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DC'ing Cymbalta is hard/awful

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Posted 5/13/2009 3:28 PM (GMT 0)
I'm in my second day without any Cymbalta in my 'Cymbalta titration'. I was on 60mg for about 18 months and it felt like it had stopped working basically so I got put on 90mg daily, well it was okay for a few weeks then I started to feel almost completely emotionless, in a constant fog, kinda like a zombie I imagine....anyway, I decided myself I wanted off completely & my dr. agreed I should give it a try, so we went down to 60mg for a couple weeks, then 30mg for a couple weeks, then 30mg every over day for a week and now on my second day of 0mg & I completely and totally feel like crap, almost like I have a flu-bug.

My symptons are:

- dizziness/wooziness

- feel like my mind can't 'keep up' with my eyes(weird, I know)

- slight headache

- slight sadness/anxiety/panic/fear

- blood pressure up & down confused

- etc.

Anyone else dealt with this, if so any help to offer getting through this horrible withdrawal? I feel like I'm at my wit's end.  sad

Posted 5/13/2009 3:40 PM (GMT 0)
It sounds to me like they had you wean WAY too fast. I think I would go back on it and slow your weaning process down. I think I would have gone down like 60 mg one week, 50 mg one week and so on. And then maybe the last 10 mg go down for one week, then the next week do everyother day. But definetly does sound like your wean was too fast. Good luck!

P.S. I think someone else just weaned off this med, hopefully they will be a long soon.
Posted 5/13/2009 3:53 PM (GMT 0)

Nanners said...
It sounds to me like they had you wean WAY too fast. I think I would go back on it and slow your weaning process down. I think I would have gone down like 60 mg one week, 50 mg one week and so on. And then maybe the last 10 mg go down for one week, then the next week do everyother day. But definetly does sound like your wean was too fast. Good luck!

P.S. I think someone else just weaned off this med, hopefully they will be a long soon.

Thanks for the suggestion(s), unfortunately the med only comes in 20, 30, 60, and 90 mg capsules which makes it hard to get the other doses you suggested unless you actually break open the capsules and count the beads, etc.

Again, thanks for the thought.


Posted 5/13/2009 4:02 PM (GMT 0)

James,

I agree you may have weaned off to fast.  You could do 60, 50, 40, 30, 20 mg.  You went from 60 mg to 30 mg and then off.

 Yes people actually do count beads.

Take care,

Kitt

Posted 5/13/2009 7:33 PM (GMT 0)

stkitt said...

James,

I agree you may have weaned off to fast.  You could do 60, 50, 40, 30, 20 mg.  You went from 60 mg to 30 mg and then off.

 Yes people actually do count beads.

Take care,

Kitt


Thanks, I may consider going into counting the beads and putting them in my own little empty capsules but I hope tomorrow is better.
Posted 5/14/2009 1:29 PM (GMT 0)

3rd day completely off Cymbalta
Well, I've been up about 2 1/2 hours now and I feel like crap again....so far I might feel 5-10% better than I did yesterday but still pretty crappy. God, it's so hard being here at work and going through this....wonder how long it'll last.?   shakehead  

Posted 5/14/2009 2:00 PM (GMT 0)

Hey James with the slow wean I felt "not well" for about 2 weeks and had crying spells and anxiety but they were mild compared to what I have had in the past.

It was hard to go to work and going to work was about all I could manage as far as leaving the house.

Good Luck and Take Care.

Kitt

Posted 5/14/2009 2:07 PM (GMT 0)

stkitt said...

Hey James with the slow wean I felt "not well" for about 2 weeks and had crying spells and anxiety but they were mild compared to what I have had in the past.

It was hard to go to work and going to work was about all I could manage as far as leaving the house.

Good Luck and Take Care.

Kitt

Thanks for words Kitt, hopefully it will only last 2 weeks, I don't know if I could put up with it for much longer & I'm also having to constantly remind myself the reason I'm feeling 'funny' is because of the withdrawals and nothing more/less....all these withdrawal syptoms seem to have me on the constant verge of a panic/anxiety episode.  sad
Posted 5/15/2009 5:59 AM (GMT 0)
Oh dear. I've just joined this group as I've been experiencing intense anxiety symptoms for 3 weeks. Today I was prescribed Cymbalta which I decided to take as this is my 3rd anxiety episode in 2.5 years, and I HATE the physical symptoms so much I just want to be rid of them. I've been having hypnosis and counselling but nothing takes the edge off the gut churning, hot and cold, intense aching, nausea, diahroea (can't spell) and very negative thoughts.

I'm ambivalent about taking medication but don't want even one more day like this. My husband is laying low but doesn't get it much, and I have 2 daughters who are just getting on with life around me. I'm freaked about being like this forever, about getting other episodes as I get older (I'm 43), and I just can't imagine wanting to live if I keep getting this back. The first time it was really bad I took Lovan (Prozac) for 12 months which helped but of course I was keen to get off it. I think it numbed me a bit, certainly did when it came to sex. I hate that side effect. Anyway, hi and any ideas or comments are welcome
Posted 5/18/2009 12:44 PM (GMT 0)

Grizzly pooh said...
Oh dear. I've just joined this group as I've been experiencing intense anxiety symptoms for 3 weeks. Today I was prescribed Cymbalta which I decided to take as this is my 3rd anxiety episode in 2.5 years, and I HATE the physical symptoms so much I just want to be rid of them. I've been having hypnosis and counselling but nothing takes the edge off the gut churning, hot and cold, intense aching, nausea, diahroea (can't spell) and very negative thoughts.

