Cymbalta (Duloxetine) was officially approved by the FDA in 2004 as a new treatment for major depression. It is classified as an SNRI antidepressant which means it inhibits the reuptake of serotonin as well as norepinephrine. This medication was also devised to target more of the physical symptoms associated with depression and was approved by the FDA to treat nerve pain in diabetics. A few years later it was approved to treat anxiety disorders, fibromyalgia, musculoskeletal pain (in arthritis and lower back pain).
This means that many people have turned to this drug for relief in their specific condition. This drug has become highly popularized due to the fact that it was approved to treat so many different conditions. It has also been promoted like crazy on TV and throughout various types of social media. The promotions lead doctors as well as patients to believe that it is essentially a breakthrough drug in the world of depression and pain. Anyone who has experience taking it knows the true potency of the drug Cymbalta.
Many people end up finding that Cymbalta is not a good medication for their condition and/or just isn’t working as well as research suggests. This means that many people end up having to go through a withdrawal period. The withdrawal process associated with Cymbalta can be both physically and psychologically debilitating. Since the drug targets both physical pain and depression, you may experience physical as well as powerful psychological withdrawal symptoms.
Factors that influence Cymbalta withdrawal include
There are many different factors that will play a role in determining the degree of withdrawal difficulty for Cymbalta. The amount of time you took the medication (e.g. weeks, months, years), the amount you were taking, your personal physiology, as well as how quickly you tapered off of it are all going to play a role. When I came off of this medication, I had withdrawal symptoms so severe that they triggered a nervous breakdown.
1. Time Span
How long were you taking Cymbalta? The longer you were taking this medication, the tougher withdrawal will be. When your brain becomes reliant upon a drug for everyday functioning and processes – especially for a long period of time, withdrawal is going to be tough. The shorter the period of time you were on this medication, the easier it will likely be to come off of this drug.
2. Dosage (20 mg, 30 mg, 60 mg)
Cymbalta comes in capsules containing either 20 mg, 30 mg, or 60 mg of the Duloxetine formula. People may take up to 120 mg per day for major depression – which is a pretty significant dose. If you are on a high dose, you will need to conduct a gradual taper off of this medication unless you are prepared to fight some major withdrawal demons. Based on my experience, even the 30 mg was extremely powerful. We are dealing with a powerful drug here and the higher the dose you are taking, the tougher the withdrawal.
3. Individual Physiology
Individual physiology plays a huge role in determining symptoms. Certain people experience minimal to zero symptoms when they quit this medication. Back when I was first on this drug, most people were telling me that they barely experienced any symptoms or that the withdrawal only lasted a couple weeks. Being only 16, I thought that my withdrawal would be quick too, but it turned out to last months (almost a year) – not a few weeks. Age as well as physiology may play a role – especially if you are taking this medication and still have a developing brain. I also withdrew from the 30 mg cold turkey.
4. Cold turkey vs. tapering
It is highly recommended to taper off of any antidepressant, especially that of Cymbalta. The worst part aspect of the tapering process is when most people make the leap from 20 mg to 0 mg. This medication is designed to have “beads” inside of capsules – making withdrawal increasingly difficult. Once you have “weaned” your way down to 20 mg, I would highly recommend actually opening the capsules and reducing the amount of beads that you take over a period of weeks until you are down to nothing.
That said, the beads can be tricky because you need to be careful not to crush the beads. Crushing the beads in any way can result in problematic absorption, leading to adverse effects. If you are using this method, talk to a psychiatrist or pharmacist for further instruction. I strongly advise against quitting “cold turkey” unless you think it’s necessary.
Cymbalta Withdrawal Symptoms: List of Possibilities
Below are some of the more common symptoms associated with the withdrawal process. Keep in mind that you may not experience all of the symptoms listed. This is a general guideline for people to reference. The withdrawal process affects everyone differently in terms of symptoms and severity.
- Anger: Coming off of this medication may make you extremely angry and frustrated. You may be prone to anger spells and have a difficult time controlling your anger. Some people end up experiencing full blown “rage” at times as well.
- Anxiety: This medication is developed to treat anxiety. Since it has an impact on both serotonin and norepinephrine, when you come off of it, you may have to deal with pretty extreme anxiety. Everything may make you nervous including going to school, work-related functions, your relationship, etc. Do your best to cope with this anxiety in whatever healthy way you can.
- Appetite changes: I experienced significant reduction in appetite, in part due to the extreme anxiety I experienced coming off of it. Some people may experience increased appetite as well. This drug can have weird affects on people’s eating habits and hunger levels.
- Brain damage: There is no link that this drug “causes brain damage” but I am here to tell you that it may feel as though you have been victim of brain damage after taking it. Based on the symptoms that you may experience, it may seem as if your brain has been damaged in some way. Realize that this will eventually improve over time and your functioning will return to normal.
- Brain zaps: Fortunately I didn’t experience any “brain zaps” but many people report little sensations of electrical shocks through their head when quitting Cymbalta. I experienced these zaps coming off of Paxil, so I know that they are no picnic.
- Concentration problems: Your doctor may tell you that withdrawal isn’t associated with any cognitive problems like lack of focus or concentration. That’s because these symptoms go unreported and aren’t well studied. It is very possible to be unable to focus on any tasks when coming off of this drug. You need to suck it up and try your best – realizing that things will eventually improve.
- Crying spells: The emotional pain associated with coming off of this medication can be so powerful that you want to sit in a corner and cry. You may cry your eyes out many times during the withdrawal process.
- Depersonalization: One of the most challenging aspects of withdrawal is feeling like you are someone other than yourself. It may feel as though your soul has been completely sucked out and you have no life. You feel like someone has taken over your body and brain and your authentic self is gone forever. This can be very uncomfortable and causes many people to panic. It is a result of a serotonin imbalance which causes high stress – this leads to feeling depersonalized.
- Depression: The depression that you experience when withdrawing from Cymbalta may be the most severe depression that you ever go through in your life. It may suck your soul and you may feel as if you have no hope to carry on through life. Take things one day at a time and do whatever you can to maintain faith that you will get better. I am proof that you can recover, and my withdrawal lasted over a year.
- Dizziness: Some people experience extreme dizziness for long periods of time during withdrawal. This is a common symptom during withdrawal from all types of antidepressant medications. In some cases, people also experience “vertigo.”
- Fatigue: The fatigue you may experience during Cymbalta withdrawal may be so severe, that you may think you are developing Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) – or at least I did. I could barely drag myself out of bed each day and felt like I was in a haze of tiredness, depression, and eternal sadness. It may be difficult to realize, but this symptom is from your drug withdrawal.
- Flu-like symptoms: Many people report flu-like symptoms when coming off of Cymbalta. The combination of sweats, aches, pains, and nausea can be eerily similar to the actual flu. Keep in mind that this will eventually subside.
- Headaches: Some people end up having to deal with pretty intense headaches throughout the withdrawal. If they become too extreme, consider a slower taper and/or over-the-counter headache relief.
