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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by darcan on May 10, 2006, at 15:37:13
In reply to Cymbalta withdrawal, posted by Regina on March 3, 2005, at 16:37:18
Have you had horrible itching after discontinuing Cymbalta? What did you do to stop the itch? How about the nausea?
Posted by juliekay on May 10, 2006, at 19:46:29
In reply to Re: Cymbalta withdrawal (for the company, Lilly), posted by ang123 on May 3, 2006, at 18:32:41
> I don't recommend going from 30 mg to nothing. I also went from 60mg to 30mg with no withdrawal symptoms. I really was ok on 15mg too. It was when it got lower than that. You will know when the symptoms hit if you are going too fast and you always can take more. When I started with the withdrawal symptoms all I had to do is take some more and they would go away.
do they have such a thing as 15 mg. caps? if so i was not aware!
Posted by juliekay on May 10, 2006, at 20:01:13
In reply to Re: Cymbalta withdrawal, posted by Never Again on May 6, 2006, at 14:20:46
I have been on cymbalta for about 1 1/2 yrs., Iam currently being weened off and have expirienced soooo much of what I have read, dizziness, mood swings,zings in the head and face, nausea,headaches and so on. I am currently on 20 mg. every 2 days(my Dr.s great idea) spacing out dosages is so hard because by the end of the 48 hrs. I'm coming unglued! I think I might try taking some every day and opening the capsuals and start counting granuals like i've been reading jasper write about. does anyone know how many are in a 20 mg.cap?
Posted by juliekay on May 10, 2006, at 20:17:09
In reply to Re: Cymbalta withdrawal (for the company, Lilly), posted by juliekay on May 10, 2006, at 19:46:29
I should have directed my last post for u, u said that you r on 15 mg. Is that a 15mg. capsual?
I was told 20 was the lowest, ty julikay
Posted by ang123 on May 10, 2006, at 20:45:38
In reply to Re: ang123 please read, posted by juliekay on May 10, 2006, at 20:17:09
Julikay, I was just giving an approximate, I took the capsule and divided the granules into baggies.
Posted by gapsgal on May 10, 2006, at 22:53:29
In reply to Re: Cymbalta withdrawal, posted by juliekay on May 10, 2006, at 20:01:13
I was having problems dividing them, but someone on here gave me a suggestion to empty the capsule in a plate and use a knife to divide. I have some other empty capsules that I am using to put my lower dosed into.
I am still on about 15 mgs...and it is not exact because after a while you just get sick and tired of trying to count those tiny granules.
Eli Lilly really should market a taper kit for this crap.
> I have been on cymbalta for about 1 1/2 yrs., Iam currently being weened off and have expirienced soooo much of what I have read, dizziness, mood swings,zings in the head and face, nausea,headaches and so on. I am currently on 20 mg. every 2 days(my Dr.s great idea) spacing out dosages is so hard because by the end of the 48 hrs. I'm coming unglued! I think I might try taking some every day and opening the capsuals and start counting granuals like i've been reading jasper write about. does anyone know how many are in a 20 mg.cap?
Posted by mseasons on May 11, 2006, at 0:00:44
In reply to Re: Cymbalta withdrawal, posted by darcan on May 10, 2006, at 15:37:13
> Have you had horrible itching after discontinuing Cymbalta? What did you do to stop the itch? How about the nausea?
I did not have itching, but for the nausea Emetrol (over the counter) worked great.
Posted by Jaspar on May 11, 2006, at 18:16:45
In reply to Re: Cymbalta withdrawal, posted by darcan on May 10, 2006, at 15:37:13
> Have you had horrible itching after discontinuing Cymbalta?
>What did you do to stop the itch? How about the nausea?I had horrible itching while ON the Cymbalta which is why I have been TRYING to discontinue it. I was already on an antihistamine (Zyrtec), and I took Benadryl on top of that. Then the doctor added Singulair and could stop the Benadryl.
As for the nausea... going down very very very slowly off the Cymbalta helped, adding back a couple granules if the withdrawal symptoms get too bad help with the nausea. When I was puking non-stop, Lorazepam knocked me out so I could take some Cymbalta granules without water and it work and I could finally keep down water again.
