I've been on Cymbalta for 5 years. I tried to get off 6 months ago. I went cold turkey off of 30 mg and lasted 30 days. Needless to say, I'm still on it. I started to take myself of of the 20 mg dose 1 week ago, taking every other day per drs orders. Yeah right. I think I know more about the subject than he. I found this thread when I had 18 pill left so if going to take out 10 smallballs a day instead of 7. I know I'll have plenty of smallballs left over, but I push the envelope for science. I'll let you know how it goes. So far on day 2. Thank you so much for understanding the hell that goes on and doing something about it.
I have done quite a lot of Internet reading on getting off Cymbalta as I hate the withdrawals. I do not get the Brain Zaps, as people call them, I just have balance issues when I turn my head quickly. My balance takes a split second to catch up with my vision. It is quite disconcerting. That is not my only symptom but I thought I would mention it. Anyway, it seems that the Brain Zaps can be gotten rid of quickly by taking large amounts of Omega 3s with high EPA, a few times a day. I read that they should start going away in a few hours. Since I do not have them, I cannot tell you first hand that it works. But Omega 3s are VERY good for you anyway, so why not?
My wife has been on antidepressants the past few years. She began with Zoloft, Effexor, then Zoloft again, and finally with Cymbalta. Her last dosage on Cymbalta was 60mg per day. She decided to quit so she reduced the dosage to 30mg per day for about 2-3 weeks and then no more. No doc's direction on this. She is currently off Cymbalta for 2 weeks. At the beginning she felt terribly sick. We went to a pathologist who said it might be a cold or flu. Now she's experiencing severe stomachaches as well as depression symptoms. Crying and frustration appeared the second week. She doesn't want to do anything, work, or take any kind or responsibilities. I have read many articles and postings on this "tremendous" pill and more or less everyone is describing the same symptoms. Does anyone knows how long these withdrawals side effects will last? I read somewhere that people are doing some detox, so they will help their bodies release the drug much faster, is that right? Did anyone tried it, and if yes, what did yo take?
I am slowly getting off cymbalta now because of the exact symptoms you are mentioning -- feels like you have the flu, balance issues, uncontrolled crying -- almost like a nervous breakdown. It is very funny that the doctors do not tell you about the withdrawal symptoms. I would not have taken it if they had told me how difficult it is to get off of it. I have been slowly lowering my dosage for 3 months now and I am just down to 50mg per day. To alleviate her symptoms, your wife should go back on cymbalta to the last dosage that made her feel "normal". Once she stabilizes and feels normal again. She should very slowly reducing the dosage. Most people open the capsules and take out 10 or 15 mini-balls. They do this daily for 2-3 weeks until they stabilize again. Some people may do this for a month even. Once she feels stable again, take another 10 or 15 mini-balls out. Keep doing this until she is off. From my own experience, she should be off this stuff in about 6 months. By the way, cymbalta comes in 20mg, 30 mg, and 60mg capsules so you can try different combos to get you to different levels. But once you are at 20mg, the mini-ball removal will be the only way to get below 20mg. Oh and by the way, do not switch over to "effexor". This has even worse withdrawals because it does not stay in your blood system very long. I know from experience.
Thanks a lot for the reply. She has been on this drug since October 2010 which I thing it's not so long in comparison with others' whom I read their postings, of course it varies from person to person. So your opinion is to go back on 30mg and then gradually reduce it? I don't think she'll want to go back on 60mg :-) Effexor it's not even in discussion. She tried to stop her therapy, on doc's orders, when she was on Effexor and as you said on your reply, the experience was much worse. That caused her months of progress I guess.
I was thinking what if she goes back on a 1/2 Zoloft and then do the cut off. She has been on Zoloft many times before but there was never a problem of quitting. I am also thinking whether she starts 1/2 Xanax in the morning so it will, I guess, keep her frustration on low levels and then quit that one as well.
BTW are you fem or male? The reason I am asking you has to do with the period. She had her period one week earlier immediately after she stopped the pill.
thanks,
I was thinking what if she goes back on a 1/2 Zoloft and then do the cut off. She has been on Zoloft many times before but there was never a problem of quitting. I am also thinking whether she starts 1/2 Xanax in the morning so it will, I guess, keep her frustration on low levels and then quit that one as well.
BTW are you fem or male? The reason I am asking you has to do with the period. She had her period one week earlier immediately after she stopped the pill.
thanks,
I started on cymbalta in March 2010 30 mg and in May 2010 60 mg. Because of experiencing 4 months of continuous migraines, my doc had me stop taking them. Interestingly enough, day 1 and 2 did not wake up with a headache. Unfortunately, I am having every flu symtom known to man!! This is day 6 for me and I had to stay home from work. My doc did not recommend tapering and had me go cold turkey. If I know how much longer this will last, I suppose I can tolerate it. Yikes! I am miserable!!! How much longer will this last? My doc told me 2 weeks...any truth in that??