- Hopelessness: You may feel completely hopeless in regards to your future especially if you experienced no success on Cymbalta or other antidepressants. Realize that this feeling is exacerbated by the withdrawal process and that you will eventually return to having some hope again.
- Hostility: Certain people become very hostile when coming off of antidepressants – this one is no different. Don’t be surprised if someone starts acting mean, distant, and possibly violent during the process.
- Hypersensitivity: Some people experience a hypersensitivity to loud sounds and bright sights. This is thought to be a result of high stress and low serotonin. For me this lasted many months before I was able to “desensitize” my brain to these triggers.
- Insomnia: You may be unable to fall asleep at a normal time each night. Instead you may experience thoughts of depression and anxiety that keep you awake. This is a result of your brain trying to re-establish normal levels of serotonin and norepinephrine.
- Irritability: It may be difficult to function in society without feeling irritated and/or irritable during the withdrawal. Your neurotransmitters are thrown out of homeostasis and your brain is trying to fix itself.
- Lightheadedness: In addition to feeling dizzy, you may also feel lightheaded or “faint.” Understand that this will lessen with time.
- Memory problems: You may feel as though your memory has been permanently damaged or altered. You are correct to a certain extent, however, your memory should return to normal after enough time passes. My memory felt fried (both long term and short term), but returned to normal functioning after about a year. Don’t get mad at yourself about your memory – do what you can to work with it and realize that it will get better.
- Nausea: During the withdrawal process, you may feel nauseated a lot. In some cases this may make you want to throw up. I felt extreme nausea when I came off of Cymbalta to the point where I thought I was going to throw up my lunch for about 2 weeks straight.
- Suicidal thoughts: Many people experience intense suicidal thoughts when coming off of antidepressants. This medication helps inhibit the reuptake of both serotonin and norepinephrine – when you stop it, you are going to have decreased levels. This can make people more prone to thoughts of suicide. For me the suicidal thoughts were so intense that I damn near had to be hospitalized.
- Sweating: It is very common to experience sweats throughout the day and especially at night when you withdraw from this drug. You may wake up soaked in sweat in the middle of the night. Realize that this is all part of the withdrawal process – this is how your body detoxifies itself.
- Tingling sensations: Some people report feeling tingling across their skin and extremities when they quit Cymbalta. The tingling sensations are usually a result of your body trying to function without the drug.
- Tremors: You may experience muscle spasms and/or tremors when you stop taking this medication.
- Vision changes: Some people notice various visual effects when they quit Cymbalta. For me I noticed some changes in vision and for awhile I actually thought that my vision was becoming worse. In reality I was just seeing “floaters” or shapes that float in the field of vision – they are not harmful.
My personal experience with Cymbalta withdrawal
Cymbalta was the single toughest antidepressant that I’ve ever withdrawn from and I have been on most of the notable ones. Prozac, Paxil, Effexor, Wellbutrin, etc. Although my withdrawal from Paxil was hell, the withdrawal from Cymbalta was like hell 2.0 – a whole different kind of hell. I experienced depression, anxiety, and suicidal thinking, but the most debilitating symptom of the withdrawal was the depersonalization – I felt as though my brain was numb and my entire soul had been eaten by this drug.
The withdrawal seemed to never end, and in my estimation, it took about 6 months before I felt even halfway normal again. I was trapped in an eternal state of anxiety, depression, and depersonalization and saw absolutely no way out. My psychologist and psychiatrist thought that I was exhibiting premorbid schizophrenia – all as a result of the withdrawal symptoms.
It has been almost 8 years since I’ve taken this medication and I never went on to developing schizophrenia – it was the withdrawal symptoms that were driving me crazy. Funny thing is before I went on this medication, I thought it was going to be the “holy grail” and eradicate my depression because it was a “new drug.” I learned from that experience that “new” does not mean “better” – in some cases it can mean “worse.” In all honesty I do not believe I would have made it through this withdrawal without family, friends, and online support.
People do not understand how powerful this withdrawal process really is unless they’ve taken the medication. For me it was one of the hardest things I’ve ever gone through in my entire life. I honestly don’t know how I made it through, but by some miracle I was able to keep fighting. It is literally like being locked in a cage and having minimal control over your brain for an extended period of time.
Cymbalta Withdrawal Timeline & Duration: How long does it last?
There is no clear cut answer to the duration of withdrawal. If you tapered off of the drug to the lowest possible dose (e.g. by counting beads), then you will likely heal quicker than someone who is thrown off guard by a sudden “cold turkey” withdrawal. Although the drug may be out of your body within a day (half life of 12 hours), this doesn’t mean that you won’t feel the effects of withdrawal once it is cleared.
I personally would give the withdrawal process 90 days before re-evaluating symptoms. When I first came off of this medication, it took a lot longer than suggested before I started feeling normal. Since I wasn’t feeling “normal” within a few weeks, this caused me to freak out and think that something else was wrong with me – even though it was just the effects of quitting a powerful medication that I had been on.
Most people do not count beads and conduct a gradual taper, therefore they jump from 20 mg to nothing – and this is a pretty significant jump. If you quit this medication from an even higher dose than 20 mg such as 30 mg or 60 mg – you may experience some very debilitating symptoms. Although this drug is approved for a variety of conditions and is considered “safe” by the FDA – realize that you know your body better than anyone else.
I honestly felt as though this medication caused permanent brain damage that I was never going to get over. In reality I think it may have been the withdrawal or me freaking out that I still felt drugged up even though I had been off of the medication for months. Make sure you work closely with your doctor, get support, and do your best to tough through the process. For me Cymbalta was a drug from hell and a nightmare – fortunately some have easier withdrawals than others. If you are going through withdrawal or have successfully withdrawn from this medication, feel free to share your experience with others.
I only took 30mg of Cymbalta after having taken Effexor for a few months. I loved the Effexor, but a month or two in, it made me feel very tired despite having given me energy early on. Cymbalta made me feel very reckless and unstable from the very beginning. I was on it for a month before I decided to just stop cold turkey.
I really didn’t experience that bad of a withdrawal like I had with an SSRI years ago, so I felt confident that in a month or two I’d feel much better. Months later, I don’t even know who I am anymore. It’s almost like my coping skills for life are just nonexistent now.
I’ve always been depressed, but could also always deal… now I feel like I’m totally lost. I feel so out of control. I’ve never felt this way after coming off of any antidepressant. Does this ever get better?
I could never get off Cymbalta despite the weaning process. I, eventually, switched to Effexor because I was told it’s easier to get off of. When I decide I want to come off a different SNRI, I’ll request to be hospitalized. My closest friend is going through Cymbalta withdrawal right now and has read they have detox clinics for the drug now. Wonder if it’s from all the class action suits against Eli Lilly?
This has been so helpful to see, and also concerning. Side note, I had an issue tapering off of prednisone earlier this year with extreme withdrawal symptoms. It affected my work. Now, after 12 years of being on Effexor and Cymbalta, I have been crossed over to a mood stabilizer. It seems to be a good fit. Under a Doctor’s care I have tapered off the Cymbalta.