-Jaspar
Posted by Jaspar on May 11, 2006, at 18:20:23
In reply to Re: Cymbalta withdrawal (for the company, Lilly), posted by juliekay on May 10, 2006, at 19:46:29
> do they have such a thing as 15 mg. caps?
>if so i was not aware!I had to take 20mg caps and pour half out. Then when I was on 10mg, I had to pur part out to get lower and lower until I was counting GRANULES. It has taken me over 5 months to get from 60mg to ALMOST off - I am now on 6 granules...
-Jaspar
Posted by Jaspar on May 11, 2006, at 18:25:09
In reply to Re: Cymbalta withdrawal, posted by juliekay on May 10, 2006, at 20:01:13
> I think I might try taking some every day and opening the capsuals
> and start counting granuals like i've been reading jasper write about.
> does anyone know how many are in a 20 mg.cap?For 20mg, I "eyeballed" it - going down a little each day until I got to about 1/2 the capsule, then switched to the 10mg capsules and started doing the same thing with the 10mg.
Coming off the 10mg has been MUCH more difficult for me thqan going from the 20mg to the 10.
It is coming off the 10 mg... past the half-way mark that I started having to count granules.
-Jaspar
Posted by mizloopy on May 12, 2006, at 1:18:34
In reply to Re: Cymbalta withdrawal, posted by Jaspar on May 11, 2006, at 18:16:45
i feel like i'm one of the few people on here who did try to ween off cymbalta and decided to stay on it instead. i was orginally on 60 mg and i couldn't deal with the sweating and didn't feel this drug was helping with my depression, so i decided to go off of it i had been taking it for 9months, my doc said just to stop cymbalta cold turkey but having withdrawaled before of psych meds. i went from 60mg to 30mg for a week and then after the hell started, i was so dizzy, beyond nauseated, had constant diarrhea, insane aniexty as well as irritability and anger/rage and mood swings that defy everything i had previous endured with my struggle with having bi-polar illness.
after less than 6 weeks my world crumbled away, and i already thought i had already hit rock bottom but i have never felt so physically sick and emotionally weak as i did during the withdrawal of this drug. i had become increasingly suicidal so i reluctantly went back on cymbalta but only 30 mg a day. and it began to work pretty fast. i still have the sweating and no sex drive. i'm hoping to see if i can go on 20mg and stay stabilized.
i have kept up with everyones postings and today i read jaspar's post and he is the first post that i have seen about itching. i had been itching all over for the last year. it's like my skin is crawling.i have tried every anti-histamine out over the counter and prescription. i went through allergy testing as well. and they could not determine why i itch. i am on a psych drug cocktail of medications so its too hard to just blame the cymbalta for side effects and unfortunately they were all started around the same time.
does anyone else have chronic itching? i have tried almost every anti-depressant in the last 17 years of my life. i'm 32 now. this is the only one i have responded to ever and it took going off of it to know that it was working. and i'm terrified of going off of cymbalta because of my last experience with that. and i also feel like it has helped me regain contact with the world. i have been holding a job for over 8 months when before cymbalta i couldn't get out of bed except for therapy.
let me know about the itching?
-mizloopy
Posted by Never Again on May 12, 2006, at 15:53:49
In reply to Re: Cymbalta withdrawal, posted by mizloopy on May 12, 2006, at 1:18:34
I had the itching that was mentioned in an earlier posting, mostly on my scalp of all places, but when I stopped the Cymbalta both my restless legs and that crazy itching stopped 100%. I've still managed to stick with my cold turkey status, 2 1/2 weeks. I've slept every night since. I'm noticing the irritability, but if I keep staying up with my night's sleep it stays in check. Another thing that has subsided quite a bit are the hot flashes, thank goodness!! I called 1 800 Lilly Rx (1 800 545 5979) today so I could have an idea of how long the withdrawl symptoms would last - the answer was 3-4 weeks or 30 days. They were very nice and helpful. I'm still taking Omega 3 fatty acids to help and Clariten to help with the dizziness, when necessary. Boy will I be glad when the first 30 days has passed.
