I'm finding the "Zaps" are very common after researching Cymbalta withdrawls for the last 2 hours. I have only experienced flu like symtoms (dizziness, vomiting, fatigue) and it is VERY unplesant! I was on 60 mg for over a year. My new doctor told me to stop taking it and put me on Viibryn. He said I wouldn't have withdrawl symtoms but I am. I don't want to take Viibryn in fear of what it's withdrawls may do. I am scared and confused about what to do. I would like to be anti depressant free and find something more natural! After reading loads of horror stories...not sure what to do. UGH!
My doctor refused to see me/refill my script since I lost my insurance....therefore, I have stopped cold turkey. Today is only day 2 but don't feel bad. Head a bit stuffy and slight diaherria. I cannot seem to eat enough to feel full/satisfied. will post again if anything changes. My husband works on the other side of the country so I am alone 2 months at a time
Your post has been one of many I have read. The post did help tremendously. I am a 55 year young woman that has been blessed much in my life, wonderful job, husband and family. I have been on luvox, wellbutrin, lexapro. I only took one med at a time with 0.25 mg of xanax twice daily, I choose to come of cymbalta first by using the bead method. I do see a counselor and pych. I would like to know who I am. Have been taking something for around 15 for anxiety, stress, ocd, and fearful thoughts. My grown children does not know I am doing this. I am scared, but will succeed through the Grace Of My Lord and Savior. Thank You.
I am on day 3 of cold turkey. The brain zaps have started and I am pretty dizzy, but I am determined to just stick with it and get it done. While I would like to be able to do it slowly I am to the point I just want my life back. I was still pretty sleepy this morning, but not bordering exhausted like I have for the past 5 months. I found as others have, that I was drinking so much more than I normally would which caused some blackouts and not remembering large chunks of time.
I am changing my diet and exercising as much as I can, which seems to be helping a lot. I only gained 2 pounds over the 5 months but there were times I felt huge ! I know this isn't the ideal way to go about it but desperation will make you do just about anything ! I can't wait to get my sex drive back either ;)
This is really not a good idea- how many milligrams were u on? It is really not safe to go cold turkey -
I had been taking Cymbalta for about 8 years for major depression. Conventional wisdom has it that when one has had 2 or 3 episodes of major depression then medication must be taken for life. Before starting it I had been on many of the common anti-depressants and all worked for a time but eventually I reached the maximum dose that the mental health clinic was permitted to prescribe. I started with Zoloft for the current episode in 2005 and hit a major wall a few months later. All of a sudden I was unable to keep my head up, felt like someone was grabbing my face to tear me down. Nearly catatonic in my feelings, couldn't even cry. I waited all day to see the clinic Dr. and what I now see as a last resort he gave me Cymbalta. I think is was just starting to be used. Within the space of a few short hours my depression started to lift and I was on my way to recovering and getting along with life. The dose had to be increased when symptoms came back and eventually the Dr. added Lamictal to the mix, along with Klonopin for insomnia. In Nov. or Dec. 2012 I ran out of the drug and was not able to get it. It is very expensive and I was on the Patient Assistance Program through Lily the whole time. By the time I would have been able to get it, severe withdrawal hit and I took myself to the emergency room because I had a severe headache that lasted for 3 or 4 days, unable to keep anything down including the hydrocodone and darvocet in my emergency pharmacy. My blood pressure was dangerously high and I was very sick. I was given a pain cocktail, a CT scan and MRI with and without contrast. Nothing was found and I was sent home. My bill amounted to around $13,000. Some time after I returned home I had the weirdest bowel movement, my stool was completely white! I headed to the internet, knowing that I probably had some kind of liver problem. I searched for 'Cymbalta withdrawal' and realized that all of the symptoms I was experiencing were most probably related to my abrupt withdrawal, all of which have been described on this forum in detail. The most surprising is the ability to feel my body again. I understand the numbing effect that comes from the cells being constantly bathed in serotonin. It has been worth it to feel this way but I have been grateful for what Cymbalta gave me, getting me here to this day. I recently experienced the most intense, profound anxiety and deep depression probably relating in some part to the weather or who knows what. Scared me terribly but the still, small voice in me says to wait, no anti depressive drugs just yet. Found sources here and elsewhere that lead me to believe this may happen and is probably a part of readjustment. I may not go back on the drugs in the near future but instead monitor my diet, exercise, vitamins, all the suggestions. Everything helps and nothing helps in those moments of excruciating psychic pain. But just a few hours ago I felt a lifting inside me and I am just sitting here just being cautiously OK, nibbling my peanuts, taking an Omega 3 cap occasionally. This after about 3 days of intense pain. Who knows what happened?
