cymbalta side effects

Posted: 05/05/07 - 16:33 Post subject: Cymbalta
I've been reading about postings regarding stopping cymbalta and how the drug has been related to evil. From the postings I read, it seemed that noone consulted the prescribing doctor regarding weening themselves off of cymbalta. I believe this is imperative, trying to ween yourself off, by yourself is ridiculous, why wouldn't you consult your prescribing doc on the best way to do this? Further, for those of us who really do have a medical condition diagnosed as depression, why would we stop taking an antidepressant of any kind? My personal belief is that depression is the same condition as any medical condition and requires drug treatment. If a diabetic stops taking insulin, they probably start to become sick, it is because a diabetic has a medical condition which requires them to take some form of insulin. Depression is the same thing. If your body is not producing the correct chemicals for your brain to function normally, you begin to take a drug that starts to make it function normally, if you stop you may become sick. I say this because I have suffered from a brain imbalance resulting in depression for pretty much my entire life. I wouldn't even think about going a day without taking my prescribed meds from my doctor, who has studied this much longer than me. I know that if I stop taking them, my life all of a sudden isn't normal anymore. Duh. . .my brain needs an antidepressant in order for it to have the correct chemicals that are missing for it to function normally. Personally I'm glad that drug makers produce drugs like cymbalta. Ever since I started taking cymbalta, my aches and pains have completely gone away, and I rarely think about how desperate my life seems. For me, and I realize I have a disease, Cymbalta has been a godsend. So for all of you who claim it is a bad drug, maybe it is because you aren't using it properly, maybe it is because you are abusing it, and maybe it is because you should have never taken it to begin with. My personal opinion, and those who are truly affected with a brain chemical imbalance will contest, anti-depressants and the newer ones, which Cymbalta is, are not an evil conspiracy by the drug companies, they exist to help those who truly need them to get better!!!!!

At 30, I started taking Cymbalta after a small surgery for a cyst turned into a partial hysterectomy with the discovery of extensive damage to my reproductive system due to stage iv endometriosis. Since I had to take Lupron for the endometriosis putting me in chemical menopause and I was dealing with the loss of the dream of children of our own....Cymbalta was God-sent.

After five months, with doctor's guidance I started weaning off the 20 mg dose. Within days, I was not sure what was wrong with me. There were severe changes to my sleeping habits, my digestive system, but more distressing was the fuzzy-brain feeling and slight dizziness I experienced constantly. This were not subtle changes. They were drastic and impacting enough that people around me noticed something was seriously wrong. My doctor had never mentioned any possible withdrawal symptoms. And unfortunately, I did not ask. Thankfully, I work in a hospital and was able to get support and information. Support was important since I could have lost my job due to the severity of the symptoms.

Yes, you are right; you should NEVER stop taking ANY physician-prescribed medication without informing your physician. However, people are also correct about the horrible and disturbing withdrawal symptoms of Cymbalta. It worked wonders for me during those 5 months. However, had I known, I would have opted for another medication that causes less or no withdrawal or gone without any medication. I am not a physician, but I do realize when something is detrimental to my overall health. By knowing the possible withdrawal symptoms, I could have made an informed decision weighing the risks and benefits. It's a hard lesson I will not easily forget. Ask questions.

I agree. I have been on and off antidepressants since I was 17 years old. (I'm currently 32) I have taken Imipramine, Wellbutrin, Zoloft and Cymbalta. What I can say is this, your doctor should have told you that you should not drink alcohol when taking any antidepressant. I have heard that with each of the medicines that I have taken. And I can also say that I chose not to listen to the doctor and have continued to drink. With the Cymbalta (which I am currently on) I have paid the biggest price for drinking and taking the medication. I have found that I get black out drunk off of very little alcohol. I had not tied that into the medication, but now realize that it is a possibility. But as a person who has a Chronic Major Depression diagnosis, I can honestly say that the dealing with the depression is much worse than trying to go without a drink. (And I have a history of being a big drinker as well!) We have to be willing to give the medication a chance to really work...which means following the advice that our doctors originally gave us when they put us on these meds.

Dear anyone trying to get off Cymbalta,
(I have stopped and still struggling)

I feel this med nearly destroyed me, I got to a point where I couldn't function.. I was also taking Topamax at the time.
(i was wrecked after taking the combination for 7/8 months, and have taken 3/4 months to taper and stop.)
Please don't believe anyone who says its better than depression.. its NOT.