Posted by mseasons on May 12, 2006, at 16:46:18
In reply to Re: Cymbalta withdrawal, posted by Never Again on May 12, 2006, at 15:53:49
> I had the itching that was mentioned in an earlier posting, mostly on my scalp of all places, but when I stopped the Cymbalta both my restless legs and that crazy itching stopped 100%. I've still managed to stick with my cold turkey status, 2 1/2 weeks. I've slept every night since. I'm noticing the irritability, but if I keep staying up with my night's sleep it stays in check. Another thing that has subsided quite a bit are the hot flashes, thank goodness!! I called 1 800 Lilly Rx (1 800 545 5979) today so I could have an idea of how long the withdrawl symptoms would last - the answer was 3-4 weeks or 30 days. They were very nice and helpful. I'm still taking Omega 3 fatty acids to help and Clariten to help with the dizziness, when necessary. Boy will I be glad when the first 30 days has passed.
How long were you on it and at what dosage?
Posted by secretme on May 13, 2006, at 11:34:55
In reply to Re: Cymbalta withdrawal, posted by mseasons on May 12, 2006, at 16:46:18
I had a great deal of scalp itching while I was on Cymbalta, along with Restless Leg Syndrome. However, I've been off Cymbalta since the beginning of the year, and I still have these problems. Although they are not as severe as when I was on Cymbalta, they are with me now. I have read that itching of the scalp and RLS can be caused by stress and anxiety. In any event, not everyone experiences the same side effects of a particular medication. Some of us have the distinct honor of suffering through more side effects than others, but no matter how you slice it, this medication is THE WORST. I was at 90 mg. when I decided to come off, and at one point, thought I might die from the withdrawal effects. We should all be very proud of our efforts and what we have accomplished with help from each other. Spread the word.
secretme
Posted by kparis on May 13, 2006, at 11:45:33
In reply to Re: Cymbalta withdrawal, posted by secretme on May 13, 2006, at 11:34:55
You are so right. We should be proud of our strengths and our ability to reach out for help and understanding.
I have not had the head itching, but the RLS has been with me for awhile, hot flashes, my muscles in my arms and shoulders tightening, head feeling blocked, memory problems, etc. and all while on the Cymbalta! Now that I've reduced the dose from 60mg to 30mg I am feeling better overall, but I am frightened about what will happen when I go completely off in 2 weeks. Has anyone experienced more severe side effects on the drug then the withdrawal symptoms?
Thank you all for being here.
KParis
Posted by Avalon on May 14, 2006, at 23:16:55
In reply to Re: Cymbalta withdrawal, posted by gapsgal on May 10, 2006, at 22:53:29
Thank God I found this thread. I took Cymbalta 30 mg for a week then went up to 60 mg for 2 weeks. Was taking it for chronic pain, already on low dose of Welbutrin for depression. Couldn't stand the side effects of dry mouth, sore/burning tongue, and stomach issues, plus it didn't really help the pain much, so I decided to go off it. Doc said drop down to 30 mg for a week. Didn't feel like staying on it for a week, so I took 30 for 3 days then stopped. That was 4 days ago. Yesterday started feeling nauseous and my skin was crawling. I couldn't imagine it was withdrawal, because I hadn't been on it that long to begin with, and also had been off it completely for 3 days. I asked the pharmacist about feeling nauseous and she said I wouldn't be nauseous AFTER going off it. Thank goodness I dragged myself off the floor tonight to google "Cymbalta withdrawal". I had no idea it could be this difficult trying to get off this stuff. I am supposed to be flying out of town tomorrow morning and I'll never make it. I had to fish the remaining Cymbalta out of my trash can tonight and take one, I don't know when/if it will take this nausea away. I'll have to start tapering off more slowly, maybe cut the capsules and count the granules like others have done here. I am also taking Percocet for the pain and I thought maybe I was going through Perc withdrawal -- well, I should've known better when I still felt like crap AFTER taking a Percocet. I know Dr. Vijoy recommended amitryptiline for chronic pain -- I also took that for a week but was so tired I was a complete zombie. Anyway, thanks for sharing and thank goodness for this site, I had no clue what was happening to me!
