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My Journey of getting off 30mg Cymbalta

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Posted 5/21/2012 3:01 PM (GMT 0)
DAY 21 WITHOUT CYMBALTA

Hi All,

Just thought I'd report in and let you all know that I'm doing really well. Even made a spontaneous get away trip with my hubby this weekend and had a great time!

STILL noticing random brain zaps every now and then, but otherwise doing really well!!!

I'll check in in a couple of days or post if something weird happens.

Take care everyone.
Posted 5/21/2012 3:08 PM (GMT 0)
I really got to ask. What do you consider these brain zaps. I've read about them and some have been severe. But when I stopped taking lexapro last dec I don't really remember any side effects. I didn't really intentional stop. Just would forget a day here and there, then just totally forgot about it and stopped
Posted 5/21/2012 3:37 PM (GMT 0)
Cosfrog:

Well, I'm not really sure what a brain zap is like I mentioned early on in my posting however, if that is what I'm having, it's like all the sudden you get a dizziness and it goes as quickly as it comes... Sometimes when I move my eyes a certain way, I'll get one..... They don't hurt though...so maybe it isn't what others describe as a "brain zap"...
Posted 5/21/2012 10:20 PM (GMT 0)
Carrie I have read all your post and my hats of to you. It takes a lot to try to detox from being on a med. I too am suffering from panic attacks and depression. It is very hard and also very scarey. Makes you feel like your all alone. I also have thyroid problems and take meds for that and Buspirone for my nerves, so I do understand.

The one thing that I would say is that your acid reflux could be from a hernia or an ulcer. mention this to your doctor.

Keep on keeping on!
Posted 5/21/2012 10:24 PM (GMT 0)
I get dizzy spells ever so often also, for no reason at all. Sometimes when I get up or when I lean over. Like you said, it goes as fast as it comes. Not sure if that has anything to do with this or not.
Posted 5/22/2012 3:04 AM (GMT 0)
Glad to see you are still at it Carrie and doing so well. Stay at it, I think you have it licked by now.

I am on day three of going back to 30 mg. Still having some issues like I did on 60 mg. Going to do this for two weeks then try to taper off. I have other issues right now so don't think I want to go cold turkey like you did! I've been getting shooting pain from the back of my neck all the way accross the top of my head. Not sure what that is but it started when I cut the dose.

Posted 5/22/2012 8:20 PM (GMT 0)
DAY 22

Doing good. I have an endoscopy scheduled for Thursday for my acid reflux which is still there. It's not as bad as it was a month ago but it's still there.

Anyhow, anxiety levels are good, emotions are good, and nerve issues are good (knocking on wood right now).

My daughter is taking me to see a card reader lady tonight (this is her Mother's Day present to me). I wonder if she'll say anything about my health...? This will be interesting.

Bronco: Good luck on the 30Mg. When I went from 60 to 30, I was fine and actually felt so much better because the 60mg was just WAY too much med for me.

FlowerGirl: My sister has thyroid issues too (hashimotos) and if she doesn't keep her meds perfectly balanced for that, she does not feel well, gets depressed, etc. too. I had to see an endocrinologist for a thyroid nodule and she said that I also have Hashimotos but I'm just not showing the symptoms of it yet. I guess she could tell this by the ultrasound....Great....another thing to add to my list sometime down the road...). I'll deal with that later though...right now, it's all about getting rid of the acid reflux, controlling the lyme disease, blah blah blah :)
Posted 5/23/2012 10:30 AM (GMT 0)
Are you sure that you have acid reflux? When I had lyme with neuro symptoms, one of the big symptoms that bothered me a lot was crycopharyngeal spasms which was misdiagnosed as reflux at first and then as post-nasal drip. A year of various antibiotics with klonopin as needed for the anxiety symptoms and a renewed faith in God got me through...
Posted 5/28/2012 3:40 AM (GMT 0)
I hope all is still well with you Carrie. I have been back on 30 mg of cymbalta for a week and tomorrow I am going to try and quit cold turkey!
Posted 5/29/2012 6:13 PM (GMT 0)
Day 29 Off Cymbalta:

Hi All,

I had actually posted something on Friday but somehow, my post did not post and I have feeling very frustrated that day and decided I did not have the patience to repost.

Last Friday for me, which would have been day 25, I had a lot of anxiety.  However, I have been very busy at work, had some problems to deal with, my right-hand person is on vacation...it was just one of those days.

