Wow! What have I gotten myself into. I thought Cymbalta was a great improvement over Lexapro until I found that I couldn't sleep. My doctor tried adding nortryptaline at night to help me sleep but that made me sleepy during the day. I started tapering down from 60 mg of Cymbalta to the current 20 a few weeks ago. Now I am trying to stop and I can't believe how bad the symptoms are. It feels like the tendons in the back of my neck are scraping against each other and I can actually hear it just before I get dizzy.
My doctor suggested trying to just stop since I was taking 20mg. I quit as of Saturday morning. By the afternoon I was so dizzy I took about 20 of the little beads out of the 20mg capsule and swallowed them. That helped a little so I did the same on Sunday. Yesterday I only took about 10 beads (out of hundreds in the capsule) and today none. My neck still hurts and I am still dizzy but not as bad as yesterday. I have a prescription for two prozac pills if I need them. The doctor said that it takes 2-3 weeks for prozac to clear itself out of your body so it is a natural tapering off process. I hope I don't have to do that because I want this stuff out of my system soon.
Opening the capsules and lowering the dose gradually seems to be a good solution if you already have your doctor's permission to stop taking Cymbalta.
It's a shame they can't get this stuff right. I felt better and with less side effects on Cymbalta than anything else and I've tried them all. If only I could have slept better I might still be on it. (of course it would be with no sex life)
Good luck to everyone trying to get off it.
My doctor suggested trying to just stop since I was taking 20mg. I quit as of Saturday morning. By the afternoon I was so dizzy I took about 20 of the little beads out of the 20mg capsule and swallowed them. That helped a little so I did the same on Sunday. Yesterday I only took about 10 beads (out of hundreds in the capsule) and today none. My neck still hurts and I am still dizzy but not as bad as yesterday. I have a prescription for two prozac pills if I need them. The doctor said that it takes 2-3 weeks for prozac to clear itself out of your body so it is a natural tapering off process. I hope I don't have to do that because I want this stuff out of my system soon.
Opening the capsules and lowering the dose gradually seems to be a good solution if you already have your doctor's permission to stop taking Cymbalta.
It's a shame they can't get this stuff right. I felt better and with less side effects on Cymbalta than anything else and I've tried them all. If only I could have slept better I might still be on it. (of course it would be with no sex life)
Good luck to everyone trying to get off it.
I find it ignorant for one to ask why one chose to do something. For me personally I had an absolutely horrible experience by missing one freaking dose of this devil drug. I'm talking extreme suicide thoughts and fits of crying to where I could not breath. When I went to bed that night I woke up yet had no control over my body. I just layed there noticing how slow my heart was beating and how weak I was. My body wasn't letting me get up. I'm sure I was sending signals to my brain to tell it to but there were probably so many other chemicals F3$*@)($ around in there that I couldn't. I finally clinched my fist and rose up. I had to control my breathing for a good 3 minutes before I could actually stand up. My heart was beating around 30 bpm and I felt like it was going to stop. I wanted to call the ER but having panic disorder I decided to skip the ER visit and told myself I'd be fine. This was a devasting experience and I'm sorry if not wanting to put another one of those evil pills in my body upsets anyone. BUT it shouldn't. Get off the way you choose and dont criticize others for quitting cold turkey like myself. Irregardless of how you get off youre going to have withdrawls. I'm a strong person and know I can beat this. Even if it means feeling sick all day, wanting to cry at everything, having heart palpitations, and running to the bathroom bc of uncontrollable urges to vomit. That's my choice. Maybe it could be "easier" but from what I'm reading, whether one tapers off of it or not, they still experience the same thing. I just hate it when ppl ask questions as to why we chose to do it. It's a choice, a personal choice. And who knows I could be getting so defensive bc I'm highly irritable and extremely emotional. I'm sorry but this $hit is serious. It's not fun. I want it to end now. But I know it wont. So I must live day by day until this goes away. I don't know why this has to happen. I hate that we weren't warned and I hate that this c**p is being prescribed STILL on a daily basis. It sucks to know that other ppl are going to go through this c**p. I've been through a LOT worse in my life..some having to do with drugs...but this is by far a life changing event and another lesson learned the hard way. I know I can do this. And that's all that matters. So more power to you for choosing the taper method, like I said people choose what they can. God only gives you what you can handle. I guess by choosing the hard way he must think I can handle this and that makes me feel good. To me there is no right or wrong way to get off of this drug, just as long as you GET OFF OF IT. It's bad news. VERY BAD. I've had seizures from a medication I was prescribed (welbutrin) and I can say that this completely surpasses the intensity of that. It just sucks. period. I didnt mean to offend anyone I guess I'm just being defensive towards this stuff because it is such a big deal. I wish people told us. I hate my psychiatrist for this and for basically using me as a guinnea pig on all of his other drugs he put me on. This stuff needs to be taken off the market. It really does.
