![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
[email protected]Shown: posts 607 to 631 of 696. Go back in thread:
Posted by Tennisplayer on September 15, 2007, at 7:33:04
In reply to Re: Cymbalta Withdrawal-Awful,Still Continuing » Tennisplayer, posted by moesje on September 15, 2007, at 0:33:43
> > I would like to at least go back to work part time. What symptoms did you have during the early phases of tapering or withdrawal that would have kept you from working? And if you don't mind my asking, why did you decided to discontinue the drug. thank you.>
>
> for the past 10 years my husband and i had agreed that i'd stay home and take care of the kids, who are now 15 and 16.5. i've worked off and on, and my last main job was what really drove me off the deep end. my best friend literally stabbed me in the back, so that i lost my job, best friend and all stability in one day. i've worked other small jobs since then, but nothing full time. i have also been typing at home as a "job", but the pay isn't very reliable. so just a month ago we decided for me to try full time again, and i'm so in love with my job right now it's unbelievable. the women i work with are fantastic (of course, they all have their problems, etc), but it's great overall. plus i get a great workout every day, no need for drugs to put me to sleep now!
>
> i had been taking welbutrin off and on for 5 years, and it worked for most of that time, but then stopped. so doc moved me to lexapro, which stopped working after 18 months and then we moved to cymbalta. with the lexapro and cymbalta i became more and more of a zombie and less interested in life at all. i could sit on the couch all day long watching tv, then realize it's time to go run errands and i haven't had a shower yet. it was horrible. i gained weight mostly from just sitting, not so much eating.
>
> so when i went to the doc and explained the cymbalta wasn't helping, he suggested upping the dose and i said no more, i just want off. so he showed me the pills coudl be emptied and divided, and i did that. of course, i didn't taper off so slowly, so i had all the symptoms of withdrawal as if i went cold turkey. dizziness, brain zaps (like electrical shocks),and i would get these just when i blinked my eyes, and extreme mood changes. but i persisted because i wanted off.
> Thank you very much for sharing your experiences.
> as for the road back, i believe they promoted fish oil and vitamins. i did try some fish oil, but mostly stuck with my standard vitamins and added cal-mag (which you can get at GNC) and fluids. even if you ignore the vits (which i don't suggest), you need fluids to flush your system.
>
> also, everyone reading this needs to know that although i will never take these drugs again, some people NEED some sort of medication. someof the typing i do at home pertains to this, and i want to make it clear, if someone needs medication to function,they need to take it no matter what. if it's not working, talk to the doc and get on something that will.
>
> nuf said.
thank you for sharing important and personal information. I appreicate it. I have the added problem of chronic pain since I have interstitial cystitis (no cure). The severe chronic pain from I.C. requires Lortabs for me to even function without severe pain. Cymbalta was advertised as helping both depression and pain, and I had gained 25 pounds over the summer, had no energy, etc. and was moderately depressed about that and having a chronic incurable pain disease for the last 5 years. But I too, began to do nothing but sit and had very little real emotion of any kind left in me, after being on Cymbalta for several months. Paradoxically, I lost 20 pounds while taking it, and began to gain after stopping it. This is one reason I don't think I had a chemical imbalance to begin with. Doctor said I just needed to up it to 60. Wrong, but I didn't realize it at the time. By the time I finally figured out that it was the cymbalta making me feel so sleep and terrible (I had thought it might be a build up of my 3 years of Lortabs (which incidentally help me stay alert as opposed to Percocet or something)and I had had a neurostimulator implanted in Nov of 2006 to help reduce the pain, I mistakenly decided to quit cold turkey also. The stimulator helped but I was so sleepy I had to plan my day around 3 or 4 naps, just able to get up long enough to fix supper for my husband or other essential activities.
I agree that some people need to take medications. I have no problem with medicines for proven medical conditions like diabetes, multiple sclerosis, esophageal reflux, etc. or even subjective pain conditions, but since reading that book "Your Drug May be Your Problem" I am convinced that many people are hurt much more by psychotropic drugs than they are helped by them. I still feel if someone is in extreme distress they should take an antidepresant or tranquilizer or whatever is needed for short term to get them thru without their committing suicide or something, but take it in conjunction with counseling or even help from a trusted friend who has good insight. And eventually get off of it. Many people are just given more or different medicines and get addicted to them in the sense they can't quit them without horrendous withdrawal symptoms. A lot of them just give up trying to get off the meds (after all, the doctor approves of them and the drug company says they are good and the withdrawal symptoms are so horrible), and those people just keep taking them, and they cause deeper and deeper damage. Having read how much of the psychoactive drugs are based on speculation rather than any real proof, and the information that drug companies conceal from both doctors and patients about their adverse effects, I still think it is important only to take them for short time periods and taper off them slowly under a doctor's regulation. Again, I am only speaking of psychoactive drugs. Some drugs for physical ailments are needed life long. I also took lexapro and zoloft for a short time, and was able to get off them fairly easily without a lot of severe withdrawal symptoms. They helped the inital overwhelming problem, but later didn't seem to help much. Sorry to be so long. I really enjoy working as a medical secretary or transcriptionist, and feel like now I can probably go back part time because I am alert again and can stay awake for 8 or 10 hours or more straight. thank you.
Posted by moesje on September 15, 2007, at 9:29:47
In reply to Re: Cymbalta Withdrawal-Awful,Still Continuing » moesje, posted by Tennisplayer on September 15, 2007, at 7:33:04
> > > I would like to at least go back to work part time. What symptoms did you have during the early phases of tapering or withdrawal that would have kept you from working? And if you don't mind my asking, why did you decided to discontinue the drug. thank you.>
> >
> > for the past 10 years my husband and i had agreed that i'd stay home and take care of the kids, who are now 15 and 16.5. i've worked off and on, and my last main job was what really drove me off the deep end. my best friend literally stabbed me in the back, so that i lost my job, best friend and all stability in one day. i've worked other small jobs since then, but nothing full time. i have also been typing at home as a "job", but the pay isn't very reliable. so just a month ago we decided for me to try full time again, and i'm so in love with my job right now it's unbelievable. the women i work with are fantastic (of course, they all have their problems, etc), but it's great overall. plus i get a great workout every day, no need for drugs to put me to sleep now!
