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Cymbalta withdrawal

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Posted 6/18/2012 1:57 PM (GMT 0)
This morning is the start of day 18 of going off cymbalta cold turkey. By day 11 the withdrawal was about to get the best of me. I asked my doc if he would give me some Prozac to help with the symptoms. I took one 20mg last Monday, again on Wed. and again on Friday. Did not take any all weekend. Started having some mild symptoms yesterday afternoon but made it to bed time without taking one. Now I'm trying to decide if I want to take one this morning and try every third day this week and them maybe stretch it out farther next week or try stopping it also. So far this has been a life saver for me but I don't want to get to the same place with the prozac. I'll let you know what I decide.
Posted 6/18/2012 9:31 PM (GMT 0)
Hi bronco

I hope that schedule works out for you. I did not know that you could take Prozac on an 'as needed/irregular' basis, but I am sure that if you follow your doctor's instruction, then it will work out.

I don't know if I have posted this website before for you, but if not, it might be worth taking a look at.:)

www.theroadback.org

I wish you the best with your tapering!

S.C.
Posted 6/18/2012 11:18 PM (GMT 0)
Yes Cat , you or someone posted this before and I read through it. I have been on some of the same supplements for heart disease. I read somewhere else about taking low doses of prozac a couple times a week till the symptoms go away. I sent a link to the website to my Doc and he wrote me a script. So far it has been a life saver for me. Because of the very long half life of Prozac it's suppose to be easy to quit as long as you don't take it everyday and over a long period of time. When I saw the article I was desperate to try anything because at day 11 it was not an option for me to go back on the cymbalta, I had already come too far for that. This is all new to me but I'm getting an education fast!
Posted 6/18/2012 11:35 PM (GMT 0)
Oops, I had a feeling that I had already posted that sight to you...well anyway, that is great to know the Prozac will get you through your final tapering off the Cymbalta.

That is useful information, and it may be of help to others in similar circumstances, so please keep us posted with your progress!

S.C.
Posted 6/19/2012 5:33 PM (GMT 0)
I found a great article last night that I found well worth reading. I'm relatively new here so this may be old news to some of you. If this has been posted before I appologize. I am day 19 now and doing pretty well today. I did take the Prozac yesterday and this article validates what I'm trying to do. Just taking it one day at a time and learning way more about this than I ever imagined. Also learning there are more people around me taking stuff than I ever imagined. Here is the link-
http://theicarusproject.net/downloads/ComingOffPsychDrugsHarmReductGuide1Edonline.pdf
Posted 6/19/2012 5:34 PM (GMT 0)
I guess you can't just click on it but if you google Harm Reduction Guide, or The Icarus Project it will get you there.
Posted 6/21/2012 10:45 AM (GMT 0)
The start of day 21. Doing pretty well. Yesterday was great. Today is my off day for Prozac but the important thing is 21 days off cymbalta!!! Here's to another great day!

 

Posted 6/21/2012 3:26 PM (GMT 0)
I am really glad to hear that you are feeling well!:) It is great that the side effects are starting to fade and that things are evening out for you...mind and body

How much longer is your tapering schedule going to take? Are you almost done, and how has the anxiety level been? I am just asking out of curiousity...you can tel me to MMOB if you want!;p

Keep up the good work, and have a great '21st' day!

S.C.
Posted 6/21/2012 3:46 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Bronco!!!!!! GOOD JOB!!!!!! GLAD TO HEAR IT!
Posted 6/21/2012 4:54 PM (GMT 0)

bronco59 said...
. Here is the link-
http://theicarusproject.net/downloads/ComingOffPsychDrugsHarmReductGuide1Edonline.pdf

great read! thanks for sharing!
Posted 6/21/2012 8:19 PM (GMT 0)

Scaredy Cat said...
I am really glad to hear that you are feeling well!:) It is great that the side effects are starting to fade and that things are evening out for you...mind and body

How much longer is your tapering schedule going to take? Are you almost done, and how has the anxiety level been? I am just asking out of curiousity...you can tel me to MMOB if you want!;p

Keep up the good work, and have a great '21st' day!

