Slowly Leaving Antidepressants Behind « What Winners Do

Slowly Leaving Antidepressants Behind

Posted on May 18, 2007

I had earlier posted that I felt Cymbalta wasn't working for me as an antidepressant. Along with not working on many depression symptoms Cymbalta lowered my libido. Finally I had an appointment with a Psychiatrist and I was shocked at what she told me.

I had been having some lingering symptoms of what I thought was depression. I was unmotivated, everything seemed like a lot of work to me and like I had said before, I had zero libido. I thought that Cymbalta wasn't working on my symptoms and that I would need to have a medication change. I was wrong.

After asking me a series of questions in which I answered as honestly as possible no matter how embarrassing it was, the psychiatrist told me something that I wasn't expecting to hear. I was not having the symptoms that I am having due to being under medicated or being on the wrong medication. I was having these symptoms because I was over medicated.

Based on the fact that my daily dose of Cymbalta is relatively low, it appears that I don't require an antidepressant. What? You mean that my medication which I thought was making my life a little better had actually been causing some of my most major problems? I couldn't believe it. So what do I do now?

Cymbalta is not the type of medication that you should just stop taking all together. It can cause some withdrawal symptoms and frankly, I'm all set with going through another withdrawal. So the psychiatrist suggested that I ween myself off slowly...very slowly.

My daily dose of Cymbalta has been reduced by half and I am to take that for 3 months. After that time, I can either cut that dose in half or I can stop taking it all together. That is a pretty long weening time frame if you ask me, but then again I'm no doctor.

Today is the second day of taking 20mg of Cymbalta. I actually still am feeling some withdrawal symptoms. I have something going on that I can only describe as brain shivers. If you have never had this, be thankful. It is really a bad feeling. It doesn't hurt or anything like that but every once in a while I get what feels like an electrical buzz inside my brain. I know that this is due to the decrease in Cymbalta because there was a time I went a week without taking the medication and I got the same sensation, although a lot more intense than what I am having now.

I'll grab a saying out of the narcotics anonymous bag o' sayings, ahh here we go...This too shall pass. Knowing that this withdrawal symptom will be short lived I am feeling pretty positive about weening off of Cymbalta.

It is great to feel that I don't "need" to take some sort of drug to be a functioning human being. After all isn't that why I stopped my substance abuse in the first place. I wanted to be free of "having" to take drugs to feel normal.

Today, although I have some weird feelings in my brain, I am proud of myself for taking steps towards becoming a better person on my own without the help of drugs. I'm also feeling good about myself for not caving in because of my "brain shivers" and taking my regular dose of Cymbalta. I never thought I would be weening myself off another drug in my lifetime but it is what it is I guess.

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Lisa
May 18th, 2007 - 13:14

I’m also stopping Cymbalta currently and know how you feel. I’ve been journaling my experience at http://lisaatucla.wordpress.com/ and it helps to be aware of the symptoms and be able to adjust.

good luck

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The Discovering Alcoholic
May 18th, 2007 - 18:40

Honesty and action Erin, these are some of the greatest tools if recovery and it seems you are on a roll. Additionally, the common sense of talking to your doctor, taking her recommendations, and weening yourself off the medication gradually is just knocking this one out of the park.

Just as a friendly exercise, l’ll give you a scenario the old TDA would have pulled.

1) Wait to begin plan until there is an extremely stressful situation to handle

2) Immediately announce to the world of intentions to go antidepressant cold turkey

3)Wait for failure- if it doesn’t come soon enough stir up more trouble. Then drink or abuse drugs because of course we all know that it will take several weeks before the new antidpressants kick in.

4)Use as incident as proof of chemical imbalance

That’s me thinking like an alcoholic.

I am glad that you are thinking instead like someone who is very serious about their recovery. I know it may not count for much, but I am very proud of you.

The Discovering Alcoholic

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Erin
May 18th, 2007 - 20:49

It actually does mean a lot to hear you tell me that you are proud of me.

I think of you as one of the winners that I am trying very hard to become. Thank you for your encouraging words.

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synchro
July 19th, 2007 - 04:52

I am coming off of 60mg of Cymbalta and I have been pretty lucky so far. My doc at least knew that I had to taper fairly slow so here’s what I did:

Doc prescribed 30mg and 20mg capsules. I took a 30 and a 20 daily for a week. Then two 20mg capsules daily for about a week. Then a 30mg capsule for about a week. My main WD symptom is dizziness so if it got too unpleasant I would revert back to the previous dose for a day or two. I now take 10mg every other day and I feel OK. I’m almost ready to stop. I gently pry open a 20mg capsule, and with a magnifying glass divide the little pellets into two piles. One pile goes back in the capsule and is taken. I’ve prepared several capsules this way. If after, taking these for a week or so I feel like crap, I’ll create 5mg capsules. So far so good with the 10mg every other day. I’ll try jumping off and see. I can always make more caps if I have to. – synchro

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Erin
July 19th, 2007 - 06:51

Synchro – that is some really great information on how to ween off of Cymbalta correctly. It sounds like your doctor really understands just how bad the withdrawal could get if not weened very, very slowly.

Good Luck and thanks for the info.

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- Ang
  September 8th, 2009 - 18:42
  
  I am glad to be free of cymbalta…
  
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  - Ang
    September 8th, 2009 - 18:46
    
    I am so glad to be free of cymbalta. I had the same problem. ZAPS. My dr talked with a neurologist and the drug rep….they came up with a solution. I went to 20mg for 2 weeks then I took low dose of prozac for 2 weeks. The difference was like night and day compared to trying to get off of cymb. last year….which I failed at! I have been cymbalta free for 6 weeks now. Still do not feel like myself…and zaps come and go…mostly when I am being active. Walking…Running up stairs…etc. THe prozac for 2 weeks worked like a charm!
    
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    - Angie
      November 3rd, 2009 - 22:47
      
      just wanted to post an update to this. It is now Nov and I am feeling like myself again. No zaps. No more withdrawl symptoms. I will never never never take cymbalta again! Dont get discouraged if it take a while to rid this nasty drug from your system…I am proof that it can be done. One day at a time…power through it.
      
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      - chalice zangri
        December 23rd, 2009 - 23:28
        
        How long after cause I feel like it will never end
Pat
July 27th, 2007 - 13:08

Thank you so much Syncro for your most helpful information. My story is a horror story weening off Cymbalta. Im going to try your method and see what happens. You are lucky to have a doctor that understands. My doctor told me that there are no symtoms of withdrawal of Cymbalta and that what Im expierencing is depression I came to him in the first place for. When I dont have anymore brain freezes I will share my story to help others get off this poison.

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alicia
October 5th, 2007 - 17:07

Synchro – I wish I had been as…what’s the word…responsible will do. I wish I had been as responsible as you coming off my Cymbalta. Today makes one week and one day since I quit cold turkey and frankly, I think I would rather go through natural child birth with triplets than do this crazy shit again.

Pat – Your doctor was/is a quack and I hope to God you’ve found someone else since this post. I’m sorry you had to go through it.