> >
> > i had been taking welbutrin off and on for 5 years, and it worked for most of that time, but then stopped. so doc moved me to lexapro, which stopped working after 18 months and then we moved to cymbalta. with the lexapro and cymbalta i became more and more of a zombie and less interested in life at all. i could sit on the couch all day long watching tv, then realize it's time to go run errands and i haven't had a shower yet. it was horrible. i gained weight mostly from just sitting, not so much eating.
> >
> > so when i went to the doc and explained the cymbalta wasn't helping, he suggested upping the dose and i said no more, i just want off. so he showed me the pills coudl be emptied and divided, and i did that. of course, i didn't taper off so slowly, so i had all the symptoms of withdrawal as if i went cold turkey. dizziness, brain zaps (like electrical shocks),and i would get these just when i blinked my eyes, and extreme mood changes. but i persisted because i wanted off.
> > Thank you very much for sharing your experiences.
> > as for the road back, i believe they promoted fish oil and vitamins. i did try some fish oil, but mostly stuck with my standard vitamins and added cal-mag (which you can get at GNC) and fluids. even if you ignore the vits (which i don't suggest), you need fluids to flush your system.
> >
> > also, everyone reading this needs to know that although i will never take these drugs again, some people NEED some sort of medication. someof the typing i do at home pertains to this, and i want to make it clear, if someone needs medication to function,they need to take it no matter what. if it's not working, talk to the doc and get on something that will.
> >
> > nuf said.
> thank you for sharing important and personal information. I appreicate it. I have the added problem of chronic pain since I have interstitial cystitis (no cure). The severe chronic pain from I.C. requires Lortabs for me to even function without severe pain. Cymbalta was advertised as helping both depression and pain, and I had gained 25 pounds over the summer, had no energy, etc. and was moderately depressed about that and having a chronic incurable pain disease for the last 5 years. But I too, began to do nothing but sit and had very little real emotion of any kind left in me, after being on Cymbalta for several months. Paradoxically, I lost 20 pounds while taking it, and began to gain after stopping it. This is one reason I don't think I had a chemical imbalance to begin with. Doctor said I just needed to up it to 60. Wrong, but I didn't realize it at the time. By the time I finally figured out that it was the cymbalta making me feel so sleep and terrible (I had thought it might be a build up of my 3 years of Lortabs (which incidentally help me stay alert as opposed to Percocet or something)and I had had a neurostimulator implanted in Nov of 2006 to help reduce the pain, I mistakenly decided to quit cold turkey also. The stimulator helped but I was so sleepy I had to plan my day around 3 or 4 naps, just able to get up long enough to fix supper for my husband or other essential activities.
> I agree that some people need to take medications. I have no problem with medicines for proven medical conditions like diabetes, multiple sclerosis, esophageal reflux, etc. or even subjective pain conditions, but since reading that book "Your Drug May be Your Problem" I am convinced that many people are hurt much more by psychotropic drugs than they are helped by them. I still feel if someone is in extreme distress they should take an antidepresant or tranquilizer or whatever is needed for short term to get them thru without their committing suicide or something, but take it in conjunction with counseling or even help from a trusted friend who has good insight. And eventually get off of it. Many people are just given more or different medicines and get addicted to them in the sense they can't quit them without horrendous withdrawal symptoms. A lot of them just give up trying to get off the meds (after all, the doctor approves of them and the drug company says they are good and the withdrawal symptoms are so horrible), and those people just keep taking them, and they cause deeper and deeper damage. Having read how much of the psychoactive drugs are based on speculation rather than any real proof, and the information that drug companies conceal from both doctors and patients about their adverse effects, I still think it is important only to take them for short time periods and taper off them slowly under a doctor's regulation. Again, I am only speaking of psychoactive drugs. Some drugs for physical ailments are needed life long. I also took lexapro and zoloft for a short time, and was able to get off them fairly easily without a lot of severe withdrawal symptoms. They helped the inital overwhelming problem, but later didn't seem to help much. Sorry to be so long. I really enjoy working as a medical secretary or transcriptionist, and feel like now I can probably go back part time because I am alert again and can stay awake for 8 or 10 hours or more straight. thank you.
>
>
funny, i'm a legal transcriptionist! thought about going to medical for more money, but never did. you'd think with myself and my boss being the only ones in this town who do this, we'd have lots of work and lots of money, but we're both working full time jobs now just to make sure we can make ends meet.i hadn't read that book, just knew that i needed to get off the drugs as i was now addicted to them. i was only at 60 mg and doc wanted to up me to 120 . . . enough is enough. i would get up to take my daughters to school, but need a 2 to 4 hour nap a day and nothing else ever got done. my weight loss is attributed to my working, as in 3 weeks i've lost 10 pounds, and this includes eating breakfast and lunch, and two snacks a day - i'm too wired to eat dinner when i get home, so i might have cereal or oatmeal for a late night snack. i stay away from suger, except for in my coffee, which has been cut in half, too!
yes, a counselor or good friend is better than the drugs.
off to work . . .
