It is day 7 for me and there seems to be no let up. I was on 60mg for 2 months for leg pain. I stop at my drs advice a lot he knows this awful
Folks,
Here is what I did. After 10 years on this stuff I went cold turkey. yeah I know a lot of you are going to tell me that I am really nuts; I have worked in the healthcare industry for over 15 so I had some pretty good advice. I had tried it before and went back on after about 2 weeks off due to the normal side effects.
So here is what I am doing differently this time.
1. Drammamine for Zaps
2. Benadryl to sleep and to calm the nightmares (I have some doozies from my time in Kuwait/Iraq)
3. St. John's Wort (for what it is wort) - That is a joke, laugh!
4. My wife's awesome hot salsa and chips on call 24/7 (Hot stuff releases endorphins which are good for you)
5. Taking a nap now and again
6. Fish Oil pills for Omega 3 and 6
7. Tons of B-12 (it is water soluble, so you cannot overdo it)
A great pastor who is also a sientist. Not one of those Scientology whackos, but a real scientist.
Let me know if any of this helps. I can be contacted via email if you have any other questions.
I am into my third week and while I feel like a retard running in honey at times, I am making it. I will not fail.
David
Here is what I did. After 10 years on this stuff I went cold turkey. yeah I know a lot of you are going to tell me that I am really nuts; I have worked in the healthcare industry for over 15 so I had some pretty good advice. I had tried it before and went back on after about 2 weeks off due to the normal side effects.
So here is what I am doing differently this time.
1. Drammamine for Zaps
2. Benadryl to sleep and to calm the nightmares (I have some doozies from my time in Kuwait/Iraq)
3. St. John's Wort (for what it is wort) - That is a joke, laugh!
4. My wife's awesome hot salsa and chips on call 24/7 (Hot stuff releases endorphins which are good for you)
5. Taking a nap now and again
6. Fish Oil pills for Omega 3 and 6
7. Tons of B-12 (it is water soluble, so you cannot overdo it)
A great pastor who is also a sientist. Not one of those Scientology whackos, but a real scientist.
Let me know if any of this helps. I can be contacted via email if you have any other questions.
I am into my third week and while I feel like a retard running in honey at times, I am making it. I will not fail.
David
I needed to get off of Cymbalta because it was exacerbating a newly diagnosed condition (lymphcytic colitis). I was instructed to do so over a 2 week period. My last dose was May 23. The dizziness is gone for the most part. I did not know to expect the other symptoms which I have been assuming is related to the colitis. I will try some of the suggestions. However, what about the headaches? Tylenol is just not doing it. Thanks.
jes
jes
I think I am just about there...completely free of Cymbalta! Celebrate!! On May 3 I decided to get off a number of meds for depression/anxiety. The Cymbalta is the hardest. I was on 60mg a day...and as many of you have noted, cymbalta can just stop working and you have to play with the dose up or down to achieve new, "better" results. Enough of that nonsense (for me anyway). I tapered down by skipping days in between doses. When the dizziness or other flu like symptoms hit, I would take another pill and begin the process again, trying to stretch more days in between doses. My dr prescribed 30mg, then 20mg caps to help me ramp down. Here I am almost two months later, and it has now been over a week since I have had any cymbalta at all. I have a lot of dizziness, some interesting mood swings 8-| , but I think I am almost home free. Free of cymbalta, and free to live my life with intention and NOT with numbness!
Good luck to any of you trying to do the same. Hang in there.
Good luck to any of you trying to do the same. Hang in there.
Adding Prozac, every other day, for a week can help. 20mg. Google; you'll see this is a tried-and-true method of helping with withdrawal. Good luck!
Try Prozac every other day for a week. 20mg. Google; you'll see this is a pretty standard method of easing withdrawal.
Good luck.
Good luck.
I was here reading all of this before right along withyou guys and I made it a point that I wanted to sucessfully withdraw from Cymbalta so I can come back here and give you guys hope :-) I weaned off of it every other day for 2 weeks and then every 3rd day for a week and i was done! When you feel a brain zap dont go reaching for the Cymbalta or you will NEVER get off of it. Instead go to bed early or do something to occupy your mind. I also took multivitamins and flaxeed oil and omega 3 fish oil pills tu supplement which I think helped a great deal. Now I have been completely off of it for 2 weeks and my next goal is to lose all the weight I gained! There is hope dont give in!
