16 replies to this topic

[Macadamia]

Hi,

 

I haven't posted since November. I am almost off - one bead a day now. I have an appointment with my psychiatrist 3 days after I am completely off.

 

My main challenge is insomnia. And that is why my shrink wants me off the Cymbalta. He thinks the norepinephrine in it might be contributing to my insomnia. (Also, take Doxepin and Remeron for depression which are both sedating plus Gabapentin for sleep.)

 

On days that I haven't slept I feel s-o-o-o-o bad that I think about taking my own life. Then, I'll sleep and feel better and more optimistic. Insomnia is a symptom of anti-depressant withdrawal - right?

 

I guess I am just looking for support. I have written down the suicide numbers under Medical Support in case I need them. I'm a lot better today because I slept. Yesterday so tired and not very good.

 

Thanks for this site.

 

 

 

 

[fishinghat]

If I was you I would stay at the 18 beads for a while until the sleep gets better. You are so close there is no need to hurry now.

[gail]

Hi Macadamia,

I remember you. Great memory, right? I wish.

I think that Fishinghat wrote recently that norepinephrine can be a trigger to insomnia.

Wow, 18 beads to go, you have come a long way! As Fishinghat suggested, stay put for a while at 18 beads. Write anytime you feel like it, we will always be there for you.

[Macadamia]

Thanks.

 

I can't find fishinghat's post about norepinephrine triggering insomnia. Will you let me know where it is on the site?

 

I have had insomnia my entire taper - not every day, but roughly every other day. I don't have trouble getting to sleep, just staying asleep. It's just something I bear. Yes, I have a lot of "zombie" days where I am low functioning due to poor sleep. It gets really old. Thank goodness I sleep some of the time.

 

I was hoping that the less norepinephrine I have in my system, the better I would sleep. So far, it is not the case.

[fishinghat]

Insomnia at your point in the withdrawal is expected. Cymbalta is a snri which means it helps regulate norepinephrine and serotonin usage in the body.  It does not contain norepinephrine. One of the very strange things about ssri and snri is that lab tests have repeatedly shown that Serotonin and Norepinephrine both increase in the body during the first 2 to 3 months of drug use followed by a rapid decrease from that point on. The researchers have had many long discussions about how this medicine works. Increases in the nor...   and sero...  should increase metabolic activity and yet thes e drugs work for both anxiety and depression. There is still much to learn here.
 
Anyway, back to the point. At this stage in your withdrawal your body is trying to learn to regulate its neurotransmitters on its own. During that time levels of nor and sero both cycle up and down leading to the mood swings. Right now you are probably having more issues with the nor which means the insomnia and anxiety are probably your worse problems. During these parts of the cycle clonidine is very effective as it signals the brain to produce less adrenaline which brings us to the next point. Norepinephrine is a precursor to the formation of adrenaline (epinephrine). Increases in nor usually results in increases in adrenaline. Less sleep and more agitation.

 

Hydroxyzine is another choice (similar to Benadryl) as it is a good sleep aide and helps fight anxiety.

 

It will get better. Hang in there, those last few beads are hard to drop and you must be very patient.

[Macadamia]

Fishinghat,

 

Thank you for the information and your encouragement.

 

I am better today, having taken 12.5 mg. Benadryl in the middle of the night when I couldn't sleep.

 

I will be in touch.

 

Macadamia

[Macadamia]

I held at 11 beads for 5 days because I needed to get to the dentist.

 

I'm now down to 9 beads. The insomnia is really bad, and some days I can barely function due to lack of sleep.

 

I plan to be off the Cymbalta by the end of March. Once I take my last bead, how long before the drug is out of my system?

[fishinghat]

The drug has a half life of 12 hours so by the end of the third day it will be nearly gone. The problem is that this drug has been regulating your neurotransmitters for you while you were on it. Now that you are off the drug your body has to learn how to balance them by itself. The symptoms during this time will be very erratic as your body over regulates then under regulates these chemicals.

 

Symptoms usually start to slow after 8 weeks, give or take, but for some it takes 4 to 6 to 8 months to begin to feel fairly stable. Research has shown that even though someone may not have symptoms after this period their body still continues to struggle to adapt making relapses likely if the patient over does his/her activities/stress. Full physiological recovery of nerve function is typically around 2 years.

 

Take your time. These last 9 beads can be very hard to come off of.

[gail]

Hi Macadamia,

Good to hear from you. I don't know which Benadryl you take, just want you to know that ordinary Benadryl does nothing for me at all, nada.

But the Total Benadryl in caplets does. In these, you have 1 Tylenol in each caplets, I don't know if it's the combination of dyphenhidromine plus Tylenol in it that does it. I think it is though. Just a thought that may help!

[Macadamia]

I am off as of yesterday.

 

My main symptoms during withdrawal were insomnia and sweats.

 

Today I feel tired and fragile. Just waiting to get all of the Cymbalta out of my system....

 

Thank you for your comments here.

[gail]

Hello Macadamia,

Good for you, no more counting!

Insomnia and sweats, be aware that this could go on for a while. Do what you need to do to sleep, as for sweats, this will pass unless you are a woman and in Peri menopause.

By the way, people usually mention more symptoms. No anxiety, no depression, lucky you. Even though insomnia is quite something to deal with. As I mentioned, Benadryl is a good sleeping aid.

Thanks for the update, do come back for another one.

[TryinginFL]

CONGRATS, Macadamia! !!

[Macadamia]

I am off 3 days now and I am feeling depressed. Is this normal?

[fishinghat]

Oh yes. The emotional swings will come and go for awhile.

[Macadamia]

Despite being off Cymbalta for 2 weeks, I am still having night sweats. (Btw -  it is not hot flashes 'cause I am on hormone replacement therapy).

 

Has anybody reported night sweats post- Cymbalta withdrawal?

 

I am trying to get to the root of what is causing these miserable sweats..... something is messing with my thermoregulation....

 

Thanks for your thoughts!

[fishinghat]

Oh yea. If you will do a search on the forums you will find many hits for night sweats during and after weaning. They usually go away after a month or two.

[bronxbomber]

Macadamia, congratulations on your taper to zero. I am at 4 mg so I'm still counting BB's.

I haven't read your history, but I am curious if you have tried melatonin for sleep. I've been taking 6 mg of melatonin since I began my taper, and have been sleeping pretty well. I wake up once, hit the bathroom, and generally get back to sleep pretty quickly.