mendoza
    July 29th, 2009 - 17:52

    ttyy

    ( REPLY )
73. 

    linda
    July 31st, 2009 - 08:56

    i have not taken cymbalta for a wk and seems my stomach is upset alot, i was on for pain

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74. 

    Bertha
    August 1st, 2009 - 20:07

    Wow! I’m so glad I read this blog tonight! I’ve been on 60 mg Cymbalta for over 4 years! My psych finally agreed to wean me off. He prescribed 30 mg which I took for 2 weeks. Felt fine. Now I’m taking 30mg every other day. Don’t feel fine! I keep getting itchy or feelings like pins and needles on my skin. I’m extremely emotional, feel off balance, weak and most of the symptoms described herein. I was going to just keep on taking the 30mgs every day but I need to kick this in the behind. It has helped me so much to read these posts. I’m going to keep taking the 30mgs every other day for another week or so then I’m done! It is hard to work and suffer the symptoms but I refuse to be a victim to this stronghold. God is bigger and greater than all of this. Thank you all for posting here. It’s helped me so much!!

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75. 

    funsandroses
    August 4th, 2009 - 13:23

    if anyone thinks that getting off cymbalta is easy,,FORGET IT….it is a nite mare,,,i lasted 7 days,,and could not breath on that last day,,,sweats,,zings in my brain,,,,but that happens if i miss one….been on it for 5 years,,,,i am just now getting off zanax,,and atavan……same withdrawals,,but cymbalta is the worst ever,,,,,,so good luck to all who try to get off it…….

    ( REPLY )
76. 

    funsandroses
    August 6th, 2009 - 14:57

    hello,,
    plz everyone go to the cymbalta petition site,,and sign it ,,,for all of our sakes

    ( REPLY )
77. 

    funsandroses
    August 6th, 2009 - 15:00

    if u try to get off this ..u will have to understand,,the difficulty is unreal,,,im still trying to deal with the weight gain,,,and my stomach will just almost blow up,,,this has to be poison,,plz all stay updated on the petition site,,,,,i understand what all of u are going through…whewwwwwwwwwwwwwww!!!

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78. 

    funsandroses
    August 6th, 2009 - 16:25

    if anyone knows how to contact dateline nbc,,maybe the will do a story on cymbalta and its effects on a humane body and mind…….

    ( REPLY )
79. 

    Renae
    August 7th, 2009 - 10:11

    Hi, My doctor changed my cymbalta from once a day to twice a day, had been going fine until I called for my refill and my insurance all of a sudden would only pay for the drug once a day (they had been previously paying for the script twice a day). Had I known that they were going to just change it midstream I would have only taken it once a day but went on with the twice a day as told by my doctor. I was basically forced to go cold turkey. The pharmacy could give a sh%t less. I was a total mess for about a week, completely not myself. Now I am fine and will NEVER go back on the cymbalta!! Now that I am off of it, I dont think I needed it anyways!! I feel so much better without it! For all of you going through the withdrawals whether cold turkey or weening, just keep the faith and eventually you WILL feel better!! My heart goes out to all of you!

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80. 

    xav
    August 10th, 2009 - 10:13

    I have been on Cymbalta 60 for one year for Fibromyalgia depression and anxiety,(before I have been on Amytriplin for two years) and after psychanalist terapia, I found my problem but i’ve never been not very fine with my cymbalta. Since 6 months, I’m sure to find the reason of my depression. I worked it with my psy. According to my psychiatrist, I started out on 30 mg for two months : no symptoms. Better than with 60mg. I have been off of Cymbalta for 40 days now.

    diarrhea, nausea : 3 first days (gone)
    anxiety, 5 weeks (?)
    Crying Spells from 2 weeks (?)
    stomach quizziness from 2 weeks (gone)
    Diziness 4 weeks (gone)

    Imsomnia and agitation are still present. I have to drink alcool to sleep…because it’s still very hard.
    6 weeks after the day off, I hope my last withdrawals symptoms will dissapear.
    I understand everyone. be strong!!!

    Be prudent and do it very slowly according to a psychiatrist

    Good luck to everyone

    After this event, We’ll be very very strong in the life.
    (5 years of depression)

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81. 