After tapering down to 20mg I lasted 11 days on nothing but a few beads (10-15) from a 20Mg capsule when the brain zaps got really bad the first week. After the 11th day with no relief in the brain zaps, I filled the prescription for the 20Mg generic Prozac and took one. I was up all night with chills and just being wide awake and missed work today but the brain zaps are 99% gone! My doctor said that the Prozac will slowly work itself out of my system in about 2 weeks for a natural tapering. I'll see if he was right. So far, I recommend the single capsule of Prozac for the final stage of tapering.
I am also taking the fish oil capsules. Get the good ones, $20 for 30 molecular distilled Iceland fish oil. You are worth it and everything else lists a bunch of junk fish for ingredients. I have not had any problems with fishy taste or smell with them. CVS carries them. I think the name is Iceland Health brand.
Finally, I am continuing to see a super therapist and continuing to go to Yoga which is helping with the depression more than any chemicals ever could.
Wish me luck.
PS It's strange, I lost weight on Cymbalta because of all the energy that I had. Most people seem to gain on it. %-)
I am also taking the fish oil capsules. Get the good ones, $20 for 30 molecular distilled Iceland fish oil. You are worth it and everything else lists a bunch of junk fish for ingredients. I have not had any problems with fishy taste or smell with them. CVS carries them. I think the name is Iceland Health brand.
Finally, I am continuing to see a super therapist and continuing to go to Yoga which is helping with the depression more than any chemicals ever could.
Wish me luck.
PS It's strange, I lost weight on Cymbalta because of all the energy that I had. Most people seem to gain on it. %-)
I am getting ready to come off cymbalta, I have been on it for almost 2 years, prior to that I was on effexor for 2 years, They put me on it for menopause. After coming off the effexor, I know what to expect with the withdrawls and it scares me to death. Since they put me on the effexor and switching over to cymbalta I have gained almost 75 lbs. I have never been this heavy in my life. I have tremors in my right arm that didn't start until I came off the effexor and at the time I had whole body tremors. I am going to come off the cymbalta under a doctors care because of the withdrawls. What scares me about this is the lack of knowledge doctors have of the withdrawls and when you try to explain the short circuits in your brain they don't understand. Nor do they understand any of the other withdrawl symptoms. But I think its is best to come off under a doctors care so he can monitor you. I think the maker of cymbalta should be held accountable for not adding the withdrawl effects in their booklet or on their label. To anyone out there coming off or getting ready to come off, I wish you the best and I can sympathize,
I am soooo sorry I was ever associated with this drug. After going through a divorce loss of house and starting a new life I thought it's okay.. I can do this.. then almost 2 years later I lost my job and someone very close to me died unexpectedly.. I decided to go on the drug to help this time... it did help... but all the side effects you all speak off are right on point... sleepyness.. sleeplessness... bloting... I wanted to drink wine ALL the time... if I did drink I could not stop and I would black out ... I even would have the most bizzarr dreams of people attacking me and wake up kicking or hitting my now fiance. I noticed when I did not take the drug I would get really dizzy and get those horrible brian zaps... to the point where I could not dive my son to school one day. I HAVE NEVER BEEN ADDICTED TO ANYTHING!!! but I knew my body was addicted to cymbalta... I went from 60 to 30 every day for a week. I am now trying 30 every other day. It's not working.. I am a mess... I want to cry and hit people... I am yelling WAY more then I ever do at nothing.. I don't get it... I took this drug to stop make me crying and now that I trying to stop I feel 10 times worse then what I started it for... I don't care how good it worked no drug is worth it... my doctor... said keep taking 30 and if i feel my heart racing to call him... WHAT??? no way.. I am continuing the 30 till I run out.. this is not worth it... I got B12 and Omega 3 hopefully that will help... this is so not cool >;)
I am just starting my withdrawal. It reaallllly sux! I'm not a rookie either. I had this really bad with Zoloft, however not with Celexa, Lexapro, Prozac, but I had withdrawals from Seroquel, an anti-psychotic. Found myself licking the powder out of the bottle for that one. o.O
I knocked my dose down slowly and it hasn't seemed to matter. I did this within a good months time, emptying bead by bead practically at the end. So here I sit scared to drive as it feels like my head is filled with alot of air, my lips are numb, i've got the zappers real bad, i ache all over, getting out of bed is a nightmare. Heavens!