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Carl
December 4th, 2007 - 23:34

I have been taking cymbalta since September at 60 mg. I don’t feel depressed, rather, what happens to me is that I was having a lot of general anxiety that would get in the way of being able to sleep. I’d lay in bed and toss and turn worrying about crap that I didn’t need to be worrying about at 2 am. I also had a lot of trouble with concentration. I know that I a symptom of depression, which I have had in the past, along with being really irritable and feeling hopeless, but thankfully, never suicidal. Anywho, my MD switched me from Celexa in Sept to Cymbalta hoping to address some of my attention issues. It worked really, really well. It was my adderall! I was able to read for school, get my papers out one after another, etc…, and slept fine with none of the sexual side effects that I had on Prozac from way back in the day. I am really bummed because I had to d/c my Cymbalta because it made my blood pressure go too high. Now that I’ve been off of it for about a week, my BP is back to normal. The thing is that I just stopped the Cymbalta cold turkey and I have been having what people describe as brain shivers from time to time. It doesn’t hurt, just feels weird and I get a bit dizzy, but it comes and goes. I hope to get on Celexa again, maybe at a higher dose cuz it was OK at 40 mg, but maybe I should have tried 60 mg. Does anyone know if the brain sensations are dangerous? Can something bad happen? seizures? I’d hate that to happen. I want to just tough it out as long as there are not major consequences.

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Lucy
March 3rd, 2008 - 09:44

I am so glad I found this website! I went off my Cymbalta (cold turkey) about a week and a half ago. Three days ago I started having the “brain zaps”. I went to my Dr., he said it wasn’t withdrawals, but he didn’t know what it could be. All he did was blood work and sent me home to suffer. Thanks to this website I know what’s wrong with me! Cymbalta is an evil drug!!!!!

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JoAnne
March 6th, 2008 - 12:27

I just found this website. Talk about eye opening. I’ve been taking cymbalta 60mg for about 3 years, as a treatment for my fibromyalgia. In that respect it worked very well. I am now on my fourth day of ‘cold turkey’ because my doctor won’t refill it till I see him. Thank goodness that’s today. So for the past (hell) 4 days, I’ve been going through major withdrawals. I’ve never felt this crappy in my life!!! Horrible headaches, nightmares, brain zaps(which really scare me)nausea, cranky, to top it off i’m getting my panic attacks back!!! Somehow I’ve got to get off this evil drug. Anyone have any natural remedies for fibro and panic attacks? Thanks for listening

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Doug
March 24th, 2008 - 15:16

I’ve been taking 90ml of Cymbalta for two years. It was discovered last May that I had very low blood platelets. I’ve had an 8 hour infusion of a blood product and most recently had 4 rounds of chemo trying to correct what they were calling ITP. I now find that a side effect to Cymbalta is low platelets. My insurance company has paid over $100,000 for a the tests and procedures and to find out it was Cymbalta really makes me mad. Is anyone else having the same issue? Wish me luck on getting off this nightmare….

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Anna
September 13th, 2008 - 16:33

Trying to reach Doug re: post about Cymbalta and low platelets! I also have been being treated for ITP and take Cymbalta! Was wanting to get more info.!!
Thanks!!
Anna

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Velvette
October 6th, 2008 - 17:56

I am so thankful I found ths web site. I’ve been taking Cybalta 60mg for a while but didn’t know it was the Cymbalta that was causing my speach problems. I can’t have a conversation with out “stumbling” over my words. When I apologize they look at me and say “It’s ok” .. but it’s NOT ok!! I don’t want this. I also have “tics” or “muscle spasms”. I have them in my whole body.I once dropped a gallon of milk, thank God it didn’t bust open. So I guess being a waitress is out of the question…lol!!!

I just put in a call to my MD about weaning off Cymbalta. Hopefully I get a call back soon so I can rid myself of nasty drug. Good luck to everyone who’s facing this.

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Ethel
December 3rd, 2008 - 01:19

Well I’ve been on Cymbalta for about 9 months now. I have felt not myself for most of this time. I thought, well my body needs to adjust to the medication. Ha! My head feels like a water logged ball of matter. I get a buzzing in my head like a car that can’t start. then these brain zaps, like a blot of electricity passing through. i lay at night and can feel the buzzing inside my body. God help me this is to weird…..
O.K. so I decide that I’m getting off this stuff. I can’t take the sweating either that comes with the Cymbalta. dear God I sweat like a pig. It’s so embarassing. Anyway I cut my dosage in half for the first week. Now this week I’m taking 1 every other day.
I called the Dr. today to tell him I’m trying to come off it.. He told me to take just half a pill a day next week then 1/2 a pill every other day the next week. Well today I have the dizziness, and I fell like I’m coming out of my skin. Called him back and said I’m going to come out of my skin please give me something… He called in an anti anxity drug. So that’s where I’m at, never would I have started this if it were not for this Fibromyalgia that i’ve had for 20 some years. They said Cymbalta helps the pain. It did for like 2 weeks then I was back to square one.
Well I’ll keep checking in to see how we’re ALL doing soon.

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Kelly
January 5th, 2009 - 15:56

Hi. I have been taking Cymbalta now for about 2 years. If I miss one day, I can’t even function. I want off so bad, but my doctor continues to tell me no. I tried to do it cold turkey, but we all know how that feels. Now I am opening my 30mg capsules and halfing them. This is the worst that I have ever felt, being on this stuff! I hope that everyone does well getting off and say some prayers for me because I’m doing it all on my own!

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- Ang
  September 8th, 2009 - 18:59
  
  how are you? did you ever get to ween off?
  
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Etehl
January 6th, 2009 - 11:12

Hi It’s me again…Well I’ve been off the Cymbalta now for 3-4 weeks. Today is Jan 6, 2009 so I guess it’s been 3 weeks now. These last 3 weeks have been a living hell. I have lost 5-6 lbs from vomiting & diarreah. The Dr. gave me something for all of this. I told him not to perscribe this Cymbalta to people, it’a a horrible drug. He said , well it’s a miracle drug for some.. I said, ya till they try and come off it…My Dr. has never taken someone off it before so I’m a new case for him in this area…I have called the manafacture and let them know what I was going through & how I feel, I also made out a complaint form to the FDA…. I’m truly pissed that anyone should have to go through this!! This is going into week 4 and I still have those brain zaps… The sweating has stopped, the nausea is better and I haven’t actually thrown up in over a week. Came close the other day, but didn’t. My temper has evened out more, I’m not so bitchy. I went to the health food store and got on an antioxident to help my body ride it’s self of all this poisen in me. I really think it has helpd too. Listen to this. My Dr. says that Cymbalta re-calculates the brain and that it will take a while now that i’m off it for my brain to re-calculate, back to it’s old self! He has no idea how long all this will take. Your brain controls all your bodily functions….ah, hello, this is scary no??? No idea how long all this will take?….UGH So depressing..
Well that’s where I’m at with all this, I will check back in in a month and let you know how it’s going. I hope someone reads this and gets something from it….

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Dave
January 8th, 2009 - 03:37

Wow it all makes sence now. I have had enough of the medication and decided to get to the gym every day and go cold turkey. It has been 4 days so far, i was on 2×60mg a day (think a high dose) but yes, my head or brain for that matter feels like I am spinning constantly. Sounds like the slow weaning off it is the better approach – just gonna have faith and see how it goes. Otherwise emotionally feeling good – alot less dull than before.

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Doug
January 10th, 2009 - 13:32

I quit taking my 60MG of Cymbalta and started having constant headaches (kinda like a fever without a tempature), loose and frequest stool, some dizziness and fatigue. I have been to my normal doctor 2 x and they have taken blood and stool samples thinking I might have e-coli or something. I am thinking, after reading this, that it might be withdrawl. Have others had the semi diarrhea?

