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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by ssripeersupport on December 29, 2006, at 20:31:06
In reply to Re: Cymbalta withdrawal » Angela11, posted by Dr. Vijoy on September 21, 2005, at 21:40:46
If you are indeed an MD, and by any chance in San Francisco, California, I need someone to help the members in the antidepressant withdrawal syndrome peer support group that I am running. My e-mail is ssripeersupport@comcast.net. Thanks.
Posted by Sleepymomma on January 2, 2007, at 16:39:31
In reply to Re: Cymbalta withdrawal, posted by Dr. Vijoy on October 26, 2005, at 22:33:39
I have been off of Cymbalta for almost a week now, and though I feel better than I did the first two days, I still feel like crap; dizziness, nausea, headaches, backpain, EXTREME fatigue, mood swings, etc. My doctor had me taper down from 60 mg to 30 mg and then she wanted me to take the 30 every other day. But after a few days of ups and downs, I couldn't take it anymore and went cold turkey. I've read most of the postings on this thread, and can totally relate, I was just wondering how long I can expect to feel this way. I'm a stay-at-home with two small children, and while my husband was off over the holidays, he's going to be heading out of town in a couple of days, and in my current state I can't take care of my kids by myself. I would also appreciate any other suggestions to alleviate the symptoms; Clariton, Benadryl, and Dramamine all make me super drowsy, and feeling tired enough as it is.
Posted by Howsjen on January 7, 2007, at 11:49:41
In reply to Re: Cymbalta withdrawal: Beware, it Has More Lives, posted by sickashell on October 1, 2006, at 20:54:02
Posted by Ellen04 on February 3, 2007, at 21:14:24
In reply to Cymbalta withdrawal, posted by Regina on March 3, 2005, at 16:37:18
Just wanted to share my experience going off cymbalta. I took it for about 6 mos. for fibromyalgia, had been consistently on some anti-depressant for about 10 yrs., orginally started for depression pre-fibro.
I went off the cymbalta sort of by accident. I had a bad case of flu and couldn't keep anything down for a several days, so I didn't take the cymbalta. As I started recovering from the flu, I realized I didn't feel any worse for not taking the cymbalta and in some ways better, so I thought I'd stay off it for a while more and see what happened.
Discontinuation symptoms happened, that's for sure. I felt the buzzy, electic shock feeling in my head for a week or so and a generally crappy feeling that went with it. There were about 2 days when I nearly took some more to stop the symptoms, but I went to sleep instead and felt better when I woke up. I wasn't working at the time, but if I had been, I'd certainly have had to call in sick. It wasn't pleasant, but I've certainly felt worse for longer with a bad flu. It took about a month for my digestive system to get back to normal.
But those symptoms all stopped. I feel no worse than I did on it, and it's nice not to have the side effect of sweating a lot. And about 6 weeks in, the depression hasn't returned either.
I don't for a minute doubt that some people have a harder time coming off it, just like some people have few or no problems, so I wanted to post as another example of how mileage will vary! I have an "advantage" in that fibromylagia has trained me to cope with feeling like crap without getting too upset about it, so I just rode it out like it was the flu.
Posted by The Engineer on February 19, 2007, at 17:36:03
In reply to Re: Cymbalta withdrawal, posted by Ellen04 on February 3, 2007, at 21:14:24
Hi all,
I'm in day four of Cymbalta cold turkey. Boy am I glad I found this thread !! Now I know what I'm going through is normal:"Electric shock" effect in brain, on eye and head movement (lessening today).
Chronically fatigued - and I suffer from Chronic fatigue Syndrome so that's saying something.
A bad "thumping" headache.
Neck ache.
Legs feel like they are "aching in the bones".
Hands and feet tingly and itchy.
So far I'm sleeping well, apart from quite vivid and at times psychedelic dreams...I was supposed to be working at home today, but I doubt if I managed three hours. I'm supposed to be working at the office tomorrow - I think not.... Don't think I'd be safe to drive just the four miles.