    Rob
    August 11th, 2009 - 09:41

    would love to contribute to this discussion,was on 120mg of cymbalta until 7/5/09. Now down to zero. finding this site has helped,i need to talk with people that have been there,just figured what everybody is calling the brain zap, told my regular md about it, he had no clue.

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82. 

    lexx
    August 12th, 2009 - 08:49

    After being on cymbalta forever….I decided the constipation was enough and that i really wasn’t feeling better. Everyday I had to use a suppository to go the BR. basically my Dr said oh well at least you are not suicidal. Also I lost weight at first on cymbalt aand then i put ot all back on. So everyone reacts differently. I also am a nurse so reading your posts makes me wanna cry i am on day 6 of no meds. My ears are ringing, i got terrible headaches, i am nauseated, the room is spinning. All the stuff you all posted. I am sitting her with a lump in my throat. yesterday I went off on my husband because dang i dont even know why i went off on him. I am in tears and at work casu ei already called off 2 days and dont want to get fired. the brain zaps ugg. its a relief to know that I am not alone. I just hope my depression doesn’t come back opps weaning has caused it too,

    ( REPLY )
83. 

    Kirsten B
    August 13th, 2009 - 09:05

    I’ve been on Cymbalta for 2 years prescribed by a pain doctor for cervical spine compression and disc degeneration. It helped greatly but made me lethargic and killed my sex drive. After having an cervical spine fusion and vertebrae correction I’m in less pain and have talked to my pain doctor about stopping Cymbalta. He told me to go ahead and try but did not mention anything about the withdrawal symptoms. I’m experiencing a buzzing and electrical feeling along with some irritability. I also have epilepsy so my initial assumption was that the withdrawal symptoms were wreaking havoc on my epilepsy. Now I think it is simply mimicking how I feel when I’m about to have a seizure. Can anyone tell me how long these symptoms last?

    Also, a thank you to Steve for that presentation. I’ll be sharing this with my doctor.

    Kirsten B

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84. 

    Ashley
    August 17th, 2009 - 09:26

    I’ve been on some form since I was 12… Anyway, I think I’ve been on the cymbalta since… 15… so that would be 5 years. It has now been 2 weeks since I quit cold turkey(no other help, I found out i’m pregnate). I don’t know If I would recommend that approach to others, but it seems that either way, tapering or quitting completely, you get the same side effects once you cease the medication. Anyway, it’s been two weeks and the brain lightening has stopped…. Just have to deal with the rage and everyone’s ignorance on just what I am really going through… If i hear “you can control yourself better” one more time…

    And I am finding it almost impossible to articulate and form complete sentences… and severe cases of short term memory loss..

    At least the lightening stopped.

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85. 

    Lisa
    August 22nd, 2009 - 21:14

    I am so uphauled at what I am reading. Is my life over now? I too had to go cold turkey from 120 mg daily for a 9 months due to losing my job and no insurance. I had no idea that I would experience these wicked side effects. I expected some, but I am now in constant fear of sudden death. Brain buzzing, headaches severe, hands numb, terrible dizziness that i stumble when I walk, constant nausea and diarrhea, I am 6 days coff cold turkey and would feel better dead at this point. I have a beautiful son to take care of and am going through a divorce. What could be worse?? I am glad I am not alone but feel for all of us who were put through this by the initial prescription in the first place without the full knowledge of what hell was in store for us. I will try the Benedryl immediately and pray for divine intervention that my son and I both survivve this madness. The nightmares and then insomnia and crying jags that can turn to screaming fits of rage like a switch was turned on. God help us all.

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86. 

    Kim
    August 23rd, 2009 - 04:11

    Hi all
    I am on day two of getting off of Cymbalta and feel foggy from the benadryl.
    Had a small sharp head ache but I think it is gone. My head is ringing a bit but if I have music it seems to go away. My lower back pain is back and worse. Temper still short and face feels swollen. I am very thirsty though, it may be the benadryl. I couldn’t get my doctor to help me get off of the med., I think he was getting paid to much money.
    But being on it for over 4 years now, I am sick of being worried I am going to run out.
    I am sick of feeling dependent on the pill. I am going to take my max and see if it helps the symptoms. I am doing this cold turkey, anything I should be aware of? I was at 60 mgs. Thanks Kim

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87. 

    john lee
    August 23rd, 2009 - 08:18

    increases my bp

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88. 