I'm ambivalent about taking medication but don't want even one more day like this. My husband is laying low but doesn't get it much, and I have 2 daughters who are just getting on with life around me. I'm freaked about being like this forever, about getting other episodes as I get older (I'm 43), and I just can't imagine wanting to live if I keep getting this back. The first time it was really bad I took Lovan (Prozac) for 12 months which helped but of course I was keen to get off it. I think it numbed me a bit, certainly did when it came to sex. I hate that side effect. Anyway, hi and any ideas or comments are welcome

Well, I guess the best way to look at taking meds for 'mental disorders' is to look at it the same way you would if it was a 'physical' disorder such as high cholesterol, heart disease, cancer, etc....would you or anyone around you question you for taking meds for those types of problems?, I highly doubt it....it is the overlying stigma that if you have a 'mental problem' you should just snap out of it and/or get over it but believe you me it is not that easy, unfortunately I kinda felt like it was before I had to actually face it myself and discovered that it's VERY real.

Best of Luck

Posted 5/18/2009 12:46 PM (GMT 0)
Well I'm still here, Day 7 with ZERO Cymbalta....my physical side affects have slowly gotten a little better but now I have extreme irritability, and just plain old anger that seems to be built up inside of me; about to explode at times....it's a weird feeling that I've never had before and I suppose it's more of my body trying to 'trick me' into re-starting the medication.

Anyway, that's my update & I hope everyone had a fine weekend.  :-)

Posted 5/18/2009 12:59 PM (GMT 0)

James,

Good Morning, I remember during my weaning from Cymbalta that I had crazy emotions all over the place. I would wake up and feel like crying, then I might feel angry and very irritable.  I wanted to scream at people as hey "I am going through a tough time here" but I knew nobody wanted to hear that and they did not deserve to be screamed at.

I was paranoid about falling apart out in public . The one thing I feared most was Brain zaps but I was lucky and did not have any, only a few times I felt dizzy but no shocks.

You are doing well, just hang in there.  I have read that the B Vitamins, the choline supplements or lecithin supplements are helpful in reducing the withdrawal sx frm the SSRI/SSNI drugs. Just FYI.

Keep on talking with us.

Kitt

Posted 5/21/2009 1:01 PM (GMT 0)

stkitt said...

James,

Good Morning, I remember during my weaning from Cymbalta that I had crazy emotions all over the place. I would wake up and feel like crying, then I might feel angry and very irritable.  I wanted to scream at people as hey "I am going through a tough time here" but I knew nobody wanted to hear that and they did not deserve to be screamed at.

I was paranoid about falling apart out in public . The one thing I feared most was Brain zaps but I was lucky and did not have any, only a few times I felt dizzy but no shocks.

You are doing well, just hang in there.  I have read that the B Vitamins, the choline supplements or lecithin supplements are helpful in reducing the withdrawal sx frm the SSRI/SSNI drugs. Just FYI.

Keep on talking with us.

Kitt


 

Day 10

Thanks for the positive re-inforcement Kitt, I'll keep pressing on & I'll also look into those Vitamin B supplements you mentioned.

Posted 5/22/2009 10:48 PM (GMT 0)
James,

I just submitted a post and even though I read through yours, I totally missed you saying about the extreme irritability and anger.  Do you get angry about nothing at all?  I posted asking that question because I am snapping at anyone and everyone at absolutely nothing at all!!

Moderators, I apologize if it is somewhat a duplicate post.

Posted 5/25/2009 12:27 PM (GMT 0)

sylknmyst said...
James,

I just submitted a post and even though I read through yours, I totally missed you saying about the extreme irritability and anger.  Do you get angry about nothing at all?  I posted asking that question because I am snapping at anyone and everyone at absolutely nothing at all!!

Moderators, I apologize if it is somewhat a duplicate post.

Yes, sometimes very much nothing at all....although it MAY be getting a slight bit better.

Day 14

 

Posted 5/25/2009 12:43 PM (GMT 0)

James,

14 days, you are on a roll............keep on as you are doing great.  Just think of that as 336 hours off Cymbalta.  The tough part is coming to an end.  Your system should be adjusting to being off the medication.

I am happy to hear you are feeling somewhat better. 

Lot of support coming your way,

Kitt

Posted 5/25/2009 6:22 PM (GMT 0)

stkitt said...

James,

14 days, you are on a roll............keep on as you are doing great.  Just think of that as 336 hours off Cymbalta.  The tough part is coming to an end.  Your system should be adjusting to being off the medication.

I am happy to hear you are feeling somewhat better. 

Lot of support coming your way,

Kitt

Thanks for the support Kitt, I really appreciate it....I think my system is slowyl adjusting but I also think my body is still kinda in 'shock mode' like where the hell is the Lexapro, Zoloft, Cymbalta....we need/want it back!, But I say NO!!!!  nono
Posted 5/26/2009 7:53 PM (GMT 0)
Wow! I never thought about counting the beads! That's insane!!!
I always assumed that the beads were incapsulated by machine!
Where do you buy empty capsule shells?
Posted 5/26/2009 8:27 PM (GMT 0)

Hello and Welcome to HealingWell,

You can buy empty capsules at your local pharmacy.  You have to have a pretty steady hand.  :)

Kitt

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