On day 5, the symptoms are terrible. Extreme mood swings, uncontrollable crying, irritability to the point of rage almost, dizziness, lethargic, fatigue, vertigo, itching and it goes on. I am worried about returning to work tomorrow, as we have a sensitive situation going on that I don’t want to over react on. I am concerned this will LAST longer than to weeks as I have been told to expect. Glad to know I am not alone.
Is there a point at which I should call my doctor and let him know my or any symptoms? Is there anything to do besides getting back on – not an option. Just wondering.
I have been off for 5 months now and still don’t feel anywhere near normal. I feel like I have brain damage, I have struggled to hold a job, my personality is off-putting to say the least. My anxiety is through the roof. I can’t concentrate to even watch a 30 min t.v. show. I feel like my life is in a downward spiral for sure and have to keep telling myself that it will get better.
I’m scared to get on any other medications after this experience so I struggle to get through each day with fibromyalgia pain. I’ve tried several natural therapies with no real relief. I’m sad this is what my life had become all from a drug that was supposed to help me.
I’m reading your article about Cymbalta withdrawal symptoms and want to add that I took Cymbalta for 2yrs to help combat my blood cancer symptoms. The withdrawal symptoms mentioned are what my daily life was like with ET (Essential Thrombocytosis a chronic progressive Leukemia in the Myeloproliferative Neoplasm Disorders) pre-Cymbalta. Imagine living daily with those feelings!!
Withdrawal for a few weeks to a month (which I’m currently going thru as I prepare for a new chemo medicine) is nothing if you compare it to that. Cymbalta has been a help to me, minimizing those ET symptoms. I encourage others to try it, even if the ending, for a bit, feels misearable. Be happy you don’t have to live with those feelings forever. -e @ourtaylorstory
Hi all I think these sites are great to see others go through what your are gong through we are not alone. I have been on antidepressants for many years but cymbalta for two weeks and finally coming off them my doctor has recommended For 10 days every 2nd day 10 days every third day and for another 10 days every fourth day. The countdown begins. I can’t wait to be drug free. The side effects on these drugs are horrible. Insomnia. Headaches. Anxiety, suicidal thoughts, and list goes on. I’m praying to God for no relapse…. Anyone still on this forum???
I have been continually put on and off medications for the last two years with no break in between. When the psychiatrist and Doctor put me on it, it was two week and I decided “no more”. Instead of weaning (I’ve usually done ok quitting cold turkey on such a short time) I quit. I felt as if I was going to die.
I was having anxiety so bad, I thought I was having a heart attack! I was weak, I had to stay in bed, I couldn’t sleep or really eat and I felt like throwing up all the time!! After a long holiday weekend of going threw this, my psychiatrist prescribed Prozac to help with the weening process. Today’s day one and although I’ve felt a little off its way better then cold turkey.
(Was on 60mg 2 1/2 weeks, now I split the beads in half in some apple sauce and paired it with 40 mg of Prozac.) I’m hopeful. To anyone who’s going threw this terrible experience and you want off the med, but can’t handle the terrible hellish withdraw, ask you doctor for Prozac to help withdraw. My prayers are with you all!
STRUGGLING. Hi I’m really feeling low & really can’t see why other than my depression has returned. I was on Duloxetine 30mg for around 8 years. A year ago I started to taper @ 5% reduction per week. I used jewelers scales to carefully manage the taper by weighing he beads as there were around 260 in a capsule.
I really believe I did my best on the taper & felt no side effects at all. 5 weeks have now past since my last capsule containing a single bead. I really thought I had it licked, but now my mood swings, lethargy are back along with darkening thoughts. I am confused, surely the meds effect on me would have been long gone by now.
I’m struggling with, do I stay off them & risk a deeper depression? or do I go back on them as advised by my doctor & my family. I felt fine by enlarge when on Duloxetine if not quite me, at least the dark cloud was gone & better than the suicidal feelings that accompanied the depression. Has anyone else seemingly got off this drug OK only to have long delayed withdrawal.
I feel alone & need to take comfort to either continue this battle. If I can’t then I will need to start taking them again. Shaun.
OMG thank you. Especially about feeling soulless and like you may be premorbid schizophrenic. I am 5 days off after tapering to 30 from 60. My doctor is sending me to psychiatrist. He wants me to start taking 20 but my symptoms are not as bad on a scale of 1-10 right now… 2-4 but I have experienced 10 the first time and was in the ER and up to 8-10 this time but could talk myself down. I have done my share of hallucinogens so at least I had that experience to know it was not ME but the drug/withdrawals. I don’t want to get back on. Thanks for you writing it was helpful TRYING TO PUSH THROUGH!!
Thank you for sharing. I’m coming off Cymbalta 90 mg using taper off method. Personally, On a scale 1 to 10, I give withdrawal a 4. I get excessive sweating for no reason and anxiety shots. I’ve learned to cope and self relax but I do not like it at all.
My PCP sent me to a psychiatrist for management of my meds four months ago. New psychiatrist immediately increased my Cymbalta from 60MG to 90MG! (Not sure why – and didn’t know to question it). One month later, he increased my Cymbalta to 120MG!! Made connection between Cymbalta and short-term memory problems, abdominal pains, hair loss, exhaustion, headaches, uncontrollable crying, excessive sleeping, and day and night sweats.
At my request, we reduced dosage to 90MG, but after a week, I called my PCP and we began a tapering program which was probably way too aggressive. I took my last Cymbalta one month ago. I have been bed-ridden and sicker than a dog for over two months. I have no support from friends, family, or doctors because everyone thinks this is psychological – not physical.
I have over 60 withdrawal symptoms and do not think I could have hung in here without other peoples’ experiences. Thank you.
I am on Day 31 of weaning off of Cymbalta. I’ve gone from 60mg to 40mg, now on 20 mg. I have been on this drug for 7 years, and had I known the withdrawal symptoms I would face I would have NEVER agreed to take the medicine in the first place. I was prescribed it for nerve pain, and while it has been great in keeping my pain under control, I have found other means that are just as helpful, like physical therapy.
I do ok the first few days with a dosage decrease but then all of the sudden it hits me and my body is like “hey, wait a minute!” The headaches are excruciating, the nausea is debilitating and constant, shaking, brain fogginess, dizziness, I feel like my equilibrium is off. I feel like what I imagine a drug addict feels like in withdrawal; no wonder they compare it to heroin.
I am 25 years old and dragging myself out of bed and into work every day has been extremely difficult. I’m not one to complain, so many of my coworkers have no idea that I’m going through this, just a few close friends. I try to keep even just an ounce of positivity and keep looking ahead to the finish line when this will all be over. Thankfully my husband has been very supportive and encouraging.
Reading on these forums lets me know that I’m not alone in this terrible process of withdrawing from Cymbalta. Let’s all keep plugging away, we will get through this!