I was a zombie; too much sleeping, couldn't talk properly or find words, very forgetful (memory screwed, and i have a stressful job so had to write EVERYTHING down.. if someone told me 3 things and I didn't have a notepad, by the time they got to the 3rd note.. i have forgotten the 1st!!!!), sweating, couldn't exercise (no energy), vision problems (blurry vision. it DOESN'T get better with time.. don't believe anyone), put on weight (which I am struggling to lose and i'm active and not a very big person) and the worst... I withdrew from society to the point where I stopped leaving the house except for work, bad paranoia (people following me)... etc. pretty much lost all my friends.

I begged my p-doc to get me off or find another combination.. he was concerned about suicide and said lets "up the Topamax dosage".. i never went back to him.

Found new p-doc.. better now.. off Topamax and Cymbalta.
Taking Lamotrigine (generic) and although it has its own "things" its much better. (Bipolar II, Borderline Personality Disorder, Anxiety etc)

My advice for getting off Cymbalta:
take at night.
>If you are currently taking 60, open the Cymbalta capsules and take out a few granules at a time.
I mean 10 granules a week till you get to half.
(its a real irritating thing dividing up the granules but its worth it. Just keep going, it gets easier I promise!)
>Then ask p-doc for prescription for 30's.
Again, take out a few granules (1 or 2 a day) till you get to almost none.
Then stop and if you feel withdrawals (dizzy, tingly, brain zaps).. then take 3/4 granules right there and then and less the next time.
Also, take lotsa Omega 3's and Vit B's and tonsa water!

Withdrawals were so bad for me, i took 3/4 months to taper and have now only been free of it for 2 weeks (still have tingling hands and aching muscles, and a few scary brain zaps/swishes, some nausea).
So.. I went from 60 to nothing in 3/4 months! that is NOT quick.
and anyone who advises reducing the dosage faster is very wrong! the withdrawals are EXTREME!
If you are like me.. Don't go down by half, you will not be able to function.
SO... don't do big drops at a time (ie when I say take out 10 granules a week.. I mean like 1 or 2 less per day).. big jumps are not good.

Initially i tried to go from 60 to 40 in a week and i was a wreck; vertigo (really losing balance! and feeling like I was walking on a boat), aching, flu-like symptoms, vision problems, crazy brain zapping, and ITCHING feet!!! so bad i couldn't sleep, memory completely weird .. etc) there was MUCH MORE i am happy to forget. I don't know how I kept my job! That was another thing .. I was "punchy" I mean, argumentative,.. wanting to lash out.. hit something/one.. (bad).

Note: I take meds for Bipolar II, Borderline Personality Disorder, Anxiety, PTSD, etc.
: I was (until I stopped completely) on C/T for 1 year (It seemed to help for 2/3 months but I was a zombie after 7/8 months).. perhaps if you have been on it for less you could speed up the tapering just a little..

I strongly advise anyone to get off this drug (or not start it).. its not worth it.
My best to all!

arieln -- congrats to you on getting off Cymbalta!

After I posted in August I started my weaning and did what you did; split open the capsules and removed granules. At the time I began that process I was taking 20 mg every other day. So every other day I poured out granules, and every other time or so a little more (I eye-balled it vs. counting them). I took what was to have been my last little dose mid-September. I still the zaps a little more than was comfortable, still, and three days later took another tiny dose (kinda to tide me over), and that was the end of it. WHEW.

Good luck to those of you weaning! This forum helped me; I hope it helps you, too.

Guest wrote:

[size=9]Posted: 05/05/07 - 16:33 Post subject: Cymbalta I've been reading about postings regarding stopping cymbalta and how the drug has been related to evil. From the postings I read, it seemed that noone consulted the prescribing doctor regarding weening themselves off of cymbalta. As a 3 year cymbalta "addict" who has experienced accidental withdrawal on two occassions and as a medical office staff member, I can provide you with a little insight. Please understand that most physicians and therapist only know what the PDR, drug insert or the drug rep tells them about Cymbalta. None of these sources speak of the withdrawal and all speak very little of the severity of the side effects. Obviously the drug company does not want to lose sales. Many of the physicians do not understand, even when you tell them your experiences, the severity of the symptoms. Most don't have a clue as to how to manage withdrawal from this drug. The thousands of people who are reporting severe symptoms from withdrawal cannot be wrong, it's bad. Less than 1 in 100 of the postings I have read have had accepatable withdrawal experience. Don't get me wrong, it works well for severe depression and for extremity pain, but many people who are put on it for minor depression or first episodes do not need to be on it forever. The company needs to admit the problem and provide an adequate method for relief from the severe withdrawal. There are many people who stay on or return to the drug due to the withdrawal symptoms and that continues to line the drug companies pockets, so why would they care. There have been many reports of suicidal ideation during withdrawal, but no reports at least that we know of of successful suicides due to withdrawal from Cymbalta. That doesn't mean there haven't been any,rather, it may be that those investigating suicides do not realize the withdrawal effects and thus do not attempt to assign a relationship. When will the first such reports happen and how many deaths will it take for the company to wake up?

