WOULD EFFEXOR BE INCLUDED TOO?
I RECENTLY HAD A HOSPITALIST PUT ME NPO AND NO MEDS DUE TO A PROCEDURE AND SHIFT CHANGE SO A DIFFERENT HOSPITALIST AND THEY FORGOT TO CHANGE BACK FROM NPO AND NO MEDS (I'M ON A FEEDING TUBE). THEN I DEVELOPED AN INFECTION. I'M 40 BUT MY MOM IS USUALLY HERE SHE WAS ON VACATION, AT 1ST I DIDN'T WANT TO RUIN HER VACATION. THEN I THOUGHT I WAS DIEING AND I KNEW I COULDN'T TELL HER THAT VIA PHONE. I HAD FRIENDS WHO KEPT TRYING TO GET THE NURSES TO LISTEN BUT THE HIPPA LAW WAS IN THE MIX. FINALLY ONE OF MY FRIENDS CALLED MY MOTHER
SORRY HIT THE WRONG BUTTON. PLEASE NOTE CAPS AREN'T YELLING RATHER EASIER TO READ. BUT BY THE TIME MY MOM GOT TO THE HOSPITAL I WAS IN CRITICAL CARE AND NON-RESPONSIVE. I DON'T THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW THAT STOPPING MEDS CAN BE AS DANGEROUS AS TAKING TOO MANY. I ALSO HAVE DONE AN ADVANCE DIRECTIVE GIVING PERMISSION TO TALK TO MY FRIENDS AND HAD IT NOTARIZED AND GAVE COPIES TO MY DOCTORS, FRIENDS AND IF I GO TO THE HOSPITAL (NOT TO THIS PARTICULAR ONE EVER AGAIN) THEY ARE GIVEN A NEW ONE EACH TIME. IT WAS HELL FOR ME AND I SCARED THE BEEJEEBERS OUT OF MY MOM. LUCKILY I HAD NO LASTING EFFECTS AND THE NURSES WERE WONDERFUL. I WAS NOT ON PLANET EARTH I DON'T KNOW WHERE I WAS, BUT RELANDING ON PLANET WAS NOT PLEASANT FOR ME OR THE NURSES FROM WHAT I'VE BEEN TOLD.
I WON'T GO TO AN EMERGENCY ROOM ALONE AND MOM GETS AN IMMEDIATE CALL (EVEN IF SHE DECIDES TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY).
I had a very painful withdrawl from effexor even with the addition of celexa. Dr. took me off effexor because it is incompatable with methadone. I'm back on prozac which I have been pretty stable on for decades. I have also had a somewhat psycotic cold turkey withdrawl fron trazadone. It seems we must be very careful coming off any meds.
I stopped taking Cymbalta 60mg 2 weeks ago and have had no withdrawal symptoms. I had been on it for a year and had gained 14lbs even though it did help with the depression. My Dr. rang and said I was to go down to 30mg and taper off slowly i.e. everyday then every 2nd day etc. I didn't have any 30mg and I wasn't able to get an appointment for 10 days so that is why I just stopped.
I am taking an NRI Edronax so maybe that has helped me not to have withdrawals.
However, when I stopped taking Zoloft suddenly (it did nothing for my depression) I had the most amazing technicolor nightmares for 2 nights. Then it was okay again.
I have been taking Anafranil for many years - firstly for depression and then for depression and pain from peripheral neuropathy.
If I do come off the Anafranil the pain is significantly worse and I start to feel "odd" so I go back onto it.
Can one ween oneself off Anafranil? At the moment I am taking 35mg at night. If I do come off it what do you recommend for the severe pain? - and also for the withdrawal effects?
Anafranil (clomipramine) is a type of antidepressant in a subclass called the Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCA's). Thus, suddenly discontinuing this medication is not advisable. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist about the best way to wean off this medication if you do intend to discontinue it.
Dr. Christina Lasich, MD
Thanks so much for the information on Cymbalta. Getting on Cymbalta was hard for me. I was fine with 30, but the jump to 60 was too fast. At 30mg it helped with the drepession and concentration, but not the fibro pain. Finally I broke the capsule and got up to 60 mg very slowly by taking 1 and a half, then 1 and 3/4 capsules. I think at this level it is helping my pain somewhat. I'm thinking I should stay on it where I'm getting the desired benefit, but I'm also assuming the longer I stay on it the harder it will be to get off. I've been on it 1 year. Do you think I should talk to my doctor and slowly taper off?
Your remark "I think it (Cymbalta) is helping my pain somewhat" does not sound like a very firm reason to stay on Cymbalta. What is this medication allowing you to do that you were not able to do before starting it? If the answer is "nothing", meaning you are not able to do more or tolerate more activity, then this medication is not worth continuing. If you are just playing a numbers game by saying that "well I think my pain level is a 7 instead of an 8", you will be chasing you tail with potentially harmful drugs which are not really impacting your life.