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- jennie mager
  September 8th, 2009 - 12:30
  
  yes i have had this problem i was on 60 mg and i went cold turkey off this whicked pill after 5 years.. todays day 5 for me and iam going crazy i just want this crap out of my system
  
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Quincy
January 11th, 2009 - 10:27

I was supposed to wean off my Cymbalta but because if insurance issues I couldn’t get a new refill and I have to wait. So I went from 90mg to zero. Its been a week. I am dizzy all the time but I am feeling a little manic euphoric like everything is so great. I am not complaining just waiting for the other shoe to drop. I can’t sleep. I ‘ve been up all night dizzy. This is a better situation that what I had when I got off of Lexapro so I am happy;that WAS HELL! I have major headaches that feel like sinus headaches and tension headaches but no nausea thank goodness. Its been 8 days and I see my dr on Wednesday to talk about should I get back on for my major depression and chronic pain or just continue to wean because that was the plan but instead of cold turkey it was supposed to take 3mons stupid insurance. I am exercising that helps. But the lack of sleep is crazy.
-insomnia
-severe headaches
-dizziness
-loss of focus, can’t hold a conversation very well at all

Out of all this I am glad I am not suicidal like I used to be the feeling of wanting to kill myself and that damn chronic pain. I am just waiting for the depression to come back after all this goes away.

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Maryann
January 14th, 2009 - 07:04

Hi everyone, I am also trying to get off my cymbalta.My story is a little different. About 3 years ago I was having trouble brathing.The dr determined it was all in my head because he said there was nothing wrong with my lungs.I was on Zoloft for depression so he said cymbalta will take care of these “so called breathing issues”.Long story short I had a cancerous tumor in my larynx!!! Got that taken care of and now I am trying to get off cymbalta.It doesnt help with my depression at all.I want to go back on zoloft because that worked!
But here’s how I was told to wean off(different dr of course).Take my 60mg every other day for the first week ,then every 2 days and so on and so on.Thats seams messed up to me??? Like I am f*****ing with my mind.But I am starting to feel better.But I am now on every 3 days.So I will see by my third day???? This is so crazy!!!! Also my dr told me I can start taking my zoloft the second week that it was ok to overlap these meds?? Is that true? I dont trust dr’s anymore! My first week I couldnt get off the couch without having the brain shocks and dizziness.I will repost after a few more weeks to let you all know how it went. Thanks, Maryann

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Quincy
January 14th, 2009 - 15:09

Doug, Well now I have advanced?? to extreme nausea and loose frequent stools…the headaches are less painful, dizziness is still there full on all the time, but insomnia is better. I am sleeping okay now. The nausea sucks though and the stools are time consuming because I feel I am always on the toilet.

I see my doctor tonight to discuss options. I thought the nausea, stools came from food poisoning HA! Then realized that rest of my family is eating everything I am with no need to feel like they are going to throw up and live in the bathroom.

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Mike
January 29th, 2009 - 16:56

I’ve been on Cymbalta (30 mg) for about a year and I decided I didn’t want to take it anymore. My Dr. said coming off it was easy – one of the few anti-depressants that doesn’t have any withdrawal side effects. So I just stopped taking it about two weeks ago. The first few of days, I felt fine and thought this was going to be a breeze. But three days ago I started having bouts of nausea and dizziness. It sort of came and went. Two days ago I started with the headaches. Today I got up and felt really sick – severe headache, shivers, diarrhea and vomiting. I basically feel rotton. I just found this website, thank God, so now I know why I feel so lousy. I thought I had food poisoning. Haven’t had the brain zaps yet, but can’t wait for that to start. Anyone know how long this nightmare will last???

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Quincy
February 1st, 2009 - 00:51

Mike, Welcome to my world… I am still going through it and I stopped Jan 5. My doctor (a realist) said it will take 3-4 weeks. I trust her because it took me 22 days to fully get off of Lexapro another one they all say that it should be easy as pie to do cessation off of… Today I had a headache so bad I comtemplated going to ER for some pain killer but decided it wasn’t worth the $125 (Cymbalta sent me to the ER already cuz of pain) So I took 5 motrin @ 2pm and I am waiting for relief it is 7:30pm now.

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Betina
February 1st, 2009 - 09:58

I have been on cymbalta 60 mg. for a little over a year now. It worked well at first but for the past 6 weeks I have had terrible anxiety and nausea. I am going to begin tapering my dose tonight. I read that you can take 7 beads a day out of each capsule until you get down to zero. This should take me about six weeks or so..seems like a long time but I can’t handle the withdrawals that come from stopping this medication. Has anyone tried this? Did it work for you? I will keep you posted on how it works for me..if you are not on cymbalta and considering taking it ..DON’T!! I have been in bed most of the time that I have been on it but didn’t realize how much I was in bed until a couple of days ago. I have been a zombie and I just want my life back.

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Angela
February 7th, 2009 - 19:01

I want off of Cymbalta and I’m gald I found this website because now I no why I feel so crappy. The fatigue the night sweats, sleeplessness, not able to hold a conversation without my brain freezing and I find myself at a lost of words. I just feel like a Zombie. I have taking it now 6 years and sometimes when I run out of it and am off for 3 or more days I feel awful. I have a 30 day supply that I picked up on friday I think Im going to take it sparingly say every 2 days.
If anyone is out there researching to find out about this drug, Please don’t take Cymbalta it’s not worth it in the long run!

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Thomas
February 9th, 2009 - 03:50

I have been on Cymbalta for 3 days, and i have been telling a slight difference for the better. After, reading these post i am becoming very parinoid. Has anyone had positive things happen from this drug? I am starting to concentrate really well. I need opinions.

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Quincy
February 12th, 2009 - 03:15

Thomas,
Cymbalta was great when I was taking it everyday religiously. I felt wonderful painfree and symptom free from depression. Its when I STOPPED taking it that I find that I am a wreck.

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DIANE
February 17th, 2009 - 20:17

I’m a little concerned, I started taking cymbalta 4 months ago for anxiety. Although Im calmer, I sleep way too much, and Im either constipated or have diarreah. Not to mention how expensive it is. Im gonna come off 60mg daily, the pharmacist says every other day etc…the doc…says reduce mg. I want the eaisist way off, I won’t be able to deal with the dizzies well. And Im worried what it will do to my blood pressure. Im very nervous already just thinking about it….any suggestions….

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tez
February 19th, 2009 - 10:38

I’m in day eight of coming cold turkey off this crap. I wouldn’t advise it to anyone. The dizzy spells are torturing, although not getting worse, so maybe that’s a sign i’m getting over the hill. I think these things are highly addictive. Oooo, what was it my doctor said to me? “They’re not addictive, but you can become dependant on them”. I’m pretty sure that’s the exact same thing.

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Ethel
February 23rd, 2009 - 01:06

Hi all, it’s me again and I’m here to tell you that I am FINALLY back to my old self…I’ve been off the Cymbalta now for more than 9 weeks and I guess I haven’t had any more horriable side effects ( brain zaps, diarreah, nausea) for about 3 weeks.

