I, too, went thru terrible withdrawal from Cymbalta because my doctor thought it was a good plan to taper down to 30 mg for 2 weeks and then go cold turkey. What a mistake. I've experienced almost all the problems everyone else has, but want to know if anyone has had a 'thunderclap headache'. It's been about 6 weeks since I last used Cymbalta. I experienced this last Friday. Out of nowhere, I felt like I was stabbed in the head with a knife..then nauseous, dizzy, cold sweats....ended up in the ER for about 2 hours. I'm 60 years old and when something like that happens at my age you think it could be a number of things. At CT scan was done with nothing showing up. My regular doctor has ordered a copy of the scan and I will be seeing him soon. Just wondered if this could be a symptom of the withdrawal rather than something else.
Ive read so many posts now and know without a doubt absolutely what's wrong with me. Cymbalta withdrawal. Are you kidding me; This drug was suppose to be the miracle drug!!! I had to fight with my insurance to get them to pay for it, as I do have fibromyalgia and it was said over and over how much it would help me..
After nearly three months of taking 60 mg cymbalta, my best friend and husband sat me down to tell me " Your not yourself"... not just im having a bad day or a bad week. I wasn't that girl that everyone just loves and adores and who myself just loves everyone in return. I had become a shell of nothing. I could not be happy. I was unable to even smile. I didn't think I was depressed, i just thought I had nothing to be happy about. Until i realized the little things that always make me smile, laugh, giggle; nope it just didn't happen anymore, then I knew it was the meds. I had become depressed. An antidepressant medication used for fibromyalgia pain had put me into a very deep dark depression to where i was thinking life wasn't just worth it anymore.
I've been off the meds for over a week now; and i have laughed alot. but here's the kicker. I'm sick. Very sick. Dizzy everytime i stand, no energy at all. My bones hurt, my body is weak,burning and itching skin, cramps, the list goes on and on.... its like having the flu ( x 10) .... I'd honestly rather have the flu to be honest with you because then you would know there was an end in sight.
This drug isn't a miracle. It's a silent killer.
I was prescribed Cymbalta the first time around June 2012 to help with my back pain. I have severe scoliosis, pinched nerves, arthritis, and so on. I ran out of it on Christmas Day 2012. I didn't feel like it was really helping and even with insurance it was so expensive. I was also taking neurotin and an opiate pain killer. I became a "crazy lady" I would go from crying to rage before you could blink your eyes. I stuck it out and felt better after a few weeks. Besides the mood swings I had hot flashes, really weird dreams, and not much else.
I went on a medical leave from work in February. Not only was my back killing me, but I also had a boss who was killing me. I used the company EAP, got a referral to a therapist, and she said I was severely depressed and sent me to a psychiatrist. The psychiatrist put me on Wellbutrin XL and then added Cymbalta back into the mix. I felt better for awhile.
I lost my job in July and my health insurance on August 1st. Prior to losing my insurance I went through the mail order pharmacy from the insurance and got 90 day supplies of Wellbutrin, Cymbalta, Neurontin, and some other meds I take. My primary care doctor gave me samples of Cymbalta for when I ran out. He also prescribed Tramadol for my pain since he refuses to write prescriptions for narcotics and my pain management doctor refused to see me any longer when my insurance ran out.
So last Saturday December 8th. I took my last Cymbalta. I didn't think the withdrawal would be that bad this time around either especially since I was/am still taking the Wellbutrin. Well, this has been one of the most miserable weeks of my life! Besides mood swings, hot flashes, and crazy dreams there has also been: vertigo, nausea, my skin is itching and "crawling", insomnia (and I'm exhausted), confusion, my short term memory is fried! I'll forget what I was going to say before I can even get it out. The itching and crawling skin is miserable! At first I thought, did my dogs get fleas, and my bed is filled with them? I had just given them their monthly flea medicine. But I washed all of my bedding and put my pillows in the dryer on high heat. That didn't help! I, then, thought maybe I've grown sensitive to my detergent and softener. I had some sensitive skin detergent so I washed the bedding and my pajamas in that with no softener and that didn't help. I wasn't attributing my itching to the Cymbalta withdrawal until I saw a few of the posts on here.
I've also come to find out after doing some research (when I'm not dizzy) that my doctors were really putting me in danger with having me take: Wellbutrin + Cymbalta + Neurontin + Tramadol. All 3 doctors knew what the other was prescribing and I used only one pharmacy for everything. I know that at the end of the day we are responsible for our healthcare choices, but we also rely on those who have been educated in medicine and pharmacology to know more than we do.
I also ran out of the Neurontin and I quit taking the Tramadol after I did my research.
How long am I going to feel this miserable? Opiate Withdrawal wasn't this bad!
I'm taking fish oil supplements (saw somewhere that helps the Brain Zaps), a multivitamin, and some benedryl to help with the itching. I do take a Xanax at night to try and get some sleep. Is there anything else I can or should be doing?
A part of me wants to go the doctor's office and pick up some 20mg samples, but then I think will I then just have to do "this" all over again after I taper off the 20mg?
