845 replies to this topic

[Ape]

Thank you fishinghat I wasn't try to quit the Ativan I Just forgot the pill. I am still on cymbalta 60 and twenty bids out I try to stay like this for one two weeks and than I ll go to 25. I am doing a little better only I can t control my thinking and I loose so much time in bed thinking stupid things. Today I got scared with all rispect I know is gross but I notice blood in my stool. And is not hemorrhoid because I did not bleed afterword. I hope is not for too much seratonin. Did anyone had this problem? Plus did any of you went several time at day to the bathroom while on cymbalta?

[fishinghat]

Yea, cymbalta withdrawal can cause a lot of digestive problems. It is probably nothing but just to be safe you need to have the blood in the stool checked out by a doc.

[girlcat]

Thank you DinCA and Lady2882Nancy.  It helps so much to know that I'm not alone in what I am experiencing.  I had a good day yesterday.  But today I woke up horribly depressed.  I've been making myself go out everyday even if it's just for a change of scenery.  I went to the pool yesterday.  It really helps with the fibro pain, and I had lunch with friends yesterday and today.  But when I come home I am just so down, that I can hardly bear it.  The only thing I'm taking for depression is St John's wort 3x a day.  I'm so afraid of prescriptioned antidepressants, that I'm afraid to go on anything else. Twenty years ago, my husband was cheating on me and the marriage broke up.  It was a horribly depressing experience, Doctors would just prescribe any and all antidepressants to me.  I must have tried ten different kinds that were one the market then.  And I had the worstt psychiatrists.  One was arrested for sexually molesting his patients, another left town under suspicion.  One even put me on an antipsychotic.  I had reasons to be depressed, but I also had a severe case of Graves diseas (hyperthyroidism) which took nearly to years to get diagnosed.  I didn't start to get better until my thyroid was destroyed.  And I did overdose on pills. I was so full of pills. That's why I'm so afraid of them.I probably could have sued someone if I had my wits about me.  I ended up losing my job.  And yes, I do have a weight problem, so that's probably why this is taking so long.  I am losing weight though, because I don't have much of an appetite.  This is just so terrible to deal with. I don't stay depressed for days or even a full day, so that tells me its probably not real depression.  I guess my brain is just missing all that serotonin that cymbalta was pumping into it.  I sympathize with all of you, and I'm so glad for the chance to read about others and the support from this website.

[girlcat]

Is there such a thing as a safe antidepressant?  I woke up feeling so horrible again this morning.  I've looked up a few online, but they all say they might cause suicidal thoughts.  I'm so afraid of this, but need something.

[fishinghat]

It is not just the suicidal thoughts Girlcat (althought that may be the most important). There are risks of permaneent damage to the liver, kidneys and sexual organs/functions. These risks are pretty consistant with all ssri antidepressants.

[girlcat]

And I just read the FDA approved another new one this week.

[Bowdoctor]

Day 6 of Bead Counting.....

 

Was taking 60mg two times a DAY, or 120mg per day!!!!!!

 

Every 3 days I remove 5 beads per pill.  Tomorrow will be 15 beads per pill for 3 days, then 20 beads per pill for 3 days.......

 

Withdrawal Symptoms:

 

None that I can tell.  I lost a few pounds, but my body does that and gains it back.  If I get below 220# I will know I am loosing weight!

[pinkiejones]

I decided to take myself off Cymbalta 7 days ago. And while the first 5 were somewhat ok, today is HELL!!!!! I understand I am quitting cold turkey and there is probably a better way to slowly come off but I could not take the side effects any longer...

 

Side effects (while on):

Excessive sleeping, constantly sleepy\

But then again, insomnia every night, could not fall asleep, or stay asleep

Withdrew from anyone and everyone

Depression worsened

Heavy weight gain (50 lbs.)

Constantly hot, constantly sweating, especially in the face (under my eyes, super weird!!)

