![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 591 to 615 of 696. Go back in thread:
Posted by tamara999 on August 28, 2007, at 8:01:00
In reply to Re: Cymbalta Withdrawal -- Take ACTION » Troy Tempest, posted by moesje on August 28, 2007, at 1:32:33
Hang in there!! You will get thru this!! Its been over 2 months for me and finally am feeling normal. I didnt realize what a mess I was until I got back to normal!! Water, vitamins, and exercise!! I had to force myself to go out an walk......and it really did help. Now Im treating myself to a vacation. Took off for one month, leave monday and going to eastern Europe to just RELAX and worry about nothing. NO meds again for me..........Best of luck everyone!
Posted by Drummer162 on August 30, 2007, at 12:01:52
In reply to Cymbalta withdrawal, posted by Regina on March 3, 2005, at 16:37:18
Continued from last post: My body is vibrating... Dr Freal never even came close to warning me about this... he said it was a safe drug that didn't cause weight gain or any compli cations... I guess he just didn't know at the time it was pretty new. He figured he would take care of my depression and the neuropathic pain in my legs and back. I think it did for a while butI gained like over 50 lbs.... plus had a heart attack that I didn't even know about... They better look a little deeper into this drug...
Posted by Drummer162 on August 30, 2007, at 12:08:47
In reply to Cymbalta withdrawal, posted by Regina on March 3, 2005, at 16:37:18
Ok so the web sites were right... Nausea.. Diareah.. Terrible sinuses... Halving Cymbalta is as hard as they say I will have to do this slow... Dr Saif is glad I am doing it. Hopefully my back pain won't become intollerable and the depression won't suddenly dump me into a hopper.... We'll see I'm sure I will be writing more about this in the next few weeks or months however long it takes... OMG... Now I know what brain zaps are.... I am so dizzy and it is difficult concentrating and keeping my balance... good day not to ride the bike... probably shouldn't be driving the truck.... THIS SUCKS Ok so I just fell down.... Into a chair luckily... This is bad I feel way bad.... I am so dizzy and uncomfortable. My back is killing me and every movement is torture and makes me feel dizzy...
Posted by Holy#@$% on August 30, 2007, at 20:14:18
In reply to Re: Cymbalta Withdrawal -- Take ACTION » Aya, posted by moesje on August 23, 2007, at 12:08:59
My mother committed suicide and I went through six months of complete hell before I started intense group therapy treatment and Cymbalta. I truly don't know if I would have made it through that time without the medication. But now I am ready to be med-free.
However, my name describes how I feel after two days of the "weaning" off of Cymbalta. I was on almost a year of 60mg daily, then two weeks at 30mg daily, then 0. This "weaning" was prescribed by the PA. I feel the brain zaps, vertigo, weepiness, irritability, disturbing nightmares, yadda yadda.
I feel great sense of hope after reading all of your posts. I am going to start taking vitamin supplements, exercising, eat right, and do something for my nerves, i.e. yoga. I should have been doing these things all along. I have never taken care of myself. I hope these things will help me through this %$#@ing withdrawal period and for the rest of my life....naturally. I know the things I should do. With depression, however, it is really really really hard to do them sometimes.
I wish that psychiatrists would encourage patients to take vitamin supplements, exercise, eat right etc. as part of their mental health program AS WELL AS A part of coming off these #$%^ing medications. I am calling my MD's office tomorrow and letting them know how careless I think it is not to warn/inform the pt VERBALLY during their five minute appt about the withdrawal symptoms. They need to give recommendations on how to deal with the HELL that it is.
I came to this site for answers as to how long I am going to have these symptoms. I have found the answer to be between two and four weeks. Holy#@$%. I will keep updates for people as to how I am doing and what is working for me. I hope you will do the same.
Thanks
Posted by moesje on August 30, 2007, at 23:50:01
In reply to Re: Cymbalta Withdrawal -- Take ACTION, posted by Holy#@$% on August 30, 2007, at 20:14:18
I am not condemning anyone for being on these drugs. I've been on and off since my youngest daughter was born, and she'll be 15 in 2 weeks. You start one, it stops working, they give you a different one. NEVER have I been told of withdrawal effeccs, and Cymbalta and Lexapro were the worst I've ever had.
Keep in mind that although you are looking at 2-4 weeks, the symptoms get less with each day. Plan on a couple of months of recurring symptoms when you miss meals or don't get enough sleep - at least that's what I went through.
My doc told me that if I split the pills up (taking less and less every so often) that I shoudl have less problems . . . not so. It didn't matter how fast or how slow I went, I had withdrawal.