Re-evaluate how you evaluate whether or not a medication is working for you.
Dr. Christina Lasich, MD
Could you have these withdrawal systoms even after just a few months. My husband is having terrible headaches as well as some memory confusion.
Yes, Cymbalta Discontinuation Syndrome can be seen in those who have been taking it for as little as a four week period of time. Hopefully, your husband can ride it out. If not, he should talk to his doctor about some remedies like Vistaril (hydroxyzine). This antihistamine really does help relieve some of the withdrawal symptoms like headache. An OTC equivalent is Bendryl. ;)
Dr. Christina Lasich, MD
Getting off of Cymbalta was the MOST HORRIFIC experience I have ever had. I was on Cymbalta for about 8 months for Fibromyalgia. It did not help my pain at all. I was on 60 mg and started to wean myself off as per my doctors instructions by lowering to 30 mg per day. I became violently ill. Nausea , diarrhea, sweats, chills, confusion, irregular heartbeat and crying. The worse withdrawal is what I can only describe as brain zaps. I was at my sister’s home at the time and by the 4th day. She came home from work and found my in bed, unable to move. My doctor at the time refused to believe this was from Cymbalta withdrawal. My sister immediately gave me a 60mg. Cymbalta and I returned to my normal dose and was better, not great, but better in 3 days. I went online and searched “Cymbalta withdrawal” and was shocked to find so many people experiencing the same symptoms trying to get off Cymbalta. In the end, I started to wean myself off by opening the capsules and taking out a few of the beads slowly removing more and more each week. It took me 6 months to get off of Cymbalta. I was furious that my doctor completely disregarded this as withdrawals. I am since off All medication for Fibromyalgia and use supplements for my pain. My vitamin D is chronically low and taking high doses once per week helps relieve some of my constant pain. I also have chronic skin pain to the point that I cannot wear cloths. Fat soluble vitamin B-6 provides enough relief that I can at least wear clothes for a few hours. This problem needs to be addressed by the drug company immediately.
I started CYMBALTA 3yrs ago for chronic pain and depression that comes with having chronic pain..i started on low-dose, working up to the 60mg..well, when i decided i had enough of the after effects, dry-mouth,constipation,headaches, and restless leg syndrome, i decided i had to get off this drug..i did weaned myself off..gradually to lower doses, and alternating my days on this pill..
didnt save me from the 'hell' i went thru getting off altogether...prepare yourself for a 'hellish' ride..my consisted of severe 'buzzing' headaches, like if i had another 'person' sitting on my head, pounding it, creating a 'hissing, buzzing. electric shocks, every 30 mins..then every 15 mins..it was accompained with severe thirst, restless leg syndrome, i spent night after night, walking, pacing the floor, couldnt sleep,couldnt lay still in my bed, had the urge to pound at my legs, so the creepy feeling would go away...i had severe night sweats, double vision, specially when the 'buzzing came on'...this happened when i was driving, twice, was very scary..pulled off the road, until it sorta calmed down... i was like this for about 3 months, then, but, i tuffed it out, told my Dr about it, but he said it was the 'withdrawal' symptom, and that every patient is different...but now iam free of all the hellish symptoms...
all i can say, is that ALL DRUGS, come with a 2-side coin to them...we all have to accept that there is no safe drug out there...they all come with a price to pay, for helping us with our conditions and diseases...but we have to out-weigh the prons and the cons, and aknowledge the facts, read, and instruct yourself with all the possible outcome of any drugs we take, on the short and long effects and consecuences.....
but we, as patients, ans users of these drugs, must write and make aware the producers of these drugs, what happens to us while we are on these drugs, or when we get them off, what happens to each one of us...its the only way the manufactures of these drugs can help us, along the way, so we as consumers, can have safe drugs to use, and also be safe to come off them, as we find they serve their purpose, or we no longer need them, or they were not the right medication for what ails us.....
all i can say, talk to your doctor, before coming off any drug, specially if you have been taking it for a long period of time...since any cold-turkey action from your part, will, have devastating effects on your body,your mental health......
i survived it..and i no longer have, any 'zapping, buzzing' feelings on my brain....now hopefully, on the long run, there are no more after effects, that stood behing, and eventually show up in the future....i can only pray, and have faith....
i sympathize will all of you...i know how hard is to come off, any of these opiates, Oxy,methadone,morphine,codienes,percocet,darvon.
i have been on this 'terror train' since 1991....
so, i know, how hard and desperate, it gets for any patient that is on the 24/7 PAIN train...
