14 replies to this topic

[hopefulab]

Hi Everybody,

 

I started on Cymbalta about two years ago. I had tried Wellbutrin, Zoloft, and even weaned off of Effexor before Cymbalta. I felt like nothing was helping with anxiety and depression and my doctor put me on Cymbalta 120 mg/day without hesitation. I wasn't seeing results, so she put me on Lamotrigine. I didn't even know what it was for. Six months later, while seeing my regular physician, she asked if I had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder that she wasn't aware of and explained that Lamotrigine is usually prescribed for that. I had not been diagnosed or even told that was the use for the drug. I still felt awful, in fact, worse. I tried weaning off a year ago of Cymbalta and it was complete hell and ended up back to 120 mg/day. In a year, I've gained about 50 pounds. I have zero sex drive - just got married a couple of months ago. I have crippling social anxiety that I NEVER ever had prior to Cymbalta. I don't even think I would classify as remotely close to "depressed" two years ago compared to what I am now. My biggest relief has been Adderall for ADHD that I started about 2-3 years before Cymbalta (so, 5 or so years ago). I would be a completely different person if I never even explored antidepressants. Is it possible that going on them actually made me depressed? Will I ever feel like "myself" again? 

 

I started 20 mg of Prozac to help with the weaning process six months ago. I am down to not taking Lamotrigine (as of July) and from 120 mg Cymbalta to 30 mg along with 20 mg of Prozac. I started pouring beads out five days ago. Today I would estimate I took about 12-15 mg of Cymbalta based on the amount of beads that I poured out. I am off of work this week, otherwise I wouldn't be able to even attempt. I'm planning to take even less tomorrow and nothing Wednesday other than the 20 mg Prozac. I don't care how long it takes me to get off of the Prozac because from what I've read it's nothing compared to Cymbalta, so that's why I was willing to actually go on another med in order to bridge the gap. My motivation is that I hope that there's light at the end of the tunnel and I can be back to who I was two years ago. I lose patience easily. I don't enjoy doing anything that I liked years ago, I loathe even going to Target (coming from a girl who used to love to shop). I barely make it through the day and want to isolate myself alone in bed and sleep. My husband and I want me to be "me" again and we want to have a family (no way will I even attempt while on this crap). I just want to lay and cry. I don't want to shower or even brush my teeth. I'm sore and I can feel weird zapping feelings in my lower back almost like my muscle is vibrating. I get lots of brain zaps and find I move very slugglish like my body doesn't keep up with my brain. For example, I was taking my medication this morning (I have other non-mental health conditions that I take pills for) and I take 4 of one pill and dumped out 5 this morning. In my head I knew I obviously needed to put the extra in back in the bottle, but first I was almost on auto pilot and twisted the cap on then untwisted it, and put the pill back in, even though I knew before even twisting the cap on that I needed to still put in the extra pill I dropped. I am hoping that somewhere there's somebody who is similar. I know it's different for everybody, but I just need some hope. Will I eventually be normal again? Or will my brain somehow be damaged from this junk? Will I feel like I'm in my late 20s again or will I feel like I'm 80? Will I ever lose weight? Will I ever want to even be near my husband again? 

 

Looking forward to having somewhere to turn during these next coming troubling times. Thank you all! Take care.

[Clara]

hopefulab, welcome! You have come to right place for help, encouragement, knowledge and wisdom, hope, and whatever else you might need! This forum and these folks saved my sanity and will help you too! Yes, it's tough, but IT WILL GET BETTER!!! I have been off C for a year now and I am learning there is life after this crap drug!  You have your age on your side. Us older farts have a harder time. Your brain will rewire and you will feel better later on. There's lots of good info on supplements etc. if you just look through all the topics! Fishinghat, thismoment, fivenotions, TFL and others will be along shortly with help and support! Keep us posted! Come here as often as you need to! Rant, vent ask?, whatever.... we'll be here to listen, love, support, pray, rally you on any way we can! Hang in there!!! LOve hugs and prayers!!!!!!

[TryinginFL]

Welcome hopefulab,

 

First, let me say that your age is in your favor (late 20's?)  I suggest that you NOT just start pouring out beads!!  Since you just started this 5 days ago, have you noticed that you have extreme withdrawal symptoms?  Are you on the generic or name brand?  I would suggest that you try the bead counting and find less harsh symptoms and make this easier for yourself.  You will find a topic on Bead Counting - How To Do It under the Are You New Here section.

