16 replies to this topic

[zgfsdfh]

I was prescribed and started taking generic duloxetine 3 weeks ago. (initial prescription of 30 pills, I have 6 left after taking one this morning [20 March]). For some background: I'm 21, have had bad tinnitus and hyperacusis for about a year and a half now, and have been trying all sorts of helps and treatments, medical and natural, but nothing has helped so far. The hope of my doctor was/is that the duloxetine would help lessen stress and anxiety, which is what we think could be the underlying and contributing factors to the T. and HA, as well as target some affected nerves to try and calm them down. My doctor didn't mention it was an antidepressant, only described it as an anti-anxiety and pain control that he has successfully prescribed many times before. After trying all sorts of stuff that didn't work, I was ready for what finally sounded like something that could help.

 

3 weeks in, I have only really noticed negatives. I know I'm not alone here in saying that had I known that it was an antidepressant (something I swore I would never take) with a laundry list of side effects and horrible withdrawals, I would've never started it. Especially since it looks like it can cause/worsen tinnitus when you stop taking it! Lesson learned on doing more research on prescriptions. To be fair it may be too early to notice any positives from the duloxetine, but this stuff makes me too sick, sad, dull, and gray to want to continue. I missed a dose this week and boy, did I pay for that. I have a follow-up appointment with my doctor this coming Thursday [25 March] where I'll tell him I want off. I've worked hard all my life to not be dependent on anything (caffeine, sugar, other drugs, etc.) only to get hooked on this scary stuff.

 

So I guess my questions are, since I've been on a low dose for only a few weeks:

(Even though everyone reacts differently,)
1. if I quit cold turkey, what could possibly I expect and for how long withdrawal-wise from what you've seen with similar low lose, low time cases?
2. if I tapered, how long would you guesstimate it would take? Should I start counting beads tomorrow, or wait and talk to my doctor? Though I really dislike the thought of taking more of this (imagine that lol)

 

Thanks.

[cfortman]

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[invalidusername]

If your on facebook join the group [removed by admin]
The moderator on there can help you

 

cfortman

 

We do not advocate the linking of social media groups on this forum and would ask you to refrain from doing so. Our best interest is in helping those who come to us for help, rather than turning them over to other groups of whom we have limited knowledge.

 

IUN

[fishinghat]

JC, welcome

 

This is one of the toughest questions we get. I have seen members who simply stop at this stage and have little to no withdrawal but I have also seen people at this stage who go through 6 to 9 months of withdrawal. 

 

What dose are you taking.

[invalidusername]

Hi jcarroll and welcome,

 

Whilst your doctor is correct in saying that Cymbalta is used for pain control, he/she should have made you aware that you were to be taking an anti-depressant. This is not a "patient beware" situation, the doctor shuld give you information on what it is you will be taking for your condition.

 

" laundry list of side effects "

 

Never heard that! But a wonderful expression! You are right that three weeks in and the positives might only just be round the corner, but if the side effects have not improved, or more importantly got worse, or you have had new ones, then your concerns are justified.

 

To answer your questions;

 

If you noticed a significant downturn from the dose you missed, then this is your indication that it is not to be a cold turkey situation. These things are very subjective. Some can take such a drug for 6 months and quit in a week, whilst others, of whom I have seen all over our forum, have taken them for 10 days, and had months of withdrawal - not wanting to scare you, but just giving you the knowledge. 

 

Therefore, I cannot say what to expect, but from your information, I would suggest that you withdraw gradually. The option of going cold turkey is there, like ripping off the band aid, but this can frequently have nasty repercussions which have led people back onto the same dose only to withdraw. 

 

So you have taken 24, but can you say the dose you were given - 20, 30 or 60mg? This will have some bearing on the frequency and length of withdrawal, but I would anticipate you taking around 2-3 weeks to remove yourself safely from these. Studies show that 10 days is sufficient to have made changes to the synapses in the brain, so this is considered the "cold turkey" threshold in a lot of cases.

 

You will obviously need another supply of these little sods to come off, but whilst you are not in a place where you want to stay on them, it certainly does sound like you would be better off taking a little time in doing so.

 

Please feel free to ask any questions - we are here for you whatever you might need,

 

IUN

[zgfsdfh]

Hi IUN and fishinghat, thank you for the answers. I'm on 20mg once a day

[invalidusername]

OK - this is good then. You should have the easiest of potential rides from this dose.

 

Hat beat me to the response as I was busy typing but as you read, we have seen the same thing. 

 

I would suggest you keep things relatively simple and drop 10% every other day by bead counting. You may also find it easier to split your dose 12 hours apart to maintain levels providing this does not interfere with any other supplements or medication you are also taking, but this would necessitate the use of additional capsules.

