I have to say that I'm really encouraged by just knowing that everything I'm feeling isn't "just me". Coming off of this drug has affected almost every facet of my life, but I am on my way to leaving it behind. It has taken me a month to drop down from 60mg to 30mg - I've been counting beads, as some other folks have done and started taking 3 fish oil capsules a day (per the instructions on the bottle). I'm going to give dramamine a try to help with the brain zaps - that's really the most distressing thing for me. Virtually any movement can bring them on, especially moving my eyes quickly, and with that comes a momentary disorientation.

I have two little girls, and it breaks my heart that simply trying to come off of this awful drug is robbing them of the mommy they need - but I will not let that continue to happen! (Sounds like a Scarlet O'Hara moment, huh? Well, I'm a born & bred southerner, so I guess it was bound to come out sooner or later :-D ) Some nights when I'm counting those vile little beads it just strikes me at how much suffering each tiny one represents. I'm angry at Eli Lilly - really, really angry. And I'm so sad for the desperation that I hear in so many of the posts on this site and elsewhere. It usually takes a lot for me to break down and cry, and reading about some of your experiences literally brought me to tears. I'm angry for all of us - I feel misled and I am going to rejoice when this monster drug gets yanked off the market - which I'm sure will be only a matter of time.

But I'm also hopeful - and for each bit of encouragement that is posted, thank you, thank you, thank you! We all need it, and we all need to hear that there is life after this experience.

I think we all owe it to ourselves & each other, not to mention the unsuspecting people who will be handed a prescription by their doctor, to make sure that we spread the word. Even if you do not feel compelled to return to the doctor who prescribed cymbalta, please consider writing, calling, emailing or whatever - they need to know what this drug REALLY does. They may not take what we have to say seriously - but maybe 5, 10, 25 or 100 complaints down the road they will recognize what we're dealing with.

Thank you for letting me vent - it feels great to let out a little of this indignation that I feel.

Prayerfully, hopefully & in anticipation of better days to come -

Teresa