 

What you have already mentioned are typical withdrawal - you will be OK!  If they are tolerable, I suggest that you go up just a little in the amount you are taking and then stabilize (no symptoms).  Then start bead counting down - you may find that you can remove more than many of the other members here have since you are younger - I went cold turkey and you DON'T want to do that!!

 

Please come back with any questions you may have as we all care and are here to help you!    

[brzghoff]

hopefulab,

 

welcome!

 

i too was on effexor for 6 years before i was switched to cymbalta, 10 years ago. i was switched from depakote to lamictal/lamotrigine at the same time. you are correct, the lamotrigine is often used for bipolar, but is also used to "boost" the efficacy of anti-depressants. whether that is sound medicine or not, i don't know. i stopped taking cymbalta 7 months ago but have not yet stopped the lamotrigine. i can't understand why your doc (a psych?) didn't tell you why she was putting you on the lamotrigine.i that doc working with you on the cross taper from cymbalta to prozac? i am assuming so since you must  have a 'scrip for that. its hard to recommend a way to reduce the cymbalta since you are on prozac, but yur reduction method sounds too fast. others here like fishing hat can give you a clearer direction.

 

what was it like weaning off lamotrigine? i want to do that once i recover more from weaning off cymbalta

[brzghoff]

hopefulab, welcome! You have come to right place for help, encouragement, knowledge and wisdom, hope, and whatever else you might need! This forum and these folks saved my sanity and will help you too! Yes, it's tough, but IT WILL GET BETTER!!! I have been off C for a year now and I am learning there is life after this crap drug!  You have your age on your side. Us older farts have a harder time. Your brain will rewire and you will feel better later on. There's lots of good info on supplements etc. if you just look through all the topics! Fishinghat, thismoment, fivenotions, TFL and others will be along shortly with help and support! Keep us posted! Come here as often as you need to! Rant, vent ask?, whatever.... we'll be here to listen, love, support, pray, rally you on any way we can! Hang in there!!! LOve hugs and prayers!!!!!!

 

 

hey carla,

 

how long were you on the C? what about other anti-d's?

 

thanks!

[hopefulab]

Oh my gosh, you guys! I just got up out of bed not thinking anybody would even have responded yet but knew I needed to brush my teeth (gah) so I thought I'd check. It feels so nice to have people who seem like they care and aren't just saying to just ride it out. I think this is what I need to motivate me to get through this. Thank you. I'm so grateful.

 

Lamotrigine didn't phase me at all going off of it. I started 20 mg Prozac for one week, cut my Lamo tablet in half the next, the following a quarter and then I was done. I barely noticed. I started Prozac by doing tons of research and showing my regular physician. I stopped going to the psyc because she just kept switching up meds and I was frustrated that she really didn't seem to listen to the side effects. I told my regular physician that I wanted to go off and she supported that and I showed her what I read about Prozac and also how diligent I was about weaning medications (I wrote the number of beads for each day of Effexor). 

 

So, you would suggest that I don't ride out the last 30 mg this week? I just started my job as a teacher and my performance has already been "eh" from this crap and how tired I get. I wanted to have the worst part over while I was off of work. Do you think it would help if I went to 40 mg of Prozac and did bead counting? I still have the beads, I have dumped them in the pill container. Should I take a full 30 mg tomorrow? As the doctor for 20 mg pills? I've been looking at the other posts for counting, just don't know where to proceed...

[brzghoff]

hopeful:

 

i really can't make any real recommendations about the specific cross taper strategy. i didn't do it that way, but others here have. i did a modified taper-down of the C to cold turkey. i was able to easily drop from 90 to 60 about 2 years ago and then from 60 to 30 a year later. this past april i split them in half dropping to 15 for a couple weeks, then did the every other day thing for a couple weeks and then stepped off the 15 mg cliff. it is not a good way to do it but it was too late when i learned the alternating days strategy is counterproductive - takes you in and out of withdrawal. others here gradually reduce the # of beads in their caps -  just a few out every day. that strategy is different if you are on another anti-d, especially if you are increasing that dosage at the same time you are reducing the C. i don't know the specifics, since your doc is working with you - that's who you need to consult - best if you can work together as a "team." you can check out the bead counting strategies in the "are you new here section" that is the top of the  list of topics on the front page of this web site. 

 

since you are teaching, i would recommend that you stay on whatever level of cymbalta keeps you stable, whether that be 30 or 40, once you've stayed stable, then proceed with whatever bead counting or cross taper strategy you can work out with your doc. if you have a doc that will work with you - and it sounds like you do - then that's the best way to go about this. if your doc ends up seeming like they really don't support what you are trying to do, there are other forum members such as "fishing hat" who can provide some more insight/guidance. none of us are medical professionals. 