Let me tell you all what I did or should say I took that really helped me… I went to the Health food store and asked for the highest anitoxident that they had which was the Aucai 100 juice.. I took an ounce in the morning and an ounce in the evening…I started feeling better within 2 days … I kid you not…I had energy back, I had mental clarity back, I still had some nausea but nothing like before…the diarreah stopped too. I truly believe that the Aucai 100 juice was what helped… Hey it’s worth a try right?? It helped to rid my body of all the posion that was in there.
I will NEVER recommend Cymbalta to anyone and have become the biggest Advocate against it that you have ever heard…I told my Dr. just what I thought about it and you know what he said???, Well, it’s a miracle drug for some.. I said yeah untill they want to go off it, then it becomes a nightmare drug….
I also contacted the FDA and filled out a form telling them what I was going through, then I called the manifacture and let them have it…They told me I came off it to fast…Ha I didn’t come off it to fast at all. I did just what they told me to do…I also told the manifacture that I felt they didn’t do enough study on how to get people off it before they put it on the market…

So there you have it..It has taken me a good 2&1/2 months to get off it and back to my old self.. So there is a light at the end of the tunnel just stay the course and don’t give in to the thought of just going back on it to stop the side effects!!! Don’t do it… Keep on keeping on you’ll get there and you’ll be glad you stuck it out!!! Go to the Health food store and try the Aucai 100 juice.. It helped me…Good luck…I’ll check in to see how ya’ll are doing. Tell me if anyone else trys the Aucai juice and if it helped them too I’m courious…Ethel

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- Ang
  September 8th, 2009 - 19:13
  
  Thank you for this post. I have been off for about 4 weeks…and am feeling better BUT was wondering how long it would take to really feel 100 percent ME… or if I every would feel like myself again. zaps are few and far between (sometimes days go by without a zap)… still irratible…but not as bad. sweating has stopped…hot flashes are mostly gone. my brain feels like mush. BUT ALL better than trying to go off cymbalta without the 2 week help of prozac. that was a great plan by my doc. I also want to encourage people to ween off cymbalta properly. This stuff can really mess you up. I pray that God will help everyone dealing with this withdrawal. it is tough.
  
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Tez
February 23rd, 2009 - 05:46

Going to go and get some of that juice now. Will let you know how I go.
Thanks Ethel.

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Quincy
February 23rd, 2009 - 13:05

Ethel, I will try that juice too. I am feeling better but anything will help. Also, I was in one of those research studies that is how I got introduced to this drug, Cymbalta. They didn’t give a rats ass about me when it was time to get off. It is so expensive so getting it for free was great then I was left trying to wean off. My dr gave me samples they helped until they were gone. I don’t think they do studies/research on getting off drugs. That is why dr always say it was a “miracle drug” for some. Bull! It was a miracle drug for me until I tried to get off of it. I almost convinced myself I would have to be on Cymbalta for the rest of my life then I am going to a mental health therapist and a separated acupuncturist that tell me everyday I can be free of the symptom of depression and the deal with the root cause WITHOUT DRUGS. I believe them and I am tired of being on antidepressants. I am on a cleanse right now so that Acai Juice will come in handy.

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Ethel
February 23rd, 2009 - 16:03

Quincy
Stay the course…. Don’t let anyone get you off course…You can be DRUG free and feel good too…Please let me know how you get along,. I feel so good now and I wonder why I didn’t fo this sooner (yrs.ago) I have been on antidepressants of one kind or another for years; Cymbalta being the last of those..for ever the last…My Dr. tried again to get me on another antidepressant and told him no way…So he’s fine with that too. No more mind altering drugs is what I told him!! Good luck and let me hear from you again soon on your recovery walk…. I hope that Aucai 100 juice helps you ….Ethel

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mac
February 24th, 2009 - 14:33

I was given this medication by my so called boyfriend, he would put in my drinks/coffee creamer. I as coming off this cold turkey. Help I need too know what to do. I have all the side effects. Hair coming out, dreams that seems so real, aches in elbow, teeth, pain in jaw. I’m at my son’s trying to get better, not easy any info will help.

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marylo
February 27th, 2009 - 22:19

please help I have never had any addictions to drugs\Am I being classified as a addicted person

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deb
March 9th, 2009 - 14:17

I am also going to try quitting this drug.I was put on this and xanax in July for anxiety and mild depression. I found out how addicting the xanax is when I tried to just stop the 3mg dose and got really sick. So I am slowing decreasing by .25mg a week and it’s going good. I am down to 1.5mg with no ill effects.The reason I came to this website is I noticed an increase in memeory problems and stumbling my words. Last week I drove thru a stop sign and decided this is enough!I am doing the decrease by 20mg (on 60mg dose) and hopefully will avoid horrible side-effects by exercise, colon cleanse and natural supplements. Wish me luck!

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susie
March 9th, 2009 - 17:51

I have been coming off Cymbalta for approx. 5 1/2 wks. now. I stopped cold turkey. Yes, Cymbalta worked at first. I noticed many symptoms for beginning Cymbalta had returned when I decided to stop taking it. I have never experienced as many withdrawal symptoms from an antidepressant as this. I fear even taking a few particles from the capsule to ease the withdrawal for fear of going through all this again. I have head aches that make me want to butt my head into the wall. General malaise,not usual for me, at all, dizziness, achey muscles and stomach distress. My guess no one can tell when and if these symptoms will stop. My advice, never take this drug,find something else.

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Traci
March 11th, 2009 - 15:37

I only took cymbalta for about three months, but I recently started to feel like it wasn’t really helping me much anymore (I actually somewhat question whether it had ever really helped me at all). Since I was almost out of it anyway, I decided not to bother getting any more. It’s only been about a week and a half since I stopped taking it, but I feel like absolute crap. At first I didn’t attribute my ’sickness’ to withdrawl, because I legitimately had the flu the week before last, but even after I got over the flu stuff, for the last week, I have been feeling nauseous every day, pretty much all day long, I have had horrible indigestion (heartburn, sour stomach, occaisional diarreah), been tired all the time, and am having horrible headaches every day. My husband thinks I’m just making all this up, but I swear I’m not. I don’t even want to eat lately just because I know I’m just going to feel like throwing up no matter what I eat. I couldn’t figure out what the problem could be, then I remembered reading about all the horrible side effects of the Cymbalta (I almsot decided not to start taking it – I now wish I would have stuck to that desision), and remembered some of the posts I’d read discussing withdrawl symptoms. Does anyone have any idea how long these particular symptoms are expected to last? My dosage was 30 mg a day, btw, and I stopped cold turkey.

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- Teresa
  September 25th, 2009 - 21:47
  
  Traci,
  I was just wondering if you are still having the withdrawl symptoms from the cymbalta? I quit 3 days ago *per my dr’s orders* and I am scared these withdrawls are never going to go away after reading all these stories.. SO do you still have them?
  Thanks
  
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Anonymous
March 26th, 2009 - 21:13

I have been reading many posts about cymbalta. i too have been on anti depressans for five years now. I can honestly say that my life went from bad to worst. It did nothing but add an extra load of hardship for me. I have had such bad experiences with horrible dr. Dr. who are irresponsible. Like telling me to stop cold turkey. How is that aiding in my recovery? I agree, I too suffered from a long battle of drug and alcohol abuse, and now i have to battle this as well. It’s an awful feeling even after a day or two of not taking it, but I have no choice. I’m really scared i’ll give in, and never escape the clutches of this evil medication, but yes, somehow-someway, this too shall pass.