I am 62 years old and I was on cymbalta 120 mg a day for about 10 years. I only tapered off for two weeks which probably was a mistake. I should have taken longer. I have been completely off the drug for about a month now and the withdrawal symptoms are unbelievable. I have gone from extreme anxiety to constant, uncontrollable crying. I’ve experienced anger and rage over little things.
This is not my nature. When I am able to sleep I have terrifying nightmares. I am exhausted all the time. I have drenching, pouring sweats day and night. I have migraines almost every day. I can’t think straight. I’m terrified that I might have brain damage.
Some of the symptoms are easing up and some are getting worse. I had hoped to feel much better by this time. I honestly don’t know how much longer I can take this. Thank goodness I am retired as it would have impossible to go to work like this. God bless my husband for being supportive.
I have been reading these forums for weeks now and my heart goes out to everyone going through this hell. It helps to know I’m not alone but it also hurts to see so many people put in this position by greedy pharma companies and misinformed doctors. Cymbalta should be taken off the market.
These comments are very helpful. I am planning to start tapering off Cymbalta tomorrow. I have been on 90mg since my miscarriage in March and was on 90mg for 4 years before falling pregnant. I managed to taper down to 60 during the 3 months I was pregnant, but after a silent miscarriage, depression set in. I actually blame Cymbalta for losing my baby. I want to try and fall pregnant again and I am determined to get this insidious drug out of my system once and for all.
I took 30 mgs of Cymbalta for over 10 years and increased to 60 mgs in the past year. In January, I decided to stop taking it and spent 3 months weaning myself off. I must say, even after trying to be forewarned about the effects of withdrawal, it still caught me by surprise. Thankfully, I know that during the hardest of times I must hold tightly to my Faith. Even with a foggy brain, prayer and meditation are possible if you keep leading yourself back to them.
Almost immediately after being off the Cymbalta I felt like I couldn’t breathe while lying down. It’s a smothering feeling and happens often during the night. I bought a large wedge shaped memory-foam pillow to sleep on and that has helped with breathing. Underwent a sleep study last week to make sure it wasn’t sleep apnea and it wasn’t. I also have pain and numbness in my arms, hands and neck during the night and wake often to reposition my body.
That and the nightmares. Went to Urgent Care two months ago thinking I might be having heart failure because of tightness in my chest and edema in my legs and feet. Also, a sudden weight gain around my middle that makes it uncomfortable to wear anything tight. I’m 62 and heart disease runs in my family, so I never thought to blame the medication withdrawal. But tests are okay there, too.
The memory problems have been so bad I feel blessed that I am retired and don’t have to try and cope constantly with the stress of the outside world.
I have struggled with my temper and feelings of paranoia, to the point of thinking that my doctor and his nurse were talking down about me outside the exam room. So, (in case it might help anyone) I think these new issues for me are symptoms of Cymbalta withdrawal:
-Tightness in the chest and neck
-Edema and discomfort/swelling of the abdomen
-Orthopnea (difficulty breathing while lying down)
-Anger and paranoia
-Pain and numbness in hands and arms
-Memory loss
I have been so tired of the struggle I was considering going back on the Cymbalta!! Thanks for all of you that have taken to time to tell your stories and post comments of support for others. I read somewhere that it might take a month of healing for every year on this drug. I’ve been off for 3 months and it might be another year for me. But, thanks to this blog, I am NOT going back on Cymbalta.
Best wishes and God bless everyone that fights this battle.
Reading all these comments I feel so very sorry that your medical system and Dr’s are clearly failing you. If you are experiencing withdrawal symptoms your doctor should have put you on a medication to piggy back so you aren’t experiencing these. Whenever patients are tapered off Cymbalta it is paired up with another medication to assist.
Any psychiatrist would know this. It shows me just how many GP’s are prescribing antidepressants and who clearly are not following their patients well enough and just don’t have the knowledge of these kinds of meds to be utilizing them as their treatment strategies. Anyone who is on an antidepressant should be followed closely by a mental health professional. My advice would be to seek these specialists.
I am very interested in what to take before tapering off cymbalta, will you please tell me what to try? My Dr is not aware of anything that might help me with withdrawals – I tried once but wound up in the ER. Told to get back on cymbalta to stabilize and I am afraid to try again.
I’m in my second week of cold turkey. I know it’s not wise but I’m furious at the fact that I have been owned by a drug. I am stubborn and refuse to get back on a lower dose so that I can taper off. Why was this drug approved if it’s so dangerous? Another case of big pharma shadiness?
I hope it hasn’t destroyed my brain. I’m trying to graduate from college and then pass my board exams. The side effects seem to get subside at times but I find myself unable to concentrate or sit still. I am continuously at a point of near rage. I want my life back!
I have tapered from 120 to 60 to 30 of Cymbalta and have been counting beads for about 235 days since then. I am down to 25 beads. I also tapered off of Abilify over 6 mths and finished about 3 weeks ago. I have hit a wall. I have been suicidal before (attempted it three times about 12 years ago). I have severe headaches, dizziness, chest pain, confusion and other symptoms.
I am so depressed at the moment that I am once again suicidal. I don’t know if it’s withdrawal or lack of anti-depressants. My shrink wants me to go through ECT or at the very least go back on anti-depressants. I’m at a loss as to what do. I’m afraid of the side effects and withdrawal from anti-depressants and would prefer to not go back on them. I don’t know how you pushed through the depression!
Please use all the support of your family and friends to get through this difficult time. They may not understand completely, but love will get you through.
I’ve been on cymbalta for a while, was able to go from 60 to 30mg with no problem, however four days ago, I called my pharmacist to get a renewal and found that they were going to charge me $80 for a month’s supply. Well I have coverage and usually only pay $29. I had 2 caps left, so I figured it was enough til they sorted out the cost.
I take letrozol for cancer, and this week gone, was put on Crestor for high cholesterol and found out that I am also prediabetic. Since I’d already spent almost a whole day without the cymbalta, I decided to take it the next day. Yesterday, I was told that I would once more be paying the lesser amount for these capsules. Well I haven’t taken cymbalta since four days, and today I am experiencing mild zaps and a bit of brain fog.
I also started to drink apple cider vinegar with a bit of honey and warm water twice a day. As the day is progressing, the zaps are getting bigger and louder. So I am considering opening a capsule and taking maybe 15mg or 10mg, but since I am relatively calm, I will wait for a few hours and try to stay off the cymbalta. I had tried to stop cold turkey about a year ago, but only was able to reduce the dosage from 60 to the current 30 mg.
I am hoping that the Crestor might help this time, so I will try to manage for today, and will post again tomorrow with an update. One more thing that I just realised may have some bearing on my situation. I started sewing again a couple of weeks ago, and I find that I am not dwelling overly about the zaps and other withdrawal symptoms.
I am very grateful to have found this site today and hope for the best for all who find the need of blogging here. Thanks.
I have been on 60 mgs of Cymbalta for 7 years before that I was taking Effexor. Taking Cymbalta has some pretty bad side effects but I didn’t complain because of the fear of coming off of it. I have missed doses for 2 or so days and been tearful, headachy, and emotionally unstable.