Posted by Snap on September 15, 2007, at 11:13:21
In reply to Re: Cymbalta Withdrawal-Awful,Still Continuing » Tennisplayer, posted by moesje on September 15, 2007, at 9:29:47
Posted by yolinda on September 16, 2007, at 14:31:22
In reply to Re: Cymbalta Withdrawal-Awful,Still Continuing, posted by Tennisplayer on September 14, 2007, at 18:14:54
I have been off of cymbalta now for about a week and am just starting to have the major withdrawals. It seems to be geting worse each day. I felt so bad last night that I decided to take half the dose to help with the symptoms but it actually made me feel worse. I am now having the nausea with it. I started drinking an herbal tea the day I decided to go cold turkey. The tea is suppose to rid your body of all drugs and kill any baceria, worms parisites and toxins in your system. I didn't start having the bad withdrawal until I had finished drinking the tea so maybe it does help. If anyone would like to try it its called Dr millers Holy tea and you will soon be able to get it online at www.holyteaclub.com/lgduncan. I am in the same shape as most of you and can't wait to be rid of the terrible drugs. I'm not saying that the tea will get rid of the symptoms but so far it has really helped until I ran out. I had taken effexor years ago and it took me 4 months to get rid of the symptoms. I'm just hoping it doesn't take that long this time. If anyone is totally off and rid of withdrawals, how long did it take ?
Posted by Troy Tempest on September 17, 2007, at 17:20:39
In reply to Re: Cymbalta Withdrawal-Awful,Still Continuing, posted by yolinda on September 16, 2007, at 14:31:22
yolinda, Tennisplayer,
Hang in there - it WILL get better!
I have been off Cymbalta now for just over 5 weeks, and back at work for the last 2. A painful process (see my first couple of posts for the gory details!), and frustrating too - but I really do seem to be over the worst. Not completely, but 90%.
I still get mild "zapettes", my balance is still affected, I cannot type as accurately as before and my short-term memory is still wonky. But I am sure these will continue to improve. It was at least a month for me to get over Effexor, so I know about that one too!
I don't know if it actually helped, but I started exercising quite vigorously - cycing 20 miles, or walking 5 miles every day (then I got shin splints and a strained calf!). At least I felt it was doing some good.
Frankly I wouldn't bother with any pills, potions or programs - I think that they are a cynical means to extract cash from vulnerable / desperate people (which we all are while withdrawing from this stuff).
A good, healthy, normal diet, with plenty of liquids - including herbal teas instead of coffee - is all you should need (other medical conditions excepted).
Obviously the above is just my opinion as a "victim", not a "professional" in this field. However, I think that the "victims" have considerably more experience of the reality than the "professionals"!
Troy
Posted by RYB on September 17, 2007, at 20:12:13
In reply to Re: Cymbalta Withdrawal-Awful,Still Continuing, posted by Tennisplayer on September 14, 2007, at 18:14:54
Hi ~
Just wanted to let you know that it took me 4 weeks to go through all the withdrawal sysmptoms after quitting cold turkey (was on 60 mg for 6 months). The 1st 2 weeks were the worst and then I started getting better day by day. Now I have a lot more energy and feel more like myself. I, too, got brain zaps and they were very scary but are completely gone now :-) The only thing that helped me is getting lots of sleep, dramamine, and liquid "nasuea relief" I got at the drug store. Hang in there; it will get better. Now I am trying to take off the 10 lbs I gained!~Robin
Posted by RYB on September 17, 2007, at 20:18:35
In reply to Re: Cymbalta Withdrawal-Awful,Still Continuing, posted by yolinda on September 16, 2007, at 14:31:22
I was on 60mg for 6 months and it took me 1 full month to be completely rid of all symptoms. i feel great now :-) Hang in there!
Posted by Tennisplayer on September 17, 2007, at 20:37:37
In reply to Re: Cymbalta Withdrawal-Awful,Still Continuing, posted by RYB on September 17, 2007, at 20:12:13
Robin, thank you for your information. I have been completely off for two weeks, but still have raging hunger and hypoglycemia. Eating protein or the usual tips for hypoglycemia don't seem to work for me. Did you gain weight while taking the cymbalta or durng the withdrawal. I lost 20 pounds while taking it, have gained 5 since stopping it. Trying to go low carb diet gives me severe migraine and nausea at this particular time during the withdrawal. I have not had brain zaps that I can tell. Have had short term memory problems. Have had severe mucle cramps and insomnia. Does the dramamine help with sleep, and it is not habit forming, correct? thank you Lyse
Posted by deke on September 17, 2007, at 21:29:51
In reply to Re: Cymbalta Withdrawal-Awful,Still Continuing » Tennisplayer, posted by moesje on September 15, 2007, at 0:33:43
I am brand new to this site, and I am so thankful to find the support. I've been on Cymbalta " The Drug From Hell" for 6 months and just started to wean off 3 weeks ago. My doctor did warn me about going off slowly and I even eye balled the amount of pellets for smaller dosages for a slower process. I have experienced all of the side effects describe and more. It has been Very helpful to know I am not alone or crazy.
All of the dizziness, brain zaps, eye flickering, no energy, modivation or control of anger is an emotionally roller coater ride. It's enough to really think you have or are on your way to going crazy.
I 've only been on cymbalta for 6 month, 60 mg. once a day & I am hoping this does get better very soon.
I have never been depressed and started taking the cymbalta for chornic pain and anxiety. Now I am depressed and have more anxiety. I'll never give up and I thank everyone for all the info and support. Hopefully I can hear from some of you soon. Still Withdrawing, but not without a fight....Deke
Posted by RYB on September 19, 2007, at 20:49:00
In reply to Re: Cymbalta Withdrawal-Awful,Still Continuing, posted by Tennisplayer on September 17, 2007, at 20:37:37
I am so glad that I can help in any way. I know that when I was going through all those nasty withdrawal symptoms I was really scared and it was a relief to know that others had experienced the same thing. During my 4 weeks of hell I was always hungry too! I didn't really gain or lose weight while on cymbalta but I did gain 10 pounds during the last couple of months. I, too, craved carbs and discovered that carbs raise your seratonin levels in your brain and make you feel better for a short time. Honestly when I was withdrawing I didn't worry about diet I just did was felt good at the time in order to survive. Maybe that's why I gained the 10 lbs. I am happy to hear that you are not getting brain zaps; trust me you would know if you were -it is the weirdest thing I have ever felt and hard to describe. I did not have muscle cramps but did have insomnia. The benedryl helped more with the sleep than the dramamine but the dramamine helped for the nausea. I don't think either are habit forming; but not sure. Hope you feel better soon!