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Ethel
April 10th, 2009 - 11:07

Well I’m back on here again, to give ya’ll the latest on my progress. I was doing GREAT till last week..Some of the side effects raised their ugly heads and came rainning down on me…What a horrible surprise.. Totally out of the blue… I have been sick to my stomach and throwing up …(& No, I’m not sick with a stomach virus)…This is diffinetly from withdrawel it’s just a different kind of sick, don’t know how to explain it… I also have had a couple of brain zaps again and I’m not sleeping again… I’m real down and depressed…I just can’t imagine that after 6 months of being totally off this stuff that I would have like a little withdrawl relapse…I hope this doesn’t happen often!!! I told my husband that this Cymbaltia has totally , totally, messed up my brain and that I hoped they do something about it for other people….He said well, everyone reacts different and maybe your just one who will be bothered by it forever…OH GREAT..thanks for that thought right??? He meant no harm….He was just sharing “his” thoughts…. Yeiks…So there you have it…I’m still getting side effects..sorry to tell ya’ll that, but thought I should. doen’t be surprised if it happens to you….Ethel

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Sandy
April 29th, 2009 - 15:29

I did not mean to go off my cymbalta, i ran out last Thursday, I am a busy mom so i did not do anything about it over the weekend. But on Sunday just 3 days off I have been having horrible stomach problems, I thought I had food posioning. I also have had the brain shivers, and dizziness. I did not go pick up my RX because I felt so horrible. Now that I have read all these comments I know my body is going into major withdrawls. I only take 20mg a day. I’m horrified to learn how bad things have gotten. I can only imagine how the rest of you must feel taking higher doses of it. You have opened my eyes, i will not allow myself to take a higher dose, but i will try to wean off the medicine as well.

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Diana
May 6th, 2009 - 00:01

I went to my GP today and asked that I reduce my Cymbalta 60mgs with the aim of eventually becoming drug free. He is of the impression that I need to be on antidepressants for the rest of my life. I disagree. I had a nervous breakdown 18 months ago, have been having regular counselling, and have some very supportive family and friends. By putting a positive routine in place every day, including regularly eating, eating healthy stuff, and exercising a little every day, I am feeling heaps better. I was on Prozac but have been on Cymbalta 60 mgs for six months. Reading some of the comments on this site has helped me to decide that I need to cut down the dose. I will halve the capsule contents and see how it goes. I expect some withdrawals, but know that I can work through them, because there seems to be light at the end of the tunnel. I have also been taking fish oil tabs, vitamin B and a multi vitamin every day ( I am a 47 year old working female). I also went to the health food store (the chemist was no help) and purchased “Health Fusions’s stress and anxiety” tabs (abit expensive at $26.95 for 30 tabs, but I take them if I feel a bit jittery and seem to be okay. I feel I have worked hard in therapy to put strategies in place, and now am able to identify triggers, and know that what is in the past needs to stay in the past. I also know (although it is often hard) that I need to just get stuck into things, not think about them too much. Like exercise. Sometimes I lie in bed in the morning thinking I don’t want to go for a walk then think “just do it” and I get out of bed real quick and am walking around the block before I have time to argue with myself. This is made a tad easier by having my Ipod ready at the door, so I can grab it a keep pace with the music.
Anyway, I’m just sharing some of the things that have helped me, hoping that they might help others. I know, having lived most of my life and some of my depression and anxiety without emotional support, that we all need to be true to ourselves, and this can be hard. I will be slicing capsules in the morning and will let you know how it goes. To all of you fighting with depression, anxiety, withrawals and life’s general crap (not to say that life is crappy!!), keep well, follow your gut feeling, and keep supportive people around you, even if it is via a website.

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Emily
May 11th, 2009 - 19:10

So I have been on cymbalta for three weeks now. The doc I saw weaned me off lexapro and put me on cymbalta at the same time. I just upped my dose of cymbalta 3 days ago to 60 mg. I feel horrible. I got up this morning, got in the shower and the tears just poured on and on. It has been so bad that I have been terrified of staying at home alone with my five month old daughter. I have constant brain zaps and I feel completely depressed (which I did NOT before this medicine). I am dizzy all the time, have to force myself to eat, and all I want to do is sleep to make “it” pass. This is horrible. To make things worse, my doc is out of the country….i am going to see a new doc tom., I just don’t know if I should take a pill tonight or not?!?!? I’m terrified!!!!

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Connie
May 15th, 2009 - 19:50

I started taking cymbalta abut a year and a half ago. The latest attempt at coping with “generalized anxiety” disorder. After 6 months of taking 60mg a day I was found to have diabetes. Since I had taken effexor for 3 years prior to that, I wasn’t sure if that may have caused it. I know it could be from something other than ssri’s but but it seems like many others have experienced the same rise in blood glucose after a while on these meds. I am currently weaning myself off of the cymbalta and am taking 1 every other day as of 4 days ago. I do have the elevator head/ brain jello effect and have noticed a higher level of crankiness. I may be irritable because I just want to know if I can ever live an adjusted life without the use of meds. I like the idea some of you spoke about the cleansing and the anti-oxidents. That makes sense and I am going to look into that. I also am interested in a natural health food product that can take the place of ssri’s for anxiety. We just have to be so careful because many of these health and natural remedies do not require fda regulation. Of course ssri’s require fda approval and look at the many stories of negative experiences with these products! Will check back later and I truly, truly wish you all the gift of health and easy healing!

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Dawn
May 31st, 2009 - 18:14

I’ve had chronic pain in my back for a few years now and as a result, I tend to get depressed. My doctor told me that Cymbalta was a good choice for me so I’ve been taking it for about 2 years. Within a week, I felt better. The level of pain was reduced and I found myself singing and feeling happy for the first time since I hurt my back. I was already on medicine for high blood pressure and didn’t know that Cymbalta would increase my BP even more. My doctor doubled the dosage of BP medicine and added a 2nd pill to help stabilize it. I take pain medicine, a muscle relaxer and Synthroid because I had thyroid cancer. I stopped singing a while back & about a month ago, I started to sweat profusely. I never had that happen before so I talked to my doctor & was advised that it could be hot flashes. Since then, I’ve had extreme muscle aches & noticed a loss of concentration. I figured the problems were being caused by the Synthroid because it was the only thing new in the equation. What finally caught my attention was when I went to the store to pick up my refill, the pharmacist gave me a print out saying that the combination of medication I was taking could cause psychosis. I started doing research & found out that most of my symptoms are caused by the Cymbalta. I’ll take the brain zaps & dizziness in exchange for the temporary happiness.

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Jennifer
June 6th, 2009 - 12:48

This is refreshing to hear people helping each other get off of this stuff. I just wanted to say I have been on this drug for years because of rheumatoid arthritis. I have spent the past 3 years doing extensive research on diseases such as cancer, autoimmune disorders, diabetes 1 & 2, AIDS, heart, and depression among many others. I found the main thing in common with ALL disease is diet and spirituality (or self love) so I am in the process of doing an overhaul on my life I feel like for the first time in a very long time I feel hopeful. I am converting to a completely RAW FOOD diet. I have been on it about 2 weeks and I already feel 20 again. My RA symptoms are almost gone its crazy I wish someone would have told me this so long ago. Anyway I want to share this here to help. I am now trying to wean off this evil cymbalta…EXTREMLEY difficult. I feel as if I am having a heart attack, dizzy , trouble breathing, its scary. i am on 30 mg now and want to go off but the side affects are tough.. anyway if anyone has any addvice please share….thanks!