Lost interest in anything and everything

Stopped taking showers, stopped cleaning my house, stopped taking care of myself (it pains me to say this, but sometimes I would only shower once a week... I used to be all girlie and into makeup... I am ashamed but understand that it was the drug, not myself...)

 

Withdrawal symptoms

Dizzy

Nauseous

Excessive sweating

Crying fits

Brain zaps

 

THIS IS HELL!!!!!!! God, I hope this will not last forever. By now it is too late to start taking them again, as my body will probably go into shock. So all I can do now is make it thru somehow... Can anyone tell me how long this lasts? I feel like my brain is in a fog, I cannot remember words, and forget typing. I am a translator and have had to cancel several of my projects because I can only stare at my laptop but not produce anything... I feel like a zombie!!!!!!!

[martij715]

I am quitting cold turkey as well. The Cymbalta completely stopped working for me and I was beginning to spiral back down into depression. The worst side effects for me was that it made me completely numb to all feelings, good, bad, angry, mad.... there were things happening in my life that I should have had SOME emotion about but instead I was completely numb to all feelings and emotions. Plus the sexual dysfunction it caused for me was and still is putting a strain on my marriage. I have been off the Cymbalta for 4 days now. The psych dr changed me to 75mg Wellbutrin 2x daily and kicked up my Abilify from 2mg 1x daily to 2mg 2x daily. It is my belief that these 2 meds have helped mitigate the withdrawal side effects I had the last time I quit over a year ago. When I quit Pristiq cold turkey it caused the same withdrawal symptoms, I guess they are the same class of medicine. 

Currently the only WD symptoms I am having are:

Vertigo-this makes it difficult to drive, I do not trust my coordination and I am way too jumpy to drive right now. I think I would probably have a wreck out of being over-cautious

Dizziness

Slow Thought Process

Forgetting how to spell and type simple words, this post would be a nightmare of misspellings if not for spell check

Ringing in ears/heightened startle effect to sounds/sensitivity to sounds.......they are all grating on my last nerve

Wide Spread body pain

Weepy and will cry @ nothing

Lack of attention span

Still a feeling of numbness toward normal emotions

Numbness/tingling in hands

Lethargic

The one thing I am NOT having this time around are those horrid "brain zaps"  I am taking several different supplements:

High dose of Vit B3 (over 1,000 mg) which is suppose to help w/depression

Omega 3 with DHA and EPA 1,000mg total daily

DHEA 7.5mg AM 

Maca Root 1,500 mg daily

Magnesium 500 mg pm

Selenium 200 mg pm

Armour Thyroid Med 45 mg daily (just recently diagnosed as hypothyroid)

Benadryl, through some mechanism helps with the WD symptoms

 

This is all I can think to say for now. I just know that I am happy for people who use this med and have success. BUT, for those of us who get put on it and it don't work and then have to quit or change to another AD is pure hell on the body and mind both. I am so glad my hubby found this forum for me. It has been a tremendous source of info and support for me over the last few days. I log on and read every day.  If anybody ever creates a class action lawsuit against the makers of the AD........I will happily join the parade and add my voice .

 

Have the best day ever! And keep trying 

 

Marti~ 

[thismoment]

Marti, best wishes on your cold turkey! Stay strong!

[martij715]

Well after a week of the withdrawal symptoms I gave in an began taking Prozac, 20mg.  The dizziness and vertigo were so bad I could not drive, well I should say would not trust myself driving, so my husband was having to drive me wherever I needed to go. That is not a reasonable request since he is needed at his work, so in order for me to be able to drive without fear, I started the Prozac. I still have anxiety when I drive but I am hoping that shall pass in a reasonable amount of time. Coming off these SSRIs suck like a black hole......

[fishinghat]

Martij. you sre off to a good start. Remember that prozac has a long life so it will be 3 or 4 weeks before it really helps. Once you get off the cymbalta give yourself a couple weeks to settle down before you come off the prozac. The prozac just doesn't have the bite to it like the cymbalta.

[Akk]

Been weaning off since September, starting w/200 beads (60mg) and am down to 26.  Looking forward to 0.  