Posted by moesje on September 19, 2007, at 22:18:49
In reply to Re: Cymbalta Withdrawal-Awful,Still Continuing, posted by deke on September 17, 2007, at 21:29:51
> I am brand new to this site, and I am so thankful to find the support. I've been on Cymbalta " The Drug From Hell" for 6 months and just started to wean off 3 weeks ago. My doctor did warn me about going off slowly and I even eye balled the amount of pellets for smaller dosages for a slower process. I have experienced all of the side effects describe and more. It has been Very helpful to know I am not alone or crazy.
> All of the dizziness, brain zaps, eye flickering, no energy, modivation or control of anger is an emotionally roller coater ride. It's enough to really think you have or are on your way to going crazy.
> I 've only been on cymbalta for 6 month, 60 mg. once a day & I am hoping this does get better very soon.
> I have never been depressed and started taking the cymbalta for chornic pain and anxiety. Now I am depressed and have more anxiety. I'll never give up and I thank everyone for all the info and support. Hopefully I can hear from some of you soon. Still Withdrawing, but not without a fight....
>
> Deke
>>Hang in there and keep fighting. Sanity does return, but it takes time. I sometimes wish I could give a doc this medicine for a few months and then leave them hanging out to dry with the withdrawals. I have never been suicidal, but withdrawing off of this drug made me feel like that might have been a good way to handle the symptoms. I couldn't have carried it out because I didn't have an attention span longer than a gnat.
Just keep remembering how good life was and will be when you get out of this hole.
Moesje
Posted by tonda on October 6, 2007, at 17:51:42
In reply to Re: Cymbalta withdrawal - Publicity, posted by gapsgal on May 26, 2006, at 13:32:30
CYMBALTA NEEDS TO BE TAKEN OFF THE MARKET,I'M A SURVIVOR FROM ATTEMPTING SUICIDE! I DID DIE BUT I AM STILL BARELY HERE,THANK YOU ALMIGHTY CYMBALTA!
the drug,cymbalta was given to me by a Doctor whom I argued about taking this medication.He would not stop insisting until I gave it a try.I then,did.I was on cymbalta a few weeks until I started hearing voices.The voices were telling me to get Mom's 38 special and take it outside,where I pulled the trigger and shot myself.I survived but have no use of my left arm and cannot move my fingers.I died on the table until the Doctors then cut me open and took an artery out of my leg to replace the main one to my heart.I told the Doctor that had put me on cymbalta,that I could NOT take any type of anti-depressants but he ignored what I was saying.I also told him that I was NOT depressed.I have always had bad nerves from the age of 16 and now look what this ALMIGHTY medication has done to me.I would like to hear from other people who has been on cymbalta,to please let me know if you are a survivor or know someone who has killed themselves on this drug.My name is Tonda and my e-mail is [email protected]
It has been a painfull and living hell for me.I have NO relief what so ever and I would like someone to come forth to try and help me find out what it is that I can do.
Thank you,
Tonda
Posted by tennisplayer on October 7, 2007, at 1:27:41
In reply to Re: Cymbalta withdrawal - Publicity, posted by tonda on October 6, 2007, at 17:51:42
Tonda, I am so sad to hear what this drug has done to you . My husband read yesterday in USA today that some lawsuit is being brought against the manufacturers of Cymbalta for false advertising. It definitely doesn;t help depression or pain. It made me more depressed than I have ever been in my life. I still am having withdrawal symptoms now at 36 days off of the stuff. I found a site that has some suggestions of how to get yourself back to normal again, and will forward it to you as soon as possible. cant locate it right now. Mainly they say to do calm things, look at beautiful things , try to avoid family and friends for a bit (not in a bad way) but because they can't believe a drug could do anything so powerful to you (But I know that it can--it did really bad things to me-- and I always thought antidepressants were just mild sorts of medicines before. In your case though great great harm has been done to you. I still believe you can get things together again and begin to enjoy your life again. You should tell your story in as many different ways and places as you can I think--that in itself may keep other people from having to go through what you have. Hang in there. will send the info later. tennisplayer
Posted by moesje on October 7, 2007, at 20:34:35
In reply to Re: Cymbalta withdrawal - Publicity, posted by tennisplayer on October 7, 2007, at 1:27:41
just found this site, hope it help someone while withdrawing.
Posted by tennisplayer on October 8, 2007, at 9:12:55
In reply to Re: Cymbalta withdrawal - Publicity, posted by moesje on October 7, 2007, at 20:34:35
That is the site I was hoping to mention on here, www.antidepressantsfacts.com/taper posted by moesje, especially to the lady who posted recently, and had had a suicidal attempt caused by being on Cymbalta. They have some really good advice, and you don't have to buy this or that herb or whatever. It is a very good site in my opinion. I am 38 days completely off Cymbalta and have had most of my withdrawal symptoms either go away or lessen, but still have some. Has anyone there gone as long as three months before reaching normal state? Or do you think it probably takes about a full year to get back to complete normal state? In the USA today and other places I have seen recent lawsuits being filed against makers of Cymbalta. Anyone seen any detailed in fo on that. thanks,
Posted by moesje on October 8, 2007, at 9:28:57
In reply to Re: Cymbalta withdrawal - Publicity, posted by tennisplayer on October 8, 2007, at 9:12:55
Good, I'm glad I found it for everyone by accident!