And I agree, now that I'm drug free, I plan on just dealing with life as it is, the good with the bad. Of course, I just got my blood results, and I'm high on cholesterol, overweight and down on my good cholesterol. I've got lots of work to do to get back in shape. Thankfully the drugs are out of my system and I can finally hold down a full time job!
Good luck, and be sure to keep in touch here. Even when you're off, others WILL benefit from your advise. Every person is different in how their body handles the withdrawal and maybe your way of dealing with it will be helpful to someone else.
> My mother committed suicide and I went through six months of complete hell before I started intense group therapy treatment and Cymbalta. I truly don't know if I would have made it through that time without the medication. But now I am ready to be med-free.
>
> However, my name describes how I feel after two days of the "weaning" off of Cymbalta. I was on almost a year of 60mg daily, then two weeks at 30mg daily, then 0. This "weaning" was prescribed by the PA. I feel the brain zaps, vertigo, weepiness, irritability, disturbing nightmares, yadda yadda.
>
> I feel great sense of hope after reading all of your posts. I am going to start taking vitamin supplements, exercising, eat right, and do something for my nerves, i.e. yoga. I should have been doing these things all along. I have never taken care of myself. I hope these things will help me through this %$#@ing withdrawal period and for the rest of my life....naturally. I know the things I should do. With depression, however, it is really really really hard to do them sometimes.
>
> I wish that psychiatrists would encourage patients to take vitamin supplements, exercise, eat right etc. as part of their mental health program AS WELL AS A part of coming off these #$%^ing medications. I am calling my MD's office tomorrow and letting them know how careless I think it is not to warn/inform the pt VERBALLY during their five minute appt about the withdrawal symptoms. They need to give recommendations on how to deal with the HELL that it is.
>
> I came to this site for answers as to how long I am going to have these symptoms. I have found the answer to be between two and four weeks. Holy#@$%. I will keep updates for people as to how I am doing and what is working for me. I hope you will do the same.
> Thanks
Posted by RYB on August 31, 2007, at 6:47:29
In reply to Re: Cymbalta Withdrawal -- Take ACTION » Holy#@$%, posted by moesje on August 30, 2007, at 23:50:01
It makes 4 weeks since I stopped taking Cymbalta cold turkey. I was on 60 mg for 6 months. I am happy to report that I am feeling a lot better but seem to be alternating between great days where I feel like myself again and bad days where I am headachy, nauseous, diarrea, and have a few (less than 10) brain zaps. You too will get better with every passing day. Hang in there! At my worst dramamine and "nausea relief" from the drug store helped a lot.
Take Care,
R
Posted by Aya on August 31, 2007, at 8:36:33
In reply to Re: Cymbalta Withdrawal -- Take ACTION, posted by RYB on August 31, 2007, at 6:47:29
Just wanted to report something I noticed. I cut my 60 mg dosage to 30 mg for a month, and now I'm just finishing up my 3rd week of 15 mg. One week to go before I cut again to 15 mg.
Between the weaning, eating healthy, and (trying to) exercise, my withdrawal symptoms have been tolerable. However, I noticed that each time I cut the dosage the second week on that dosage I was very emotionally volital (sp?). The first week I'd struggle with the physical symptoms, but for some reason the second week was when I'd cry a lot and have extremely low frustration tolerance. Now, on week three, I'm much better emotionally.
Not sure why that is or what to do about it necessarily, but I just wanted to share my observations so that those of you who are weening might have some idea what to expect.
Hang in there everyone!
Posted by Troy Tempest on August 31, 2007, at 9:17:04
In reply to Re: Cymbalta Withdrawal, posted by Aya on August 31, 2007, at 8:36:33
Well, it's now nearly 3 weeks since stopping Cymbalta.
The good news is that the symptoms are less severe, although by no means totally gone.
However, most of them are still there, particularly the zaps and dizziness. Just less severe.
Interestingly, they are generally most pronounced when I'm tired and / or after any exertion.
I aim to get back to work next week - my consultant is sympathetic, so has signed me off even longer, but I'm getting bored...
Thanks for the support, and y'all hang in there!
Troy.
Posted by Snap on August 31, 2007, at 11:01:57
In reply to Re: Cymbalta Withdrawal -- Take ACTION, posted by RYB on August 31, 2007, at 6:47:29
It's been a little over 2 months since I stopped cymbalta. I hit such a depression last week that my doc put me on welburtin which only caused more anxiety. So I'm doing it sans welbutrin or any other ssrri. To those of you that are in your early phase of detox - it does get better. I've only had 2 small brain zaps in the past couple of weeks - and that's only because I'm not sleeping. And on a personal note... Sex is so much better. I know I know TMI.
Take care - all of you.