However, I am doing very well off the Cymbalta.  I had a fabulous weekend!  The one thing though that I think I am missing is being able to fall alseep easily.  On the Cymbalta, I had a good routine of going to bed at 9pm and reading for a hour (after I took my Lunesta of course) and falling asleep for like 8-10 hours.  Now, I seem to not be able to unwind at that time and find myself staying up later, falling asleep on the couch watching tv and then making my way up to bed.

Sleeping issues have been a problem for me for MANY years.  I have to take something to fall asleep and right now, that is 3 MG of Lunesta and .25 Xanax.  I've cut down to 1/8 mg of Xanax but now find myself taking a little more now that I am off the Cymbalta. 

Anyhow, I'm feeling pretty happy and emotionally very good.  I have noticed that I have had SO MUCH energy though.  I almost feel wired a little bit - like the Cymbalta was calming me a bit...

Oh...the Brain Zaps are gone.  I haven't had one of those for maybe 4-5 days or so. 

So...I am think I am completely withdrawn from the medication. 

Bronco...how are you doing?  Did you go cold turkey? 

Thanks all and hope you are all doing well!

Carrie

Posted 5/29/2012 7:49 PM (GMT 0)
Glad to hear you are doing so well especia;;y off the Cymbalta. I am only on day two of no Cymbalta. The biggest problem so far is even just reducing to 30 mg and now none I have alot of my joint pain coming back. A little dizziness from time to time today. We'll just take it one day at a time. Thanks for asking Carrie.
Posted 5/30/2012 4:21 PM (GMT 0)
Day 3 and I don't think I'll make it through the day without taking one. Can't function well today. Too much dizziness and I can't even describe what's going on in my head. When I try to walk or move my head around I get this sensation that shoots up both sides of my head through my ears. if I'm standing I feel for an instant like I'm going to fall. This is constant if I'm moving and trying to do things. Too much to do today to just shut down and wait for this to pass. I'm afraid i'm going to give in, at least for today but I guess that will put me back to square one again.  think I'm going to have to find a way to taper, don't think I can do this cold turkey.
Posted 5/30/2012 4:47 PM (GMT 0)
Bronco: Try to hang in there....I promise those feelings will go away. You should have only have a day or two where you feel very off but after that, the brain zaps/dizziness are only brief spells that go away.

Carrie
Posted 5/31/2012 1:04 AM (GMT 0)
I caved in. If I could have stayed home and sat still it might have made a difference. Gonna try and not take one again tomorrow. That would put me at day 3 on Saturday and hopefully I can have the weekend to tough it out. I had to be somewhere today and there is no way I could drive in the shape I was in so I took one and waited about an hour and felt like I could drive then. I am disappointed to say the least. I could not sleep last night either. Didn't drift off till after 3:00 AM. Felt like I had the worst hangover this morning. When I finally did go to sleep I drifted in and out because of upsetting dreams I kept having! This seems like it's going to be harder than I thought!
Posted 5/31/2012 4:55 PM (GMT 0)
I'm a mess. What did I get myself into???
Posted 5/31/2012 5:13 PM (GMT 0)
DAY 31 Off Cymbalta,

Yippee! Tomorrow will be one month! I can actually start counting in months rather than days! Hope it keeps up!

BRONCO
Don't be so hard on yourself! I agree, the dizziness is a little tough to handle. I think you are a little older than me too, so maybe it is even harder to deal with the dizziness. You should probably talk to your doctor about cutting down. You might want to think about opening the capsules and pouring out half of them so that you are cutting down to say 15 mg for a week or two. Also, I've heard that another way to get off of them is to go every other day for a week, then every three days for a week, then every four days...etc.... Maybe this would be the better route for you.

YOU CAN DO THIS!!! I think it will be important for you to find a method of coming off of them that you are comfortable with though. Otherwise, you are going to keep getting yourself upset. Try the every other day for a week, etc... but I would run it by your doctor first. I called my doctor before I went cold turkey and he said it was fine but all of us are different.

Unfortunately, I'm still have reflux issues (but not as bad as they were)....ugh I just want this to go away!!!!
Posted 5/31/2012 6:15 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Carrie. Still waiting for my doc to get back to me. Pharmacist suggested every other day also. I fell off a step ladder yesterday because of the dizziness. The best way I can describe what else was going on is I kept getting like a wave after wave of sensations in both sides of my head and both my ears felt like I was changing altitude or something with every wave. I got to where I couldn't function because it became worse with movement. That's when I gave in and took one. Took another today. Maybe the doc will get back to me and give me some 20 mg to take for a week or so. I have other medical issues that have come up that makes me not want to deal with this right now. I have very high inflamation in my blood right now and they keep giving me more blood tests trying to find the cause. That is raising the anxiety level also. maybe I picked the wrong time to get off. I thought at least I would feel better after getting off the cymbalta and have just the one issue to deal with. I am still getting those things going on in my head a few times a day even though I've taken the cymbalta two days in a row again. At least it's a cool rainy day so I don't mind staying in the recliner today. This is my wife's last day of work for the summer, she drives a school bus. I think with her being here everyday and very understanding maybe I'll be able to handle it better with her support. Thanks for taking the time to post and very glad for your one month triumph!!!
Posted 6/1/2012 11:40 PM (GMT 0)
ONE MONTH OFF CYMBALTA!