Pain is like a terrorist you live with, who applies, pain,anxiety,excruciating living conditions, robs you of your freedom, your normal life, and sometimes robs you of your last grain on sanity, morality, you have, even applies mental anguish to the poing of wanting to ended it all...it all crosses our minds.....PAIN IS A TERORIST...THAT robs you of your freedom, to live and love life...as you knew it..before it came into your life...
all i can say is dont give up, keep hoping for better, safer drugs or treatments..there is hope, grab anything that makes you momentaraly happy, have FAITH...THERE IS A REASON FOR ALL THIS...you are not alone, there are millions like us...out there....stay focuse, dont lose HOPE..
WE ARE ALL BONDED THRU PAIN....


I have been taking Cymbalta for some time for major depression, but it also helps with fibromyalgia pain. I have had the experience of going up on the dosage from 30 mg to 60 mg, then 90 mg, then 120. It was effective for me at 60mg for about 6 months, then was not. My dr. raised the dosage to 90 mg, which was effective for about the same amount of time. When the dosage was raised to 120 mg, it did not make a difference. Luckily, in decreasing again to 90mg and later 60 mg, I did not suffer the kind of withdrawal described by Dr. Lasich and others commenting. I agree that the company should make in between doses or tablets that are scored and can be cut or broken into smaller dosages, since the withdrawal can be so severe. No one should have to count the little pills inside the capsule when trying to get off the medication!
I have been taking antidepressants for a number of years; I also have Migraine Disease. I learned that when making any changes in dosages of antidepressants, I have to go down much slower than most doctors recommend because titrating down quickly causes migraine attacks. When quitting a medication, I usually take two weeks to a month at a lower level before decreasing the dosage again. The length of time keeps me from having my withdrawal side effect of migraine. I'm sure there are other side effects, but for me migraine is the one I most dread.
patsy
Wow! This is news to me and really important since I am taking Cymbalta. The drug is currently working for me in alleviating the pain that I was experiencing from just having my clothes resting on my skin (felt like I had a constant third degree sunburn!). But, it is good to know that if I decide to go off of Cymbalta, I need to be really careful. Thank you SO VERY MUCH for the information!
I appreciate this article SO much after having to go about 3 days without my Cymbalta (I was stuck in PA with enough meds, except for Cymbalta). I figured it'd be no big deal, maybe I'd have a bit of an attitude or be on edge a bit...WRONG!
No one believed that I could possibly be withdrawling from an anti-depressant but believe me when I say, it was awful!. I was getting these shock type feelings in my head and all over and was so nauseous I couldn't believe it. The cognitive symptoms were probably the worst. I was glad to have only experienced this hell for a few days. I could not believe the feelings that came over me-and more so, I couldn't believe it was simply because of not taking Cymbalta!
I was also put on 60mg Cymbalta in conjunction with Oxycontin to releave low back pain due to an unsuccessful operation. I only was on them for a couple of days due to side effects so didn't really have to go through the weening off process. But went through similar when getting off Oxycontin. I will be printing off this report for my GP to read so future clients won't be put through this trauma as I know people on Cymbalta presently
I heard that Cymbalta contains formaldehide, why would any doctor put you on a med that contains that?!#!#@$
I started at 20mg for fibro pain. Many pharmacies don't stock this low level. It helped my fibro pain somewhat. After going to 30mg, it helps VERY much with the pain level, unfortunately, I seem to crave sugar. Not good. I gain weight easily and now seems like I have been gaining more.
I'm not ready to stop taking this, as I would rather be fat and out of pain than otherwise. I will say this; when I forget to take a tablet (rarely), I will get teary at the slightest provocation. That is the first sign to me that I forgot to take it. Weird, huh? This has happened 4 times! It has to be the Cymbalta effect.
You are right Doc ... Cymbalta is a horror ... I was on it for about 4months ... it did not help with my pain ... the side effects were horrendous ... fluctuating BP, anxiety attacks, fluctuating temperature, restless legs, just horrible feelings internally, etc.
I tried weaning off of it ... but as you said that is difficult to do and at the time my doctors had no idea of "Cymbalta Discontinuation Syndrome" so they thought that everything I was feeling was due to being 57 years old. Overnight my body suddenly realized that it was 57 and should go haywire.
I could emphatize with drug addicts going thru withdrawal .. I also had what I call brain shocks ... it was like lightening going thru my head.
It took a little over a year for me to feel like I was thru the syndrome. There were still a few minor things that took longer to readjust.
So tell your patient to hang in there. There will be a day when it will be in the past.
I agree ... feeling something is wrong but not knowing what it is or if you should be overly concerned can drive a person crazy.
I had a night when I wasn't sure if I was having a heart attack or it was the cymbalta ... I decided to put a relaxation cd on, do slow breathing and see if it eased before I called 911. Luckily it did. But it effected everything .. my taste, my thinking, my temperature, bp, pulse rate, migraines, strange feelings throughout my body. I know when I looked on the internet and found posts from others discussing cymbalta withdrawal I was able to breath a sigh of relief. At least I then knew that everything was connected and in time hopefully it would pass. Never did I think it could possibly take so long. Even my doctors months later would give me that "I'll just humor her" look when I said I still felt repercussions of the cymbalta.
