Cymbalta withdrawal after 3 weeks.

I am 60 yr old female. I am weaned off 90 mg Cymbalta now for 3 weeks. Did what doc told me. Did not know to take it any slower. I broke my knee 1-2-13 and so have been dealing with that and brushed withdrawal symptoms aside. I have hot flashes daily, then cold chills. My mind is fuzzy, can 't think straight and have brain zaps daily. I have started crying again, and find myself thinking of the recent sad past of the last 2 years and it is starting to pull me under again. My doc is leaving his practice in 2 weeks so don't know if I should just tough it out for awhile yet or go back to him. He obviously didn't know how to wean me off this med in the first place. Not being able to walk with my broken knee and these other symptoms are more than I can handle. Please someone, what should I do ?

Rudnjack,

I am so sorry to hear what you are going through. Iam also in the process and found the brain zaps, dizziness, mood changes terrible so I started looking at what many people have done. Though I don't have the websites for a reference for you, this is what I am doing and it is working as I continue to go through withdrawal of this unacceptable drug.

My history is that I was on 60 mg for almost 3 years. I tried to get off the drug myself (and failed several times) because my insurance refused to cover it. But I would pay anything ($140 for 30 day supply) to stop the horrible withdrawal symptoms. My liver enzymes were changing and one doctor asked about how much alcohol I consume. Research showed me that not only was this medication hard to get off of, too expensive to stay on, but possibly and most likely damaging my liver.

That being said, 3 months ago I decided to end this horror. MY doctor prescribed 30 mg to begin the process. Then I tried to skip a pill every other day. However, once my brain wanted the chemical- zaps, sweats, inability to concentrate, fear, anger, and desperation set in regarding every aspect of my life.

Today is one week and I have very minor withdrawal symptoms. But that's because I looked into my options. This is my miracle (so far) of being free from the most horrible withdrawal symptoms I have ever felt.

1. Taking Fish Oil Omega 3- I take 2 in the morning, 2 in afternoon, and 2 in the evening. Brain zaps and head swirls are pretty much gone. I read you can start with 3/3/3 and just lessen the amount as time goes by.

2. Taking an ordinary, over the counter sleeping pill or Benedryl about every 4-6 hours. (25 mg diphenhydramine HC!). Yes, sleeping aids and Benedryl are the same. This counters all the anxiety.

3. A very last resort: dab of granules from a capsule of Cymbalta. I have enough Cymbalta sitting around only because I feared that I would have to turn to them as a last resort. But now that I am taking the fish oil and diphenhydramine, I don't need to rely on this. What I was doing was opening the capsule and wetting the tip of my finger, injest a tiny amount.

I would love to know if Fish Oil Omega 3 and the Benedryl works for you. Give them a day or 2 to get in your system and let me know if it is working for you. If so, we need to spread this around so others do not have to suffer.

Thanks

dteacher