How do I go off Cymbalta and on Celexa ? Should I taper off or go cold turkey ?

3 Jul 2011

Hey heartsong,

My doctor has always tapered me off one antidepressant and slowly started the other. If you are on the 60mg pill, it is difficult to taper from the Cymbalta as it is a capsule so you can't split the dose in half. You really need to get a script or samples of the 30mg pill from the doctor. You may have to suffer some withdrawal unless you can get the doc to give you 30mg pills. Withdrawal will include some diarrhea, nausea, headache and what they call brain zaps which are like electrical sensations in your head, not painful just annoying.

Your other alternative is to take the 60mg pill everyother day for a couple of weeks while starting the Celexa at the lowest dose which is 10mgs, then after the couple of weeks you can increase the Celexa to 20mgs (eventaully increasing to 40mgs) and discontinue the Cymbalta. You may still experience a little withdrawal but it should be mild.

Best wishes,

Laurie

3 Jul 2011

I've been on cymbalta for 4 years. I tried going of of it cold turkey and I would not recommend it for you. I got extremely depressed. Just felt out of it. I did go off of cymbalta but I decreased the dose. I went from 60 mgs for 3 days, than 30 mgs for another 3 days and than 15 mgs. It worked much better buy slowly cutting it down. Good luck to you

3 Jul 2011

Heartsong59 I was on both medications cymbalta and celexa. I just stopped the cymbalta. And I continued with the celexa I did not have any problems... vtech10

6 Jul 2011

My nurse practitioner moved me from 60mg of Cymbalta to 30mg Cymbalta/10mg Celexa for one week. Then moved me to 20mg of Celexa for 3 weeks (on day 11 now). She may move me up to 40mg at my appointment next week.

20 Apr 2012

i have been on cymbalta for more than 1 year. i ran out, my dr. had no samples and i could not afford it any longer due financial changes. i definitely noticed symptoms of withdrawal that lasted for a few weeks. the first 12-14 days were worst, somewhat comparable to w/d from benzo's, but not as severe. couldn't sleep, became very depressed, joint pain, back pain, and the like. the dysphoria, listlessness, anxiety near panic at times were bad. maybe i am just weird, but have talked to others who have had similar and some of the same symptoms. i have been about 1 month off of cymb' now and have evened out, but my depression has returned. my suggestion is to taper off over several days under the advice of a physician. i have been in the medical field for over 25 years.