4 replies to this topic

[balldontlie]

hey everyone.

just stopped taking my cymbalta cold turkey after 8 consecutive years taking 30 mg daily.

i've been on anti-depressants since i was 13. I'm 25 now. i want to know what feeling natural is like.
there's so many things i haven't experienced naturally....from not having cried in years to orgasms.
so far the side effects seem to come and go. during the morning and night i feel pretty good. energetic, happy.
during the day i feel lethargic and disoriented. i can barely ride my bike, my means of transportation.
sometimes it gets hard to say certain words much less a complete sentence.

how much longer should i expect to feel these symptoms?

[Kirsten]

Hey there,
I feel nearly the same to how you feel about cymbalta. I've been on it since I was 14 and now I am 20. Most of the years I have been on 40mg.
I have tried cold turkey and man is it difficult. Honestly, you can probably have a safe estimation in the range of months. Probably 2-6 to be sure. This drug really sticks to you. I am sorry and I wish you the best.

[TXcounselor]

Balldontlie...why are you stopping cold turkey after 8 years? That sounds dangerous. I've read a lot on here and another antidepressant withdrawal forum and it seems like most people feel better in a month, with a few still struggling after that - probably depends on how long you took it, how you came off, general health, support, etc. I hope you get the quick healing!

I'm doing a wean over a month since stopping over the course of a week made me feel like I was going to die. It's going better this time. I didn't want to get back on, but I ran out of sick days and am still able to function this way and I know FOR SURE I'm still getting off of this. Good luck to both of you. I hope you enjoy getting your feelings back!

[happyzapynot]

hey everyone.

just stopped taking my cymbalta cold turkey after 8 consecutive years taking 30 mg daily.

i've been on anti-depressants since i was 13. I'm 25 now. i want to know what feeling natural is like.
there's so many things i haven't experienced naturally....from not having cried in years to orgasms.
so far the side effects seem to come and go. during the morning and night i feel pretty good. energetic, happy.
during the day i feel lethargic and disoriented. i can barely ride my bike, my means of transportation.
sometimes it gets hard to say certain words much less a complete sentence.

how much longer should i expect to feel these symptoms?

Hi 'balldontlie'. I suggest that you look on this site and read the advice from 'Uriel.' Quitting cold turkey after being on it for so long may not be wise. Counting granules from a capsule is pain but it sure beats a month or more of misery. Wish I had done it that way! I find that taking 20-25 granules when the zaps and other symptoms are unbearable helps.
People in this country have allowed themselves to become brainwashed by antidepressants. You are wise to get off but be sure to have a backup for handling depression/dysthymia. Do as much online research as you can. This 'medicine' ain't candy. It's much too strong to be prescribed for anything but the most severe, debilitating cases of depression. LOOK OUT FOR YOURSELF and keep learning about the best way to handle this withdrawal. Best wishes!

[janz]

I stopped cold turkey from 120 mgs, I have been on Cymbalta for 6.5 years. I am doing great. I would recommend that you are monitored (even by a family member) to make sure your depression is not taking over.