My doctor and I discussed tapering and I went from 60 to 40 then 40 to 30 etc. I found that skipping a dose by 24 to 30 hours before the jump down helped. For example, once I had been taking 40 mgs for 3 weeks I skipped my dosage. Once I started feeling the withdrawal I took the 30 mgs and my body accepted the lesser dosage easier. My period on 30 mgs was four weeks before moving to 20mgs.
I have not made the jump from 20 to breaking open the pills to titrate down, but I intend on employing the same strategy. Coming off cymbalta, my side effects have reduced so much (it gave me nystagmus, tremors, and an oddly cold nose as well as other issues), I am looking forward to being off of it for good.
Hello all, I was on cymbalta 60mg for over 9 years. Week ago I have been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and went in to chemotherapy. My oncology doctor advised me to quit cymbalta since it may reduce effect of medicines that I am taking.
It has been a week since I quit and believe me including side effects of chemotherapy my life is living hell. I am wondering how long would be the side effect of Cymbalta. I am also investigating link between cymbalta and pancreatic diseases. Please drop me an email at fzduvan[@]hotmail.com. Fikret
I was on Cymbaltia for 4 years and came off it last year. The drug had stopped working 2 years previously and I had finally got well from Depression with therapy. So I reduced my dose from 120mg to zero over the course of six months. Within 2 weeks of taking the final dose I started experiencing terrible anxiety along with extreme mood swings. I’d swing from elation to depression in a matter of hours.
After a few months the mood swings turned into a constant depression. It’s been 5 months since I took the last dose and the anxiety has finally gone but the depression remains. I’m so sick of it and don’t know whether to start taking another anti-depressant or whether to assume it’s duloxetine withdrawal and wait it out.
I have been tapering down from 120mg (which I was on for just over 5 years) to 30mg for a few months now. I had no withdrawal effects at all until I tried to reduce from 30mg downwards. Last week was hell. I’d spend pages writing about the withdrawal symptoms. Just let’s say I had just about every symptom going! So…I researched all the forums devoted to this awful drug and decided to take out 10 grains a week until I reduced my dose to nothing.
Yesterday was day one of 30mg less 10 grains (FYI they are incredibly hard to separate and then put into gel capsules!). Today was day 2. I felt fine in the morning but around 2pm the withdrawals came back. I went to bed for a couple of hours then woke up with flu like symptoms and extreme fatigue still. I am now relegated to the sofa watching crime shows!
I’m waiting for my husband to come home and make me dinner! Anyway, any suggestions to get through this hell would be greatly received! FYI, I’m also on 300 mg of quetiapine, 400mg of pregabalin (trying to taper off this nightmare stuff too – not now though!). Plus a whole lot of supplements, healthy food etc. HELP HELP HELP!!
I am starting cold turkey today to get off 60mg’s a day from the generic Cymbalta. I woke up Day 2 with a migraine from hell, so I took 800mg of Ibuprofen and it’s helping. I was RX’d Cymbalta for chronic pain having 2 herniated discs in my back and some mild anxiety.
I have never felt bad while taking this drug in fact it may have helped balance things out a bit, but for pain I am not so sure it’s really helped. The reason I wish to get off this medication aside from cost, is I’m scared of what the heck is this drug doing to my brain over a long period of time.
I am afraid of quitting this drug in the way I have because my job requires focus, professionalism, and quality assurance, so I will closely monitor my side effects. I am looking forward to being free of it.
Well I’m going on day 3 of cold turkey, I didn’t sleep well at all but functioned just fine at work. I am reading a lot of people’s reviews about how they are having a horrendous time withdrawing, I think a part of that is some people took Cymbalta for a serious psychological reason and symptoms are showing back up mixed in with withdrawal. So far I have experienced a migraine day 2 and a mild headache today but nothing more.
Ok, it’s still day 3 – 11PM I am having a dry cough that came out of nowhere as if I have a cold. I don’t know if this is a symptom but I have read something about people having flu-like symptoms.
Day 4 -5 – Still have a dry cough though getting better. For 3 days now I have slept 6 hours and last night not a single bit of sleep – just gotta get through one more day of work. I feel like some of my anxiety that I haven’t seen in over a year is coming back though manageable. Luckily tomorrow I can sleep all day =P. Pro – Tip: to self; Don’t quit this kind of medication while working – weekends ftw!
Day 5-7. I am still experiencing bad insomnia and now feeling pretty emotional like crybaby at the little stuff. I hope that goes away lol. I haven’t noticed any of my previous anxiety coming back at this time. The good is… I cannot believe how much energy I have, I used to nap all the time and I was tired all day long thinking I was just a lazy unmotivated person.
I have not been napping at all during the day and I was outside today Saturday washing two cars and the front lawn. I feel like Cymbalta at 60mg a day was making very lethargic.
I just want to comment because reading everyone else’s stories helped me. I took cymbalta 60mg for the past year for worsening anxiety and fibro pain. (I was on lexapro for 7 years prior to the cymbalta because of anxiety beginning around age 25). Anyway, the cymbalta helped at first but after just a few months I could tell I wasn’t myself. I was ruder than normal to my family etc. but stayed on it cause I felt I needed something for the anxiety and depression I was having.
Well a year went by and I had begun to accept changes in my life that triggered the need for the cymbalta. Then a few weeks ago, found out we were pregnant with our second child. I tapered on my own by opening the caps and eyeballing about half the beads, put them on my tongue and saved the other half for the next day. Did that for 2 weeks. Not much side effect noticed. Then the next week, again eyeball technique.
Only took a forth the beads. Did that only a week cause I was ready to get off this shit. So then I would eyeball taking about a sixth of what was in a cap. So then I started having dizzy symptoms after 2-3 days of that lowest dose, so then I just said… F this! If I’m gonna feel bad, I’m not going to drag it out. So that was 7 days and some hours ago. I’m not going to lie to you, first 3 days was hell…
Severe dizziness, fatigue, and nausea. Then day 4 a bit better, day 5 was able to get out and walk 2 miles… Day 6 sore as hell from walk. I used to walk 3.5 miles a day but hadn’t walked in 4 months due to severe upper respiratory infection, piggy backed by weeks of severe 24 hour morning sickness. I have autoimmune disease similar to lupus. In fact they first diagnosed me with lupus. That’s a whole other story…
Ok, so then for some reason day 7, I had a relapse. The dizziness and debilitating fatigue came back. Getting a shower and dressed was like running a marathon. But tonight began to ease up starting around 10pm. Anyway, I hope this doesn’t last much longer because my husband is getting the brunt of my bad mood behavior. I’m short with him mostly. Talking makes my head hurt worse. Also, no one else has mentioned sneezing.
I sneezed all the time the first 5-6 days. I have kept my OB informed of my process because I also needed nausea med. He said most people can’t come off cymbalta, but to me I could not do that to an unborn child. My eyes are open wide to this world now, and I will NEVER take a psych drug ever again!!!! If my brain hurts this bad coming off it. Imagine what a baby would endure being on it.