Posted by Aya on August 31, 2007, at 15:37:16
In reply to Re: Cymbalta Withdrawal -- Take ACTION, posted by Snap on August 31, 2007, at 11:01:57
Hey guys.
I have a question. I've begun working out (running about a mile) again this week (too dizzy before). When I'm finished I notice that there are veins bulging out of my temples! It's all zig-zaggy to the point that a coworker compared me to Frankenstein. It goes away within a half hour, but my temples continue to throb a little. Has anyone else experienced anything like this? This has never happened to me before now and I've done a lot of running in my day. I'm freaked out that I'm at risk for a stroke or something!
Posted by moesje on August 31, 2007, at 20:32:42
In reply to Re: Cymbalta Withdrawal -- Take ACTION, posted by Snap on August 31, 2007, at 11:01:57
> And on a personal note... Sex is so much better. >>
So true!
Posted by alexal34 on September 3, 2007, at 19:25:12
In reply to Re: Cymbalta Withdrawal, posted by Aya on August 31, 2007, at 8:36:33
Aya-
I had the same, exact effects. More so than physical symptoms, it was the emotional the 2nd week. I never cry and couldn't stop for hours last weekend. It was insane.
I am happy to say that over 3 weeks off Cymbalta completely, the brain zaps have finally stopped and I am no longer a zombie. I feel soooo much less depressed than when I was on that awful drug and I think I might finally be dropping some of the pounds gained. Maybe metabolism comes back last!
Thanks for the updates. Hope everyone is doing well and feeling great Cymbalta-free!
Posted by Tennisplayer on September 14, 2007, at 18:14:54
In reply to Re: Cymbalta Withdrawal, posted by alexal34 on September 3, 2007, at 19:25:12
I had a terrible experience on Cymbalta, but didn't realize it was what was making me so sleepy all the time, totally apathetic and zombie like and depressed. When we finally realized it was what was making me so sleepy, and like life was generally not worth living, I tried to stop it and then began the horrible withdrawal symptoms. Nausea, LSD type nightmares, flu-like feeling,extreme rage and irritability, insomnia, akathisia, ravenous state of hunger, craving carbohydrates every 2 hours or so, weight gain, etc., short term memory problems. I took 60 mg for 11 months. I have been trying to get off it for 2-1/2 months, finally stopped it completely 14 days ago after tapering. Still having the symptoms. Only one I didn't seem to have is the brain zap thing. I am wondering what I can do to help ease through this phase and get to a happy medium somewhere. I have decided now I was not even depressed. The drug made me more depressed than I have ever been in my life. I also took it for interstitial cystitis, a chronic severe bladder pain illness for which there is no cure, because they claimed that it helped both depression and physical pain. It did not help with pain or depression. I have seen a program called "The Road Back", which offers their own supplements that you have to buy (vitamins etc. and herbs), but I do not want to get into supplements that are not even FDA regulated, having had problems after taking Ashwaganda in the past, and realizing that if the FDA can allow a toxic destructive drug like Cymbalta to be given to people, there is no telling what may come to us from sources that have no regulation. I wish that I could find some source that would tell which vitamins help or what foods help when you are trying to get past Cymbalta or other SSRI or SNRI withdrawal symptoms, without having to buy some products or try herbs and so called "natural" aids. There may not be any such site, and i don't blame the road back people for making some money while also helping people, but all of their "solutions" involve taking a dose of their supplements so many times a day, and so really don't help you unless you buy the whole line of things they offer. I am not sure if I can afford it financially and I do not trust natural remedies particularly any more than I do pharmaceuticals at this point. Sorry to be so negative. Does any one have any general advice. I would like something to calm my anger down and help with the insomnia without taking any of the usual prescription drugs, or just getting hooked on another toxic substance to mask the symptoms from the first one. I apologize for my lenthiness and impatience.
Posted by moesje on September 14, 2007, at 21:39:02
In reply to Re: Cymbalta Withdrawal-Awful,Still Continuing, posted by Tennisplayer on September 14, 2007, at 18:14:54
> I would like something to calm my anger down and help with the insomnia without taking any of the usual prescription drugs, or just getting hooked on another toxic substance to mask the symptoms from the first one. I apologize for my lenthiness and impatience.>
I use NOW vitamins, one called Eco-Green Multi, which i started using about 6 years ago. The brand is better than most in that it doesn't have a lot of additives, just vitamins. You can find their website at www.nowvitamins.com and then from there search for a store near you.
if you look at the "road back" program a little closer you can see what their program uses in terms of vitamins and make up your own regimen.
Sorry to not be really helpful, everybody is different in how they withdraw and what they need to get through it.