The availability of new drugs can be very promising ... however, the pharmaceutical companies must do more research and communicate more. As you've posted they must be able to explain the safest way to discontinue a particular drug. Doctors, as busy as they are, must make a determined effort to understand just what areas of the body are effected by a particular drug. Not just the obvious ones but the other areas it could affect. They cannot just listen to a rep and prescribe according to that rep.
Patients have to be more clued in and communicative. We cannot just follow like sheep.
Also, doctors have to listen and give credence to what their patients say.
I thank you for posting your experience ... it is nice to see a doctor that is caring, informed and willing to be open.
It is tough enough to live with chronic pain. Sometimes it is very difficult to find something positive to keep going. It is so helpful when there is understanding and acknowledgement for the patient.
Thank you again... your patient is lucky.
Hi there
I will definitely have to give a link to this article for MyDepressionConnection members.
Your readers might be interested in a post I wrote about Antidepressants and Why So Many of Us are Taking Pills.
Here is an interesting little factoid:
• Despite the recession an increase in sales of antidepressants and anti-cancer therapies helped to boost pharmaceutical revenue to over $300 billion in 2009. One of the antidepressants named as aiding in this increase of revenue is the highly commercialized Cymbalta. (Source: IMS Health)
There is also some evidence to show that these newer antidepressants are no more effective than the older ones such as Prozac.
Food for thought definitely.
Thanks for sharing this information.
Interesting factoid indeed. The minute the pharma's cooperations were allowed to market directly to the consumer's was the minute they were given way too much power. Everytime I see a Cymbalta ad, I cringe. In their infinite wisdom, the government thought that doctor's getting free pens was too influential and crupt. So they banned this type of marketing in favor of mass marketing. Free pens and sticky pads are no where near as influential and crupt as the mass marketing inflicted on us all. The pharma companies could not be happier.
Dr. Christina Lasich, MD
Just curious as to the history of direct-to-consumer marketing. How was this allowed in the first place? One thing you can say about it...it is very effective.
How do you feel about pharma using patients to market their products? Here is an example...a patient who is being paid to have their face and story on multiple unbranded pharma sites or webpages regardless if the patient is using that particular product or not. I would be very interested in hearing your opinion on this.
I have my opinions on this but would love to hear how a doctor views this type of advertising.
Without getting too long-winded about direct to consumer marketing done by Pharma, I let me briefly summarize my opinion in a capsule.
Sometimes this type of marketing can serve a useful role as a public education opportunity and trigger a meaningful interaction between healthcare provider and patient. Often, even with the full one minute TV spots, much of the information can get distorted for many reasons like comprehension of the information, expectations for a cure, and inadequate disclosure. So, sometimes these ads add to unrealistic expectations and confusion. I am in favor of healthcare providers being the gate-keepers of medication information with the only direct to consumer "ads" being general public service/education announcements about various conditions without Brand Pharma attached to the condition. But that's just me on my little soap box.
OK I will get off now before I fall off.
Dr. Christina Lasich, MD
wow... I'm sooo glad I am NOT the only one that had this happen to them! I thought I was going crazy! I was on cymbalta for about a year and a half. I went off of them... and thought I was going crazy. I could do nothing but cry. I had to end up seeing a counselor. Even my kids, who are all in their 20's, thought I was going crazy. My oldest son brought me to my neurologist, HE did all the talking.. I sat there crying thru the whole appt. They were the one's that set up the appt with the counselor. Both thinking it was because I was going crazy. Now this was about 6 years ago now.. maybe longer. I have basically no recollecion of the exact time. I saw the counselor for about 4 years.. then the building closed and I also had to stop seeing that neurologist too. But my one and only point here.. is I'm glad it isn't/wasn't just ME.. and I'm so sorry others are going thru this too. Its awful, just terrible. I hate for anyone else to go thru what I went thru. Its terrible.. its pure hell. NO one should have to go thru it. When I hear someone say they are going on cymbalta.. I warn them....... I beg them to read every thing they possibly can about it.. and to go on something else.. because of what it did to me. It did nothing at all to help the pain of my neuropathy, which is why I got put on it in the first place! Good luck to any and all that are on it. .going off of it.. I pray for all of you!
Debbie...