Posted by Never Again on May 15, 2006, at 11:13:15
In reply to Re: Cymbalta withdrawal, posted by mseasons on May 12, 2006, at 16:46:18
> > I had the itching that was mentioned in an earlier posting, mostly on my scalp of all places, but when I stopped the Cymbalta both my restless legs and that crazy itching stopped 100%. I've still managed to stick with my cold turkey status, 2 1/2 weeks. I've slept every night since. I'm noticing the irritability, but if I keep staying up with my night's sleep it stays in check. Another thing that has subsided quite a bit are the hot flashes, thank goodness!! I called 1 800 Lilly Rx (1 800 545 5979) today so I could have an idea of how long the withdrawl symptoms would last - the answer was 3-4 weeks or 30 days. They were very nice and helpful. I'm still taking Omega 3 fatty acids to help and Clariten to help with the dizziness, when necessary. Boy will I be glad when the first 30 days has passed.
>
>
>
>
> How long were you on it and at what dosage?I was on 30mg a day for approximately 7 months, boy am I glad I was never up to 60mg, and I highly suggest that anyone who plans on discontinuing this medication talk to your primary care physician and work with him/her for a weening off schedule and mental support. Quitting this medication can certainly make you feel worse before you feel better. God bless all of you and I pray He gives you strength and endurance. 3 weeks today I have been totally off and I'm finally feeling good again. I don't recommend the cold turkey approach - I didn't know any better.
Posted by Avalon on May 15, 2006, at 12:09:41
In reply to Re: Cymbalta withdrawal, posted by Never Again on May 15, 2006, at 11:13:15
Can anyone recommend a tapering-off schedule for my situation?
I was on 30 mg for a week, then 60 mg for 2 weeks, then 30 mg for 3 days, then stopped due to side effects.
I was totally off Cymbalta for 3 days. Withdrawal symptoms started on day 3 after stopping. Last night (day 4), when I realized I was going through withdrawal, I took a 30 mg cap to try to feel better. I still felt nauseous and horrible this morning. Should I (a) just stay off them now, or (b) go back on 30 mg and taper off more gradually? (I hate the thought of going through this again, but I can't be like this for 2 or 3 weeks!!!) Advice appreciated! Thanks.
Posted by foggy b on May 15, 2006, at 12:21:30
In reply to Re: Cymbalta withdrawal, posted by Never Again on May 15, 2006, at 11:13:15
Thanks to all of you for sharing your experiences. I just wish I found you earlier!
I started taking Cymbalta April 7th this year and stopped May 7th - so I was on it just a month. My doctor had switched me from Lexapro to Cymbalta because of the sexual side effects. Didn't help - He started me at 60 mg per day for two weeks then up to 120 mg until I decided to stop. I felt OK for a couple of days then it's gotten real interesting - you all know what I mean. He did tell me that if I couldn't tolerate the Cymbalta to go back to the Lexapro. I didn't want either one - so cold turkey ;) I think I'm having typical withdrawl symptoms but I'm tolerating them because from what I've read they're only temporary.
I was taking this for depression associated with Fibromyalgia. I've decided that I can live with the Fibro easier than the side effects of various meds. I haven't felt well for so long, this (withdrawl) is just another layer of feeling crappy!
Just wanted to thank you all for your support! I would have thought I was going crazy had I not found this site. I'll post an update when the withdrawl symptoms fade...in the hopes that my experience can encourage someone else!
Posted by Jaspar on May 15, 2006, at 12:23:24
In reply to Re: Cymbalta withdrawal, posted by Avalon on May 14, 2006, at 23:16:55
> I know Dr. Vijoy recommended amitryptiline for chronic pain --
> I also took that for a week but was so tired I was a complete zombie.I gained 40 pounds on Amytriptiline so fast I couldn't believe it! Even on a tiny dosage, I was ravenous. Now I am going through the arduous task of getting all that weight off.
Sigh. It takes so much longer to lose the weight than to gain it.-Jaspar
Posted by Jaspar on May 15, 2006, at 12:35:18
In reply to Re: Cymbalta withdrawal, posted by Avalon on May 15, 2006, at 12:09:41
> Can anyone recommend a tapering-off schedule for my situation?
>
> I was on 30 mg for a week, then 60 mg for 2 weeks, then 30 mg for 3 days, then stopped due to side effects.