Main thing is going to be LOTS OF LIQUID, at least the 96 ounces a day (make that mostly water). the fluids will help flush the drug out of your system and kidney/liver. Light exercise to begin with, like walking or some prefer dancing. Just move and do it slowly keeping in mind your fragile balance right now.
I've been ofr since May and an now working full time doing mental tasks and some physical tasks (working retail, so moving boxes of stock). I could not have done this 6 months ago, and definitely not while i was withdrawing. So go slowly and know that it's going to take some time get the drug out of your system.
Also, if you didn't have a counselor or good friend way back when you went on the drug, find one now. You still need to handle whatever the problem was that caused you to start taking the medication. For instance, if you were dealing with the loss of a loved one in any way, you'll need to find a way to handle that loss, even now. your prior problems didn't go away, they were just buried under the drug.
good luck, and keep in touch here.
Posted by Tennisplayer on September 14, 2007, at 22:06:13
In reply to Re: Cymbalta Withdrawal-Awful,Still Continuing » Tennisplayer, posted by moesje on September 14, 2007, at 21:39:02
> > I would like something to calm my anger down and help with the insomnia without taking any of the usual prescription drugs, or just getting hooked on another toxic substance to mask the symptoms from the first one. I apologize for my lenthiness and impatience.>
>
> I use NOW vitamins, one called Eco-Green Multi, which i started using about 6 years ago. The brand is better than most in that it doesn't have a lot of additives, just vitamins. You can find their website at www.nowvitamins.com and then from there search for a store near you.
>
> if you look at the "road back" program a little closer you can see what their program uses in terms of vitamins and make up your own regimen.
>
> Sorry to not be really helpful, everybody is different in how they withdraw and what they need to get through it.
>
> Main thing is going to be LOTS OF LIQUID, at least the 96 ounces a day (make that mostly water). the fluids will help flush the drug out of your system and kidney/liver. Light exercise to begin with, like walking or some prefer dancing. Just move and do it slowly keeping in mind your fragile balance right now.
>
> I've been ofr since May and an now working full time doing mental tasks and some physical tasks (working retail, so moving boxes of stock). I could not have done this 6 months ago, and definitely not while i was withdrawing. So go slowly and know that it's going to take some time get the drug out of your system.
>
> Also, if you didn't have a counselor or good friend way back when you went on the drug, find one now. You still need to handle whatever the problem was that caused you to start taking the medication. For instance, if you were dealing with the loss of a loved one in any way, you'll need to find a way to handle that loss, even now. your prior problems didn't go away, they were just buried under the drug.
>
> good luck, and keep in touch here.Thank you very much. I appreciate your help and information. I became particularly aware that the drug was suppressing emotional problems, because I now feel so much more alive and as I think I posted elsewhere, I can now enjoy music and the scent of flowers and perfumes and everything from movies to the fresh morning air at 6:00 AM in the morning (which I had not been out in for almost 7 months because I couldn't drag myself out of the bed until 9:30 or so every morning. So even with the anger and ravenous eating etc. I feel so much better now than I did when I was on the Cymbalta. It was like I was almost dead or my soul was dead. Because of what I was going through durng withdrawal I ended up reading Dr. Peter Breggin's book "Your Drug May be Your Problem", which is a fantastic book, and also reminds us that we need to work out our emotional and mental problems with a compassionate psychologist or counselor, rather than just trying to take a pill to solve a "so called chemical imbalance" that is mainly just a theory anyway. I realize that neurochemical interactions are the basis of all emotion, and are very important, but in the end we have to realize that it is things that happen in our lives and our reactions to those things and our relationships with other people that have to be understood and worked through, and those issues may be what make the chemical balance get out of whack in the first place if it even is a chemical imbalance that causes depression. Sorry to go off on a tangent. I plan to use what you told me. I may have gone about looking into The Road Back literature the wrong way, but when I printed out their chapter on withdrawal, they only mention their products by a name that does not tell me what is in them. I was hoping to see some names of vitamins or whatever, but did not see that there. There may be other sources they have where I can find that.
I would like to at least go back to work part time. What symptoms did you have during the early phases of tapering or withdrawal that would have kept you from working? And if you don't mind my asking, why did you decided to discontinue the drug. thank you.