I've been completely off since May 22 (only started in Nov, but it was still rough). I tapered quickly, half a dose for 2 days, third of a dose for 2 days, nothing for 1 day and a quarter dose for 2 days, then cold turkey. Way too quick, but I wanted off! I went through all the harsh withdrawals, had lots of love and support from my husband and teenage daughters and a very good girlfriend, all who knew what was going on with me and put up with my babbling (I must have been really manic at times). This drug along with a slower lifestyle caused me to gain 25 pounds, my health as of end of July was in danger. I'm 5 foot 1 inch, but at 145 lbs, high cholesterol and bad triglicerides, I was at a high risk for heart attack at age 45 unless I did something. In August I began a full time position in men's retail and have so far lost 15 lbs. By the time I interviewed for the job in late August, I had no more symptoms, unless I underslept AND was stressed at the same time. This coming Friday I celebrate 2 months on the job, and will still feel like I have the flu or something if I don't eat well and don't sleep enough. So it's residual, but does get less and less with time.
As for lawsuits, I spent 3 hours searching the net last night. Most of the lawsuits are finished as of 3+ years ago, deal with surviving family members of a suicidal victim of Cymbalta, or someone who has had physical damage like liver or something like that. I plan to keep checking, though.
Hope this helps someone.
Moesje> That is the site I was hoping to mention on here, www.antidepressantsfacts.com/taper posted by moesje, especially to the lady who posted recently, and had had a suicidal attempt caused by being on Cymbalta. They have some really good advice, and you don't have to buy this or that herb or whatever. It is a very good site in my opinion. I am 38 days completely off Cymbalta and have had most of my withdrawal symptoms either go away or lessen, but still have some. Has anyone there gone as long as three months before reaching normal state? Or do you think it probably takes about a full year to get back to complete normal state? In the USA today and other places I have seen recent lawsuits being filed against makers of Cymbalta. Anyone seen any detailed in fo on that. thanks,
Posted by Tennisplayer on October 8, 2007, at 16:18:27
In reply to Re: Cymbalta withdrawal - Publicity » tennisplayer, posted by moesje on October 8, 2007, at 9:28:57
Moesje, thank you for that information. That helps me to know what to expect in the coming months. I,too, still have times duringthe day when I feel like I am exhausted--they come on suddenly, and last about 3 hours. Sometimes I take a nap if I can but either way I don't feel really well until several hours after the onset of that exhausted feeling. If I do nap I often have upsetting depressing dreams and do not wake feeling refreshed even if I sleep as much as l-1/2 hours. I usually have to take a caffeine pill and drink coffee or diet coke to get going again. But thankfully by 6 hours later I usually start to feel pretty good and peppy again. I guess I need to heed what you said about eating correctly and getting plenty of sleep. That would probably cut some of those exhausted feeling episodes out. I feel so much more alive now and happier than I have been in years. I want the lady who had the suicide attempt to realize that she can feel that way again. When you are in the worst of the aftermath of Cymbalta it is hard to believe you can ever be happy or feel good again. But you can. I realize that all of us have other factors besides just the Cymbalta exposure that have to be dealt with to get back to happy meaninful life again, but just knowing that Cymbalta was a big part of my problem and learning that you can recover from it has helped me so much. It is still an ongoing work to keep mentally healthy, and I think we should all continue with psychological counselors or good friends who are able to help or whatever to get to the bottom of what started us feeling like we needed to take an antidepressant in the first place. And I don't think just going on another antidepressant is a good answer. You have to be unmedicated enough to have your mind alert and able to sift through what has happened in your life and relationships to unravel that problem and get it fixed. You will never be able to do it under the influence of "antidepressants" that actually are mind-numbing, personality-obliterating drugs that keep you from using your intelligence and working with someone who can help you to get to the real reasons that you are depressed, and those are not usually some "chemical imbalance in the brain", but the emotional hurts and destructive behaviors from other people and yourself that have made you depressed. I know that all emotions we feel have a base in neurochemical reactions that happen in our brain, but we have been misled into thinking that those are the cause of the depression. The reason those kinds of chemical reactions start repeating themselves and forming a pattern that possibly does become a chemical imbalance or something (and that is just a theory with no proof yet, see "Your Drug May Be Your Problem" by Dr. Peter Breggin) is that life events and caustic and toxic relationships and people have caused you to start developing those negative chemical patterns in your brain to begin with. Until you make peace with those things, and learn how to deal with them, the best you will do is be turning yourself into a walking "vegetable" as far as being able to feel any emotions at all--you won't feel that much pain, but you won't feel that much joy either. And the problem will still be there, plus the tons of harmful problems that antidepressants leave you with when you take them. There may be some mild antidepressants at low dose taken only for a week or two that might have some useful ness in a crisis situation, but after that I think they should be stopped. Just on the basis of having seen what they do to other people and myself--they don't help, they make things terribly worse for people. Sorry to rant on and on (I am still experiencing the babbling manic type withdrawal symptoms to some degree but there is some truth in what I am saying). Please, people if you have any doubts, read that book Your Drug May be Your Problem, and visit the site antidepressantfacts.com. Those are so helpful. People attempting suicide or completing it are two of the worst results of Cymbalta, but there are dozens of other horrible results of using Cymbalta that are causing damage to people and that people are starting to demand legal action about. I also am going to check for more of those issues--which involve not only people who killed themselves or someone else, but people who have suffered terrible physical residuals like dangerously high blood pressure (and not just from weight gain, but from the effect that Specific Norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (which is one half of what Cymbalta has in it. the other half being the Specific Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor) have on the body and especially the autonomic nervous system and regulators of things like cholesterol, triglycerides, glaucoma, respiratory malfunction, etc. I found out last week that my cholesterol was 398 and my blood pressure was 168/90. It used to run 120/70 almost all the time. I lost 20 pounds on Cymbalta and started gaining like crazy once I went off it, which is the reverse of what most people do, but it totally messes up your metabolic regulators of blood pressure, cholesterol etc. regardless of or in addition to the problems that way that it causes you because of weight gain. Even my optometrist knew that Cymbalta causes a rise in blood pressure. He also knew it can cause glaucoma or worsen glaucoma. Public awareness is rapidly increasing about the devastating effects of these psychiatric and psychoactive drugs, especially the ones that deal with norepinephrine as well as serotonin. Someone posted on here about 6 weeks ago and mentioned the book "Your Drug May be Your Problem" and that is how I happened to find about it and read it. Thanks to that person and if anyone else has read it and wants to discuss it please let me know and I will send you my email address. Someone else wrote back and said they didn't have to read the book to know something was wrong with them. I knew something was wrong with me also long before I read that book. In fact that is why I read that book. Because I hoped it would give me further information about my problem with the drug and ways to help, and it did. That is why I think it would help many people who are dealing with Cymbalta side effects, with drawal effects and other SSRI and SNRI drugs in the same class. Most of the others also produce the same problems. thanks for your time. let me hear from you. thank you.