>
> I was totally off Cymbalta for 3 days. Withdrawal symptoms started on day 3 after stopping. Last night (day 4), when I realized I was going through withdrawal, I took a 30 mg cap to try to feel better. I still felt nauseous and horrible this morning. Should I (a) just stay off them now, or (b) go back on 30 mg and taper off more gradually? (I hate the thought of going through this again, but I can't be like this for 2 or 3 weeks!!!) Advice appreciated! Thanks.DON'T DO "A" !!! Definitely - go with option B!!
Go back to the 30mg until your withdrawal symptoms go away. Then, start slowly tapering from the 30... like pour out a few granules from it and every two days or so pour out a few more. Get a prescription for 20mgs amd 10mgs. Start on the 20mg and pour out from there until you pour out about 1/2 the capsule, then start on the 10mg capsules, and do the same with that, staying on each "dose" a few days.
If you feel withdrawal the next day as you are going down on the dosage, just take a couple extra granules of it.
When you are very sensitive, it really is worth going off it more slowly.
It has taken me a MONTH to get off the last 10mg... I did not get 10mg capsules - I just went down lower and lower from the 20mg capsules. But it has been about a month since getting to 1/2 the 20mg capsule.
Last night I fionally got down to ZERO! I couldn't believe that the last 10 GRANULES took me twice as long as I expected - I thought I would go down by two granules each night but I couldn't even do that - I had to go down by 2 granules every second night.
BUT I AM OFF!!! This is my first day completely free! Now, I must wait a couple more weeks to come off all the stuff I am on because of the itching, to see if it really was the Cymbalta causing it (I was told it can take weeks of being COMPLETELY off the substance to know for sure if it was the cause).
-Jaspar
Posted by Jaspar on May 15, 2006, at 12:42:51
In reply to Re: Cymbalta withdrawal, posted by mizloopy on May 12, 2006, at 1:18:34
> my doc said just to stop cymbalta cold turkey
That is CRIMINAL!!! The instructions CLEARLY state NOT TO do that! It says it must be tapered.
I had a friggin doctor do that to me when I was on Paxil. He is NO LONGER my doctor. I can only WISH he someday suffers the same as what he put me through.
And WHY? There was NO REASON for removing me so abruptly from the Paxil. His excuse? Just that is what they do to patients in the hospital because they don't have the TIME to TAPER them, and that is what he was used to doing!!! HOW ABUSIVE!!!!
-Jaspar
Posted by kparis on May 15, 2006, at 14:09:52
In reply to Re: Cymbalta withdrawal, posted by Jaspar on May 15, 2006, at 12:42:51
I gained 30 pounds in a year on Cymbalta...I'm down to 30mg and am planning to get off. I just hope the weight drops, it is very uncomfortable!
kparis
Posted by NaturalJohn on May 15, 2006, at 14:31:32
In reply to Re: Cymbalta withdrawal - Thank You, posted by foggy b on May 15, 2006, at 12:21:30
Hello,
I just "quit" taking Cymbalta after being on for 6 mos. I started with a 20mg dosage, was moved up to a 40mg dosage, then back down to 20mg's about 2 mos ago. My physician told me that it wouldn't make sense to gradually get off of Cymbalta and to just stop taking it all together. I am now dealing with the withdrawal symptoms, which really alter my well-being. However, i chose to stop taking this med because i realized that depression can be cured by other more natural means. I feel like a science experiment right now, but I know it will subside eventually. I am really glad i found this thread, it has helped me deal with the w/d symptons. Especially Vijoy as he wrote previously that "you can do it you gotta have faith and remember, for whatever reason youve stopped the cymbalta, you have to believe that you dont need this crutch anymore." Amen to that. Amat Victoria Curam - "There is no victory before pain." Stick with it everyone, we were meant to be mentally and physically strong, lets not submit ourselves to weakness.
GOD Bless
Posted by Avalon on May 15, 2006, at 16:04:28
In reply to Re: Cymbalta withdrawal, posted by Jaspar on May 15, 2006, at 12:35:18
Jaspar, thanks for the "detox" schedule (ha ha, this is worse than being on heroin). I took another 30 mg today. The nausea is subsiding but I still can't eat much, and I feel like a truck ran over me. I'll wait until I feel better to start reducing from 30. Looks like they come in 20 but not 10 so I'll have to use your pour-out method, good advice. I cannot believe I got mixed up with this crap....like I don't have enough problems. Let us know how you're feeling the next couple C-word-free days.
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