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Sue
June 14th, 2009 - 13:11

I too have RA with fibromyalgia.I never knew that cymbalta was actually prescribed for RA? Or is it? Anyway, I have been on effexor since 2003 and was then put on cymbalta 30 mg which seemed to do alright for a while. Then I was put on the 60 mg and everything changed. Nightsweats, nightmares (strong and vivid), felt euphoric but made a lot of financial mistakes feeling that way. I started clenching my teeth worse than before and then started sucking my jaws in while I was asleep and would bite down on them. My dentist showed me all the sores in my mouth caused from biting my jaws at night. At the present time, I have been weaning off of the 60; however, I jumped to the 30 mg and then started by taking it everyday, then everyother day, etc. I have only been doing this for 3 weeks and I am going through pure “hades.” I have cussed more people out than I have in my life (that is a terrible thing to say but it is true); if I drive, I am having road rage so I try not to. I have been sleeping quite a bit and I have brain woozes (I call them) along with knocking. I thought Woody Woodpecker had come to visit and it was frightening to know that it was coming from my brain. I am anxious, irritable, nervous and my blood pressures goes up and down but my pulse rate is staying high. I can’t read because everything is blurry although I have noticed that my eyes are not as drying coming off of cymbalta. Just thought I would post something because I was astonished when I got to this site and found out that I was experiencing what so many others were. I have been on antidepressants most of my life and have NEVER experience anything this difficult to wean off of. Also, I wanted to let some people know that if they absolutely have to stay on the drug, just because there isn’t a generic in the USA doesn’t mean that there is not one other places. Look up http://www.canadadrugs.com and you will find that there are generics and if you have to stay on a certain drug, then you will find that the price difference is about 3 to 1. I also pay for my own medications and although my doctors have kept me in samples for the most part, I have had to go there to order some things and have had no trouble. My doctor told me it was the exact same thing. Anyway, I got off the subject and didn’t mean too but I also know how expensive it is to buy cymbalta in the US. Anyway, I really just wanted to relay that I too was having difficulty weaning off of them and really won’t know if I will have to go back on anything until this process is over. I haven’t known my true self in at least 6 years and would like to see if I can handle life without antidepressants. If I can’t, then I don’t know. We will just have to see but I refuse to go on cymbalta 60mg ever again!

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Ethel
June 15th, 2009 - 03:12

Hey everyone…
Well it’s been a couple of months since I’ve posted. Last post I said I had a mini relapse of the withdrawel symptoms. That was the only one I had since then all’s well in my physcial body, except that in my last blood test it showed I had to many red blood cells..Not sure if this is the same as others that have posted about their blood work??? I’d love to hear from you about it. Also my mind is still not back to it’s normal self. I have crazy thoughts that go through my head and I’m more depressed than I used to be. I’m able to decern so that’s a good thing, as long as I know that these thoughts are not normal then i can fight them. I WILL NOT ever go on another anti depressant or mind altering drug so don’t even suggest it…Well just an update hope you others are feeling physicaly better too. Love to know how your doing mentaly too…Ethel

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Kevin S
September 7th, 2009 - 13:42

I have been taking Cipralex for 1 month (5mg) and I feel worse than before. I suffer from S.A.D. and I am now weening myself off of this drug. I am taking up meditation and may even start going to a church. (I know, I know anyways…..)
I know I WILL beat this thing the sad thing is I know there is people out there who really need help. I have family support and a very close friend who is there for me., even though when i was drinking one evening I got mad and almost hurt him. DO NOT DRINK WHEN TAKING CIPRALEX……..NOT AT ALL. I ALMOST KILLED A PERSON.
Luckily this friend forgave me (25yr friendship) and now I do not drink at all. (I was a weekend drinker only…….not much)
DO YOUR HOMEWORK PEOPLE WHEN TAKING THIS STUFF……….AND THERE IS NATURAL HERBS U CAN USE – SEREDYN & ALSO OXYTOCIN try these instead. If needed in the future I will ………and natural is the ONLY way I will go.
YOU C A N BEAT THIS !! Lov from Toronto Canada

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Ethel
September 9th, 2009 - 10:40

Gosh thought i’d check in again to see how everyones doing…Seems we have a whole bunch of newbies to this place…Scary isn’t it??? I have been off Cymbalta since novemeber of 08..Well at least that’s when i decided to go off it with my drs. help i might add. I have to say the physcial effects have all deminished but I have not been able to get a real grip on my mind…I’m wondering if others are experiencing this too? I feel like I’m about to crack up…Everything is so overwhelming to me EVERYTHING from the stupidest things…I can’t handle any stress in the least…I have withdrawn into my self and to tell you the truth I feel like i’d like to just run….I have weird thoughts at times and I think who have i become??? where is the girl i used to be??/ I used to be happy go lucky …my son said yesterday, Mom what is wrong with you? What is up with you? your not yourself…I said I don’t know and yes i know i’m not myself…i could cry at the least little thing…I’m depressed that i know but i will not go back on antidepressents…I feel their what has caused all this to begine with…I won’t do drugs or alochol.. so i try to deal with this every day. anyone out there having this too? After being off Cymbalta for at least 6-9 months? I’d love to hear form you if you are and what you are doing about it…Thanks…Ethel

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- Quincy
  September 10th, 2009 - 06:16
  
  Ethel, Its called depression. I’ve been off of cymbalta since Feb ‘09. I too have the same issues you have. I know its the depression rearing its ugly head. Try exercise, getting out, keeping stress low as low as possible, also stay away from high simple carbs (sugary stuff, breads, pasta) or keep carbs fairly moderate to low. You can stay of meds but your life will never be as it was before the depression. I know it because this is my life now. I struggle everyday with not going back to how it was in deep depression. I can take this but not being able function and my kids seeing me cry everyday was hard. Now I still cry but I can now at least take showers and fix my hair brush my teeth unlike it was when I was in the major depression. I hope you feel better. Take it slow. It is not the cymbalta now its just depression. Read noondaydemon when you can lots of stories of depression. I chose not to take meds after the cymbalta and I had to stop working, socializing but I can take care of my kids and myself and I think that is the best thing ever that I am still alive and I didn’t kill myself like I wanted to so many times. I wish you well.
  
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- Teresa
  September 25th, 2009 - 21:39
  
  Ethel, I hate the cymbalta too, I am on my 3rd day of the withdrawls from quitting cold turkey.. But there are other meds out there that wont make you feel so shitty after quitting them. I have taken prozac, lexapro, paxil, wellbutrin, trazadone, and effexor and those didnt give me ANY withdrawls when I quit them. .. well except for the effexor.. The effexor sucks like the cymbalta.. I think its just these new meds the DR’s love to shove down everyones throats.. If I were you I would try the first ones I wrote about.. They actually do work.. They worked great on me, until they found out I was bi polar as well and wanted to change it all up.. They also have Abilify out now which can help you with depression if taking one of those meds I mentioned above.. I wouldnt trust the effexor or cymbalta though.. But if you have depression, somtimes its NOT best to go without any meds at all.. You need to find a good balance so you are not having the chemical embalance in your brain. Good luck
  
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Teresa
September 25th, 2009 - 21:27

My psychiatrist took me off Cymbalta 30 milligrams once daily *cold turkey* to put me on Lamical for depression and bipolar. It has been 3 days and right about now I hate her. I am miserable. I feel like I have been ran over by a bus, my head feels like its going to roll off my shoulders and my legs are like rubberbands. I have been crying for the past 7 hours.. and I mean balling my eyes out over nothing. Everything feels hopeless and I dont give a crap about anything right now. I just want to feel better and I am extremely pissed that she took me off cold turkey instead of weaning me off.. This is a serious medication and people should be aware of the affects of coming off of it. The only solution my psychiatrist had when I called her today was she gave me a RX for 4 *four* prozac pills to take away the withdrawls.. I am beginning to think she is fking retarded. What are four pills going to do when I am going out of my mind and people are having months of withdrawl symptoms after quitting the cymbalta.. I think tonight I am going to the ER before I end up losing my mind completely. All of this extreme crying and panic attacks is rediculous now that I see she could’ve lowered my doses and weaned me off.. What a bit**.