Also, I have not had any depression or anxiety for the most part. I am feeling more calm than I have in years. Also in the past few days feelings are returning, like happiness… And I feel like myself. Like who I used to be before these Meds… So I look forward to a few more weeks down the road when my brain has healed more.
Good luck and God bless all who are in the throws of this withdrawal process. Don’t forget how strong you are! You can do this. The Lord above promises to help us in our time of need. Even when you are too sick to pray, He knows what you are suffering thru.
I have read many many articles and comments like this and always said that if I ever managed to get off Cymbalta, I would share my news with others trying to get off this nightmare drug. I am now about 2 months since my last dose of Cymbalta. I had several attempts at getting off it as it didn’t work for me – tried tapering slowly and quickly, counting out the beads and cold turkey – had horrendous withdrawals each time – the most debilitating was severe nighttime panic attacks which then led to panic attacks on public transport.
I was recommended a great psychiatrist and he prescribed Lovan (Prozac) to help me get off Cymbalta and it has worked. Now I just need to get over the Prozac withdrawals… but for me they are nowhere near as bad and are mostly physical rather than mental which I personally deal with better. Good luck everybody.
Please help me. I had to quit pretty much cold turkey to do important medical testing and it feels like I’m dying. I was on 60mg for about a year (I was on Zoloft for a year before that) and I had to go immediately down to 20mg for 5 days and I will have to quit cold turkey tomorrow. I have had insane fits of rage and have broken many objects in my house.
I do not feel like I am going to harm myself, but I need help. I don’t think I can continue feeling like this–I have to take my old dose but there is no way in hell I want to go through this withdrawal twice. Is there a center or something I can go to?
My situation is that I started suffering anxiety attacks after injuring my back about 17 years ago. The fear of basically feeling a knife stuck in my lower back, and twisted, began a cycle of fear that has lasted this long. It isn’t always that bad, but it never seems to completely subside. I’ve recently tapered off Norco (normal dosage, no addiction issues) after taking it for several years.
I am currently taking up to 1mg alprazolam per day with about 10mg duloxetine. I don’t seem to have the issues that some have reported, but I am also taking a very low dose. My advice is to pop open your capsule and literally count how many single “grains” of medication you are taking. It sounds crazy, but that is what I did to bring my dosage down to a level that would help without all the annoying side effects (the skin on my face was bright red, peeling, itchy, and felt like it was falling off.)
Besides my sensitivity, the medication did seem to help. So two quick points (sorry this is so long winded.) First, I think the dosage for some people may be way too high. One should only take as much as needed, especially with something as strong as duloxetine. Second, if you are quitting, MAKE SURE YOU TAPER!
This drug (like many) literally takes over for producing what your body isn’t doing very well naturally. If you quit cold turkey, your body doesn’t have the time to kick up its own production of brain chemicals. Do what I pointed out and crack open your capsules. Count how many grains there are (about 80 in a 30mg cap) and start to cut back, one grain at a time if needs be. Give your body a chance to catch up. Hope this helps.
I’ve been on cymbalta for about 3 or 4 years. I have had these God awful withdrawals before when I had to get a refill and my insurance was requiring a prior auth and my doctor wasn’t getting it to go through. Anyways, I was thinking of tapering off just cuz I wonder if I still need it, but after reading all these posts, I’m really scared to stop taking it. I don’t know what to do.
Hello everyone, and thanks for all of your comments. I have been on Cymbalta 120 mg for about two years. I developed serious anxiety and was binge eating, gained 35 lbs, so my doc changed me over to Paxil. She reduced the Cymbalta and started the Paxil at the same time. I don’t want to go without an antidepressant because when I try to live without them I become severely depressed.
I’ve learned this through bitter experience. So she reduced the Cymbalta to 60 mg for a week, and yesterday was my first full day without any Cymbalta at all. I have had some symptoms: extreme fatigue, muscle weakness, one day of diarrhea, and edema. But the anxiety is gone, and my appetite is returning to normal. Today the edema is better in my hands and neck.
I haven’t had the brain zaps that I noticed before if I missed a dose, which is nice. I feel lucky that I haven’t had a harder time of it. But I have to wonder if some of the severe depression that has been reported may be a combination of Cymbalta withdrawal and the return of the depression that led to needing it in the first place?
And maybe some of us are more sensitive to the psychotropics than others? It’s a complicated problem. So far I haven’t had any problems with depression returning. I will update once I have been off of the Cymbalta for a longer period of time, though. Things could change this week.
I wished I had read this before I desperately took Cymbalta. I have 90% of the symptoms of withdrawal. I only took it for 4 months and it is an evil drug. I would rather deal with neurological pain. The shakes and vomiting were the worse. I loved the sleep assistance and the dreams. That helped me work on stuff I have buried. Going to find more holistic ways during withdrawal. I quit cold turkey 6 days ago from 60mg nightly. The shakes have reduced, yet I have vomited for two days. Saltines and ginger ale rock. Peace be with all.
On 120mg a day alongside 30mg sertraline. No effect on my depression and anxiety other than horrendous drenching night sweats. So doctor removes the sertraline. Still experiencing the night sweats so I’ve stopped the Duloxetine (Cymbalta) cold turkey over a week ago. I’ve gone from sleeping 12-14 hours a day to being an insomniac. The dizziness is incredibly debilitating. I considered tapering but I’d mentally just had enough of taking medication that had no positive effect.
Doctor told me to stay on them even though they weren’t working, now I realize it is because of the long list of withdrawal symptoms and he’s hoping once a psychiatrist picks up my referral its their problem. It turns out anyway I’m most likely treatment-resistant so the sooner I rid my body of the chemicals the better good luck everyone.
Currently going thought the withdrawal symptoms and so far have had the following: brain zaps on and off, nausea, over emotional, loss of appetite and last but not least diarrhea which is absolutely killing me as this is happening 4-6 times a day. This drug helped me in my darkest times but never again will I put Cymbalta in my mouth ever again. I treated my depression with admitting there was a problem and using CBT and seeing a psychologist are key to long term success.
I am so glad I found this. I’ve been on Cymbalta 90 mg for many years. This week I ran out. I missed 2-3 doses. The first day was no big deal. But the past 2 days have been horrible!!! I would have never imagined that missing that little of a pill could make me feel like hell. I literally thought I was going crazy. Found this site this morning as I sat hugging myself to keep from coming unglued. Finally got my medicine about an hour ago (big mixup at Pharmacy was the delay).
I wanted to knock my husband down to get the bottle of meds to take it. From reading your posts I don’t ever want to go off of it. Everyone on here has greatly suffered. You almost need to be in a hospital to go off of it. I want to thank you for sharing your stories on here as it helped me greatly. I pray that all who have posted on here are all well on their way from the horrible side effects of withdrawal. God Bless.