I don't really know how long it will last honestly. I have read a lot on the internet and most people can't take the cold turkey approach cause it is so debilitating. I am not sure of the 2 weeks. I kind of doubt it. However, it should be out of your bloodstream in 2 weeks so maybe there is some truth to it. I don't know how you have taken it. I was literally falling apart, crying a lot, balance issues, etc. Keeping busy helped some... I am sorry I can't give you a definitive answer. :-(
Reply to BarefootInThePark: I am a male. My take on it is do whatever you have to do to get your wife back up to a tolerable/comfortable level. Stabilize her there, then take her off whatever she is on slowly, even if it takes 3 months or more. No worries. In my own experience and from my readings, the worst happens when we try to get off this stuff too fast cause we are impatient. Remember, however, I am just a lay person and my situation is not necessarily yours -- so you will have to try things and pay real close attention to the results. Oh, be sure that you check on WebMD or other sites that Zoloft and Zanax and Cymbalta can be mixed. There may be side effects -- I am not sure.
My feeling is that Doctors are not much help here cause they have not taken these drugs, in most cases, and are not personally familiar with the withdrawal symptoms. They just do what the drug companies tell them and the drug companies want us to keep taking these drugs. Thats my 2 cents worth.
My feeling is that Doctors are not much help here cause they have not taken these drugs, in most cases, and are not personally familiar with the withdrawal symptoms. They just do what the drug companies tell them and the drug companies want us to keep taking these drugs. Thats my 2 cents worth.
Reply to Mike: I am currently coming off of Cymbalta. I was on 60mg and went to 30mg for approx 21 days. Went to see p-doc and he gave me 7 pills to take every other day. Yesterday was the first day I went without a pill. When I was tapering from 60 to 30 I was quite tired some days. I now have the nausea feeling and can't sleep real well. I also take a very good multi vit. that has minerals etc. My b/f is quite a health nut, and he showed me in a health book that L-tyrosine is a good natural alternative to prescription drugs. I will try this after I get Cymbalta out of my system. I also take omega prime and flax seed oil capsules. My p-doc said that one of the side effects is sugar cravings, I can attest to that, I have gained about 40 pounds since I went on this in 2007, and I am quite active. I am willing to go through the withdrawals to get off of these. I already warned my b/f what some of the things to look for, as I am coming off of these. I really appreciate you input, you seen to know alot about this. Thx. Merry Ann
I am on day 6 of cold turkey. It seems that today is the worst. Gravol helps the nausea. Fish oil also seems to help. I'm scared though that cold turkey is going to affect my brain permanently. I am so angry at my doctor for not telling me of all of the side effects of taking cymbalta.
I am on day 6 of a cold turkey withdrawal from Cymbalta. It is awful!!! I was originally prescribed this drug for pain & depression related to fibromyalgia. I started with 30 mg and after a couple of weeks, increased to 60 mg. Have been on this dose for about 9 months. It did help with my pain and depression but I became so lethargic and tired that I would sleep every possible chance I got. I also gained about 35 pounds in the last 6 months without changing my eating habits. I tapered back to 30 mg about 2 months ago with no significant change in energy levels and no decrease in weight gain. I'd had enough of this as this is no way to live. I'd rather be in pain. My doctor did not want me to discontinue this drug but I am doing it anyway against her wishes. I never received any kind of advise as to how to go about this. I just did some internet research. I decided to go cold turkey as it didn't seem to be all that much easier by tapering.
The first few days were a piece of cake and I thought maybe I would be one of the few that wouldn't have too much trouble. Oh, how wrong I was! I now have some nausea (which I can handle) but I feel so dizzy and zoned out. I feel disconnected from everything! I can't do anything without feeling like I'm going to fall over. I'm afraid to drive like this. I just want to lay down and hope for the room to stop spinning. So, so tired ... I just want to sleep. I'm itchy like crazy!! Not getting the brain zaps yet. I expect that this will go away but I wonder how long it will take. I want my life back ... pain and all! I really feel that most physicians have no idea what they are getting their patients into when they prescribing this med. They are going by what the pharmaceutical literature says and not by what the reality is. I guess we need to speak out more clearly and vehemently to let them know how it really is. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences .. It helps to know I'm not going crazy!
I have a major problem trying to get off this stuff. Other than the dizziness, I have uncontrollable anger. Right now i have been without my 60 mg per day for 2 days & I get so pissed @ about anything, that I can't be around people, more so people that ask me a bunch of questions. Does this happen to everybody else, or am I just having a seperate issue?
Omg I hate this drug. I wish my dr would have told me about the withdrawl symptems b4 I started taking it. They r horrible. Thought I was going 2 die. Had 2 take a pill just 2 ease the symptems. Am going 2 slowly taper off an start the mega dose of omega 3 an vit e an c if that helps. This drug should b taken off the market. I would like 2 sue the makers of cymbalta. It is a serious drug with serious sideeffects trying 2 come off of it.
when u get that stuff off cold turkey can mess ur mind long time strange feelings I have this problem for two year now i join gym i little bit feel better now
what vitimans are u taking i went 4 days without cymbalta and the brain zaps are reaaly bad so i took one today to see if it stops