Back-ground:
I was diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in 1999, after six months off work. Since then I have managed to keep in employment but with about 25% absence (yes, I DO have a VERY good employer!!)
After undergoing a redundancy assessment process about 12 months ago, made redundant and sucessfully appealed under UK Disability Discrimination legislation, the stress did me in and I was off again for nearly six months.
I have just completed a three-month gradual return to full time work.After much research on the subject I have decided to go "full detox" to beat my CFS. I started by ditching the Cymbalta. I had been on varying levels of Fluoxetine since 1999, my doctor (unfortunately) switched me to Cymbalta about 12 months ago. I was not happy with that, but it's the UK National Health Service trying to save money....
So I was on one 60 mg Cymbalta tablet daily, I quit last Friday. Stopped dead and now living the consequences. What you have all said encourages me that I should be able to stick with the withdrawal symptoms and beat this nasty toxic chemical which has no place inside a person's metabolism. I've decided that - for me - no drugs to be taken any more unless in emergency, and that involves pain killers.
Still, grand words for someone only four days in ?? Let's see how it goes. But I am one determined guy, determined to get as much chemical cr*p out of my body as possible and beat CFS. I'll keep you posted .......
Posted by Howsjen on February 19, 2007, at 18:30:29
In reply to Re: Cymbalta withdrawal, posted by The Engineer on February 19, 2007, at 17:36:03
DAY ELEVEN cold turkey.
I FINALLY SEE THE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL!!!!
It was ALL worth it, every twitch, every brain zap, every hellish moment..IT'S ALMOST OVER.
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE sign this petition. I have posted this on forums, websites, myspace..I've emailed this... I can't say thank you ENOUGH to DJKlee for helping to start this. Now that I am getting strong, I will help her finish this.
KEEP PUSHING THIS PETITION!!!! Tell everyone you know about it! Raise awareness!
Just do NOT give in. I pushed and I pushed and I pushed and it's almost over. That was harder than ANYthing depression could have ever thrown at me. We can beat this..WE CAN.
SIGN NOW
http://www.petitiononline.com/CYM2006/petition.html
This petition was started on another Cymbalta withdrawl site. Please go to the site listed above and sign.
Jen
Posted by tristano on February 19, 2007, at 20:15:47
In reply to Re: Cymbalta withdrawal, posted by Howsjen on February 19, 2007, at 18:30:29
I am in week 4 of weaning off of cymbalta... was down to my home made 10 capsules, not zero... nightmares, anxiety, brain zaps, desperation.... it's horrible... also developed a terrible cold sore, first time since I was a child, while weaning off... has this happened to anyone else?
Tristan
Posted by Healthy in GA now on March 1, 2007, at 20:03:36
In reply to Re: Cymbalta withdrawal, posted by tristano on February 19, 2007, at 20:15:47
I'm a week off Cymbalta with Lexaro gradually added back, now 20 mgs. Tremors were the scariest part, especially since my psych. thought that Lexapro would take care of withdrawal (90, 60, 30, in 3 weeks with 10, then 20 mg Lexapro added back at 30). MUST work with a good, listening psych. to do this! We added 1 mg of Klonopin at night for about 5 nights to help with tremors, sleeping. MISERABLE drug to leave; do so with care and medical attention!
Posted by mizloopy on March 1, 2007, at 21:56:15
In reply to Re: Cymbalta withdrawal, posted by Healthy in GA now on March 1, 2007, at 20:03:36
i attempting my 2nd withdrawal from our dear friend cymbalta. i once was without cymbalta for 5 miserable weeks and then went back on. 6 months ago i tried to go from 30mg to 20mg that lasted less than a horrible week. last week i started on liquid prozac in 10mgs (it tastes so gross, but it is way easier to adjust the dosage of prozac with a liquid), so i i have been on prozac for 6 days and today i started to lower the cymbalta to 20mg from 30. i'm supposed to do this for 2 weeks and then cut down again on cymbalta and cut out the prozac, wish me luck.......i really want to get off cymbalta. though it has helped with my depression, but it has hindered my bi-polar illness causing me to cycle from manic to depressed, and i can't stand the hot flashes, sweating and loss of sex drive, i have been on cymbalta since for almost 2 and half years
Posted by Basel on April 2, 2007, at 16:45:10
In reply to Re: Cymbalta withdrawal, posted by Howsjen on February 19, 2007, at 18:30:29
Yikes!