Posted by moesje on October 12, 2007, at 22:10:32
In reply to Re: Cymbalta withdrawal - Publicity » moesje, posted by Tennisplayer on October 8, 2007, at 16:18:27
> Moesje, thank you for that information. That helps me to know what to expect in the coming months. I,too, still have times duringthe day when I feel like I am exhausted--they come on suddenly, and last about 3 hours. >>
Sorry, been busy working . . a joyous thing in my life these days. I'm glad my story helped you, I also hope it helps someone else on their way out of this hole.
Literally, HANG IN THERE everyone. You can have your life back, along with all the problems you had before, but at least it's YOUR life!
Posted by tennisplayer on October 13, 2007, at 11:09:02
In reply to Re: Cymbalta withdrawal - Publicity, posted by moesje on October 12, 2007, at 22:10:32
Moesje, thank you. I am about 40 days out now off of Cymbalta. Still plagued with high blood pressure and high cholesterol (never had high blood pressure before in my life), but the other withdrawal symptoms are going away pretty fast now. One thing that helps me calm down some and sleep better is Atenolol (a blood pressure medicine) at a low dose (10 mg). My internal medicine doctor said I only need take it for a week or so. I take it on days when I don't have to be extremely active, but it does help lower my blood pressure and produce a pleasant calm without turning me into a zombie. However, I do not intend to take it any longer than the next week or two, and then only occasionally, as I don't want to get into another mind-numbing drug situation. I am also doing a modified version of the Atkins diet, which allows about 60 grams of carbohydrate a day with more to be added in in later phases of the diet, and have lost 8 pounds in 12 days and feeling much more energetic, since I got away from that carbohydrate binging I was on for 5 weeks after quitting Cymbalta. This diet also helps bring your cholesterol down, as it is now known that overeating of carbohydrates triggers your own body to make cholesterol, and that own-body made cholesterol is where 80% of the cholesterol circulating in your blood comes from, not from dietary intake of fat and protein (as the AMA and AHA thought for so long and told all of us.) It became more and more apparent that the high carbohydrate/low fat diet did not work for either weight loss or cholesterol lowering,which circumstance is now proven by scientific studies and by my personal experience in my case. I was one of those people who lost weight on Cymbalta, but when I quit it I gained weight and ravenously craved and stuffed carbohydrates (protein seemed a nauseous prospect). That is probably one reason my cholesterol was 398, and my blood pressure was 168/90 when all my life it has run 120/70. In addition they now know that Cymbalta and other norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors often cause pathologic blood pressure rise on a chemical reaction basis, not just from weight gain. Sorry to go on and on, but if anyone else found themselves in that carbohydrate ravenous craving cycle either while tapering or off of Cymbalta, I thought it might help them get out of it to know that the Atkins diet is one option for doing so. I am now free from that extreme carbohydrate craving. It is tough the first 3 or 4 days though and you need to be able to lie down or handle the headache and fatigue that comes those first few days. After that you have tons more energy each day. thanks
Posted by moesje on October 13, 2007, at 12:12:22
In reply to Re: Cymbalta withdrawal - Publicity » moesje, posted by tennisplayer on October 13, 2007, at 11:09:02
Glad to hear you're doing better. Everybody is getting off this in a different way with diets, exercise and such. It's good to share what works for you, as it might work for someone else.