And I have to say...I'm feeling amazing! I hope it keeps up!!!

I do get anxiety still, but I think everyone does which is what I have to remember...it's a part of living as long as I don't let it control me!!!
Posted 6/2/2012 2:18 AM (GMT 0)
I didn't take one today but the brain zaps came back this afternoon. I took a half a pain pill and they went away! Going to try to not take one tomorrow again. Maybe this time I'll be more used to the brain zaps and not let it get to me so bad. My doc never did get back to me but I have an appointment on the 12th. I want out of this in the worst way. They should tell you what you are in for if you want to quit before you ever agree to take it. I've had so much to deal with in the last couple of years I think most of the fight is gone out of me. I build up my resolve and determination but the confusion and dizziness and zaps get the best of me. Wish I could think clearer when it gets at it's worst. I feel like I'm not going to survive it and cave in. I know someone that's going to start weaning off 90 mg with the help of a doc. I'm curious to see how they do it. Maybe what they do will work for me if my doc doesn't have a good plan!
Posted 6/3/2012 10:44 PM (GMT 0)
I'm on day 3 again. The zaps are pretty bad. Everytime I move or try to walk. They are not as scary now that I know what to expect but I don't know If I could tolerate them if they get much worse. If I can make it till bedtime without taking one then I can take something to sleep and hopefully make it through the night. Then we'll see what tomorrow brings. This is the farthest I've gone so far!!!
Posted 6/4/2012 2:42 AM (GMT 0)
Hang in there Bronco! Think about....some people PAY to feel dizzy and weird, so try to enjoy it! ha ha. Seriously, I thought about that when I was feeling all dizzy and out of it!

Anyhow, just know that the dizziness and feeling crappy feeling DOES PASS! It just takes time. Be patient and kind to yourself. If you get grumpy or emotional, just know that it is the withdrawal process and think to yourself that "this is a good thing...it means I'm withdrawing" and think about the toxins expelling from your body and how much healthier you will be the next minute after just a little more are out of your body!

Hang in there!
Posted 6/4/2012 12:11 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Carrie. I made it through the day and into the evening and got a good nights sleep but the first thing when my feet hit the floor this morning I got hit with a "ZAP". I like your analogy about how to think of what's going on. It brings back how I found the inner strength to get off alcohol 21 years ago. I will keep that in mind today. Day 4 here I come. If nothing stressful happens today I should make it. Maybe I can even use the stress as a diversion to take my mind off the withdrawal. I know before all this anxiety took over I was able to use stress as a motivator get things done. I have some errands to run this morning and will be alone all day. Maybe that's a good thing also. I'll be forced to deal with it on my own and maybe I'll come out even stronger. Trying to think positive about it anyway and that's a start. Thanks for continuing to chime in. You have been an inspiration that this can be overcome. Here's hoping for a great day for us all!!!
Posted 6/5/2012 7:59 PM (GMT 0)
Day 5 and the dizziness and zaps are relentless. Needed to run some errands today but don't think I should drive. Not able to function well today. Just another 6 or 7 hours and I can sleep through some of this again. Having alot of weird dreams, some are pretty violent. So far day 5 has been the worst.
Posted 6/6/2012 9:29 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Bronco:

Looking back through my early posts, day five was the first day that I really started feeling with symptoms, so you are right on target. Hang in there.

I am at One month and six days. To be honest, I'm having some anxiety today and feeling somewhat a little depressed. I have had some things going on at home though that I am sure anyone in their right mind would be upset about. Also, I'm still having issues with acid reflux, and that has really got me down and making me not want to do anything.

Hopefully, tomorrow will be a better day...
Posted 6/7/2012 1:38 AM (GMT 0)
Carrie, Ive had acid reflux and it's hard to deal with all day. Hope you find the cause and cure soon. Coming to the end of day 6 and it wasn't much better than yesterday. The zaps are relentless. I've come too far to go back and try tapering but I hope it starts getting better soon before I lose what's left of my mind!
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