My psychiatrist had me tapering down gradually - then overlapping a couple of days at the end with the smallest dosage of chantix combined with Prozac which has a longer half-life and will exit the system more gradually. He also had said to take a cymbalta tablet "like an aspirin" when feeling symptoms. This has worked ok, though getting of the last little bit is not comfortable. But then maybe my withdrawal symptoms are not as severe as some. I have been on the cymbalta at 90 mg per day for a few years.
I am 18 and went off 60 mg Cymbalta and Lamictal 100 mg at the same time, cold turkey. Lots of nausea, lots of the brain zaps & dizziness.
Have been on Cymbalta for about 8 months, and Lamictal for 5 months.
It was hell. going off,
but I did it.
The worst of the physical went away at around day 4? 5? Now at about 2 weeks, maybe a little less, I am extremely emotionally sensitive. Lots of anger/crying outbursts. Mild dizziness.
That's about it.
Oh, and one day I took 80 mg of Prozac. Not sure if that did anything but thought I'd throw it out there...
Have been on Cymbalta for about 8 months, and Lamictal for 5 months.
It was hell. going off,
but I did it.
The worst of the physical went away at around day 4? 5? Now at about 2 weeks, maybe a little less, I am extremely emotionally sensitive. Lots of anger/crying outbursts. Mild dizziness.
That's about it.
Oh, and one day I took 80 mg of Prozac. Not sure if that did anything but thought I'd throw it out there...
WOW!! It really helps to know that what I've been experiencing isn't all in my head...though I'm sad to see so many of you suffering similarly.
I suspected that the latest symptoms I've had were withdrawal symptoms, while tapering off from Cymbalta.
I have been on a blind, clinical trial of Cymbalta for back pain for 3 months. I never knew if and when I was on either a placebo, 30mg, 60 or 120. There were times I thought I could tell if I was on a placebo or a lower dose.
Main symptoms were sleepiness during the day, frequent urination, insomina (but this probably had more to do with getting up...sometimes dozens of times to do to the bathroom.). I also had a dry mouth and some dizziness. The brain zaps - I had these infrequently, if what others have experienced is like a lightning bolt going through my head...that's what happened to me.
I had infrequent and 'passing' suicidal thoughts. But these past 2 weeks I've been tapering off (again, don't know whatI've been giving) and before the end of the 1st week, I started sleeping through the night again for the most part. But I also had an odd craving...ALCOHOL!! I felt like I was in need of a drink BADLY. I staved this intense craving for nearly a week.
This past week has been INTENSE. The suicidal thoughts were more intense. Then on Friday while at work and a couple hours left to go, out of nowhere, I started crying hysterically couldn't stop. I cried all the way home.
I cried like this all night. Every time I had a suicidal thought, I was at least rational enough to quickly talk myself out of it. I was too embarrassed to tell anyone of this. I thought of calling my doctor and asking if these were withdrawal symptoms.
But then I figured it was just me...my mother passed away at the end of March, my close aunt died a little over a month later. I have been turned down for some professional work, etc.
These feelings were so intense, they really scared me. At one point, Friday night while I was crying, I called a friend and 'pretended' not to be crying...was not (and didn't) say anything about what was going on. I was hoping that trying to have a normal conversation would get me to stop crying. Uh-uh...I cried more! I told my friend that I couldn't talk and I ended the conversation.
Saturday, at work I didn't cry but did feel a little antzy. After work, I headed to the package store. I drank a little Sat. night and Sunday night after work. Alcohol isn't an issue for me - I rarely drink. But I haven't had the craving for alcohol since Sunday night.
The crying episodes and suicidal thoughts have subsided...and back to being rare, passing thoughts if at all.
Had my last appointment for the clinical trial today and told the technician that I have been experiencing what I think may be withdrawals. She asked me what they were, and I told her about the crying and that's it. I didn't tell her about the alcohol cravings nor the suicidal thoughts...but I did check off the 'suicidal thoughts' option on my questionnaire at the start of my appointment.
