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Posted 7/13/2011 2:45 AM (GMT 0)
Has anyone else been through withdrawal from Cymbalta, and if so, what were your symptoms like and how long did they last? My doctor had me taper from 30mg to 20mg, and as of last Friday, 7/8/11, go off Cymbalta and onto 10mg Prozac. The Prozac is supposed to help with the symptoms of "discontinuation syndrome" that I get when decreasing medication. I'm concerned b/c even with taking Prozac, I'm having really bad depressive symptoms - especially excessive crying and feelings of hopelessness, depressive thoughts, etc.

I try to get through these episodes by using tools that I learned in therapy, telling myself that this is chemically based, that I'm going through withdrawal, etc. But in the midst of it, it doesn't matter what I know intellectually, how badly I feel takes precedence.

Does anyone have words of encouragement for getting through this kind of withdrawal?

Thank you so much.
Posted 7/13/2011 3:41 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Gigi. Nice to see you posting and welcome to Healing Well.

about 6 months ago I was switched off of Cymbalta. I had been on it for 2.5 years and was at the high end for dosage. My therapist (who is also a prescribing nurse practitioner) took me off Cymbalta one day and started me up on 20 mg of Prozac that same night.

Gee, I can't even begin to describe the awful headaches, nautiousness (sp?), shaking and dizziness I had. I'm sure I had some mood swings too but at this point all I can remember was that persistent headache that lasted night and day for about 3 weeks. It felt like a constant drill at my head.

To be honest, everybody that I have read about here on this forum that discontinued the Cymbalta did it slowly over a period of time as you are. And yes, they described many of your same symptoms. Jamie, for example, posted frequently about it when he went through this.

I don't know which way is worst: going off gradually or instantly. But yes, it was extremely hard to do. But I've got to be honest, the Prozac has worked wonderfully for me now. I am at 40 mg. and I have many more good days at this point than bad. So I am grateful. Please just hang in there because there will be better times ahead. And if you get really worried about your mood swings give your pdoc a call. You have every right to as the withdrawal symptoms are awful.

Cass

Post Edited (CassandraLee) : 7/12/2011 9:44:43 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 7/13/2011 4:27 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Cassandra,

Thanks for your reply and for your words of encouragement that these symptoms will come to an end. I've had headaches and nausea too, as you described. Maybe I'll look through older posts and read about Jamie's experience. As much as I don't want other people going through this, it's reassuring to read about others' experiences and comforting to know I'm not alone.

Thanks again, and I'm really glad that Prozac is working for you.
Posted 7/13/2011 1:24 PM (GMT 0)
I believe that Kitt went through this too. You have to wean very slowly. Know that we are thinking about you and praying for you at this time. It isn't easy. Are you going on to something else? Or quitting alltogether?

Best wishes,

Hugs, Karen
Posted 7/13/2011 4:37 PM (GMT 0)

Hi Karen,

Thank you so much for your reply and for your words of encouragement.  Knowing I'm being thought of means so much.  I check my email periodically through the work day and knowing I have this support helps me to get through.

I'm taking 10mg Prozac for now, and depending on how I'm feeling once the withdrawal from Cymbalta is over, I may or may not stay on Prozac or go onto another antidepressant.  Rather than switching me directly from one anti-dep to another, my doc wanted to see how I did off of anti-deps completely. 

I like my doc and trust him.  His reasoning for this change is that I take medication for Hashimoto's (which helps w/depression) and within the past year was diagnosed celiac (so I've gone gluten free).  As as result, I started absorbing all my medications better, but my serotonin level actually ended up going too high and I got mixed episode bipolar-type symptoms.

I have anxiety intertwined w/the depression, and am on medicine for that.  I think we're going to see how I manage on anti-anxiety meds alone, but if I need an anti-depressant, then I'll go onto a new one.

Thank you again.

Posted 7/13/2011 5:19 PM (GMT 0)
Gigi,

That sounds like a good plan. I hope that you can go off of them altogether and still feel good. I hate taking meds, and I take a lot of them. It is a chore just to fill my pillbox once a week. But I have to take them, so I just take it one day at a time and see how I feel. I hope that you feel better soon, and I hope that you have a great day. Take care, thanks for posting.

Hugs, Karen
Posted 7/13/2011 5:23 PM (GMT 0)
When I came off effexor I had discontinuation symptoms ... headaches, dizziness and nausea. I slowed down the tapering of the medication and even cut them into halves and quarters and this seemed to make the withdrawal a bit easier.

Good luck, let us know how you are doing
Posted 7/13/2011 5:35 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you Tori.

When the depressive symptoms get overwhelming, I take an anti-anxiety med to ease the intensity of them.  I haven't had physical symptoms that have been too severe, but I'm glad that I have a better understanding of what they can be/what to possibly expect/etc.  I'm 6 days off Cymbalta today.  I will keep you posted as to how I'm feeling.

Thanks for caring, I really appreciate it.

Posted 7/14/2011 10:55 AM (GMT 0)
6 days is great ... you have pretty much cracked it!
Keep going, you will get there. Well done!
Posted 7/14/2011 1:54 PM (GMT 0)
Tori,
Thanks for the encouragement. Yesterday was a really rough day. I talked w/my dr and I'll be increasing Prozac from 10 to 20mg today to hopefully help w/discontinuation syndrome. I guess I really need to take this one day at a time.