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Rose
October 8th, 2009 - 20:44

……Think my head is swimming all the time. It’s been a couple of week since I been with it. I have been waiting on my meds from the company, I get them on the assistance program. Cymbalta helped some for my fibro for the last few years. I have given up having a full filling sex life, had the sweats, summer is always horrible, and other no so lovey experiences with the drug. I am now experiencing all these horrible symtoms everyone is reporting. Since I am so far into not having any cmybalta, and after reading about all the horrible things, I gonna continue to ween myself off. Hoping to get my life and mind back. I think cymbalta has a lot of “skeletons in the closet” and I think all us suffers need to let the public know about this. There not enought info or testing about the side effects of this drug. I think cymbalta better be saving up for some lawsuits down the road. Don’t think I want be the first one to sign up. MY prayers to everyone, stay strong.

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Rose
October 8th, 2009 - 20:45

Sorry for my off wording in my comment…..as ya’ll know, my mind ain’t all here these days………..

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southgoingzax
October 13th, 2009 - 13:18

Oh people of cymbalta withdrawal,

I am one of you – I am so pissed right now…mad at myself, for taking the pills, mad at the NP for prescribing them – NO ONE should take this crap. I have only moderate depression, not suicidal, functioning, etc., and my therapist talks me into believing I have been depressed my whole life and that maybe anti-depressants will help. Started in May on Lexapro – all I wanted to do was sleep ALL the time, until night-time, and then my brain wouldn’t shut off. So then I was prescribed Ambien to help me sleep and I started to feel like the old lady that swallowed the fly.

Anyway, the Lexapro made me so sleepy, that when the NP said to double the dose (and it was EXPENSIVE!!!), I did for a couple of days and then said no way, I can’t live like this – before I was on any medication I was getting up and going to the gym 3x a week and now all I do is sleep. So the NP talked me into switching to cymbalta – oh dear god!

I wish I had never started taking the stupid drug – I am in Hell. The first thing I noticed was a constant low grade headache – all the time, even on the 30mg. And my sleep was still disrupted. After 2 weeks the NP told me to go up to 60mg. I did, stupidly, because she suggested to me that I was being overly sensitive about the side effects. I only took 60 mg for 4 days, and could not stand the side effects – seriously, how is anyone supposed to be happy with the dizziness, nausea, and headaches? So I quit taking them, about two weeks ago – and even though I was on the medication for less than 3 weeks, I got so sick, I had to call the NP, in tears, because I could not handle feeling so crappy – I mean, I have a job, I need to be able to work, and I had been sick for days – brain was jello, constant headache, nausea, diarrhea, hot and cold flashes, vertigo….I could not function, all because of some stupid drug I shouldn’t have been on in the first place.

I stopped the 60mg dose on Sept. 27. I had to take a 30 mg capsule on the 1st of October because I could not handle the sickness….and now I am taking 15 mg every other day or every three days – but I want off so bad…I feel pissed because I was on it for such a short period of time, I shouldn’t have such bad withdrawal symptoms, but I do, and now I have to keep taking a drug that makes me feel bad to keep me from feeling worse. What a sick thing that is to do to someone.

All I want is to feel like my old self again. The melancholy I can handle, because at least I felt physically well and I could do all the things I wanted to do – now, it’s a struggle just to get out of bed in the morning.

This drug should be pulled from the market. Or only used as a last, last resort. I was not told about the potential intensity of the side effects. It’s awful.

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Quincy
October 13th, 2009 - 13:40

southgoing,

Don’t be angry at yourself. You did what we all did. We started taking the meds because we THOUGHT it would make us feel better…gives us something we thought we were missing. Did it feel like the story about the sage and the goat? Do you feel better after getting rid of the med goat? Do you appreciate your life more? I know I do. I have LOTS of issues but I feel I have less now that I am med free. I think meds made me feel MORE suicidal.

Here is the story from Noonday Demon: The first story is that there was once was a poor family that lived in misery and squalor, nine of them sharing one room. No one had enough to eat, everyone’s clothes were in rags and their life was one of utter, unrelenting misery. Finally one day the man of the house set off to visit the sage and said to him, “Great sage, we are so miserable that we can barely stay alive. The noise is terrible, and the filth is awful, and the lack of privacy could kill a person. We never have enough to eat, and we are all beginning to hate one another. Things are just horrendous. What should we do?” The sage replied simply, “You must get a goat and have the goat live inside the house with you for one month. Then your problems will be solved.”

The man looked at the sage in astonishment. “A goat? You want us to live with a goat?” But the sage insisted, and since he was a very wise sage, the man did as he had been told. For the next month, the hellish life of this man’s family was beyond intolerable. The noise was worse; the filth was worse; there was nothing remotely resembling privacy; there was nothing to eat since the goat kept eating everything; and there were no clothes because the goat ate everyone’s clothes as well. The rancor in the house became explosive. At the end of the month, the man returned to the sage in a fury: “We have lived for one month with a goat in our hut,” he said. “It has been horrendous. How could you have given us such ludicrous advice?”

The wise man nodded sagely and said, “Now get rid of the goat and you will see how peaceful and sublime your lives are.”

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- southgoingzax
  October 13th, 2009 - 15:36
  
  HI quincy,
  
  well, that’s true. It is a goat. A nasty, stinky goat.
  
  I am still working to get off the medication – I would quit cold turkey if I knew I would only be sick for a couple of days – but I don’t think anyone can tell me that for sure – my plan is to go as long as I can without any, then take as low a dose as I can…I spent an hour this morning dividing the capsules into 12mg, 10 mg, 8mg, and 6 mg doses.
  
  I do value my “old” life, my old self, more now. I mean, yes, I was mildly depressed, but god, at least I had energy to do things, at least I could sleep through the night, at least I didn’t have a headache ALL the time.
  
  I guess I am mad at myself because the decision to go on meds went against my better judgment – I succumbed to the idea that a pill mihgt fix what was “wrong” with me. Bad idea.
  
  But thank you for your comments, it’s nice to know I am not alone in this, at the very least, although I am sorry anyone else has to go through this.
  
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kim
October 26th, 2009 - 13:49

Oh my Gosh, I am so glad I found this site. I tried to get off my 60 mg cymbalta one am and one pm. 120 mg a day. two days ago cold turkey, was fine well, went to work today . I am nauseated, dizzy, having terrible dreams, shaking like crazy and feel like I have a tense unit on my whole body. While on I had no sex drive. I feel like my brain is not mind, what the hell. I just took one, hopoe I start feeling better. I will start doing one a day for a week then half the capsule, like some have said for a week, then half that for a week. I am drinking gallon water a day, help clean my system out. Oh my gosh, do not take if you are not on yet, what the crap, can not spell or think right.

