better off the meds. ?

By sioux Wednesday, January 19, 2011

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Dear MM and all, 2 wks. ago I ran out of my Cymbalta because of a mail order drug problem. I was very nervous about it because I've been on 120 mgs. a day for at least 5 years, with mixed results. Fact is the last couple of months My depression has been Very bad, so yes I was a little panicked to go off of it cold turkey like that. Well I'll try to make this brief but I waited day after day for the fallout due to lack of anti-depressents in my system. Well lo & behold each day I started to feel better and better mentally. Whereas before I didn't want to get up off the couch now I was getting up in the morning and actually getting dressed before noon and "taking care of business". I can now feel my feelings , I don't feel all numbed out and dull all the time. I realize this is a short time to be off it but what the heck is going on?? I'm thinking and remembering w/ much more clarity and don't feel so stupified. How can this be physiologically possible? I'm not complaining and I only pray that it lasts but truthfully I'm scared it won't. Any input? Thanks, Sioux.

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Merely Me, Health Guide

1/19/11 6:29pm

Hi Sioux...it is great to see you!

I am astonished. So you haven't been on your medication for two weeks now? And no side effects and you feel better? I think this is a good thing. Have you told your doctor? Maybe this was a blessing in disguise that you had a hard time getting your prescription refilled. Not sure if this is the norm but I sure hope your good mood and continues. I would see what happens over the next weeks. There is no shame in returning to taking something but if you don't need it...you don't need it.

Keep on sharing with us...this is good news.

Judy

1/19/11 9:37pm

Sioux, I'm glad this has gone well. It makes me wonder if some of what you've been feeling have been caused by the Cymbalta, but it was too difficult to tell if you were already feeling badly in the beginning. I think it's hard to be objective at times about how we feel unless there's a really big difference, especially when you're on a drug for a long time. Hope you'll keep us posted on how this goes and what your doctor might have to say about it. Do you think you'll stay off it for a bit to see what happens? If you do, you should probably let your doctor know, anyway. Very interesting....

sioux

1/30/11 4:06pm

Dear Judy, thanks so much for answering my post, sorry it has taken me so long to reply but I've been very sick, but feeling better now. You are so right on , I think the Cymbalta was deepening my depression rather than alleviating it. I'm still off of it , feeling fine ( oh I still have my days) but overall this is the best I've been depression wise since I started taking the Cymbalta. It's very weird because I expected SOME type of withdrawel, but there was nothing. It's going on I think 4 wks. now. I haven't told my Dr. yet , don't have an appt. until end of Feb. I'm kind of still waiting for "the other shoe to drop" because this all seems to good to be true, but if I start to get depressed again I'll move to plan b. Sioux.

Donna-1

1/20/11 5:41am

I normally wouldn't advise anyone to stop taking any antidepressant cold turkey, especially after having taken it for such a long period of time. But I think sometimes the meds can suppress the good feelings as well as the bad ones and when we get off the meds, that balloon of good feelings is released and rises and we suddenly feel better. Or side effects of fatigue and sleepiness can weigh us down, and stopping the med stops the unwanted side effects and we experience relief. I know that has happened to me. For me, going off of Zyprexa after having taken it for years freed me from the grip of forever feeling tired and worn out; also freed me from the burden of a horrific appetite. So, naturally I felt better. I didn't KNOW the Zyprexa was making me feel so bad (even though yes, it did help some of the illness symptoms). Another med at least got rid of those side effects -- and most importantly, gave me new energy with which to fight the battles of depression and schizophrenia. Sometimes a little energy can make all the difference!

Donna-1

1/20/11 5:42am

P.S. -- I am so glad you are feeling better!

better off the meds. ?

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