> Moesje, thank you. I am about 40 days out now off of Cymbalta. Still plagued with high blood pressure and high cholesterol (never had high blood pressure before in my life), but the other withdrawal symptoms are going away pretty fast now. One thing that helps me calm down some and sleep better is Atenolol (a blood pressure medicine) at a low dose (10 mg). My internal medicine doctor said I only need take it for a week or so. I take it on days when I don't have to be extremely active, but it does help lower my blood pressure and produce a pleasant calm without turning me into a zombie. However, I do not intend to take it any longer than the next week or two, and then only occasionally, as I don't want to get into another mind-numbing drug situation. I am also doing a modified version of the Atkins diet, which allows about 60 grams of carbohydrate a day with more to be added in in later phases of the diet, and have lost 8 pounds in 12 days and feeling much more energetic, since I got away from that carbohydrate binging I was on for 5 weeks after quitting Cymbalta. This diet also helps bring your cholesterol down, as it is now known that overeating of carbohydrates triggers your own body to make cholesterol, and that own-body made cholesterol is where 80% of the cholesterol circulating in your blood comes from, not from dietary intake of fat and protein (as the AMA and AHA thought for so long and told all of us.) It became more and more apparent that the high carbohydrate/low fat diet did not work for either weight loss or cholesterol lowering,which circumstance is now proven by scientific studies and by my personal experience in my case. I was one of those people who lost weight on Cymbalta, but when I quit it I gained weight and ravenously craved and stuffed carbohydrates (protein seemed a nauseous prospect). That is probably one reason my cholesterol was 398, and my blood pressure was 168/90 when all my life it has run 120/70. In addition they now know that Cymbalta and other norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors often cause pathologic blood pressure rise on a chemical reaction basis, not just from weight gain. Sorry to go on and on, but if anyone else found themselves in that carbohydrate ravenous craving cycle either while tapering or off of Cymbalta, I thought it might help them get out of it to know that the Atkins diet is one option for doing so. I am now free from that extreme carbohydrate craving. It is tough the first 3 or 4 days though and you need to be able to lie down or handle the headache and fatigue that comes those first few days. After that you have tons more energy each day. thanks
Posted by anonymousfriend on October 13, 2007, at 21:22:52
In reply to Re: Cymbalta withdrawal - Publicity, posted by tonda on October 6, 2007, at 17:51:42
I have read a lot of negative stuff about Cymbalta, but I want to say I thought it was better than many. My daughter is bipolar, and her psychologist thought it would be a good idea if I took something to mellow myself out, so she suggested Lexapro. I took it for 1 year and a half, and in that time, gained about 20 pounds. When I realized that's what caused the weight gain, I asked my doctor to switch me, so he put me on Wellbutrin. My daughter was having a lot of problems at school at that time, and the Wellbutrin just wasn't cutting it, so I asked him to switch me again.
He put me on 30mg of Cymbalta a day. I disagree with those people who feel that Cymbalta should be taken off the market. When he prescribed the medicine, my doctor told me that people need to take anti-depressants for different amounts of time and gave me some situational equations. Some people experience a traumatic experience and need to take something for a few months. Some people, like me, have situations that can last for a while, so they will take the medication for a year or so. Others who have persistent problems and hereditary issues may need to take it for life. Knowing this, I have to say I think it's very important that you and your doctor have a good relationship and that you don't just go to any doctor to get a prescription. I have been going to my doctor since I was 15 years old (I am now 39). He not only knows everything about me, including every psychological issue I have ever had; he also has a great since of humor, which is very important to me because laughter is the only way to deal with some psychological issues!
Anyway, I started taking the 30 mg a day, and noticed that I no longer continued to gain weight. That was a nice surprise. I have taken 30 mg a day for about a year now. It may be that I have experienced so much with my daughter that I am now numb to other people's comments or that she is exhibiting slight improvements, but I don't feel the need to take anything...right now at least. Plus, I recently got sick with respiratory issues and was taking so many meds for that, I actually forgot to take the Cymbalta.
As far as withdrawals, I am feeling the brain shocks that other people refer to, but I can say that I felt the same thing when I quit taking the Lexapro. They don't get worse as I smoke; they are only bad in the evenings. I usually have one drink before I go to bed and that seems to help.
The important thing is...are you happier on or off the pill? You should do whatever feels right for you. Don't take it because others expect you to; likewise, don't quit taking it because you think it makes you weak to need a crutch.
Good luck either way you decide to go!
Posted by moesje on October 13, 2007, at 22:10:52
In reply to Re: Cymbalta withdrawal - Publicity, posted by anonymousfriend on October 13, 2007, at 21:22:52
I'm glad it's worked for you, and you've had very little in the way of withdrawals. I have taken wellbutrin, then lexapro for a year and then moved to cymbalta. when i told my doctor that i did NOT want an increased dosage that i just wanted off, he told me that cymbalta was meant to be effective for a few months anyway. the withdrawal he** i went through for just over 2 months was not worth the deadness i felt during the 6 months i was on it.
i agree that some are in need of some sort of medication for life, but for those of us that aren't in that position, this drug should not be prescribed.
i have typed legal transcripts at home for over 7 years, most of them related to children services and parents who don't take their meds for psychological needs, so i understand fully that some need it (read some of my earlier posts).
i for one will NEVER take another antidepressant again. when i looked back at how long i've been on one or another, i've missed the growing up of my two daughters. now that they're 15 and 16.5, i have to learn who they are as they're taking their final steps into adulthood and out of my home. what a shame that i missed all of that through the taking of drugs.
never mind that my teeth are all rotting and need to be pulled, i can't eat a salad no matter how hard i try, the pain of the cold destroys the enjoyment of the taste.
it goes on and on, and i started with elavil. i only hope that if this is the first time someone has been depressed and they're reading this site, maybe they will rethink what they're depressed about and find a way to move on without the drugs.
sorry, it's been a strange day for me, beyond tired, sleeping all day and it's my day off with a 5AM clock in tomorrow.
moesje
> I have read a lot of negative stuff about Cymbalta, but I want to say I thought it was better than many. My daughter is bipolar, and her psychologist thought it would be a good idea if I took something to mellow myself out, so she suggested Lexapro. I took it for 1 year and a half, and in that time, gained about 20 pounds. When I realized that's what caused the weight gain, I asked my doctor to switch me, so he put me on Wellbutrin. My daughter was having a lot of problems at school at that time, and the Wellbutrin just wasn't cutting it, so I asked him to switch me again.
>
> He put me on 30mg of Cymbalta a day. I disagree with those people who feel that Cymbalta should be taken off the market. When he prescribed the medicine, my doctor told me that people need to take anti-depressants for different amounts of time and gave me some situational equations. Some people experience a traumatic experience and need to take something for a few months. Some people, like me, have situations that can last for a while, so they will take the medication for a year or so. Others who have persistent problems and hereditary issues may need to take it for life. Knowing this, I have to say I think it's very important that you and your doctor have a good relationship and that you don't just go to any doctor to get a prescription. I have been going to my doctor since I was 15 years old (I am now 39). He not only knows everything about me, including every psychological issue I have ever had; he also has a great since of humor, which is very important to me because laughter is the only way to deal with some psychological issues!