Friday night (when I was crying hysterically) I thought of calling a suicide hotline, going to the ER...but couldn't get myself to tell anyone and except for the questionnaire today and writing this post, I've not said anything to anyone because it's so scary!
I hope that intensity has passed! I pray it has.
During the past weeks tapering off (from whatever dose I was on) I'm not having to take naps during the day and am sleeping better at night. The frequent urination has subsided somewhat. And I feel like I have more energy and am being a little more productive...and thinking about being more productive (whereas before I didn't want to think about doing much of anything!).
Throughout most of the trial, I didn't feel any great difference in the back pain (lumbar spinal stenosis) until maybe a few weeks ago. But from the questions I submitted everynight, the data suggests that strenuous activity was associated with the back pain. Being less active never made a differerence in the pain before, but now it has. I still have other symptoms from the stenosis ('clicking' in that area of the spine) but not any overwhelming pain.
In response to some other symptoms posted on this thread...I did have some intense skin itching a couple of times. This occurred at night when I was in bed. It's been about a month since I had that happened, but ironically I've actually had poison ivy for about a week now!
Someone else mentioned colitis - and I have been diagnosed with this in addition to a small, hiatial hernia. For the colitis, I used a cortisone rectal cream for over 2 weeks and it did not work at all. Last week, rather than take an antibiotic...I'm taking probiotics and this has helped quite a bit.
I gained 10 pounds during the 3-month trial. I've never weighed this much in my life! And it's a particular drag during the summer and I've been busting out of my clothes!
This past week, my appetite seems to be more normal. I was eating so much before and it would take a lot before I felt full/satiated. Now I hardly feel like eating but am going to long without eating...then finding myself feeling famished.
Well I'm hoping my life is returning to normal. I dread any possibility of experiencing more withdrawal symptoms.
Pam
I suspected that the latest symptoms I've had were withdrawal symptoms, while tapering off from Cymbalta.
I have been on a blind, clinical trial of Cymbalta for back pain for 3 months. I never knew if and when I was on either a placebo, 30mg, 60 or 120. There were times I thought I could tell if I was on a placebo or a lower dose.
Main symptoms were sleepiness during the day, frequent urination, insomina (but this probably had more to do with getting up...sometimes dozens of times to do to the bathroom.). I also had a dry mouth and some dizziness. The brain zaps - I had these infrequently, if what others have experienced is like a lightning bolt going through my head...that's what happened to me.
I had infrequent and 'passing' suicidal thoughts. But these past 2 weeks I've been tapering off (again, don't know whatI've been giving) and before the end of the 1st week, I started sleeping through the night again for the most part. But I also had an odd craving...ALCOHOL!! I felt like I was in need of a drink BADLY. I staved this intense craving for nearly a week.
This past week has been INTENSE. The suicidal thoughts were more intense. Then on Friday while at work and a couple hours left to go, out of nowhere, I started crying hysterically couldn't stop. I cried all the way home.
I cried like this all night. Every time I had a suicidal thought, I was at least rational enough to quickly talk myself out of it. I was too embarrassed to tell anyone of this. I thought of calling my doctor and asking if these were withdrawal symptoms.
But then I figured it was just me...my mother passed away at the end of March, my close aunt died a little over a month later. I have been turned down for some professional work, etc.
These feelings were so intense, they really scared me. At one point, Friday night while I was crying, I called a friend and 'pretended' not to be crying...was not (and didn't) say anything about what was going on. I was hoping that trying to have a normal conversation would get me to stop crying. Uh-uh...I cried more! I told my friend that I couldn't talk and I ended the conversation.
Saturday, at work I didn't cry but did feel a little antzy. After work, I headed to the package store. I drank a little Sat. night and Sunday night after work. Alcohol isn't an issue for me - I rarely drink. But I haven't had the craving for alcohol since Sunday night.
The crying episodes and suicidal thoughts have subsided...and back to being rare, passing thoughts if at all.
Had my last appointment for the clinical trial today and told the technician that I have been experiencing what I think may be withdrawals. She asked me what they were, and I told her about the crying and that's it. I didn't tell her about the alcohol cravings nor the suicidal thoughts...but I did check off the 'suicidal thoughts' option on my questionnaire at the start of my appointment.