Posted by moesje on September 15, 2007, at 0:33:43
In reply to Re: Cymbalta Withdrawal-Awful,Still Continuing, posted by Tennisplayer on September 14, 2007, at 22:06:13
> I would like to at least go back to work part time. What symptoms did you have during the early phases of tapering or withdrawal that would have kept you from working? And if you don't mind my asking, why did you decided to discontinue the drug. thank you.>
for the past 10 years my husband and i had agreed that i'd stay home and take care of the kids, who are now 15 and 16.5. i've worked off and on, and my last main job was what really drove me off the deep end. my best friend literally stabbed me in the back, so that i lost my job, best friend and all stability in one day. i've worked other small jobs since then, but nothing full time. i have also been typing at home as a "job", but the pay isn't very reliable. so just a month ago we decided for me to try full time again, and i'm so in love with my job right now it's unbelievable. the women i work with are fantastic (of course, they all have their problems, etc), but it's great overall. plus i get a great workout every day, no need for drugs to put me to sleep now!
i had been taking welbutrin off and on for 5 years, and it worked for most of that time, but then stopped. so doc moved me to lexapro, which stopped working after 18 months and then we moved to cymbalta. with the lexapro and cymbalta i became more and more of a zombie and less interested in life at all. i could sit on the couch all day long watching tv, then realize it's time to go run errands and i haven't had a shower yet. it was horrible. i gained weight mostly from just sitting, not so much eating.
so when i went to the doc and explained the cymbalta wasn't helping, he suggested upping the dose and i said no more, i just want off. so he showed me the pills coudl be emptied and divided, and i did that. of course, i didn't taper off so slowly, so i had all the symptoms of withdrawal as if i went cold turkey. dizziness, brain zaps (like electrical shocks),and i would get these just when i blinked my eyes, and extreme mood changes. but i persisted because i wanted off.
as for the road back, i believe they promoted fish oil and vitamins. i did try some fish oil, but mostly stuck with my standard vitamins and added cal-mag (which you can get at GNC) and fluids. even if you ignore the vits (which i don't suggest), you need fluids to flush your system.
also, everyone reading this needs to know that although i will never take these drugs again, some people NEED some sort of medication. someof the typing i do at home pertains to this, and i want to make it clear, if someone needs medication to function,they need to take it no matter what. if it's not working, talk to the doc and get on something that will.
nuf said.
Posted by Tennisplayer on September 15, 2007, at 7:33:04
In reply to Re: Cymbalta Withdrawal-Awful,Still Continuing » Tennisplayer, posted by moesje on September 15, 2007, at 0:33:43
> > I would like to at least go back to work part time. What symptoms did you have during the early phases of tapering or withdrawal that would have kept you from working? And if you don't mind my asking, why did you decided to discontinue the drug. thank you.>
>
> for the past 10 years my husband and i had agreed that i'd stay home and take care of the kids, who are now 15 and 16.5. i've worked off and on, and my last main job was what really drove me off the deep end. my best friend literally stabbed me in the back, so that i lost my job, best friend and all stability in one day. i've worked other small jobs since then, but nothing full time. i have also been typing at home as a "job", but the pay isn't very reliable. so just a month ago we decided for me to try full time again, and i'm so in love with my job right now it's unbelievable. the women i work with are fantastic (of course, they all have their problems, etc), but it's great overall. plus i get a great workout every day, no need for drugs to put me to sleep now!
>
> i had been taking welbutrin off and on for 5 years, and it worked for most of that time, but then stopped. so doc moved me to lexapro, which stopped working after 18 months and then we moved to cymbalta. with the lexapro and cymbalta i became more and more of a zombie and less interested in life at all. i could sit on the couch all day long watching tv, then realize it's time to go run errands and i haven't had a shower yet. it was horrible. i gained weight mostly from just sitting, not so much eating.
>
> so when i went to the doc and explained the cymbalta wasn't helping, he suggested upping the dose and i said no more, i just want off. so he showed me the pills coudl be emptied and divided, and i did that. of course, i didn't taper off so slowly, so i had all the symptoms of withdrawal as if i went cold turkey. dizziness, brain zaps (like electrical shocks),and i would get these just when i blinked my eyes, and extreme mood changes. but i persisted because i wanted off.
> Thank you very much for sharing your experiences.
> as for the road back, i believe they promoted fish oil and vitamins. i did try some fish oil, but mostly stuck with my standard vitamins and added cal-mag (which you can get at GNC) and fluids. even if you ignore the vits (which i don't suggest), you need fluids to flush your system.
>
> also, everyone reading this needs to know that although i will never take these drugs again, some people NEED some sort of medication. someof the typing i do at home pertains to this, and i want to make it clear, if someone needs medication to function,they need to take it no matter what. if it's not working, talk to the doc and get on something that will.
