3 replies to this topic

[Michayla]

Hi all,

 

I've been off Cymbalta since February 12th (I think). I was wondering how long GI issues typically last? I'm also very fatigued, which I thought would go away once I stopped the medication, but it hasn't. Just trying to gauge whether these are symptoms from withdrawal or not.

Also, I was wondering what your experiences are with emotional adjustments after Cymbalta. I feel like I'm having to re-learn how to feel, making new pathways that don't involve the medication blocking emotions.

 

Thank you all, I hope you're doing well!

[fishinghat]

Usually around 1 to 2 months on the gastric symptoms. W have had a few members fight it for months but most of then had other underlying issues. The emotional issues can easily last 6 to 8 months for most and up to a year in some.

 

sometimes progress at this stage goes so slow that it is difficult to perceive. I always recommend keeping a journal of things like how many hours a day you have digestive issues, anxiety, depression, etc. After a few weeks you can look back and tell how much improvement there is.

[invalidusername]

Hi Michayla,

 

Hat has covered most of it already, but what you are going through is for sure a direct result of the withdrawal. No question. 

 

It is very rare for people to go through a withdrawal without some hint of GI issues. Again, as Hat said, we seem to have had a wave of members going through some quite nasty GI issues, but they have had them before and have since been exacerbated by the withdrawal. Emotional will be the last to go. One step at a time. Physical will cause emotional, so once that starts easing up, you will find it become better to cope with...

 

IUN

[frog]

Hey Michayla!

This all sounds like withdrawal. Are you taking omegas/fish oil in a high dose? I had GI issues for months and months (I'm also of the group that already had a sensitive stomach so it was extra brutal for me, I'm actually planning to see a gastro doctor finally once all this corona stuff is over). I saw some things improve when I quit the fish oil. Apparently it's very common to get diarrhea from fish oil especially when you're taking the more concentrated doses. 

 

The emotional stuff, well I'm 5.5 months off and I'm still going through the waves. The intensity is MUCH lower, and they don't last as long but it's wild, it's like a switch flips on and I find myself feeling more vulnerable, more fragile, more emotional, less optimistic and more worried, but there's no reason for it. Usually simultaneously I feel more physical anxiety like more heart pounding and more tightness around my stomach and my chest, so I think it's all the same stuff I've been going through, it's just still settling.