I was on Cymbalta for over 3 years, if I missed one dose I knew it the next morning because I felt like I couldn't wake up and getting out of bed and doing ANYTHING was so difficult. Cymbalta was not a cheap drug either and it came to the point where I just couldn't afford to be on it anymore...unfortunely I had to go cold turkey off of it...I thought I was going to die...functioning was impossible. I had to start taking it again just to survive. Then when I did get off of it at a slower rate...it was still living in Hell...It was at least 4 months before I felt half normal again. My advice, If you aren't on Cymbalta NEVER start taking it!!! If your taking it and want to get off, be prepared for a long battle to surviving through it. This medication seems helpful, but at the cost and personal suffer it isn't worth it at all, I firmly believe it should be taken off the market.
Renee'
I don't really know how to respond to this...mixed I guess. It's great you letting people know how terrible the withdrawal is, however many on this site write of it already anyways. My concern is how you can voice your apprehension with helping your patient in a blog on some website, thankfully you left out your patience name >only saving grace...really glad your not my doctor is all I can say...wow
julia and others, thank you all for your input. Here is something that helped me that I will pass on to you in case it is of helps: "Your Drug May Be Your Problem, Revised Edition: How and Why to Stop Taking Psychiatric Medications" by M.D. Peter Breggin and David Cohen (Jul 10, 2007) available at Amazon. Although I have an older edition, Dr. Breggin really stresses the importance of tapering off slowly of some of these medications and way more slowly that most doctors would tell you. Although he is referring to so called "psychiatric medications", he does include antidepressants and similar medications and suggests talking to your doctor about going a slow as possible to wean off. It may even be possible to crush the tablet when you can not get it any smaller putting it into capsules that one can get empty at a health food store. Getting down to crumbs in that tapering off process might help too. Your doctor should be aware of it and maybe have additional suggestions but I found the book helpful and for encouragement to buck the trend. I have a friend who is on this medication and she can't go on Prozac anymore. It just doesn't work for her after 30 years. I hope that when she does decide to come off of this medication that she tapers off slowly. It sounds severe enough that there should be a "black box" warning. I am just an ordinary person and this should not be construed as medical advice in which you should see your doctor for that. Best to all. Estee
I've posted on Health Central before on the depression site, but never here. After reading this post and comments, my only thought is "Oh s#!t!!!!". I've been on 30mg of Cymbalta for about 3 weeks for chronic pain (probably fibromayalgia). It's not helping me one bit for pain and not helping my depression near as much as the 50mg of zoloft I was on before this. I'm going to be completely honest, this scared the crap out of me. I was thinking about moving my doctor appointment scheduled for Dec 5 up to Nov 28, now I will be calling tomorrow to see if there's any way that can happen. I really don't want to be on this medicine any more if it's not helping and the withdrawls are going to be worse than what I'm dealing with now. I'm really glad I stumbled across this post.
I came across this post because I was looking for help, I stopped cymbalta about aweek ago and I am going through all of the symptoms. I cried all day yesterday, today I could have destroyed my house if not for my own self control, but right now I want to smash something. I am ill, have parathesis in hands, whenever I move my head I feel it is getting electrical shocks, I am sticking this out. at the Drs on monday he wanted to switch to prozac, i asked him about the switch he said overlap the two for a couple days, but I am scared to start the prozac now. I have fibromyalgia, along with a bad case of depression, no job,no money, you know. I don't know what to do. I wanted to just check out monday thats how bad it was. thanks for letting me vent. This is no picnic for sure.
thank you for your article. I was on Cymbalta a few years back. After almost a year on Cymbalta, I began to notice that if I did not take the drug on time, I would have 'weird' side-effects. The 'brain zaps' and the 'room spin' began to occur. It very frustrating. I made an appointment to visit with a doctor to taper me off of Cymbalta. When I explained the side effects to him, he thought it would be best to increase the drug. He would not wean me off. I gave it a week, made another appointment with another doctor, and he prescribe Lexapro 20 mg once a day. I stopped the Cymbalta and switch to Lexapro on my own. It took six months to wean off Cymbalta. I went from 20 mg very slowly titrating my dose from 20 to 10 to 15 to 5 and then 5 mg week by week and then day by day until I was free from awful withdrawal symptoms of Cymbalta. It took a very loooong time. I tried Lyrica at 20 mg and could not increase as the medication hurt my stomache. Finally, I am now taking 12.5 mg of Savella which has greatly reduced the low back pain - not the upper back and neck pain. I am unable to increase my dose of 12.5 to 25 mg on the Savella.
sorry did not proofread - type to fast. I completely stopped the cymbalta switching to Lexapro that day at 20 mg. I knew I needed to stay at that dose for quite some time so my body could adjust. After thirty days, I dropped to 15 mg and went week to week to see how it would affect my body. Later, I dropped to 10 mg and eventually 5 mg - it took SIX months for my body to be rid of Cymbalta. Later, I was also free from Lexapro as I eventually stopped taking that medication, too. The pain never was better even while on Cymbalta. I tried Lyrica hoping for a breakthrough but, it did not work for me. I did not have any type of withdrawal maybe because I was not on a high dose. I was afraid to try Savella because of the Cymbalta but the doc who prescribed it said that i probably have a sensitivity to medications and that I should start with a low dose and titrate up. Currently, 12.5 helps with the low back pain however, I am unable to titrate up to 25 mg as it makes me feel weird and I just don't have the willpower to 'ride' it out until my body adjusts. Most of my pain is now concentrated on the upper shoulders/back and neck region from repeated whiplash injuries from car accidents (not my fault) and I am hoping to learn more about injections that deaden the nerve. Good luck to all with weaning off cymbalta!