Any help, support, suggestions for getting through this will be appreciated.
Cold turkey a few years back left me a weeping mess. DON'T DO THAT. Tapered off 30mg over 1 month. Still some lingering head "buzz" and some "emotionalism". These are handle-able will pass quickly. Maybe 6 weeks is better...there is no formula...everyone's different. I have NONE of the anxiety I had before. ZERO, zilch, nada, nothing... After many years, I feel that I'm better prepared to handle the occasional glitches and not spiral back down into needing SSRI's again.
I already have 10 days in so, I'm definitely not going to start taking it again. Each day is a little better than the last. I'm not feeling as disconnected from myself as I was. I got a few hours of decent sleep last night. I'm going to press on. As this poison works it way out of my system - it's making me stinky! Really! Yes, sweat stinks but this is a different kind of "stink". When you offend yourself a few hours out of the shower you know it's bad! eh I'm thinking it's a good thing I sleep alone at the moment! Have to try and find some humor!
I've lost 5lbs in the last 10 days and my stomach is getting flat again! I'm beginning to recognize the woman in the mirror! The person who was looking back at me for the last couple of years wasn't familiar to me.
My hope is that my son has a mother he can put up with when he comes home for winter break. I feel so bad when I think what I have put him through in the past couple of years. I'm glad he loves me as much as he does or I would have driven him away as I have driven away some other people who were very dear to me.
I am on day 7 of my withdrawls. I am experiencing severe brain zaps, I am very very tired and sleepy, a variety of emotions ( mad one minute and crying the next), confussion and lack of concentration. I have been experiencing body aches (which is nothing compared to the other symptoms). I have been taking 60 mg for several years and I would not suggest anyone to start taking Cymbalta. I am hoping I am over the worse of the withdrawl syptoms.
Each day a little different but a little better than the day before.
I
Cold Turkey Cymbalta Withdrawal
60 to 0 in a day
Day 14
Today is the most normal I have felt in 2 weeks! Nausea wasn't bad. Mood swings were not as intense. The ringing in my ears is nearly gone. My skin's not crawling. Not nearly as dizzy and I had more energy today than I have had in months! On the flip side my back and hip are hurting a lot more but, I'll take the pain over feeling numb, lifeless, and living like a recluse any day! I still get angry when I think of the 2 years that I lost because of this evil medication. Had I not taken Cymbalta I would have been better equipped to fight at work and ensure that I kept my job. I wouldn't have driven my son nuts with worrying about me. If hindsight were foresight... However, now my life can begin moving forward again.
Do not take Cymbalta! Do your research and find a medication that doesn't have the same side effects and that is easier to withdraw from!
Cold Turkey Cymbalta Withdrawal 60 to 0 in a day
Day 19
I'm still not sleeping well. Ran out of Xanax. I'm happy about the weight I'm losing (my jeans are starting to fit again) but, I'm so tired of being nauseous. I want to eat but, food prep really makes me gag.
I still have the ringing in my ears, some dizziness, and no ambition to do much of anything. I think the no ambition thing comes from not having had a good night's sleep in almost 3 weeks.
I'm still very happy that I quit taking the Cymbalta, the Neurontin, and the Tramadol.
Most common side effects of Cymbalta (this is not a complete list):
Nausea, dry mouth, sleepiness, fatigue, constipation, decreased appetite, increased sweating, dizziness. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visitwww.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
I forgot my meds at home yesterday, so I am going to let this be day 2 of my attempt to get off Cymbalta... Was taking it for fibromyalgia, but can't see where it helps all that much and I have become a walking zombie with intermittent moments of extreme anger. All I want to do is sleep, read, or watch tv. Doing anything seems like too much of an effort.
Being around people is difficult because there's always someone upset about something and I end up feeling like I have somehow done something and that everything is always my fault. 3 years on this meds and I've lost my passion for life. Pleasing people seems impossible and a royal pain.
I feel the same. On 60mg CYM. Now 10 days down on 30 mg CYM. Don't know what to do. Plus I'm coming down and off
Seroquel. Was on 150 cut up from 300 reg seroquel. Now down to 50er Seroquel. Wanted to go cold turkey and stopped for
1 day then after reading how dangerous it was , I started the next day 50 er. It's been 7 days now.
between the cymbalta and the seroquel, I have constant headaches, nausea, cannot eat, cannot sleep.
so at night I take 1 - 50er seroquel 9pm and 11pm 2- 10 mg ambien and 1-10 mg Valium and I get 2 hours sleep. But I have to do this to get off this stuff.
my dr. Thought it was my thyroid feeling so weak all the time, well my thyroid was off and I'm on 100mcg synthesis so I should be feeling better being on it for 170 days. So it's a matter of elimination and cymbal tea doesn't help with pain or depression and after reading the side effects of seroquel and what it does to your brain, I have to come off that my primary doesn't no why my psy. Dr put me on it
This medication has given me the same side effects as yours. So exact in fact that I feel better knowing I am not a loser. I believe that cymbalta has contributed that effect to my life and given me not a sense of well being, but of ill-being. Thank you for posting.