I just started Cymbalta at 30 mgs 2 weeks ago and am now up to 60 mgs. I thought I would try it b/c of the pain relief (I have deg. arthritis) and depression help. I'm dizzy and can't sleep at night now but am exhausted during the day.
I still have my wonderful Zoloft and am tempted to drop to 30 mgs of Cymbalta and 50 mgs (half my regular dosage) of Zoloft to ween myself OFF of Cymbalta and back on to Zoloft over the next week.
Any thoughts?
Will this kill me? Can you have too much SSRI in your system? Have I not been on it long enough to really have a problem?
Posted by Lexxor on April 2, 2007, at 22:56:16
In reply to Re: Cymbalta withdrawal, posted by Basel on April 2, 2007, at 16:45:10
> Yikes!
>
> I just started Cymbalta at 30 mgs 2 weeks ago and am now up to 60 mgs. I thought I would try it b/c of the pain relief (I have deg. arthritis) and depression help. I'm dizzy and can't sleep at night now but am exhausted during the day.
>
> I still have my wonderful Zoloft and am tempted to drop to 30 mgs of Cymbalta and 50 mgs (half my regular dosage) of Zoloft to ween myself OFF of Cymbalta and back on to Zoloft over the next week.
>
> Any thoughts?
>
> Will this kill me? Can you have too much SSRI in your system? Have I not been on it long enough to really have a problem?Honestly Basel, you should talk to your doc before you go adding and subtracting SSRI's. You could get Seratonin syndrome. Typically when you start an SNRI like cymbalta or effexor xr, you have side effects. A lot of these side effects ar e transient meaning they will pass. If you still experience problems after being on 60mgs for 2weeks, talk to your doc. Though these drugs are relatively safe, I would not advise you to practive your own pharmacology experiments. Good luck.
Posted by wannabewell on April 4, 2007, at 17:31:22
In reply to Re: Cymbalta withdrawal, posted by Basel on April 2, 2007, at 16:45:10
I agree that it is always a good idea to run med changes by your doctor, but I would get off the cymbalta now!
When I started taking it about 2 years ago, it worked really well, treating my depression. But after about a year I started experiencing exhaustion, weight gain, and light headedness. These symptoms increased and the depression came back. I read over and over that cymbalta works for a short time only. The real bummer, is getting off! It is a total nightmare. I have been weening off to half of the lowest dose after trying to get off the lowest dose. It was intollerable for me. I am again trying to go off completely from the half of the lowest dose, 10mgs, and it's pretty bad. i feel sick and depressed.
Posted by Kawel on April 9, 2007, at 13:20:39
In reply to Re: Cymbalta withdrawal, posted by wannabewell on April 4, 2007, at 17:31:22
Hi, my doctor had been trying to put me on the Cymbalta for about 5 years now starting right after I had my first child. I was having severe stomach pain and chest pain and not sleeping. He told me that it was from postpardum depression. I never liked taking pills so I stopped right away. My symtoms kept up over the years after my doctor basically telling me I was crazy I started to believe him and went on the Cymbalta. What a mistake. This January I started having such chest pains that my husband rushed me to the hospital, it turned out that my goll bladder was so badly diseased and filled with stones that it had to be taken out right away. The hospital had told me that the problem probably had started right after I have my first child and that I was actually sick all this time not crazy. I had been to see a neurologist who told me to go off of the Cymbalta slowly and I am now off completely for 4 days and am feeling horrible. I started going to the neurologist because I was having pains in my wrists, ankles and legs it turns out I have a Vitamin D deficiency but now I don't know if the pains are from that or from the Cymbalta. I can't wait for this to all be over I feel like I am actually crazy now.