Thanks.
Posted 7/15/2011 9:37 AM (GMT 0)
I have heard that Prozac can help with discontinuation as it has a very long half life.
Hope it helps. You have still done great as drugs like cymbalta and effexor have tough withdrawal symptoms.
Take care
Posted 7/18/2011 6:02 PM (GMT 0)
I just need to post b/c today has been a particularly hard day. There haven't been any specific triggers that I'm aware of, I'm just having a hard time keeping depression "in" and not crying. I haven't taken an extra 10mg Prozac yet today, b/c if I take it too close to the morning dose, I don't feel well physically. I guess I wanted to tell someone.

~gigi
Posted 7/18/2011 7:11 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Gigi,

I am sorry that you aren't feeling well. I do hope that you take your prozac soon so that you will feel better emotionally. Could it be your hormonal cycle causing this? My depression always got worse when I had pms. I don't have it anymore. Got too old, but it is nice not to have to deal with it.

I am glad that you find you can come here when you need to. It is always nice to be able to share our feelings with somebody that we can trust.

I hope that you feel better soon.

Hugs, Karen
Posted 7/19/2011 1:29 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Karen, and thanks.

I know this doesn't have to do w/my cycle (that was last week). I think it's still just withdrawal, and although there haven't been any specific triggers, I am having some depressive thoughts that I'm sure are affecting me. I lasted until about 4pm before I took another 10mg Prozac. It did help alleviate some of the intensity that builds up inside.

Thank you for listening and caring.
Posted 7/19/2011 2:13 AM (GMT 0)
I wonder if you need a dose increase. Talk to your doc when you get a chance.

Best wishes Gigi.

Hugs. Larem
Posted 7/19/2011 2:56 AM (GMT 0)
I just talked w/my doc tonight and he said to try 30mg Prozac in the morning to see if it will stop the depression from building up throughout the day. He said it's still discontinuation syndrome "until proven otherwise" - his words. It has only been 10 days, and I know these things take time. Hopefully I won't get bad side effects from taking 30mg Prozac at once. I'm off work tomorrow, so if I do get side effects, at least I won't have to worry about being at work.

Thank you!
Posted 7/19/2011 2:48 PM (GMT 0)
Good luck on the prozac Gigi. It is a good med for a lot of people. I hope that you feel better soon. I know trying different meds is hard, it took me seven different tries before I found what worked for me.

Keep trying. Don't ever give up. I am sorry that the cymbalta withdrawal is so hard, but taking the prozac should help you.

Hugs, Karen

PS Keep us posted...
Posted 7/20/2011 4:23 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Gigi. I'm so sorry that the last few days have been rough for you. I'm hoping too that the increase in Prozac will help. Right now I'm at 40 mg and this has made a big difference for me.

Also, Karen had a good point about our cycles. Even with all my meds I am an anxiety ridden and extra depressed person when the time comes around. I have actually learned to listen to my body and get extra rest when the depression and anxiety increase. I have found it helps.

Hang in there!
Cass
Posted 7/21/2011 3:09 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you all.

I've taken 30mg Prozac in the morning for two days now. Yesterday I didn't feel much different, but today the depression didn't seem to build throughout the day as it has been doing. I know it's only been 2 days, but I'm hoping it's at least the start of it alleviating discontinuation syndrome.

Thank you for your kind thoughts.
Posted 7/21/2011 2:19 PM (GMT 0)
Often antidepressants can start working right away, but it still takes six to eight weeks to reach full potential. I hope it continues to get better for you.

Hugs, Karen
Posted 7/22/2011 12:39 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks Karen. Today was a tough day as far as depression building up throughout the day, but as of tomorrow, I'll be off of Cymbalta for 2 weeks, so at least that's something. I've emailed my doctor and hope to talk w/him tonight to see if I should stay at 30mg Prozac and see how it goes, or increase the dosage at all.

I really appreciate your replies and support. It's really helpful, and I'm hoping when I'm feeling better that I can be of help to others on Healing Well.
Posted 7/22/2011 12:51 AM (GMT 0)
You will be feeling better, it might take a little time to get the prozac into your system, Keep positive thoughts. You will get there. And when you do, I am sure that you will give a lot of support on the forum.

Trying to stay cool. It has been hot.

Hugs, Karen
Posted 5/2/2013 6:10 PM (GMT 0)
Arieln is correct! This is the first time that I've seen someone else post somthing similar to what I tried. The doctors don't have a plan to wean a person off of Cymbalta. I was on 60mg and the doctors said I could cut back to 30mg. WRONG!! The withdrawls were just as severe as quitting cold turkey. I tried both. I started weaning off by opening the capsule and counting the granules. There are 200 in each capsule. I removed 10 granules from each capsule per week. Week 1 = 190 granules. Week 2 = 180 granules. And so on... After 4 weeks of this, I began shortening from 7 days at each step to 5 days at each step. This worked for me. There were times when I still got bad headaches, but nothing like the brain zaps I had before. It takes time and patience, but it's totally worth it. I was on Cymbalta for chronic lower back pain. It really works, but the side effects and withdrawl symptoms are not worth it. It causes sexual dysfunction in men. For me, I couldn't orgasm.
Posted 5/2/2013 6:33 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Mark,

This is an old thread, so I don't know if you are going to get any replies. I just wanted to welcome you to the forum.

Hugs, Karen...
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