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Pierra
December 13th, 2009 - 01:22

Wow, it is so nice to know that I am not alone whilst going through the dramas of getting off Cymbalta. Starting the drug I thought would be the answer to the anxiety and mild depression I suffered, however now I feel worse than how I felt before I started. After talking to some friends and my boyfriend who have all been supportive of me, they all said that they have noticed the difference whilst I have been on this drug. No positives at all!! So I have decided to stop it cold turkey. Today is day three of me not taking the regular dose of 60mg per day.. My heads spinning, im in a daze, I feel sick, just like most of you who have written in expressing their side effects. I dont want to “ween” off as I am petrified that taking one more “happy pill” will only make me consider that I should do so everytime I have a weak moment of what I am now understanding to be “withdrawals”. I am scared that I am damaging my brain, my body and the people who love me and that not following the proper precautions will only make me and the situation worse, I was at a loss as to what to do. However I have found you all and now know that there are people out there who can relate. I will keep a regular post of my attempt to get off this nightmare of a drug. Thank you to all of you for you insight and honesty. Ethel and Quincy – you guys rick and I hope all works out for you both!! Cheers

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Teacher
January 13th, 2010 - 23:32

I have been off of cymbalta now for just a week. I have had the brain shocking noise in my head and ears, the frequent and loose stools and I am having headaches off and on. I teach and I now notice I try to retrieve a word and it isn’t there. That is all so scary. I went on Cymbalta a year and a half ago after being told by a psych. that my Lexapro wasn’t holding my depression.
I was going through a terrible divorce for a year. I hate the day I started Cymbalta. I haven’t been on anything in my life for depression. I gained twenty pounds on this crap and I also have the sweating thing dispite of being mostly through menopause.
I agree with many of you this should not be on the market.
I thank those of you who told us to take a natural substance to rid the body, I will do that. Am I afraid of the next few days, weeks and God forbid months to get this out of my body Yes a million times. I hope I can drive safely cause I too have moments where I may not stop when I should. I do know that if something happens to me my family will come back on the manufacturer of this product.Good luck to all of you and I will keep you in my prayers.

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rsd
January 16th, 2010 - 08:45

I suffer from rsd and was put on cymbalta for nerve pain. At 60 mg a day. I was on cymbalta for only 2 months when I started having low grade fever, and the worst all over body rash and itching you could imagine. The doctors came to the conclusion that I had developed an allergic reaction to the cymbalta. Needless to say I had to get off that crap. Its now been 2 weeks and after getting off the cymbalta cold turkey, today is the first day I didnt feel like I was going to die. I can tell you, I still have the rash nothing seems to be helping that, and low grade fever comes and goes. It just goes to show how long this drug stays in your system. However, I had motion sickness so bad that I couldnt even look at a tv. sick to my stomache all the time. I could not even get out of bed the first 10 days or the room would spin. I couldnt even make it to my doctors appointments because I was so sick. and I cried hysterically for days. This was the worse withdrawl I had ever had. I Treat everyone around me with actual hate in my eyes, I dont think ive said a kind word in weeks to anyone and I dont seem to be able to control what comes out of my mouth.I cant believe these withdrawl symptoms arent put as a warning on the phamphlet, so that the doctors can be made aware. This is wrong and its hard to get people and doctors to believe what you are going thru when there is nothing to back you up.

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Kimberly
January 19th, 2010 - 00:05

Wow ! Everyone and this site Thank- You
bunches for posting your information,

It does help so many others
I really needed your info today,

It has been more than 2+ weeks now -0- ,
after taking Cymbalta daily for 3years,

Now I am asking / saying to myself

I don’t need this Cymbalta med, If I’m depressed
I will fix it myself……. I’m ok.. bla, bla…

A difinite wake up brain call thing for me.
My mind does not stop… can’t concentrate, focus or complete any one project.

Sometimes, that has been in a good way, other times….
I feel I am a big mental case>> ?

Yet, (As I would say to anyone saying the same, as I posted.
Is just an excuse… There are No excuses:

Get on with it and get it done…. whatever)

Almost 50, now duhhh My mom had thing since 16,
Always, I have said no way not understanding then,
I’m good stable etc.

Really, I do think many people although maybe other issues etc during their life.

Many People really do have (speaking for myself only) do
have some type of chemical imbalance, we are all not perfect
Vitamins, doob, diet, foods maybe> I have no idea..

As a kidd and even today…..
I always wanted to be anywhere or feel anything but straight.

Thanks everyone for your posts and great information, I am sure it took a lot of
courage to even share your info and write it.

Cymbalta versus ? ……..

Respectfully,
Kim
Indiana, USA

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Teacher
January 19th, 2010 - 23:25

Hey,
I am now off of Cymbalta for two weeks now and I really am doing better than I thought. I still have the brain zaps and I get a little down, but I must say facing 23 first graders each day, my loving husband who I don’t see but on week-ends and prayer has helped sooo much.
I never picked up my last perscript. for my Cymbalta. I still need to call and leave a message for my Dr. that I will not be seeing him. I hate to say it but, that is how the docs get you back by getting you on the meds.
Well, I hope everyone can hang on and keep the faith.

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- vane
  January 22nd, 2010 - 02:23
  
  Hi Teacher,
  Been off cymbalta for 8 days today, it was using it for fibromyalgia pain(buzz, brain zap), i was not depressed with my pain just in pain but a functional pretty much happy person. Know i am just extremely depressed, have crying spells, diarrhea, vomiting, uncontrolable anger, i have never call in for my job and i have not be able to work for 5 days. I hope this will go away i have never feel so miserable. Lets all fill the complaint to the FDA. They should disclose all this withdrawl symptoms, the last bottle i bought i was reading side effects and says nausea, vomiting and dizziness if it was just that.
  
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  - Teacher
    January 22nd, 2010 - 21:29
    
    Vane,
    
    So sorry to hear of all of your pain. Fibromyalgia runs in my family too.
    I probably to have it but it isn’t severe. How long have you been on the Cymbalta? I have been on it for a year and a half and the highest dose was 60 mg. I then was cut to 30 for a year. I then went off cold turkey.
    I recently broke a bone off in my foot and I have had alot of pain with that and almost every joint hurts along with my skin when I put on lotion. I don’t know if it is the withdrawal or fibro maybe entering my life. I went back on my natural remedies, like Glucosimine and vitamins. I took one day off for the cymbalta thing cause after reading everyone’s problems I was scared what would happen. Thank God I haven’t had the vomiting , I do cry more easily and am emoitional.
    I hope all goes better for you.
    
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dramateach
January 24th, 2010 - 10:52

i have only been on 30 mg fpr 6 days and i can’t stand it…all i do is sleep and i’m groggy…just not myself…called my pharmacist and she said to skip a day…but i think i’ll open the capsule…even though it’s only been 6 days…i just don’t like the way i feel and what i’m reading…i hope you guys feel better…i have arthritis and the insurance company keeps denying epidurals…so the pain and the stress has me a mess…so two doctors recommended this medication…i think i’d rather endure the pain at this point…thanks for your posts…

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