 

If you have any issues with the bead counting, you can find a lot of information in our eBook, or just ask one of us here!

 

IUN

[fishinghat]

IUN's idea sounds sound (no pun intended.)

 

[zgfsdfh]

Alright IUN, that sounds comforting and looks pretty doable. I counted the beads in 3 of my pills to get an average; one had 119, one 120, and one 122. With the average being around 120, how should I account for differing numbers of beads?

[invalidusername]

Good question.

 

The capsules go on weight moreover than count. In an ideal world, all the beads would be exactly the same size and have the same in each capsule. You will have found that there are some beads which are quite large and "bits" of capsule that look like  bit of coating that has been chipped away.

 

This is totally normal.

 

You have done the right thing in the getting the average over 3 capsules and use that as a benchmark. So with 120 as that figure, your first drop will be 108 capsules for a couple of days, then 96 beads for the next 2 days and so on. You may feel the necessity to go a little slower towards the end when the 10 bead drop becomes a greater concentration. It might be wise when you get to the last 30 or so beads to reduce the drop to 5 or 6 beads. Just see what you body tells you when you get that far.

[zgfsdfh]

Thank you so much for your help. I'll get started tomorrow and let you guys know on this thread in a few days of how it's going (or sooner if I think of other questions )

When I decided to quit yesterday & looked up how to do it, it felt very daunting and stressful... I could only find the horror stories, and nothing that I thought would help in my case, before I came here. Finding this and you guys was an answer to my prayers. God bless.

[fishinghat]

JC, we always try to keep up with nead counts in various brands and dosages of Cymbalta. Can you tell me what brand you use and the dose? I would like to add it to our free ebook.

[invalidusername]

Thank you for your kind words jcarroll and our blessings extended to you on your forthcoming journey.

 

Remember, we are always here to help.

 

IUN

[zgfsdfh]

So far so good.
 

JC, we always try to keep up with nead counts in various brands and dosages of Cymbalta. Can you tell me what brand you use and the dose? I would like to add it to our free ebook.

Sure thing. My pharmacy told me their supplier is Golden State Medical Supply (I found it's a packager/ re-packager), and it looks like the manufacturer is Towa Pharmaceutical Europe, S.L. (20mg)
(https://dailymed.nlm...d9-705fd2d9a470)

[zgfsdfh]

Hey guys, still going... here's an update on the past two weeks.

• Bead count changed when I got a refill. Same manufacturer/re-packager (capsules are the exact same visually), but now there's only 110 beads on average instead of 120.
   
• For the first week or so I dropped 10% every other day. As far as withdrawal symptoms go I was slightly nauseous and dizzy but only a bit more-so than I was on the duloxetine anyways. Started getting brain zaps in the middle of the night, only when I was asleep, but I had some GABA supplement already on-hand with Taurine, Inositol, and L-Theanine that I started taking for a few nights before I went to sleep and that took care of that. No zaps since.
   
• Met with my doctor on the 25th and told him what was going on, he was very sympathetic and supportive. He agreed that this wasn't working and would've suggested I tapered off by bead counting had I not already begun to do so.
   
• Once I hit 84 out of 120 (and switched to the refill's 110 rough equivalent - 77) I started dropping 10% from there each day and had no/minimal issues, felt great actually- the best in weeks. Really only a few really minor bouts of dizziness and/or nausea that came and went, mostly if I turned my head or stood up too fast.
   
• Made it down to 11 beads on Sunday (4 April), felt alright, and tried to go cold turkey on Monday since I figured I was low enough, it was worth a shot. The bad dizziness and nausea returned, along with feeling really sore, tired, and yeah, pretty much like I have the flu. Noticed a couple extra tones with my tinnitus, and feelings of little rushes/surges in my head, not really zaps I think. Ended up taking 11 beads and that helped with the dizziness and nausea. Stayed on 11 today as well, feeling a bit better but still pretty sore with the flu-like stuff and extra ringing.

I guess I plan on staying at 11 until I feel better and then slowing down the tapering, maybe 1-2 beads less a day or every so many days.

[fishinghat]

Your doing great. Don't feel bad those last few beads are hard on everyone. Time and patience.

[invalidusername]

You have done some excellent work here JC. Thank you for sharing your benefits from the supplements, it helps us very much with our eBook statistics.

 

But as Hat said, the last few beads are a stinger. You are right at the finish line, but just like that very metaphor, the end is not seen at that point - there is the recovery which will take time. Don't "sprint to the finish" - remember that mathematically speaking, a drop of 11 to nothing is 110%!! It will hit hard. 

 

I would suggest that you switch to 5 beads twice a day, then 4 twice a day etc, until 1 twice a day, then there is your finish.

 

Please let us know how you get on.

 

IUN