S.C.

I'm not sure what you mean by tapering. I'm not tapering cymbalta, I just stopped it, but if you mean Prozac I'm still doing it every other day. I go see my doc next Tuesday and I'm sure we will discuss that. I still get a few of the symptoms occasionally but no where near as severe. The anxiety seems to be creeping back in a little. I'm trying to fight it. I had to go to the hospital for a blood draw this morning and was hesitant to go alone but I did it. I had some anxiety but not enough to stop me. I feel like every little victory like this will continue to make me stronger.

Posted 6/21/2012 8:21 PM (GMT 0)

Carrie48 said...

Hey Bronco!!!!!! GOOD JOB!!!!!! GLAD TO HEAR IT!

Thanks Carrie. You gave me the courage to try it. It was your success story that convinced me it could be done. Just not sure how long some of the symptoms will be around. Hope you ar still doing well!

Posted 6/21/2012 8:23 PM (GMT 0)

Macihollands said...

bronco59 said...
. Here is the link-
http://theicarusproject.net/downloads/ComingOffPsychDrugsHarmReductGuide1Edonline.pdf

great read! thanks for sharing!

I thought maybe someone could benefit from it. I know it helped me understand what was going on with me.

Posted 6/21/2012 8:25 PM (GMT 0)
Great bunch of people here. It's good to share my progress with people that know how important it is to us! Thanks everyone!
Posted 6/21/2012 8:34 PM (GMT 0)
I also must share that just a short 10 days ago when I was at my worst I didn't think I would ever get back to this point in my life again. I was in such a dark place that all hope seemed to be gone. Coming back here and re-reading posts like Carrie's and others kept reminding me that surely if they made it there must be hope for me also. Keep these forums going everyone!
Posted 6/23/2012 9:22 PM (GMT 0)
Try a dose of Benedryl. It's so weird, but it helps with withdrawal!

Take a hot bath! Have some wine! Realize you are not perfect and be nice to yourself and let the symptoms go away.
Posted 6/24/2012 8:54 PM (GMT 0)
Hi All,

I quit Cymbalta cold turkey because my scrip ran out and my legs stopped working right. As far as I am concerned, most of this type of medication should never have been put on the market, as their side effects are disastrous. I have heard horror stories about Prozac causing electrical storms in the brain, so I really dont see that as a good way to go VS Cymbalta.

In an effort to help, I would recommend exercise, a hot bath, Vitamin B1 (Thiamin) and like someone else said, realize that you are only human, and give it to God.

JimA
Posted 6/26/2012 11:45 AM (GMT 0)
I'm not switching to Prozac, just using it to lessen the withdrawal effects of Cymbalta. Cymbalta has such a short half life it puts you in withdrawal within about 36 hours. At day 3 it started getting bad. Prozac has a very long half life and is easier to withdraw from, especially if used short term like I'm doing. I have read several articles about using this method to withdraw from Cymbalta, it's working for me. I see my doc today and I'm going to ask to start taking less Prozac. I have been taking it every other day for two weeks. Maybe every third day for a week then every fourth day for a week and stop. We'll see what he says. It's now day 26 off Cymbalta and it's been several days with no symptoms at all. I think I'm ready to be clean from it all.
Posted 6/26/2012 3:02 PM (GMT 0)
Sounds like you have everything under control bronco, good luck, God Bless, and have a great life.

JimA
Posted 6/29/2012 2:56 AM (GMT 0)
This is now 28 days off Cymbalta and doing well. I have been taking Prozac every other day to help with withdrawal. Today is second day of no Prozac. We'll see how I do without it now. Doc said i could spread it out to every three or four days for a week or so and quit. This should be much easier, I hope!
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