>
> nuf said.
thank you for sharing important and personal information. I appreicate it. I have the added problem of chronic pain since I have interstitial cystitis (no cure). The severe chronic pain from I.C. requires Lortabs for me to even function without severe pain. Cymbalta was advertised as helping both depression and pain, and I had gained 25 pounds over the summer, had no energy, etc. and was moderately depressed about that and having a chronic incurable pain disease for the last 5 years. But I too, began to do nothing but sit and had very little real emotion of any kind left in me, after being on Cymbalta for several months. Paradoxically, I lost 20 pounds while taking it, and began to gain after stopping it. This is one reason I don't think I had a chemical imbalance to begin with. Doctor said I just needed to up it to 60. Wrong, but I didn't realize it at the time. By the time I finally figured out that it was the cymbalta making me feel so sleep and terrible (I had thought it might be a build up of my 3 years of Lortabs (which incidentally help me stay alert as opposed to Percocet or something)and I had had a neurostimulator implanted in Nov of 2006 to help reduce the pain, I mistakenly decided to quit cold turkey also. The stimulator helped but I was so sleepy I had to plan my day around 3 or 4 naps, just able to get up long enough to fix supper for my husband or other essential activities.
I agree that some people need to take medications. I have no problem with medicines for proven medical conditions like diabetes, multiple sclerosis, esophageal reflux, etc. or even subjective pain conditions, but since reading that book "Your Drug May be Your Problem" I am convinced that many people are hurt much more by psychotropic drugs than they are helped by them. I still feel if someone is in extreme distress they should take an antidepresant or tranquilizer or whatever is needed for short term to get them thru without their committing suicide or something, but take it in conjunction with counseling or even help from a trusted friend who has good insight. And eventually get off of it. Many people are just given more or different medicines and get addicted to them in the sense they can't quit them without horrendous withdrawal symptoms. A lot of them just give up trying to get off the meds (after all, the doctor approves of them and the drug company says they are good and the withdrawal symptoms are so horrible), and those people just keep taking them, and they cause deeper and deeper damage. Having read how much of the psychoactive drugs are based on speculation rather than any real proof, and the information that drug companies conceal from both doctors and patients about their adverse effects, I still think it is important only to take them for short time periods and taper off them slowly under a doctor's regulation. Again, I am only speaking of psychoactive drugs. Some drugs for physical ailments are needed life long. I also took lexapro and zoloft for a short time, and was able to get off them fairly easily without a lot of severe withdrawal symptoms. They helped the inital overwhelming problem, but later didn't seem to help much. Sorry to be so long. I really enjoy working as a medical secretary or transcriptionist, and feel like now I can probably go back part time because I am alert again and can stay awake for 8 or 10 hours or more straight. thank you.
Posted by moesje on September 15, 2007, at 9:29:47
In reply to Re: Cymbalta Withdrawal-Awful,Still Continuing » moesje, posted by Tennisplayer on September 15, 2007, at 7:33:04
> > > I would like to at least go back to work part time. What symptoms did you have during the early phases of tapering or withdrawal that would have kept you from working? And if you don't mind my asking, why did you decided to discontinue the drug. thank you.>
> >
> > for the past 10 years my husband and i had agreed that i'd stay home and take care of the kids, who are now 15 and 16.5. i've worked off and on, and my last main job was what really drove me off the deep end. my best friend literally stabbed me in the back, so that i lost my job, best friend and all stability in one day. i've worked other small jobs since then, but nothing full time. i have also been typing at home as a "job", but the pay isn't very reliable. so just a month ago we decided for me to try full time again, and i'm so in love with my job right now it's unbelievable. the women i work with are fantastic (of course, they all have their problems, etc), but it's great overall. plus i get a great workout every day, no need for drugs to put me to sleep now!
> >
> > i had been taking welbutrin off and on for 5 years, and it worked for most of that time, but then stopped. so doc moved me to lexapro, which stopped working after 18 months and then we moved to cymbalta. with the lexapro and cymbalta i became more and more of a zombie and less interested in life at all. i could sit on the couch all day long watching tv, then realize it's time to go run errands and i haven't had a shower yet. it was horrible. i gained weight mostly from just sitting, not so much eating.
> >
> > so when i went to the doc and explained the cymbalta wasn't helping, he suggested upping the dose and i said no more, i just want off. so he showed me the pills coudl be emptied and divided, and i did that. of course, i didn't taper off so slowly, so i had all the symptoms of withdrawal as if i went cold turkey. dizziness, brain zaps (like electrical shocks),and i would get these just when i blinked my eyes, and extreme mood changes. but i persisted because i wanted off.
> > Thank you very much for sharing your experiences.
> > as for the road back, i believe they promoted fish oil and vitamins. i did try some fish oil, but mostly stuck with my standard vitamins and added cal-mag (which you can get at GNC) and fluids. even if you ignore the vits (which i don't suggest), you need fluids to flush your system.
> >
> > also, everyone reading this needs to know that although i will never take these drugs again, some people NEED some sort of medication. someof the typing i do at home pertains to this, and i want to make it clear, if someone needs medication to function,they need to take it no matter what. if it's not working, talk to the doc and get on something that will.