Symptons on

memory problems

listlessness

lack of concentration

sweating profusely

body odor

hot flashes

confusion

 slow processing

lightheadedness

vertigo w/ missed dose

nightmares

 

Weaning off

trouble sleeping

vivid nightmares 

memory problems

concentration gone

nausea

24/7 headaches

intestinal problems

flu like symptoms

hallucinations

erratic blood pressure

sores in mouth

overwhelmed

 

During my weaning, I am taking vitamins, omega fish oil, and an aggressive exercise program of swimming 2/3 mile, 3x per week.  I hate to think of what this would be like if I were not doing these things.

 

trouble sleeping

[thismoment]

Hi Akk. Wow! You've taken this on like a mission! You are doing great! 

 

Most of the overt symptoms will have subsided by the time you hit Bead Zero. Then it will be slow and steady healing and the re-instatement of your mind. 

 

You need to stay strong for some weeks after Bead Zero. You are well on your way; congratulations!!

[AaronSD]

I've been on 60 mg for 3 years.  I am also on ritalin 45 mg and latuda 20 mg.  I reduced beads in my 60 mg caps by half 4 days ago.  By day 2, I was feeling foggy and low in energy for a few hours in the afternoon, so I added 5 mg ritalin (to total 50 mg daily) which effectively dealt with the symptoms.  Today is day 5 and I'm feeling OK.  I stopped 60 mg cymbalta in early 2008 and it took about a month before I felt the full effect of lowering the dose.  My plan is to take 30 mg daily for a month and, if it goes well, completely stop taking it at that point.  I have the option of increasing ritalin to 60 mg daily and latuda to 40 mg daily and hope these meds will effectively deal with withdrawal symptoms. 

[thismoment]

AaronSD I wish you great success with your plan, but I fear it reads like a science experiment. Please be careful, because you may stir up a beaker of symptoms that can't be identified as coming from this drug or that drug, and it may be unclear how to fix it.

 

Why not go back to 60 mg for a few days, then start tapering by 1% on the first day, and add an additional percent each day and be totally free in 100 days? There will be few symptoms and you'll know where you're at.

 

Best wishes!

[AaronSD]

AaronSD I wish you great success with your plan, but I fear it reads like a science experiment. Please be careful, because you may stir up a beaker of symptoms that can't be identified as coming from this drug or that drug, and it may be unclear how to fix it.

 

Why not go back to 60 mg for a few days, then start tapering by 1% on the first day, and add an additional percent each day and be totally free in 100 days? There will be few symptoms and you'll know where you're at.

 

Best wishes!

You're right...it is an experiment.  My background is in pharmaceutical R&D (biochem and cell biology) so I'm used to thinking in terms of variables and controls.  Your point about too many variables is valid...the ideal is to change only one at a time, but I am used to making larger changes than something as small as 1% in an experiment and bead counting is tedious.  If I have to keep increasing ritalin to feel OK at work though, I will try a more gradual taper.  It takes 3 days for cymbalta to reach steady state, so a reduction of 10% every 7 days sounds good.

[Akk]

Down to 9 beads today, increasing the amount I take out from 2 to 3 when I hit 18 beads 4 days ago because I was feeling okay and was so excited about being so close to finishing this stuff.  I am open to reducing the amount I take out if I need to.  My husband is now asking " how many beads today?" and is looking forward to the zombie leaving our house   My thanks to all on this site who are so very helpful and encouraging.

[thismoment]

Akk- good work! Makes me smile.

[lovemy3girls]

Thismoment, do you think it's gets easier the closer to zero beads? I mean in general, I know everybody is so different. Thanks!

[lovemy3girls]

Akk- you are doing awesome! You will be done with the poison soon  

[thismoment]

Thismoment, do you think it's gets easier the closer to zero beads? I mean in general, I know everybody is so different. Thanks!

 

LM3G- The clear and unmistakable turnaround for me was at Bead Zero. That's from 30 mg over 42 days (which was too fast- I didn't level off at the rough spots when I should have, and I nearly gave up).