Posted by Kfroggy on April 12, 2007, at 13:23:01
In reply to Re: Cymbalta withdrawal, posted by wannabewell on April 4, 2007, at 17:31:22
> I agree that it is always a good idea to run med changes by your doctor, but I would get off the cymbalta now!
> When I started taking it about 2 years ago, it worked really well, treating my depression. But after about a year I started experiencing exhaustion, weight gain, and light headedness. These symptoms increased and the depression came back. I read over and over that cymbalta works for a short time only. The real bummer, is getting off! It is a total nightmare. I have been weening off to half of the lowest dose after trying to get off the lowest dose. It was intollerable for me. I am again trying to go off completely from the half of the lowest dose, 10mgs, and it's pretty bad. i feel sick and depressed.
---------------------
Hi. I am in the same boat. I have had depression since I was 17 and really manifested after the birth of my daughter. (I am now 37). I have tried everything and it always comes back, the latest being Cymbalta. I am so tired of feeling this way. Like the others said, Cymbalta worked for awhile. Now it is like I am not even on anything. So I decided to quit. I did it cold turkey. So, I have been off of the meds for about 5 weeks now. The withdrawal started to subside. Then it started all over again. I am ALWAYS nauseated. I have not heard of Benadryl, but will try it. Should it be the regular kind? Please someone tell me this stops!
Posted by Kfroggy on April 12, 2007, at 13:30:24
In reply to Re: Cymbalta withdrawal, posted by Howsjen on February 19, 2007, at 18:30:29
> DAY ELEVEN cold turkey.
>
> I FINALLY SEE THE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL!!!!
>
> It was ALL worth it, every twitch, every brain zap, every hellish moment..IT'S ALMOST OVER.
>
> PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE sign this petition. I have posted this on forums, websites, myspace..I've emailed this... I can't say thank you ENOUGH to DJKlee for helping to start this. Now that I am getting strong, I will help her finish this.
> KEEP PUSHING THIS PETITION!!!! Tell everyone you know about it! Raise awareness!
>
> Just do NOT give in. I pushed and I pushed and I pushed and it's almost over. That was harder than ANYthing depression could have ever thrown at me. We can beat this..WE CAN.
>
> SIGN NOW
> http://www.petitiononline.com/CYM2006/petition.html
>
> This petition was started on another Cymbalta withdrawl site. Please go to the site listed above and sign.
>
> Jen----------
You think you see the light...just wait...it comes back. After about 10 days, the withdrawal symptoms came back and started all over again. The nauseated feeling does not go away. Help!
Posted by Kfroggy on April 12, 2007, at 13:33:34
In reply to Re: Cymbalta withdrawal, posted by The Engineer on February 19, 2007, at 17:36:03
> Hi all,
> I'm in day four of Cymbalta cold turkey. Boy am I glad I found this thread !! Now I know what I'm going through is normal:
>
> "Electric shock" effect in brain, on eye and head movement (lessening today).
> Chronically fatigued - and I suffer from Chronic fatigue Syndrome so that's saying something.
> A bad "thumping" headache.
> Neck ache.
> Legs feel like they are "aching in the bones".
> Hands and feet tingly and itchy.
> So far I'm sleeping well, apart from quite vivid and at times psychedelic dreams...
>
> I was supposed to be working at home today, but I doubt if I managed three hours. I'm supposed to be working at the office tomorrow - I think not.... Don't think I'd be safe to drive just the four miles.
>
> Back-ground:
> I was diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in 1999, after six months off work. Since then I have managed to keep in employment but with about 25% absence (yes, I DO have a VERY good employer!!)
> After undergoing a redundancy assessment process about 12 months ago, made redundant and sucessfully appealed under UK Disability Discrimination legislation, the stress did me in and I was off again for nearly six months.
> I have just completed a three-month gradual return to full time work.