But i know it'll go away with time, like the Zoloft did. I might try the benedryl as i know it affects particular hormones in the brain, might make some sense.
Nice knowing there are others out there zippin-n-zappin along. Good luck to all.
I knocked my dose down slowly and it hasn't seemed to matter. I did this within a good months time, emptying bead by bead practically at the end. So here I sit scared to drive as it feels like my head is filled with alot of air, my lips are numb, i've got the zappers real bad, i ache all over, getting out of bed is a nightmare. Heavens!
But i know it'll go away with time, like the Zoloft did. I might try the benedryl as i know it affects particular hormones in the brain, might make some sense.
Nice knowing there are others out there zippin-n-zappin along. Good luck to all.
I have been on Cymbalta 60mg for about a year and Wellbutrin XL 450mg for the past 7 years.
In the past year, since I started taking Cymbalta,...... I lost my job of 8 years, gained 50lbs, have absolutley no sex drive, and want to sleep allllll :-( day.
I lost my job because I couldn't get out of bed to get there.
I have not wanted to have sex for a about a year... so my boyfriend/husband of 10 years can't take it anymore...I'm FAT, I am 5' 7" and 190 lbs, so he also is not attracted to me anymore...he is leaving me.
I can bearly drag myself out of bed and can find no reason to do so now.
I blame all this on CYMBALTA.
I hope the maker of this drug is happy!!!
Because I lost my job a few weeks ago, I no longer have health insurance so I can not see my doctor anymore and I can not afford to get the meds without insurance I quit both drugs cold turkey....except I found an old bottle of Wellbutrin XL 300ml so I am still taking one of those a day.
I don't know how much longer I can take these withdrawls. Everyday it gets worse............brain zaps, dizzyiness, nausea, diarrhea, lightheadedness, itchy neck-chest-legs, numb tingling feeling in my whole body..
-NO JOB
-NO HUSBAND
-NO MONEY
-NO MEDICINE
-SOOOOOO MANY WITHDRAWLS
..PLEASE GOD HELP ME FIND A REASON TO GO ON!!
In the past year, since I started taking Cymbalta,...... I lost my job of 8 years, gained 50lbs, have absolutley no sex drive, and want to sleep allllll :-( day.
I lost my job because I couldn't get out of bed to get there.
I have not wanted to have sex for a about a year... so my boyfriend/husband of 10 years can't take it anymore...I'm FAT, I am 5' 7" and 190 lbs, so he also is not attracted to me anymore...he is leaving me.
I can bearly drag myself out of bed and can find no reason to do so now.
I blame all this on CYMBALTA.
I hope the maker of this drug is happy!!!
Because I lost my job a few weeks ago, I no longer have health insurance so I can not see my doctor anymore and I can not afford to get the meds without insurance I quit both drugs cold turkey....except I found an old bottle of Wellbutrin XL 300ml so I am still taking one of those a day.