I experienced the discontinuation syndrome after merely decreasing my dose from 90mg to 60mg. I was only taking the 90mg dose (up from taking 60mg for several months) for 2 weeks. I experienced severe nausea and vomiting, dizziness, brain zaps (I think this is what people call this symptom), among other problems, and was incapacitated for several weeks. I would like to cut back more, but am afraid to. The package urges you not to break open the capsule, yet there is no low dosage capsule available to taper safely (if that is even possible). I was very angry that this syndrome is not publicized at all, and that my doctor had no idea what was wrong with me, or what to do about it. I suffered a long time with no support at all. The cost of this drug is astronomical, and it is marketed to relieve chronic pain due to several causes. My nerve damage pain is continuous and severe, and I will do just about anything to try to reduce it. This is a normal reaction to severe, intractable chronic pain. I feel the FDA and the manufacturing corporation are virtually scamming us to get us taking a medication we can't quit, whether it helps or not. There should be a class action lawsuit to force them to find inexpensive ways to discontinue this drug safely, and to warn potential customers of the dangers of discontinuation. The corporation should pay a stiff penalty for this!
I recently ran out of my cymbalta and can not afford to pick up my prescription. I went from 120mg daily to 60mg. I've been on cymbalta about five years. I'm on day five with no cymbalta and so far the worst part is the pain. As for sleep, I haven't slept well in two years. I have tried several times to slowly go off cymbalta but had no luck. This time is cold turkey. I have looked for generics for cymbalta and asked my doctor. He says it is still patent protected and until the patent expires there is no generic. Wish me luck in getting off this medication.
You might want to consider using St. John's Wort or SAMe, the natural supplements that can potentially boost serotonin levels. Cymbalta withdrawals are essentially due to the lack of serotonin levels once the drug that has been artificially inflating the levels has been discontinued. Just a thought.
Dr. Christina Lasich, MD
I know that this column is about Cymbalta - but maybe what I say about another antideppresant - Anafranil - will help others too.
I've been on various doses of this for about 30 years - for both depression and pain. It certainly helps for both but it also has the nasty side-effect of not allowing one (I am a man) to have an orgasm.
I am presently taking 35mg at night and have to stop taking it about 4 days before having sex. If I don't it is impossible to have an orgasm.
I wanted to come off it but a psychiatrist I consulted warned me that if I did so I would fall into a severe depression.
Please doctor - how can one come of this drug safely? - and is there another similair tablet that I can replace it with that does not have this type if side effect?
Getting ON this hideous drug was horrific!
I took it for nine days. Here's my experience:
I slept. A LOT. As an insomniac that seems like it would be nice but it was debillitating. I woke up confused, stumbled around, fell asleep wherever. I was very dizzy. My eyes were dilated to big black discs. At one point during the week my ears were ringing so loudly I shouted at my husband, "I can't hear you! My ears are ringing!" All I could do was watch his lips move.
On the ninth day I was woken up to these "brain zaps". It was like having a weeklong migraine in one second. Although the brain has no nerve endings to relay pain, it felt like I had been struck by lightning. Despite being asleep and laying on my side, my head whipped backwards and cracked into my husband.
Thankfully I read up on it and knew what it was! But still- I have severe neck issues, and having repeated whiplash due to some wonky "antidepressant" was VERY dangerous. It happened a few more times that morning and I was terrified to get up, afraid it would happen while I was walking and I would be flung into a wall and break something. I carefully padded everything around me and looked up "seretonin poisoning" on my phone. Ding, ding, we have a winner.
Never took it again. I HATE CYMBALTA. I cannot state that emphatically enough.
I was on Cymbalta for 2 years. I was told it would make me feel better and help with the pain I was feeling. I was switched from Effexor and waited for some improvement. It never came, and the doctors continued to add one drug after another to my list of medications. I finally had had enough. It took me four months to get off of Cymbalta. When two of my doctors found out, it was like they panicked and insisted that I needed to be back on the Cymbalta and the other medications I had stopped taking. Instead, I changed doctors. I once believed that doctors had their patients best interests in mind. Now I question how they could prescribe this drug and others without knowing more about it. I'm very disappointed in the medical industry and now have a hard time trusting doctor's motives.
