The beads in Cymbalta get absorbed in the small intestine and destroyed in the stomach so your telling people to simply swallow the beads from the capsule is wrong. The capsule protects the beads from the stomach acid to be absorbed in the small intestine.
ME TOO! Was on 60mg for nearly two years. Here's what I did to get off: I opened up a few of my 60mg capsules and counted the number of beads inside (there are about 190). I did some calculations: 30 beads equals a little less than 10mg. I made a six week plan: week one, I removed 30 beads; week two, I removed 60, week three, I removed 90, and so forth. I bought a pill organizer, and every Sunday I would take apart the pills, remove the requisite amount, and then I was set for the week. This was fine until about the third week, when I started getting bad anxiety and brain zaps about halfway through. So I decided to do it even more gradually, but at the same pace--I removed 5 beads each day (except Sunday), so that by the end of the week I was down another 10mg. For example: one week, it was: Monday 65 beads; Tuesday 60; Wednesday 55; Thursday 50; Friday 45; Saturday 40; Sunday 40. This method sounds painstaking, but it's not bad--especially if you do it in one sitting and use a pill organizer. It really helped. I didn't have any symptoms the last few weeks. I hope this helps anyone who's trying to get off Cymbalta! Doing it as doctors recommend (60 mg one week down to 40mg the next) is awful.
I'm grateful to have found this... I thought I was Dying and my boyfriend suggested it could be withdrawal and so I started looking into it. I was put on cymbalta by my PCP in early may/late April after nearly committing suicide on Effexor. I had absolutely no problems coming off effexor. When cymbalta proved to be not working, even with a dose increase, I started seeing a psychiatrist who prescribed wellbutrin. We discussed coming off the cymbalta once the wellbutrin was at a set dosage. so when I ran out of my 60mg cymbalta about a week and a half ago, I forgot to get the Rx refilled immediately. When a few days went by and I still felt fine, I decided it wasn't worth the 50 bucks (I work for a hospital which has decent insurance) and I stopped cold turkey. Well, about a week after stopping, every side effect hit me like a brick wall. I was having brain zaps that were giving me heart palpitations from the intensity. I was sweating then freezing, and shaking violently. And I was puking up everything I tried to eat. Three days into this, it was clearly not a stomach bug. This is when my boyfriend suggested withdrawal. I got in contact with my psychiatrist (thank god) and we decided to take my lone 30mg leftover pill to see if it helped. I threw said pill remnants up about an hour later, but prayed SOMETHING got into my system. Within 8 hours I was able to eat again, and moving didn't make me dry heave. This was the worst experience of my life. I'm 24 hours after that horrendous ordeal, and taking a newly refilled 30mg pill Rx. Once my system levels out on the 30s I plan on approaching the granule removal method because I can't keep shelling out the money for something that isn't working, as I still have loans to pay from school (I'm 24, and 16 months out from college). Reading other peoples stories made me finally feel like I wasn't crazy. So I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who's posted here. I gives me hope that I'll be able to come off it, which will hopefully be soon.
Peace and stay strong,-Anna
Dear Cymbalta discontinuation syndrome friends. I just found this and am so encouraged. I have cut down 80 beads per day and will be going to 90 in 1 week. I do need to tell you, I believe the bead count is off. I counted 200 beads in the 60 mg capsule. Has anyone out there counted them his or herself? I am doing alright with this method, and am currently looking for ideas to increase acetylcholine production. I tried to get help from my physician but that was pointless. Knowing there are others out there has given me encouragement and courage.
Hi there,
Not sure where the 80 beads per day came from but I was following the recommendation at the beginning of this discussion a afew years ago to reduce by 7 beads per day. Depending upon which country you are in the number of beads in each capsule is different. See link: https://www.steadyhealth.com/Tips_for_Cymbalta_Withdrawals_t157341.html (u-need-acetylcholine is the user) .
In the UK in 60mg there are 540 beads.
I found that after about a month the withdrawal symptoms were getting bad (head zaps and vertigo) so I found a self help group in the UK which advised reducing by 7 beads a week instead of 7 a day. It took me about 8 months but I weaned off successfully almost completely symptom free.
Coming off this drug is like coming off heroin I've heard - it takes a lot of patience and determination but you can do it!
Don't make the mistake I did part way through of trying to speed up the process - stick to your plan, it's the best way.
Just for background information I had been on anti-depressants for about 10 years in all and had several failed attempts at coming off different types, in the end it was as the old saying goes 'slow and steady wins the race!'.
Hope all goes well for you, take care x
Hi, I know you posted this 10 months ago but it sounds like you could advise me. I have been on 60 mg cymbalta for five months and it really has helped me with panic and anxiety, however in the time I have been on it I have gained 22 lbs, nothing fits. That is a huge concern for me as I have never been this big and simply am unhappy with the weight gain. I do not necessarily want to come off completely but for two days now I have been taking only 30mg. I have had the brain zaps and very broken sleep along with weird dreams. I dream every night anyway but now they seems to be really intense. It seems everything I am reading that this drug is really difficult to come off of. I will say I never had one side effect when I started taking them, other than the weight gain. I know it's has only been two days but should I try to come off completely? It seems to be a bad drug in retrospect. Did you remove beads and was that the problem?
Brain zaps to me feel like someone is snapping a rubber band in my head! It is weird!
I responded well to Cymbalta. However, I feel my depression was job-triggered - I resigned and am now serving my notice. At the same time, I am withdrawing from Cymbalta. This is my second week of withdrawal and I am glad to see these posts. The only obvious withdrawal symptoms were a few moments of vertigo and a "brain zap"; other than that, it's been okay (although my mood isn't great, but leaving a long-time job is stressful).
I have been on Cymbalta for almost 2 years and have had none of the side effects you describe. Interestingly enough, my husband was prescribed Cymbalta also and he did have many of the side effects you mention. He quit taking it after 3 weeks without a taper as the symptoms you are describing are more than likely an allergic reaction to the medication itself. If that is the case, tapering will not work as every time you take it, the reaction will resume. I have a diagnosis of fibromyalgia and am also prescribed opiate. The reactions you describe are concerning and probably seeing another healthcare professional (preferably a psychiatrist who will be more versed about Cymbalta) seems in order, sooner rather than later. If this is indeed an allergic reaction, nothing will treat the symptoms. God bless. I hope this helps.
Interesting good news. What protocol did u use
Hello Mike, Where can I find your tapering method? Thank you.
Mike I have search and searched and can't find your post on the vitamins I need to take. I have gotten how to taper off, which scares the bagees out of me. I now know now how to explain what happens to me I get brain zaps all the time even when I take the Cymbalta. I have just had an MRI and they found out I have been having mini strokes. I was put on the drug for fibromyalgia which it doesn't help, But after 5yrs on the drug and reading the problems everyone is having I see myself. I have insomnia, but I am tired all the time, I have no life don't want to do anything or go anywhere. My weight is up 40 lbs without eating but one meal a day. No sex life to speak of, I don't have anymore life in me. Also I was just diagnosed with cataracts, I have been complaining of dry eyes and feels like looking thru cotton for yrs. and told part of illness learn to live with it and get eye drops. I didn't know this drug could destroy my body like it has. I need help getting off of this drug. I wasn't depressed before but I am now, and I have little ones depending on me. I hate the fact most of the time I don't or can't get out of the bed.