    Cynthia
    August 23rd, 2009 - 13:29

    Luckily, my doctor prescribed a low dose of Prozac for two weeks. He said he was glad I talked to him about all of my withdrawal symptoms and that Prozac was the fix. I owe him big time

    ( REPLY )
89. 

    Michelle N
    August 23rd, 2009 - 20:03

    I can’t believe that there are so many others out there that are going through these terrible withdrawls. I have only been on Cymbalta for about 7 months for depression, but it also helped with the pain from my disease called Chiari Malformation and Tethered Cord Syndrome. I started on 20mgs, to 30mgs, and then up to 60mgs. I stopped cold turkey two days ago and it hit me like a ton og bricks yesterday. I am vomitting, dizzy, headaches, (allthough that could be from the Chiari), and extremely irritable. I can fly off the handle at any moment. Please tell me this will get better, and NOT worse. My life is finally looking brighter, and now I have this sudden set back. Any advice is appreciated. Michelle

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90. 

    Rick Hauck
    February 2nd, 2010 - 03:10

    Cymbalta log- day 5-COLD TURKEY- 60mg daily…..i was on for anxiety- not depression, and .5 klon bid. iIm guessing i was on for two years. I have been reading blogs about how people having withdrawl after months of “weening”off. I thought, why put myself through months of that , maybe i get this sucker wrapped up in a few days….also…while reading blogs, i noticed the bad ones made my anxiety increase, and good ones seemed very encouraging…interesting tidbit about the power of the state of mind-i am excited to get off the dope and have feelings again…now i am not saying to go cold turkey…i am very healthy and fit- and the first 4 days were hard- almost a constant zaps, hot flash, some nausea, dhiarrhea.
    Here are things that seemed to help me. First of all, prepare yourself for 4 days of hard symptoms, no work if possible, driving is simply dangerous. Omega 3 really did seem to help, more than anything else- I did canned salmon mainly-i also exercised like crazy drank a gallon of water a day, green tea, stayed away from any processed foods or anything that was not really healthy. The third day I woke up at 12:30, about 6 hrs later than normal- bazaar….so today is the end of day 5, the physical symptoms are much less than the first coule days. The physical symptoms are hit and miss, for no apparent reason, but fewer and much less intense, even than yesterday. Tonight however……night 5……..i have been crying uncontrollably for hours, with intermittent bouts of laughter in between sobs. But…it feels good to cry again, (maybe not quite that much!) I try to explain the withdrawl like maybe it would feel like coming out of hibernation…like you are waking up from a looooong period of limited and dull emotion. I miss my high highs, and my low lows. I WILL BE strong enough to stay off meds now and continue with a normal life. I wish the best for all of you going through the same thing. And yes the withdrawl is I would say 10 times that of paxil, (for me) but remember the zaps are not going to kill you, even tho it may seem like it. Just smile when they come, and know you are heading to freedom…very soon. Oh another thing i did on day 3 was pretty bad, put on my headphones and blast my music. Anything that takes your mind off withdraw and gives you an emotional boost, would probably help immensely. I turn on my music and danced around the house….dont believe me? try it. good luck my doper friends…you are gonna be fine in a few days!!! ALSO EXCITED ABOUT THE LIBIDO, ALTHOUGH HAS NOT RETURNED YET…I DONT WANNA JUST BE ABLE TO PERFORM….I WANNA ROCK IT, YOU KNOW? let me know if you need an update via e-mail, be happy to

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91. 

    Amanda
    February 3rd, 2010 - 02:25

    OK so, i have been on cymbalta for 4 years, started when i was 15 and im almost 20 now. I was on 60 mg till i got pregnant with my daughter and they lowered me to 30. now im on my 4th day off of it, after all this time and my head feels so funny allll the time. tell me why withdraw has to feel so weird. i sometimes feel like something is on my chest..i just dont like the fact i cant feel normal.i dont know what normal is after 4 years.so we will see how this is! ahhh

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92. 