>
> After much research on the subject I have decided to go "full detox" to beat my CFS. I started by ditching the Cymbalta. I had been on varying levels of Fluoxetine since 1999, my doctor (unfortunately) switched me to Cymbalta about 12 months ago. I was not happy with that, but it's the UK National Health Service trying to save money....
>
> So I was on one 60 mg Cymbalta tablet daily, I quit last Friday. Stopped dead and now living the consequences. What you have all said encourages me that I should be able to stick with the withdrawal symptoms and beat this nasty toxic chemical which has no place inside a person's metabolism. I've decided that - for me - no drugs to be taken any more unless in emergency, and that involves pain killers.
>
> Still, grand words for someone only four days in ?? Let's see how it goes. But I am one determined guy, determined to get as much chemical cr*p out of my body as possible and beat CFS. I'll keep you posted .......-----------------------------------------
Good for you!! How are you doing now? So there is hope???
Posted by Kfroggy on April 12, 2007, at 13:35:43
In reply to Re: Cymbalta withdrawal, posted by The Engineer on February 19, 2007, at 17:36:03
Hi Guys. Just wanted to add that I am so glad I found your website. I thought I was all alone here.
Posted by Kfroggy on April 12, 2007, at 13:46:54
In reply to Re: Cymbalta withdrawal: Beware, it Has More Lives, posted by sickashell on October 1, 2006, at 20:54:02
After reading all of these threads on this subject, I am in tears! I have been off this drug for about 6 weeks, cold turkey, and still have withdrawal. You mean to tell me that this can last forever?!?! :(
Posted by morbidfascination on April 14, 2007, at 16:52:45
In reply to Re: Cymbalta withdrawal, posted by Sleepymomma on January 2, 2007, at 16:39:31
I've been cold turkey from Cymbalta for about 8 days .I'm like B*#ch on wheels .How long am I gonna be so irritable ? My anxiety is back with a vengeance . OMG ! the weight gain is stunning ! i wish i would have known because my lymphedema is now worse than it's ever been . I stay active and still gain massive amounts of weight . My appetite is still out of control .Can someone tell me when this will change ? I'm so depressed because of this . My coping skills are null and void . I hope the dizziness goes away soon .. I don't want to consult my doctor because i don't want to be put on more antidepressants that are going to slow my metabolism down even more .Nice to know i'm not alone in this journey into Cymbalta withdrawl HELL . Thanx a bunch
Posted by PhytoEstrogen on April 16, 2007, at 20:35:05
In reply to Re: Cymbalta withdrawal, posted by morbidfascination on April 14, 2007, at 16:52:45
My withdrawal continues. I had a slow taper that lasted about 10 weeks and it's been 4 weeks since nothing.
bad times really bad times.
my head still aches and gets zaps and stuff.
sorry if i have nothing upbeat to say.
:P
Posted by PhytoEstrogen on April 16, 2007, at 20:37:12
In reply to Re: Cymbalta withdrawal, posted by morbidfascination on April 14, 2007, at 16:52:45
My withdrawal continues. I had a slow taper that lasted about 10 weeks and it's been 4 weeks since nothing.
bad times really bad times.
my head still aches and gets zaps and stuff.
sorry if i have nothing upbeat to say.
:P
Posted by gapsgal on April 16, 2007, at 21:15:53
In reply to Re: Cymbalta withdrawal, posted by morbidfascination on April 14, 2007, at 16:52:45
Posted by gapsgal on April 16, 2007, at 21:20:34
In reply to Re: Cymbalta withdrawal (nm), posted by gapsgal on April 16, 2007, at 21:15:53
Hello...
Been awhile since I have been on here...I have been through effexor hell, then cymbalta hell...finally i found a psychiatrist who prescribed prozac...with its longer half life it was a life-saver for me...where i could not be off of effexor for hours and cymbalta for a day i have been off of the prozac for two weeks and only a minor headache...i stayed on the prozac for about 6 months or so and then i tapered it to every other day and then just stopped all together...so, having tried all other things this is what worked and believe me i tried it all, visited in excess of 4 doctors...not sure if i can expect any side effects to pop up at a later date, but so far so good...