I don't know how much longer I can take these withdrawls. Everyday it gets worse............brain zaps, dizzyiness, nausea, diarrhea, lightheadedness, itchy neck-chest-legs, numb tingling feeling in my whole body..
-NO JOB
-NO HUSBAND
-NO MONEY
-NO MEDICINE
-SOOOOOO MANY WITHDRAWLS
..PLEASE GOD HELP ME FIND A REASON TO GO ON!!
Kristy, I am responding to your message because you sound alot like me. I have been taking Cymbalta for 6 months. I had been taking Effexor before that for 6 years. Since I 've been on the Cymbalta I have no sex drive, sleep most of the time and am gaining weight. I have decided to stop the Cymbalta. So I am on my second day of 30mg dose.
I am still sleeping quite a bit but don't have the brain zaps. Something is making me sleepy and I suspect it's the Cymbalta. I would rather be depressed than on Cymbalta. I don't feel any better on the stuff than without it, honestly. I am hoping I can get off completely in the next few months with the least amount of withdrawal symptoms. So now you are on Wellbutrin. It doesn't sound like it is working. Why don't you stop taking it and see how you are feeling? You are not alone! These drugs are nasty and highly over rated.
I am still sleeping quite a bit but don't have the brain zaps. Something is making me sleepy and I suspect it's the Cymbalta. I would rather be depressed than on Cymbalta. I don't feel any better on the stuff than without it, honestly. I am hoping I can get off completely in the next few months with the least amount of withdrawal symptoms. So now you are on Wellbutrin. It doesn't sound like it is working. Why don't you stop taking it and see how you are feeling? You are not alone! These drugs are nasty and highly over rated.
Does anyone have any decent withdrawal experiences? Everyone seems to be in such agony....... I am trying myself to withdraw from taking it, and everything I read here is very scary. Could it be because people with positive experiences just aren't bothering to post? God, I hope so, because I am now TERRIFIED, and I am only in day one of my med. reduction.
i lament this state- constant electric shocks, eye movement painful, vomiting-like feelling; i scream in pain on this day three off the med- mind you - :$ have been tapering it off slowly for a month. how long does this go on? help! !
I came down with Pneumonia, and quit taking cymbalta the day my antibiotics started. After five days later the withdrawl kick in like a kick in the head. It felt like the back of my head was on fire. I took a lower dose that night three days later the brain pain was back. I have two little ones and my temper is fine. I will never take an anti depressant again. My doctor said that imagine your going down the road the wrong direction for twenty years, it will take a while for the Cymbalta to work. Well let me tell you, we control our own destiny, and if drugs are your answer look at yourself in the mirror and ask yourself if youv'e done anything to improve your life. If your like me you took drugs, forget that. Go after what makes you happy without pills.
I just wanted to let any sufferers of Cymbalta withdrawal know that I have been in your shoes and I have made it through.
I used things like benedryl and dramamine to get me through the brain zaps and dizziness. I'm sorry to tell you that my withdrawal from cymbalta lasted about 19 days.
***this post is edited by moderator *** *** web addresses not allowed***Please read our Terms of Use
You may find it very helpful to read other people's stories and gain some encouragement through their words.
Good Luck
www.theroadback.org
I've just started this program, and hear very good things about it. Hang in there and good luck with everything.
I've just started this program, and hear very good things about it. Hang in there and good luck with everything.
**edited by moderator ** web addresses not allowed**
I hear good things about this program. I have just started it so can't say anything about it just yet. I have been tapering off of cymbalta for over a month. I am now taking it only twice a week. Advice to everyone- DO NOT quit "cold turkey".
Hang in there and good luck to you all.
I hear good things about this program. I have just started it so can't say anything about it just yet. I have been tapering off of cymbalta for over a month. I am now taking it only twice a week. Advice to everyone- DO NOT quit "cold turkey".
Hang in there and good luck to you all.
My withdrawal from Cymbalta is just about to do me in. The brain zaps are now occuring without even any head or eye movements. Tonight, while trying to fall asleep I had the most horrible night terrors. After 10 of these night terrors I am up typing this. They were so bad and horrific that I had to get up. This drug should be taken off the market.