 

my biggest concern is that you are teaching and must work with others - kids or older students? either way, it takes a lot of patience to be in that role. i have had no patience since i went through withdrawal. i have a very short fuse, unfortunately. i have been off totally for just over 7 months and its been tough, but i am doing much better now. anxiety is what nailed me the most i can take the pain the nausea and the runs but anxiety is the tough one for me. 

 

 

update: here, i found the link to some tapering info. the link is to a post from five notions on this web forum, but her link goes to a different support group and the tapering is generic to all forms of anti-d's not just cymbalta. i would use this info as a way of familiarizing yourself with the concept and to share with your doctor. however, the web site is not a medical site either, its a bunch of people who've gone through the experience and sharing what worked for them. they also provide info from dr. peter breggin

 

https://www.cymbalta...ressants-forum/

[Clara]

Hey brz! I was put on Paxil mid 90s after my 22 year marriage went to pot, stayed on it for several  years, then on to C, 60mgs, quickly up to 120mgs!  Even had Buspirone added, but threw it out, didn't help!  Did a fast taper for a month or so down to 20mgs... the w/ds were BAD so I just went CT! What a dummy! But I'm glad it's over and I'm recovering... to slowly for my liking, but I do my best to remain hopeful and grateful that I ain't  on that crap any more! 

[hopefulab]

Okay, searched a bit. My brand are Actavis 30 mg which is generic. The beads are different sizes (which was also mentioned as an issue in this thread: https://www.cymbalta...is#entry50761).Do I do calculations to get 5% down a day?

[brzghoff]

i would think so... figure out how many beads are in the cap - its tedious but counting them is the only way. then figure out 5% of that number. remove that number of beads and you have your 5% reduction. are you planning on running this by your doctor first? it sounds as though your doc is open to helping you get off the C. i am also not sure i understand about the prozac, are you increasing the dose of the prozac as you reduce the dose of cymbalta? is your intent to taper over to prozac and then wean off that down the road? that is the idea behind a cross taper. prozac has a longer half life which means withdrawing from it is not as traumatic. the strategy on how much to reduce cymbalta and how often is determined by how much of the prozac you are taking, if you are increasing that concurrently and if so by how much and how often. i have never done bead counting and i have never cross tapered except under the supervision of a psychiatrist and that was to transfer from zoloft to wellbutrin (17 years ago) and later from effexor to cymbalta (10 years ago) 

[brzghoff]

Hey brz! I was put on Paxil mid 90s after my 22 year marriage went to pot, stayed on it for several  years, then on to C, 60mgs, quickly up to 120mgs!  Even had Buspirone added, but threw it out, didn't help!  Did a fast taper for a month or so down to 20mgs... the w/ds were BAD so I just went CT! What a dummy! But I'm glad it's over and I'm recovering... to slowly for my liking, but I do my best to remain hopeful and grateful that I ain't  on that crap any more! 

 

 

you give me a LOT of hope clara! i am just over 7 months off, basically CT and its still rough for me. anxiety is getting better now that the holidays are winding down, but there is always an "edge" i guess you are over a year now - and you seem to be doing so well. i am hoping i have the same success since it sounds like you are a "long timer" on the C and other anti d's as well. 

[hopefulab]

I'm on the Prozac to bridge. Eventually will go off of that as well. My doctor asked if I wanted to go up to 40 mg but I said I would try to stay at 20 mg. She is pretty supportive, but doesnt really seem to think I should have any sort of withdrawal. She said I could go 120, 90, 60, 30 mg for one week each and be off in a month. That's when I stepped in and said not a chance. So maybe she's just somewhat pacifying me? At least not completely opposed!

[fishinghat]

Welcome hopefulab. A lot of good information already given. An excellant idea to bridge using prozac. It has a lot longer half life and a lot less withdrawal. I would add this though....I would be very hesitant to reduce my Cymbalta that quickly as it takes Prozac 6 to 8 weeks to kick in. Wean ssllooowwwlllyyy until the Prozac is in full effect. I would also wait for 2 months after coming of the Cymbalta before you start withdrawal from the Prozac. Give your body a chance to recover a little.

 

Best wishes and feel free to lean on our shoulders. We have been there.

[hopefulab]

Thanks fishinghat. I started Prozac last summer so it's been about five months. That's when I was able to get from 120 to 30 mg. I just can't get down on the last 30 mg:-(

[fishinghat]

They might have to increase your Prozac some more to allow you to come off the rest of the Cymbalta.