> >
> > nuf said.
> thank you for sharing important and personal information. I appreicate it. I have the added problem of chronic pain since I have interstitial cystitis (no cure). The severe chronic pain from I.C. requires Lortabs for me to even function without severe pain. Cymbalta was advertised as helping both depression and pain, and I had gained 25 pounds over the summer, had no energy, etc. and was moderately depressed about that and having a chronic incurable pain disease for the last 5 years. But I too, began to do nothing but sit and had very little real emotion of any kind left in me, after being on Cymbalta for several months. Paradoxically, I lost 20 pounds while taking it, and began to gain after stopping it. This is one reason I don't think I had a chemical imbalance to begin with. Doctor said I just needed to up it to 60. Wrong, but I didn't realize it at the time. By the time I finally figured out that it was the cymbalta making me feel so sleep and terrible (I had thought it might be a build up of my 3 years of Lortabs (which incidentally help me stay alert as opposed to Percocet or something)and I had had a neurostimulator implanted in Nov of 2006 to help reduce the pain, I mistakenly decided to quit cold turkey also. The stimulator helped but I was so sleepy I had to plan my day around 3 or 4 naps, just able to get up long enough to fix supper for my husband or other essential activities.
> I agree that some people need to take medications. I have no problem with medicines for proven medical conditions like diabetes, multiple sclerosis, esophageal reflux, etc. or even subjective pain conditions, but since reading that book "Your Drug May be Your Problem" I am convinced that many people are hurt much more by psychotropic drugs than they are helped by them. I still feel if someone is in extreme distress they should take an antidepresant or tranquilizer or whatever is needed for short term to get them thru without their committing suicide or something, but take it in conjunction with counseling or even help from a trusted friend who has good insight. And eventually get off of it. Many people are just given more or different medicines and get addicted to them in the sense they can't quit them without horrendous withdrawal symptoms. A lot of them just give up trying to get off the meds (after all, the doctor approves of them and the drug company says they are good and the withdrawal symptoms are so horrible), and those people just keep taking them, and they cause deeper and deeper damage. Having read how much of the psychoactive drugs are based on speculation rather than any real proof, and the information that drug companies conceal from both doctors and patients about their adverse effects, I still think it is important only to take them for short time periods and taper off them slowly under a doctor's regulation. Again, I am only speaking of psychoactive drugs. Some drugs for physical ailments are needed life long. I also took lexapro and zoloft for a short time, and was able to get off them fairly easily without a lot of severe withdrawal symptoms. They helped the inital overwhelming problem, but later didn't seem to help much. Sorry to be so long. I really enjoy working as a medical secretary or transcriptionist, and feel like now I can probably go back part time because I am alert again and can stay awake for 8 or 10 hours or more straight. thank you.
>
>
funny, i'm a legal transcriptionist! thought about going to medical for more money, but never did. you'd think with myself and my boss being the only ones in this town who do this, we'd have lots of work and lots of money, but we're both working full time jobs now just to make sure we can make ends meet.i hadn't read that book, just knew that i needed to get off the drugs as i was now addicted to them. i was only at 60 mg and doc wanted to up me to 120 . . . enough is enough. i would get up to take my daughters to school, but need a 2 to 4 hour nap a day and nothing else ever got done. my weight loss is attributed to my working, as in 3 weeks i've lost 10 pounds, and this includes eating breakfast and lunch, and two snacks a day - i'm too wired to eat dinner when i get home, so i might have cereal or oatmeal for a late night snack. i stay away from suger, except for in my coffee, which has been cut in half, too!
yes, a counselor or good friend is better than the drugs.
off to work . . .
Posted by Snap on September 15, 2007, at 11:13:21
In reply to Re: Cymbalta Withdrawal-Awful,Still Continuing » Tennisplayer, posted by moesje on September 15, 2007, at 9:29:47
Posted by yolinda on September 16, 2007, at 14:31:22
In reply to Re: Cymbalta Withdrawal-Awful,Still Continuing, posted by Tennisplayer on September 14, 2007, at 18:14:54
I have been off of cymbalta now for about a week and am just starting to have the major withdrawals. It seems to be geting worse each day. I felt so bad last night that I decided to take half the dose to help with the symptoms but it actually made me feel worse. I am now having the nausea with it. I started drinking an herbal tea the day I decided to go cold turkey. The tea is suppose to rid your body of all drugs and kill any baceria, worms parisites and toxins in your system. I didn't start having the bad withdrawal until I had finished drinking the tea so maybe it does help. If anyone would like to try it its called Dr millers Holy tea and you will soon be able to get it online at www.holyteaclub.com/lgduncan. I am in the same shape as most of you and can't wait to be rid of the terrible drugs. I'm not saying that the tea will get rid of the symptoms but so far it has really helped until I ran out. I had taken effexor years ago and it took me 4 months to get rid of the symptoms. I'm just hoping it doesn't take that long this time. If anyone is totally off and rid of withdrawals, how long did it take ?