Friday night (when I was crying hysterically) I thought of calling a suicide hotline, going to the ER...but couldn't get myself to tell anyone and except for the questionnaire today and writing this post, I've not said anything to anyone because it's so scary!
I hope that intensity has passed! I pray it has.
During the past weeks tapering off (from whatever dose I was on) I'm not having to take naps during the day and am sleeping better at night. The frequent urination has subsided somewhat. And I feel like I have more energy and am being a little more productive...and thinking about being more productive (whereas before I didn't want to think about doing much of anything!).
Throughout most of the trial, I didn't feel any great difference in the back pain (lumbar spinal stenosis) until maybe a few weeks ago. But from the questions I submitted everynight, the data suggests that strenuous activity was associated with the back pain. Being less active never made a differerence in the pain before, but now it has. I still have other symptoms from the stenosis ('clicking' in that area of the spine) but not any overwhelming pain.
In response to some other symptoms posted on this thread...I did have some intense skin itching a couple of times. This occurred at night when I was in bed. It's been about a month since I had that happened, but ironically I've actually had poison ivy for about a week now!
Someone else mentioned colitis - and I have been diagnosed with this in addition to a small, hiatial hernia. For the colitis, I used a cortisone rectal cream for over 2 weeks and it did not work at all. Last week, rather than take an antibiotic...I'm taking probiotics and this has helped quite a bit.
I gained 10 pounds during the 3-month trial. I've never weighed this much in my life! And it's a particular drag during the summer and I've been busting out of my clothes!
This past week, my appetite seems to be more normal. I was eating so much before and it would take a lot before I felt full/satiated. Now I hardly feel like eating but am going to long without eating...then finding myself feeling famished.
Well I'm hoping my life is returning to normal. I dread any possibility of experiencing more withdrawal symptoms.
Pam
I tapered myself off Cymbalta over 2 1/2 months by counting the individual beads within the capsule (there are approximately 260) and removing 3-4 beads per day.
I got some dizziness and anxiety but almost nothing when I tried to stop by taking one every second day and then stopping.
At the very end I took only one less bead per day until I got to zero because I could feel the dizziness coming on again - that helped.
I got some dizziness and anxiety but almost nothing when I tried to stop by taking one every second day and then stopping.
At the very end I took only one less bead per day until I got to zero because I could feel the dizziness coming on again - that helped.
I used to take 90 mg Cymbalta daily. Occaionally I would forget to take my meds and would get terrible brain zaps. I have a supply of Klonopin on hand for infrequent panic episodes, and found that a small dose of Klonopin worked great for brain zaps. So, when I reduced my daily dose from 90 to 60 mgs of Cymbalta, I was able to do it easily with the help of Klonopin.
I know that K is very addictive (am very careful with it because of this), but I don't know why pdocs don't prescribe a short course of it to help patients get off of meds like Cymbalta
I know that K is very addictive (am very careful with it because of this), but I don't know why pdocs don't prescribe a short course of it to help patients get off of meds like Cymbalta
I've been taking 30mg/day Cymbalta for about five months now prescribed to help with depression, anxiety and sleeplessness while caregiving a terminally ill relative. My relative has passed away and I'm feeling a lot better now, so I'd like to go off the Cymbalta because of only one side effect I've noticed: crashing fatigue in the afternoon requiring a 3 hour nap. Cymbalta has actually worked great for me and it really helped during a rough time. I have no issues with it. I did not gain weight, I do not have the brain zaps or any sexual side effects. Crashing fatigue has been the big thing for me and it's to a point where I need to deal with it.
I have not tried to wean myself off, I'll see my doctor, but I have noticed that if I miss one day's dose I get a bad headache and a very "spacy" feeling along with some pretty horrible nightmares and/or vivid dreams. I like to drink a couple of glasses of wine each night and I do think alcohol makes the symptoms worse, so I might try stopping the wine during the withdrawal period. The above recommendations about Benadryl, Fish Oil, B12 sound pretty good also. I'm thinking that something for liver support might also be a good idea. Anyone have a suggestion?
I was on Prozac about a decade ago and I tapered and withdrew from that without incident. I'm not sure what my doctor will recommend but that might be a very sensible way to withdraw, to mix the two every other day first tapering down the Cymbalta, then the Prozac. That seems to make very good sense.