 

The first two weeks were quiet, kind of spooky. Then all Cymbalta Hell broke loose, and it was as bad as some cold turkey reports I've read for about 10 days, then it was tolerable. Around day 30 my emotions began to return (pre-Zombalta- while depressed, emotions were there, but in erratic form). After a year on Cymbalta, I was emotionless, a hollow man- my headpiece filled with straw. T.S. Eliot would have been proud!

 

"Shape without form, shade without colour, 

Paralyzed force, gesture without motion;"

 

But at Bead Zero on day 42, I slipped the leather tether of Cymbalta and lifted off lighter-than-air. Everything improved day-to-day to perhaps 80% after 4 months and steadily, steadily better and better thereafter.

 

You levelled off for a time, and I presume you're counting beads again. Your date was, if I remember- Bead Zero on January 13, give or take.

How does that look now? Has the akathisia disappeared? Was the therapy a booster?

 

Best wishes LM3G! 

[lovemy3girls]

Thismoment- 30mg to zero is fast. I know what you mean about emotionless, I had no desire to do anything and showed zero interest in anything. My husband says I had a blank stare on my face all the time. I am now leveled out and doing the bead counting listening to my body, so I slow down as needed. I may be looking more toward the end of January. I have held a couple days here and there to minimize symptoms. It's just scary how I feel so controlled by the little beads The therapy session was amazing and I feel that I have more support and that I am not a horrible person. My husband was shocked by what he learned, he is now more encouraging than ever! I hope that when I get to zero, my body is leveled out and it will be a smooth transition. The akathisia is gone, and so is the leg pain. Thanks so much thismoment!!  I truly appreciate your support and words of wisdom along with the other members here..

[Clara]

Akk and lovemy3girls, I'm thinking about y'all and cheering you on!!!! Stay strong!!!!!!  clara

[Donnaprashad]

On day 7 cold turkey. I'm so sick to my stomach. Can't eat but when I try my tummy bloats and I feel even more sick. I pray this doesn't last too long. I don't know why but I'm counting on being much better after 2 weeks. Hope I'm right. At this moment I can't even stay awake and out of bed for only a few minutes at a time. This is horrible. Too tired to even list all the ways I feel bad.

[thismoment]

Donna, if you can sleep- that's a godsend! Sleep all you can; stay hydrated and nibble something easy on your tummy like the BRAT DIET- bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast.  Nibble between naps. It's like 'earn while you learn', except it's 'withdraw while you sleep'.

 

But I know that's not practical if you're working; can you take some time off?

 

I couldn't sleep during withdrawal, but wished I could. 

[lovemy3girls]

Akk and lovemy3girls, I'm thinking about y'all and cheering you on!!!! Stay strong!!!!!!  clara

Thanks Clara, I hope you are doing as best as you can at this time. I hope your holiday was good

[Lele]

Hi, I am new here.
25 years old, taking Cymbalta for three years, I've been on 90mg for some time now. I have fibromyalgia for 5 years now.
I decide on my own to stop taking it and I am on 60 mg now.

I experience
-severe brain zaps
-night sweats
-sleepines
-vivid nightmarers
-when talking I forget words or subject of conversation
-hot flashes

I am a law student and have 8 more exams, I am affraid to tapper down more now because I have to study hard.
Do you think It could affect my studying?

[thismoment]

Lele

 

The withdrawal symptoms you list sound pretty intrusive, and they would certainly affect me if I were preparing for exams. But perhaps you are far more tolerant than I, and you could power through.

 

You could consider re-instating the drug to a level where you are stable and the withdrawal symptoms are minimal. Once your exams are finished, you could begin tapering off.

 

Best wishes. Keep us posted.

[fishinghat]

I think thismoment has the right idea. go back up a little and get a clear head. This is an important time for you right now. And Cymbalta withdrawal really takes away a lot of cognative ability.

 

Welcome to the site and the best to you. Keep us posted on how you are doing. We are here anytime you need help or a shoulder to cry on