Posted by Troy Tempest on September 17, 2007, at 17:20:39
In reply to Re: Cymbalta Withdrawal-Awful,Still Continuing, posted by yolinda on September 16, 2007, at 14:31:22
yolinda, Tennisplayer,
Hang in there - it WILL get better!
I have been off Cymbalta now for just over 5 weeks, and back at work for the last 2. A painful process (see my first couple of posts for the gory details!), and frustrating too - but I really do seem to be over the worst. Not completely, but 90%.
I still get mild "zapettes", my balance is still affected, I cannot type as accurately as before and my short-term memory is still wonky. But I am sure these will continue to improve. It was at least a month for me to get over Effexor, so I know about that one too!
I don't know if it actually helped, but I started exercising quite vigorously - cycing 20 miles, or walking 5 miles every day (then I got shin splints and a strained calf!). At least I felt it was doing some good.
Frankly I wouldn't bother with any pills, potions or programs - I think that they are a cynical means to extract cash from vulnerable / desperate people (which we all are while withdrawing from this stuff).
A good, healthy, normal diet, with plenty of liquids - including herbal teas instead of coffee - is all you should need (other medical conditions excepted).
Obviously the above is just my opinion as a "victim", not a "professional" in this field. However, I think that the "victims" have considerably more experience of the reality than the "professionals"!
Troy
Posted by RYB on September 17, 2007, at 20:12:13
In reply to Re: Cymbalta Withdrawal-Awful,Still Continuing, posted by Tennisplayer on September 14, 2007, at 18:14:54
Hi ~
Just wanted to let you know that it took me 4 weeks to go through all the withdrawal sysmptoms after quitting cold turkey (was on 60 mg for 6 months). The 1st 2 weeks were the worst and then I started getting better day by day. Now I have a lot more energy and feel more like myself. I, too, got brain zaps and they were very scary but are completely gone now :-) The only thing that helped me is getting lots of sleep, dramamine, and liquid "nasuea relief" I got at the drug store. Hang in there; it will get better. Now I am trying to take off the 10 lbs I gained!~Robin
Posted by RYB on September 17, 2007, at 20:18:35
In reply to Re: Cymbalta Withdrawal-Awful,Still Continuing, posted by yolinda on September 16, 2007, at 14:31:22
I was on 60mg for 6 months and it took me 1 full month to be completely rid of all symptoms. i feel great now :-) Hang in there!
Posted by Tennisplayer on September 17, 2007, at 20:37:37
In reply to Re: Cymbalta Withdrawal-Awful,Still Continuing, posted by RYB on September 17, 2007, at 20:12:13
Robin, thank you for your information. I have been completely off for two weeks, but still have raging hunger and hypoglycemia. Eating protein or the usual tips for hypoglycemia don't seem to work for me. Did you gain weight while taking the cymbalta or durng the withdrawal. I lost 20 pounds while taking it, have gained 5 since stopping it. Trying to go low carb diet gives me severe migraine and nausea at this particular time during the withdrawal. I have not had brain zaps that I can tell. Have had short term memory problems. Have had severe mucle cramps and insomnia. Does the dramamine help with sleep, and it is not habit forming, correct? thank you Lyse
Posted by deke on September 17, 2007, at 21:29:51
In reply to Re: Cymbalta Withdrawal-Awful,Still Continuing » Tennisplayer, posted by moesje on September 15, 2007, at 0:33:43
I am brand new to this site, and I am so thankful to find the support. I've been on Cymbalta " The Drug From Hell" for 6 months and just started to wean off 3 weeks ago. My doctor did warn me about going off slowly and I even eye balled the amount of pellets for smaller dosages for a slower process. I have experienced all of the side effects describe and more. It has been Very helpful to know I am not alone or crazy.
All of the dizziness, brain zaps, eye flickering, no energy, modivation or control of anger is an emotionally roller coater ride. It's enough to really think you have or are on your way to going crazy.
I 've only been on cymbalta for 6 month, 60 mg. once a day & I am hoping this does get better very soon.
I have never been depressed and started taking the cymbalta for chornic pain and anxiety. Now I am depressed and have more anxiety. I'll never give up and I thank everyone for all the info and support. Hopefully I can hear from some of you soon. Still Withdrawing, but not without a fight....Deke
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