I have not tried to wean myself off, I'll see my doctor, but I have noticed that if I miss one day's dose I get a bad headache and a very "spacy" feeling along with some pretty horrible nightmares and/or vivid dreams. I like to drink a couple of glasses of wine each night and I do think alcohol makes the symptoms worse, so I might try stopping the wine during the withdrawal period. The above recommendations about Benadryl, Fish Oil, B12 sound pretty good also. I'm thinking that something for liver support might also be a good idea. Anyone have a suggestion?
I was on Prozac about a decade ago and I tapered and withdrew from that without incident. I'm not sure what my doctor will recommend but that might be a very sensible way to withdraw, to mix the two every other day first tapering down the Cymbalta, then the Prozac. That seems to make very good sense.
:O I was taking 60mg Cymbalta for about the past 1 1/2 for periodic anxiety/panic attacks. I started feeling imbalanced physically, like vertigo about 6 months ago, and did not like the feelings. I did some research on cymbalta and found that cymbalta could cause these physical imbalances. Feeling pretty good about myself I decided to see if I could go off the medication. I spoke to my psychiatrist (whom I went to only for med dispensing). I was told that when I felt ready to go off it let her know and she would assist. So a couple of weeks ago I called thinking that I would be put on a tappering program. I also read information on the net (which I realized can send your mind in overdrive, trying everything to get off the med.) I realized that I needed Super Omega 3, Folic acid, B-6, B-12 and some sort of intense veggie supplement to get all the nutrients and vitamins into my system. Basically get my body back into it's normal balance. These help decrease withdrawal effects.
ANyway, my psychiatrist gave me a 7 DAY supply of Cymbalta 30mg. This was 1/2 my dose that I had been taking. I did not get any other tappering meds. So with concern, I called her back, and was told NOPE THAT's IT. THAT'S ALL I NEED 7 DAYS AT 1/2 THE ORIGINAL DOSE AND I SHOULD BE GOLDEN. She also recommended if I wanted I could call my physician for a second opinioun. To my HORROR they said the same thing. "No I did not need anything else and they do not make a smaller dose". I told them I was having vertigo type symptoms, they told me that if they continued, to let them know, it may be something else.
NOW HERE I AM getting vertig like symptoms worsening everyday. Try riding in a car. wow motion sickness in high gear.
I wonder how long this will last. I am an older adult returning to nursing school in about a week and hope all this is cleard up, but it is not sounding promising. PRAYER PRAYER PRAYER. Journaling my thoughts daily I also hope will help. ANY SUGGESTIONS for this venture would be welcomed.!
ANyway, my psychiatrist gave me a 7 DAY supply of Cymbalta 30mg. This was 1/2 my dose that I had been taking. I did not get any other tappering meds. So with concern, I called her back, and was told NOPE THAT's IT. THAT'S ALL I NEED 7 DAYS AT 1/2 THE ORIGINAL DOSE AND I SHOULD BE GOLDEN. She also recommended if I wanted I could call my physician for a second opinioun. To my HORROR they said the same thing. "No I did not need anything else and they do not make a smaller dose". I told them I was having vertigo type symptoms, they told me that if they continued, to let them know, it may be something else.
NOW HERE I AM getting vertig like symptoms worsening everyday. Try riding in a car. wow motion sickness in high gear.
I wonder how long this will last. I am an older adult returning to nursing school in about a week and hope all this is cleard up, but it is not sounding promising. PRAYER PRAYER PRAYER. Journaling my thoughts daily I also hope will help. ANY SUGGESTIONS for this venture would be welcomed.!
I was so tired and dizzy today and couldn't figure out what was going on. Finally went online and checked out my hunch. Appears I am on target and going through withdrawal from Cymbalta. I was only on 30 mg. tops but have been taking it for over a year. I went down to 1 every other day and felt fine. This was the first stretch of 3 days without any. I do recommend exercising safely while withdrawing. I made it to a class today, exercised up a very good sweat and felt significantly better afterward. Might be worth a try for others who aren't too dizzy to do so.
I have a hunch it may work the drug out more quickly. Just a thought.
I have a hunch it may work the drug out more quickly. Just a thought.