I've been on Cymbalta for years and it's the only drug that I knew of at the time
that had both serotonin and neurotion in it. It's the only antidepressant that
really works for me.
If I forget to take my a.m. meds, I'm in tears by 2:00 and don't know why.
My husband was also put on Cym but I quickly requested he be taken off.
He said he could feel electric shocks going through his head and feeling
really off.
Now I am scared to death to try (not that I was going to) but maybe someday
I won't need the antidepressent. Mine is situational.
I have taken Cymbalta for about three years before I decided to come off of it. The reason I decided to come off of it was because I was starting to become tired all of the time. So last year I wean myself off and experience the "zaps". I was on 60 mg and went down to 30 mg for a month. Then I completely came off of the drug. I had the zaps about a month before it stopped.
But here is where my problem comes in. Mentally in my year of being off of Cymbalta. I have been unable to concentrate, understand simple things that are explained to me, I'm still always tired and have a hard time paying attention. I use to be able to able to do all of these things with no problem. No I'm very slow in these areas. It will take me sometime to understand a situation whereas before I was a very quick minded person.
Now with these problems it is starting to affect me on my job. If my supervisor tells me to do something I have to fake that I understand, go somewhere to comprend it before I can understand it. I have to drink coffee because I just mentally can't get going. It has been very, very frustrating to me because this is definitely not the person I used to be. Please, please, please help me with a solution to this problem.
Wow, Is it possible that your brain was permanently re-wired as a result of taking Cymbalta? Yes, scary but yes. If you are having to drink coffee just to wake up and feel normal, then possibly you have become deficient in dopamine. Dopamine is important for cognition, behavior, voluntary movement, attention span, working memory, learning ability, sleep regularity and mood.
Many supplements like L-dopa are marketed to boost dopamine, naturally. One herb worth considering is Ginseng.
Serotonin is another brain chemical that might be effected by drugs. Natural ways to boost serotonin levels includes exercise, light therapy, and possibly tryptophan supplements.
I highly recommend the book The Edge Effect for a look at one way to balance the brain chemicals that may be out of balance such as dopamine, etc. Do monitor blood pressure as you try certain things on your own if you chose to do that or to see a practitioner perhaps an alternative type M.D. or Naturopath if needed. Alternative doctors have ways to check cortisol levels that may somehow be low as well as thyroid issues. Don't give up. I am not a doctor but it sounds like it affected your adrenals but only certain kinds of testing would show this. Heavy coffee use can also wear down the adrenals too but can so understand your need to drink the coffee for the sake of your job right now.
Sending you good thoughts for this trial you are going through.
Estee
Thank you, Dr. Lasich for your thoughtfulness - your note about Cymbalta's become an eye opener for me, it explained all the horrible symptoms I've been having for almost a year (not knowing anything I tried to taper off as slowly as possible - 8-9 ms but realized just now that I was not doing that in a proper way - skipped days instead of dividing a dose evenly). It's been 6 weeks off Cymbalta completely and was so unbearable that I couldn't tolerate it any longer and started on Prozac, as you suggested, 8 days ago. How long you recommend to take it and what dose? By the way, while weaning from Cymbalta and presently I've been taking 5-HTP, SAM-e and L-Tyrosine, hoping to ease this painful process, but no luck...
It is not true that prozac, because of it's long half life, does not produce the same withdrawal symptoms. It just comes much later and most studies assume that because it doesn't show up in the normal 3-5 day window that it doesn't exist. I was weaned off prozac slowly and it wasn't until 6 weeks after complete cessasion of the drug that I started having symptoms. These went of for 2 months and went through most of the known symptoms. I tried riding it out because I thought it had to stop at some point. I eventually restarted prozac and within 1 week most symptoms were gone. The doctors want you to believe that this is a reoccurance of the depression and anxiety but I certainly could tell the difference and never had any of these symtoms when depressed such as chills and shock like zaps. The severity of symptoms I have read may be related to the length of time you have been on the medication and for me that was nearly 20 years. But there is so much misinformation about prozac and discontinuation syndrome that it is almost impossible to find a doctor who is will agree that it occurs.
I know that Cymbalta comes in 20mg in the US; I have large stocks of it in my freezer. I've also gotten 40mg pills but that was outside the US and not cough always the best idea. 30mg and 60mg are common. (I'm on 80mg right now.)
The pills are enteric = the capsule doesn't dissolve till it gets to the alkaline intenstines. Something about it doesn't agree with the stomach acids. So don't take apart the pills and just swallow the powder. (Your plain old packed dust tablets are designed to dissolve in the stomach instead.)
Has anybody tried alternating days? Say you want to be at 50mg/day. So on even numbered days you take 60mg, on odd numbered days you take 2x20mg = 40mg. Averages out to 50mg. Yes Cymbalta has a shorter half life, but there's something in there that reacts more slowly so maybe alternating would work. SILVIA did but didn't seem to help much - it would be nice if you could alternate between zero and 20, 20 and 30, etc.