>
> Anyway, I started taking the 30 mg a day, and noticed that I no longer continued to gain weight. That was a nice surprise. I have taken 30 mg a day for about a year now. It may be that I have experienced so much with my daughter that I am now numb to other people's comments or that she is exhibiting slight improvements, but I don't feel the need to take anything...right now at least. Plus, I recently got sick with respiratory issues and was taking so many meds for that, I actually forgot to take the Cymbalta.
>
> As far as withdrawals, I am feeling the brain shocks that other people refer to, but I can say that I felt the same thing when I quit taking the Lexapro. They don't get worse as I smoke; they are only bad in the evenings. I usually have one drink before I go to bed and that seems to help.
>
> The important thing is...are you happier on or off the pill? You should do whatever feels right for you. Don't take it because others expect you to; likewise, don't quit taking it because you think it makes you weak to need a crutch.
>
> Good luck either way you decide to go!
Posted by tennisplayer on October 14, 2007, at 8:03:20
In reply to Re: Cymbalta withdrawal - Publicity, posted by anonymousfriend on October 13, 2007, at 21:22:52
You have made some really good points that will help a lot of people. Each individual may have a different response to a drug, and whatever makes you happier and have a fuller, more enjoyable life is the course to follow, whether it be to take the drug or not take it. From people who write in, it seems that those who remain on the low dose seem to either have the most benefit or at least do not have ill effects. In my individual case and from the hundreds of other posts I have seen from others who suffered the same severe problems on it, I would advise caution in dealing with it, and don't up the dose just because it doesn't seem to be doing anything or because the docor says "you need to be on the higher dose for it to be effective", or at least, if you do, watch closely for adverse effects. They don't show up right away, but develop over 3 or 4 months' time. It seemed relatively benign at first and I definitely was not bothered by many things, but eventually I was sleeping about 16 hours out of 24 and extremely apathetic to the point of becoming vegetable-like. Not everyone has those reactions, and it is probably wrong to say it should be taken off the market. As I have said before, it certainly has a place in times of crisis. And as we know, most of the people who are doing okay with it don't post on these boards; they are busily going about their lives. It is usually when you are having a severe problem with something that you seek informaton and help about it on the internet forums, and reaffirmation that you are not losing your mind. I am glad that it has been helpful to you. In my case my life is so much happier and I feel so much better physically off of Cymbalta that it is such an easy choice for me to make. Others may find themselves in a more gray area. The low dose and remaining at the low dose seems to be key. Also not staying on it for long periods of time seems to be a good idea. Most of the people who post favorably about it have one or both of those two factors going on, especailly the ones who have only been on it a month or two.
Posted by moesje on October 14, 2007, at 16:34:28
In reply to Re: Cymbalta withdrawal - Publicity » anonymousfriend, posted by tennisplayer on October 14, 2007, at 8:03:20
All very true points. The people posting here may be the very small point-oh-something percent who will never do well on or withdrawing from Cymbalta.
Moesje
> You have made some really good points that will help a lot of people. Each individual may have a different response to a drug, and whatever makes you happier and have a fuller, more enjoyable life is the course to follow, whether it be to take the drug or not take it. From people who write in, it seems that those who remain on the low dose seem to either have the most benefit or at least do not have ill effects. In my individual case and from the hundreds of other posts I have seen from others who suffered the same severe problems on it, I would advise caution in dealing with it, and don't up the dose just because it doesn't seem to be doing anything or because the docor says "you need to be on the higher dose for it to be effective", or at least, if you do, watch closely for adverse effects. They don't show up right away, but develop over 3 or 4 months' time. It seemed relatively benign at first and I definitely was not bothered by many things, but eventually I was sleeping about 16 hours out of 24 and extremely apathetic to the point of becoming vegetable-like. Not everyone has those reactions, and it is probably wrong to say it should be taken off the market. As I have said before, it certainly has a place in times of crisis. And as we know, most of the people who are doing okay with it don't post on these boards; they are busily going about their lives. It is usually when you are having a severe problem with something that you seek informaton and help about it on the internet forums, and reaffirmation that you are not losing your mind. I am glad that it has been helpful to you. In my case my life is so much happier and I feel so much better physically off of Cymbalta that it is such an easy choice for me to make. Others may find themselves in a more gray area. The low dose and remaining at the low dose seems to be key. Also not staying on it for long periods of time seems to be a good idea. Most of the people who post favorably about it have one or both of those two factors going on, especailly the ones who have only been on it a month or two.
Posted by Troy Tempest on October 15, 2007, at 13:00:05
In reply to Re: Cymbalta withdrawal - Publicity » tennisplayer, posted by moesje on October 14, 2007, at 16:34:28
To clarify - I do think that I benefited from being on Cymbalta. Out of Venlafaxine, Fluoxetine and Lithium, it seemed to be the only one that actually helped to get me through a major depressive illness.
I was on it for over 24 months, at maximum licensed dose for most of that period. I did not suffer any severe side-effects while taking it, and I was at work for almost the whole of that time, so it did not impact my ability to function (although I could have entered the sleep Olympics).
However, I had major withdrawal problems, despite reducing the dosage gradually over several months - as I have posted previously.
I don't necessarily believe that it should be withdrawn, but that the impact of using it (and coming off it) should be explained in much greater detail by the prescriber BEFORE anyone starts taking it.
TT
> All very true points. The people posting here may be the very small point-oh-something percent who will never do well on or withdrawing from Cymbalta.
>
> Moesje
Go forward in thread:
Psycho-Babble Withdrawal | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
[email protected]
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.