Tapering off Cymbalta...

I was really hesistant to take any meds for depression in the first place and now that I've been on Cymbalta for over 9 months, I've decided it's time to taper off it - seeing that I'm not sure it's working anymore.  But the thing is... is that I haven't seen a doctor in over 4 months.  The psychiatrist that I last saw had written a 90 day supply, plus an extra month supply because my enrollment for health insurance from work (that I thought I would have at the end of the three months) was being processed.   Currently, I am almost out of the med - dosage of 80mg (60+20)... but luckily I discovered that I have one refill left of the 20mg.

I'm hoping to hear that my health coverage from work will be effective within the next two weeks... and in that time (because I'm pretty much limited on how much of the Cymbalta I can take) I am going to take lower dosages over days at a time.  Now... I'm already a bit anxious about the whole waiting for the health insurance to be effective, thinking about the possible withdrawal effects, dealing with family because of the holidays and such... but I'm also worried that I won't be able to get an appt. with a doctor soon enough when I can actually use my health insurance...

Any opinions? thoughts? on how I should go about doing things?  I should note that I know that I can go to any general doctor for a check-up/monitoring or whatnot, but I'm kinda strapped for cash - with the money I do make, it goes to pay mostly bills.

Thanks for reading.

MaWie, I do not have an answer to your question. I, too, am on Cymbalta, for two months now. Have had horrible reflux problems (now on nexium for that along with cymbalta) and have other health problems. Today, I have a virus that is going around here, and I have taken none of my meds. On clear liquids only, no dr. visit. I guess I need to try to swallow tonight's dose of cymbalta and zocor. Wonder about taking the nexium tonight? I feel horrible, but lying down can't do now b/c fo pain.

I was looking for a specific post on another board that explained in detail 4 different methods of getting off cymbalta. I didn't find it, but I did find many posts more posts about withdrawal than were on boards 3 months ago.

I suggest you read through this on:

http://www.websitetoolbox.com/tool/post/focussober/vpost?id=582931&highlight=cymbalta

If you don't find your answer in that thread, there are 53 other posts at the site about cymbalta and some of those are also about withdrawal.

bev