YES Lilly, we need smaller sized pills! and don't charge a lot of bux for them cuz it's not cuz Cymbalta is so excellent or anything.
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Thank you for sharing this information. I knew that it was important to taper off of antidepressants because they could cause withdrawal symptoms, but I had no idea the Cymbalta withdrawal symptoms were so severe.
Have you heard anything about similar withdrawal symptoms from discontinuing Savella? Although it is not approved for use with depression, it is an SNRI like Cymbalta. Just wondering since both drugs are prescribed for fibromyalgia.
I too did not anticipate the severity of the Cymbalta withdrawal symptoms until I witnessed them. Knowing what I know now, I would say that YES, Savella (milnacipran) has the same potential to cause a severe discontinuation syndrome. Savella has a relatively short half life like Cymbalta, so it too would leave a body without enough serotonin input within a very short period of time of disconinutation or abrupt dose reduction.The Savella withdrawal symptoms are similar to what is seen with Cymbalta:
"dysphoric mood, irritability, agitation, dizziness, sensory disturbances (e.g., paresthesias such as electric shock sensations), anxiety, confusion, headache, lethargy, emotional lability, insomnia, hypomania, tinnitus, and seizures. Although these events are generally self-limiting, some have been reported to be severe"
However, the manufacturer of Savella does make dose tapering easier with the available doses of: 12.5, 25, 50, 100mg. So weaning off this medication can be done slowly to avoid severe withdrawals.
Obviously, these new drugs like Cymbalta and Savella are just not that simple to use.
Dr. Christina Lasich, MD
This concerns me about the cymbalta...I am on 120 mg. I have tried to get off of it and by the 3rd day I am going crazy. I just know that I am on to much med. which has to be causing an interaction. Even though it doesn't come up through the system at my phar. there has to be some interactions. It does help with my back pain ( I have 2 tumors at the L4-5 S1 and then one at the neck. It does help with the pain. But, I guess this won't be the one I will start first to get off. I do not have the monies to inter rehab., like some of these celebs who play around with this type treatment. I use to e an excellent, creative teacher and I have found that my energy level and creativity is not there. I thought it was due to the fact that I am disabled and not on a regular job like others. I do exercise and volunteer, but that is limited due to causing pain. My self esteem has lowered due to not having a job and seeing what my peers are doing. Ny retirement act. is low and that causes a great pressure on me. Having an MD give me 11 refills on cymbalta or any med concerns me. I do research mch of what I am taking. Night time is when I usually cave and need the meds b/c the pain goes wild. Yoga, shocking really helps and taking a bath with salt helps but lasts a very short time. I have tried that reducing caffeine and using biofreeze, which seems to work, but takes time. I hope this helps some others to. I keep a diary of my pain level and changes. I have found that if you make to many changes at one time, you don't know what made the difference, positively or negatively. Try this. Also, keeping a blessing list helps too. Things that are unexpected: like, I went to the grocery store and ask the produce guy what was free--he threw me an apple--on my list. I have an intructor (pool) at the YMCA and she gave an open invitation to a concert she was playing- free music. She was playing. These type things--they are sometimes funny and others are thought provoking. Try it!! Exp. this time of the year. Susan
Thank you for your comments and for sharing your experience with pain and Cymbalta. I really like your suggestion of starting a "blessing list". I have also heard it called a "gratitude list". By listing things that you are grateful for or things that are blessings, your attitude can greatly improve. One of my clients refers to her "attitude of gratitude" because the "pity party" (her words) she experienced before was not helping her live with pain.
If you really want to wean off of Cymbalta, I believe you will need the help of a compounding pharmacist to make up smaller doses of the medication for you. I would suggest going down on the dose no more than 10% every month, i.e. from 120 per day to 110 per day, from 110 per day to 100 per day etc...
Blessings to you.
Dr. Christina Lasich, MD
Dear Doctor, Oh My Goodness! This is the answer to my prayer. I was put on cymbalta 90mg a day about a year ago for my knees. I Sept 2010 I had both of my knees totally replaced at the same time. Now, I no longer need the Cymbalta. Most importantly I cannot afford the Cymbalta,So, I tried to wean myself off and experienced a terrible sense of hopelessness to say the least. There is a compound pharmacy 2 blocks away and will drop in there to see what I need to get an Rx to decrease the dose. I now feel there is hope. I cannot thank you enough! God Bless You!
Sincerely,
MJ
ALL antidepressants carry the risk of severe withdrawal syndrome lasting months or years, even Prozac.
Many people, perhaps most, can quit psychiatric drugs with tolerable withdrawal symptoms. A minority of people, however, experience extensive neurological damage from too-fast tapers.