I am 43 yrs old and been weaned off of taking 30 mg of cymbalta. I’m not sure when I started taken it (I need to ask my Dr.) Anyway, I was taking it due to joint pain. This is day 6 from the withdrawal and a couple of days ado I begin to feel the brain zap sensation. Needless to say that feeling is SO ANNOYING! I really feel it when I’m walking. I’m still sane, so I’m thanking GOD for that!
This is my second attempt to get off Cymbalta. I have been on it about 5 yrs at 60 mg. Tried to get off 2.5 yrs ago, and I wasn’t prepared for the HELL that began… so I just stayed on. The beginning of 2016 I started a nutrition program that CHANGED my life! So, I thought I could handle the withdraw better. It is better. But, still HELL! My husband looks at me like I am nuts most of the time, (not helpful). But, I am determined to get off this evil drug this time! Contact me if interested in nutrition.
So glad I found this site and so grateful for all the comments. I was put on Duloxetine for chronic back pain because I had to stop Amitriptyline. I found I had to quickly increase the dose of Duloxetine to 120mg to combat the pain. Although I was sleeping much better without pain, I quickly became aware of muscular pains in my legs and arms and the feeling of bubbling in my muscles, severe leg cramps, fatigue and headaches.
Within a month my back pain started to come back and I was given the all clear to restart Amitriptyline once I had stopped Duloxetine. I reduced the dose over a three month period with the blessing of my GP. I have now been off it for three weeks and feelings depersonalization, tearful, have angry outbursts, sweats,headaches and have had UTI symptoms for 2 weeks frequency and urinary incontinence, I was given antibiotics which seemed to work but my urine specimen came back clear?
Another withdrawal effect maybe? Hopefully it won’t take too long for these symptoms to subside. I am so grateful to everyone’s comments at least I now know I’m not going mad or imagining things. On a positive note my back seems better since I stopped the awful Duloxetine, so hopefully won’t have to go on the amitriptyline either.
I have Fibromyalgia (took over a year for a diagnosis) the doctor gave me Duloxetine 60mg for the pain in my legs and sleeplessness. I was only on them about 3 months and they destroyed my sleeping pattern completely, I was only getting about 2-3 hours a night on them. I told my doctor I wanted to come off them so he gave me a week’s supply of 30mg and I ran out of them 4 days a go.
I felt fine the first day without them and slept quite well, the next day I suddenly became very dizzy with whooshing feelings inside my head, I haven’t been able to go out since as I feel dreadful, my older children have had to take and collect my younger daughter to/from school. The doctor did give me amitriptyline to replace the duloxetine but I don’t want to take them.
I’m sick of all the tablets they’ve tried me on over the past 18 months as none have worked. I still have some of the 60mg tablets left and I’m considering doing what other people on here have done and take some of the beads from them hoping to wean my body off them better. If I feel this bad just after a few months on them then I really feel sorry for the people who have been on them for years.
I took cymbalta for only a month for fibromyalgia pain. I had no positive results but horrible side effects: extreme fatigue, crazy vivid dreams, and severe feelings of sadness. My doctor told me to take it every other day for a week. That’s when the real trouble started. I thought I felt bad while on it.
Going off it has been the most difficult experience in my life. Found myself curled up in the fetal position crying way too often. Went back to the doctor, who told me to go back on it every other day then after every two then after every three… I have been sicker than a dog, and we’ll be switching to the bead counting method.
I have been on 60 mg of duloxetine and 2700 mg gabapentin for a few years now for diabetic neuropathy in my feet. I was having depression and wanting to just end it all. Thinking that it was the gabapentin, my doctor decided to slowly drop the amount of gabapentin. So I am now down to 600 twice a day and am still feeling lost and suicidal.
About a week ago I took it upon myself to stop the duloxetine. I felt good for the first day and then no sleep without very graphic horrible dreams, feeling as of exhaustion, sweats, moody and extremely depressed. I unloaded the guns and separated the ammunition. After a week I had to take 60mg of duloxetine and an Ambien to get a nights sleep.
I am still going to try and get off of this horrible drug but will have get a Dr’s help. Please get help if you want to get off of this drug. I would have never started taking this knowing what I know now. I will accept the severe foot pain over the loss of my sanity any day of the week.
I recently was prescribed a 30 mg dose for 8 weeks and then upped to 60 mg, which I have been taking for the past 6 months, for GAD. I have been able to skip doses for 2-3 days and not notice a difference, but today I missed my 4th day in a row and became the most irritable I have ever been. Mad at lines, traffic, forms I have to fill out for my new job…
I normally consider myself to be quite patient, but I was just so annoyed by every little thing today. It’s interesting that I never heard about duloxetine withdrawal until I looked it up today! I’m seriously considering stopping this drug, although it has helped tremendously with my anxiety, I’m not entirely sure I want this building up in my system, as I have only been taking it for 8 months (and actually made one month’s prescription last two months).
I’ve also wondered why I’ve been experiencing night sweats recently and now it makes sense. I haven’t had the brain saps, but have had the really odd feeling of what seems like quick bursts of increased pressure in my head and neck, along with just a small bit of tinnitus. I’m actually more annoyed at my MD for upping my dose and not informing me about this withdrawal syndrome…
I feel like he got my body hooked on a substance. So far my symptoms haven’t been terrible, but I don’t want to feel like I did today (or worse) for an extended period of time :(.
I am currently attempting to get off of Cymbalta. I did not find it so difficult to reduce my intake milligram-wise, until I hit the 20mg to nothing point where I am now. Since there is no 10mg dose, my doctor said to start taking 20mg every other day for a week and then I’d be done. Simple as pie. Well, I am here to tell you that it is absolutely not simple as pie.
I am currently in my bed at noon with tears streaming down my eyes, in a house that is a complete mess, unable to function. I was not expecting this. Everything makes me cry. I am of no use to my children, who are fortunately grown, but still look to me for guidance. I am dizzy, feel faint, just want to bury myself in my blankets and sleep. Personal hygiene is a distant memory.
I can barely get it together to make myself something to eat. And the tears will not stop. I feel angry at a medical system that so easy prescribes potent psychotropic medications to people just experiencing situational depression. I am by far in worse shape right now than I ever have been feeling depressed. This is absolutely debilitating. I cannot leave the house in this shape.
I do not want to see or be seen by even my own children until the tears stop. I just want to be able to stop crying and get out of bed. I suggest people think long and hard about taking antidepressants. There are other ways to fight off feelings of depression, through lifestyle changes and the like. Don’t decide to take a psychotropic drug unless you have done thorough research and have tried every other alternative.
Because this is not where you want to end up. I am especially discouraged to read from others that their withdrawal lasted for months. I am angry at never being forewarned by my doctor that there would be significant withdrawal symptoms from Cymbalta. I am angry enough to think of filing a lawsuit against Eli Lilly. I’m sure they are comforted by the fact that the withdrawal symptoms are so debilitating that the majority of people withdrawing from Cymbalta are not mentally or physically capable of getting a lawsuit together.