I have no complaint with Eli Lily. They helped me immensely and allowed me to live and work to this day. The ER docs didn't know what was wrong with me and are probably not aware of cases that present as mine did. They were scanning my brain for a tumor and that is expensive. The hospital forgives a huge percentage of the bill for people without insurance so my bank account is debited monthly for a small amount and that is OK with me if it is OK with them. I paid the Dr. bills off in a few months, what is left is the hospital care. I hope others can take heart from my experience and know that all will be revealed in time. I will not go willingly back into the black hole of the last few days but am overjoyed that I made it through. The next one won't be quite as scary.
Please treat yourself gently! I send you all thoughts of loving support when I read your experiences! Everything works and nothing works until it does. What a mystery we all are!
I have been taking Cymbalta fpr only a month has anyone experienced itching with this drug?
Hi All
I've been on 60mg Cymbalta for around a year now, having previously been on Citalopram for about 6 years.
I came of Citalopram successfully, for about 3 months, a couple of years ago and then fell into a dark place almost overnight, hence still on the drugs.
I've been inspired by people's testimony on here and am planning to start the 'seven beads a day' reduction now that I am not working - it's been impossible to try it before.
Can you please advise me if there is anything else besides Bacopa and Omega supplements that I should be taking. Also, do you start taking these straight away?
Would be good to hear from you.
Nisee :-D
I must start by saying I absolutely HATE this drug and wish to God someone had warned me of what it was going to do to me before I started taking it!! That said - I have been on Cymbalta since 2009 - and the majority of the past 4 years the ONLY reason I have stayed on it is because the withdrawals are so insane and I couldn't handle them... but I made the decision about a month ago that I was going to stop taking them regardless of how difficult it was for me to get off. I no longer see the doctor and refuse to go back because the doctors (or perhaps pharmaceutical companies) in this great USofA, I'm sorry to say it, are not interested in solving our problems they're only interested in drugging us... so no thanks. I talked to a pharmacist instead, and the pharmacist recommended taking one cymbalta every other day until I can handle what that does, and then every third day, and so on... I was on 60mg for over 3 years and now I am on day 6 without this awful drug... and WITH these awful withdrawals. I am dizzy, I feel nauseous, I get the brain zaps - constantly, I start crying randomly and have to keep reminding myself that cymbalta is the reason, bad dreams, itchy, irritable... good stuff! If I ever hear of a friend or someone i know that is about to start taking cymbalta, i dont hesitate to protest and tell them this drug is definitely a life-ruiner. I also gained about 40lbs (after having struggled with my weight and losing 80 along with having a baby - and keeping that weight off for 5 years... thanks cymbalta!!). My eating habits didn't change - i even still continued to work out, although that didn't help, i gained anyway. I will NEVER take another one of these pills regardless of whether these withdrawals get worse. I pray they stop soon, but i'd rather fight through this than be stuck on this terrible drug for the rest of my life.
Hi, I've had the brain zaps in the past - not nice at all. Aren't you going to try and wean yourself off instead of going cold turkey?
Thankfully I don't have to pay for these drugs in the UK as you get free prescriptions if you are diabetic.
I'll be starting weaning off from tomorrow, will let you all know how it goes.
Take care guys
Nisee