Cymbalta has lesser side effects when compared to some other antidepressants.These include Weakness,Nausea,Fatigue,Sexual difficulties etc.

My MD put me on Lexapro and after a month noticed no improvement. I started on Cymbalta almost 2 weeks ago at 30 mg for a week and am now on 60. I started on Tues, 4/15 with my heart throwing PVC's, which means it was skipping a beat. This am I had what presented just like a heart attack. SEVERE chest pain, unable to breathe much & sweating profusely. Went to the ER and they said my EKG looked ok, still having the irregular heartbeat. I just was wondering if this, the irregular heartbeat and severe chest pain, are possibly side effects? Any information is very welcomed. Thanks.

I have been on cymbalta for about a year now and I have been wanting to start tapering off. It has worked well for the depression and muscle pain in my back. My mother has fibromyalgia and while I have not been diagnosed, I injured my back about two years ago and since then I have chronic back pain and stiffness and cymbalta really helped with that. I have accidentally gone off the medication before because I was on vacation and forgot to pack it. The withdrawl symptoms are very strange and disorienting but I think I was able to cope by acknowledging that how I was feeling was due to the medication, and that I wasn't losing my mind! Initially I lost weight when I started the medication, probably because I was no longer depressed, but overtime I have gained weight slowly and it has been difficult to lose, even with me exercising 5 times a week and watching what I eat. (I'm a Marine!) I have probably gained 15 lbs and I have noticed that my gut looks bloated. I have been at this weight before and it didn't look this big. I have even checked to see if I was pregnant several times! I do feel fuzzy at times on the medication. I have trouble sleepings and night sweats but I guess I have gotten use to it. If I miss a dose I know right away because I will have crazy, vivid dreams all night long! I don't have any blurry vision though. I know when I first started the medication, I felt really almost ADHD and I felt like I was clenching my jaw and my neck and throat felt tight... not the windpipe...more like the muscles on the side of my windpipe, if that makes sense, but that went away after about 2 weeks. I don't really know about the forgetfulness because I am forgetful anyways. I have noticed as the months have progressed my sex drive has decreased. I had initally switched to cymbalta from effexor because of the sexual side effects. Initially my sex drive went back up, but it has slowly tapered off to now I never think about it. Not that I don't want it, just that I could almost care less one way or the other. How long do the withdrawl symptoms last?
By the way, if anyone is wondering, when I went off drastically, I felt sick to my stomach most of the time because it felt like my brain was spinning, I would get weird eyes twitches, my hands would shake, I had this sensation that my brain was running a million miles a minute and I couldn't control it, I felt anxious and irratible. I wanted to eat alot, mainly to make my stomach feel better. The symptoms would ebb and flow which would be disorientating, because one minute I wouldn't really feel any and then the next it felt like my eyeball was twitching and I would be talking to someone and not want to look then in the eye. I would just say I had a headache. I would just explain to your loved ones and people around you whats going on, because I am guessing your work would think you are on drugs if you don't! What helped me is I would mentally talk myself down and try to calm myself when I was feeling weird by telling myself that it was just the medication, that my boyfriend was not being a jerk, that the room is not spinning, ect.

I have been on Cymbalta for about one month, and I have experienced
pvc's also, and I am calling my doctor tomorrow to get off of this. I think if you go on another medication you do not have to go through any side effects, because I was taking Effoxor ER, for about 2yrs. and the Doctor
game me a sample of Cymbalta and said to take it the next day.

I also just started taking Cymbalta three months ago. The first few weeks were rough. Blurry vision, insomnia, sweating, nausea and loss of appetite.All the side effect are now gone and this is the best ive ever felt mentally.
The only thing that has been effected is my sex drive. So I'm hoping that changes soon. Also, I take 60 mg a day.