However, I will not forget how I am feeling now, and when this is over and I can function once again, I plan to be very vocal about the evils of this drug, and warn all that I can not to take it. And if there is a lawsuit to join, I will join it. Did I mention that anger is also a symptom of Cymbalta withdrawal? If that anger causes others to want to lash out at Eli Lilly, then I will be happy once again, if only to see the massive lawsuits take hold.
Shelley, I read your entry from February 4, 2016 and am wondering how you are doing now. I related to your comments; most particularly the house being a complete mess, being unable to function, not being able to be provide guidance to your grown children, the struggle just to maintain personal hygiene, and feeling like your are completely debilitated. Thank you for your comments. They were very meaningful to me. Can you please post an update?
I also gained 35lbs while taking Cymbalta, and had weighed 110lbs all my adult life… I am 56. Nothing about my eating had changed, and I exercise a lot. Has anyone gained weight? And if so, did you lose it when you came off cymbalta? Would love to hear.
Hi Lois, I found that Cymbaltia changed my metabolism. I’d always had a high metabolism and had been underweight in my teens and twenties but on this drug (and other antidepressants too) I battled to keep my weight down and was constantly gaining weight (as much as 3 stone at one time and counting) and then having to go on a strict diet to take it off again only to put it back on.
This went on for 12 years and it never occurred to me it was a side effect of anti-depressants. I thought it was just a natural part of growing older or of having had a child – until the last 5 months when I have been off Cymbaltia and anti-depressant free for the first time in 12 years. I’ve got my old metabolism back now as not only am I no longer struggling to keep my weight down but I’m losing weight without trying to.
I started using the “wean down” method a few weeks ago from 20 mg. I do get the brain zaps quite frequently and the nausea, but so far, none of the other symptoms. I’m not completely off of it, down to about 10 beads in each capsule daily, but after reading all of these posts, it scares me to death to be off of it completely. I am determined to do so and will continue on. Also, not having medical insurance currently, I have no choice but to discontinue the product. I wish you all the best!!
I’m currently trying to wean myself off of this terrible drug. I have been on it for almost two years.I didn’t even want to start taking it, but, basely was talked into it because they said it would help with my depression and fibromyalgia. I can no longer afford it. Plus, after awhile I don’t think it really helped much at all. I didn’t want to increase dosage after reading in detail about it.
My head is killing me at the moment. The other night it felt like my brain was shaking. Also, I can’t sleep, nausea, lack of appetite. I wish I would have listened to my gut feeling and never started taking it. I just pray I’ll get through this. Good luck to everyone else who is going through this nightmare.
I’ve started just 2 days ago reducing my cymbalta strength from 60mg to 45mg by opening the capsule and taking out the calculated number of balls. I tried going off this drug a bit over a year ago and gave up at the request of my daughter and other family members when I got so so low. Everything seemed hopeless and black.
After reading these other cymbalta takers comments, I want to try and quit again. This looks like a case of the cure being worse than the illness. My Dr didn’t warn me about the side affects when taking it and withdrawing from it (e.g. sweating, irritation etc). Maybe he hadn’t read up on it sufficiently which is disappointing. I want to try being free of antidepressants. I’ve been on them for about 20 years starting with prozac, then zoloft, citalopram.
I’ve always been suspicious they alter your mind in such a way that you get hooked and think you can’t go without them. Maybe I’m wrong but I want to try giving up on them and use exercise,yoga, and counselling with a psychologist to counter my blues. If there is anyone out there who can pass on some tips for coping with the withdrawal symptoms and come through the other side, please help with replies. Thanks.
My brother has been withdrawing for months, and it’s been hard on the whole family. The withdrawal has given him what feels like everything listed about the side effects. I don’t know exactly how much he was taking previously, but the side effects are very extreme.
He’s had anger, anxiety, crying spells, depersonalisation, depression, hopelessness, insomnia, irritability, suicidal thoughts (he said it feels lies there are outside forces trying to kill him), and memory problems. And that’s just from what I’ve heard about.
Is there anything my parents or I can do as family members to help him through this?
I am 26 years old and wanted to get off duloxetine (generic brand) because I plan to have children in the next two-three years and thinking ahead in my future. I have seen my doctor and one point I was taking 90mg and got very ill and ended up in the hospital and they cut me off cold turkey. I became even more I’ll and had awful thoughts. Anyways for the last year in a half I’ve been on 30mg (lowest) and been fine!
As I brought of getting off this medicine for months to my doctor he always was opposed to it. I finally told him two weeks ago either u tell me what to do or I will stop myself. He is awful and I never plan to go back to him since I know now it was all for money. He told me to take it every other day for one or two weeks and then I’ll be good. I got a second opinion and they said that should be fine no symptoms. Well every doctor out there is wrong.
Why don’t they try out the medicine and see what we have to go through. I just started an amazing job and today thankfully being Sunday I didn’t have to work, but I was in bed all day. I’m beyond dizzy, awful sweating and so sensitive to light and noises. Thankfully I have such an incredible boyfriend and family who have stood by my side but this is a horrible drug and I have been lied to by so many doctors that I do not trust anymore. I am on day 4 of no cymbalta and praying tomorrow is a better day.
I can deal with most of the symptoms but the vertigo I feel is horrendous. I took Dramamine today and Advil it helped relive a bit. I’m praying this is the worst of it. I will not ever go back on this drug and the FDA will be hearing from me. This drug should be banned. No drug that controls you should even be legal. That makes actual drugs seem better even tho I do not do drugs. Praying this was the worst of it and each day from here on in will be better.
I have to go to work tomorrow and pray I won’t feel like I did today. I read that it takes weeks or months to recover I don’t want to wait that long. I’m thankful to have people who are going through the same thing as me so that I have some comfort that it’s not just me. But I don’t wish this on anyone and if you are on this drug get off it.
Perfect description of Cymbalta. Pain patient for 10 years, we tried 30 mg for 35 days, 13 days into withdrawal. Worst medication I have ever tried. Got a blackout in my car … Even after 13 days off I will like crap. I feel like my brain, face and body has been soaking in Acetone, don’t know how else to describe it.
Hello everyone! I’ve taken 90 mg generic of cymbalta for around 3+ years for fibro and back pain. It seems that the last year it isn’t working like it used to. I’m on my 3-4 day of quitting cold turkey. So far I’m experiencing terrible nausea at night, brain zaps, chest tightening, jaw clenching, leg cramps, fast heart rate, uncontrollable eye movement, stomach pains, irritability. I will honestly have to say the worst for me, out of all this, is the nausea (throwing up).
I did have an unusual amount of energy today and felt better throughout the day… except for now which I can’t sleep an feel very nauseous. I’m going to try some techniques like meditation, trying to keep myself constantly busy to see if it helps with the other withdrawal symptoms throughout the day. I’m also going to start a journal to see what an how long this experience has been like. I might start a FB page with some of my entries. I’ll update FB info when I create it. Maybe this will help spread the word to other people BEFORE they start this medication.