    Rick Hauck
    February 3rd, 2010 - 10:21

    Cymbalta log day 7….60mg…… cold turkey- woke up singing today…couple of zaps, much better than a couple days ago- physical symptoms seem to be diminishing very quickly now. Still a bit of confusion, but I feel much safer driving. Libido seems to be creeping in slowly, no crying spells, or anything weird or unusual otherwise. Very happy with the decision to come off…I will be back in a couple of days, for one more log….. but i feel the worst is DEFINATELY over, and the good in life will soon be great again, sort of already is, its coming i can feel it! STAY STRONG people, good luck!!!

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93. 

    NICOLE
    February 4th, 2010 - 12:30

    i’ve been off for almost a week and am having the WORST headaches of my life!! has anyone else had this? i’ve got this awful headache (that will NOT go away)…..and i’m very nauseous. any suggestions on how to get rid of these symptoms?? withdrawals from this medicine are hell!!!

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94. 

    JSmith
    February 4th, 2010 - 14:10

    I wish I would have found this site earlier. I have been on Cymbalta for 4 years. Started at 30mg, went up to 60 after the first month, and then to 90. Stayed at 90 for almost 2 years, then 60 for another 1.5 years and then down to 30 for the last 6 months or so. I was originally on for depression and anxiety attacks and then for PTSD after my husband committed suicide in July, 2006. I decided to go off on my own because I have moved and am almost out of the pills and did not want to start over with another doctor. I did a very fast taper; going from one 30 mg pill per day to one pill every other day for a week and then totally off. I think I’m on day 6 or 7 now, and this has been pure hell. The brain zaps weren’t a surprise; I’ve had them before when I missed a dose or even when I took the meds a little later than normal, but those zaps were NOTHING like what I’ve been going through. I feel like I’m being electrocuted and my head is about to blow up. My skin is crawling, my face feels numb, I’m on becoming a permanent fixture in the bathroom. I cry at commercials that aren’t even sad, have short-term memory loss and feel like someone has taken a bat to every muscle and joint in my body. On the plus side, I have not had any of the vertigo other’s have described. I’d like to say I found the secret cure to the withdrawals; I haven’t. But a few things have helped. I take Xanax once a day when the anxiety gets really bad. I take Tylenol for the headaches but am not sure if that helps. I’ve been craving fruit so I’ve tanked up on the Vitamin C. I also Take Omega 3-6-9 and think it is helping. I’m lucky that I have a job that allows me to work from home because I could NEVER get up, dressed for work, drive to work, etc. I also have a very supportive boyfriend who has read through pages of blogs to understand what I’m dealing with, brought me Benadryl, vitamins, Chamomile tea, etc.
    I believe that it might have been easier to taper off for a longer period of time but I will not go back on this stuff. I’m hopeful that I’ve come this far and am crossing my fingers that the worst of it is over, although it probably isn’t.
    I, like the rest of you, had NO idea the withdrawals from this drug would be like this. I tried numerous other depression meds before finding the Cymbalta and never went through anything like this. It did work for me but I didn’t realize how numb I was. I’m feeling so much deeper now, which is both a good thing and a bad thing.
    Please hang in there. We CAN do this.

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95. 

    Martha Rivera
    March 22nd, 2010 - 23:01

    Hola tengo la necesidad de dejarles mi comentario pues quisiera que de algun modo lograran informar al paciente de Cymbalta respecto a los efectos secundario; pues en mi experiencia esto ha sido lo peor, comenze usando Cymbalta para el dolor que me provocan la radiculopatia en la dosis de 30mg y luego de dos semanas aproximadamente comenze en los 60mg decidi descontinuarlo por que yo nunca habia padecido de depresion y ese medicamento me provoco una depresion severa casi ni hablaba y me pasaba durmiendo y para empeorar la situacion he subido de peso 18lbs en dos meses tambien tengo que decir que no se me oriento correctamente en ningun momento el medico me advirtio de los efectos que iba a tener al descontinuarlos aunque los descontinue poco a poco el ruido en la cabeza es la cosa mas tormentosa que he pasado me esta volviendo loca, en mi vida nunca habia pasado algo asi y cada vez que muevo la cabeza me da un corrientazo y mi vista se fracciona, me desoriento con facilidad y hasta la memoria ha sufrido daños, he recurrido a otros medicos y en estos momentos estoy visitando a un neurologo. Espero pronto mejorar pues en realidad me asusta la idea de que no se me vayan estos sintomas. El remedio fue peor que la enfermedad, Mucho peor.

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