Donna
Posted by Kfroggy on April 17, 2007, at 9:15:11
In reply to Re: Cymbalta withdrawal, posted by gapsgal on April 16, 2007, at 21:20:34
Hi everyone. I notice not many follow up here, only tell their stories, which is OK. I just wanted to follow up...a week ago I did a lot of searching on the internet for Cymbalta withdrawal. (I just typed in "Cymbalta withdrawal" in the search engine.) I don't know if you guys found anything, but I found a website called THE ROAD BACK. It is exactly for this kind of thing. They tell you a lot of natural ways to help the symptoms. I didn't buy anything from them, but incorporated what they had to say regarding taking the vitamins and pure whey protein. It really helps, so far. Now I have been off Cymbalta cold turkey for maybe 7-8 weeks. (If you read my other threads, you know I was dying from this, it is so awful.) The nausea is gone. Let's hope it stays gone. I only get the zaps maybe twice in the evening hours. Although I want to eat all the time, even when I am not hungry! So I don't know if it is a combination of timing and vitamins, or what. I can tell you what I take, but it is up to you to decide if it is OK with you. I take, in the morning, 2 fish oil, 1 400 i.u. of E, 1 B vitamin, 1 potassium and I take them with 1 serving of the PURE whey mixed with skim milk. Then at lunch I take 2 more of the fish oil. The vitamins are just the ones from the grocery store. But in order to get the PURE whey, you have to order it. The ones at the grocery store are not pure and have a lot of fillers. I hope this can help some of you. I thank God that this has helped me over that last week!!
One other thing to add: when I was in the hospital in 2002 for a suicide attempt, they discovered I was low in potassium. I have noticed that a lot of stuff to help depression includes some kind of potassium. That is why I started including that in my routine. Just a thought.
Posted by mizloopy on April 18, 2007, at 1:11:03
In reply to Re: Cymbalta withdrawal, posted by Kfroggy on April 17, 2007, at 9:15:11
Hi all
I'm finally off cymbalta and symptom free, I thought I would never get to write that sentence. I was on cymbalta for almost 3 years and had tried to get off it twice and it was too hellish to handle in the past. I did do this with a doctors help and I went on 10 mg of prozac , (I took it in liquid form because it is easier to change your dosage that way, it was disgusting to taste, but I learned to hold my nose and eat a spoonful of peanut butter afterwards which helped mask the taste)So my first week i was on the 10 mg of prozac taste and went down from 30mgs of cymbalta to 20 mgs for two weeks i stayed at that level (I expierenced some mania but I'm bi-polar and nothing dangerous happened)after two weeks I stayed on prozac the 10 mg still and pulled apart the cymbalta capsule and took half the powder balls inside it and decided that was about 10ish mgs of cymbalta I did that for 10 days, the cymbalta withdrawal was mild compared to the times i had tried without the aid of prozac(apparently they have used prozac for the discontinuation symptoms from effexor) I then stayed on the 10 mg of prozac for another 10 days without cymbalta, I have to say the first 4 days were hard and i had some withdrawal: upset stomach, neck pain, dizzyness, headaches. I actually got to four days twice and went back to 10ish mgs of cymbalta while staying on the prozac. my third try I just pushed forward and felt yucky.after that i took prozac for 6 days without cymbalta and then discontined the prozac. So now after about 6-7 weeks I'm no longer on cymbalta or prozac, you don't get witrhdrawal from prozac it has a half life of 4 weeks. I would definitely talk your psych doctor about this approach. (unfortunately while you're on the prozac with cymbalta the sweating and hot flashes seem worse but it's a temporary thing)so I wish all you hope getting off of cymbalta, I'm not sorry I was on it, it did help me with depression.
Go forward in thread:
Psycho-Babble Withdrawal | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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