I am currently trying to wean myself off Cymbalta. Has anyone had success with this? I have been off of it for 3 days and am having brain fog and terrible headaches. :confused:
Cymbalta Withdrawal: How to wean off Cymbalta?
- Posted:
- 23 May 2007 by fly4arush
- Topics:
- cymbalta, withdrawal
Details:
Answers (10)
23 May 2007
What was your dose before you stopped and how long had you been taking it ?
It's gonna be a bit of a rough ride for a bit more than a couple of weeks. Try Benadryl Nighttime to help you sleep, Dramamine or Gravol to help with the dizziness, drink lots of water, exercise as much as you can, eat fish or take Omega3 capsules.
If you start having gory nightmares... GO BACK ON THE DRUG !! That's not a good sign.
Watch out for suicidal/homicidal thoughts.
If it gets too hard, go back on the drug and plan out a tapering program with an intelligent doctor.
There's a lot of nasty side effects from quitting these drugs, but you're not going to get them all.
If you want, write to me and tell me all about it. A lot of people have. Keep a daily journal.
30 May 2007
I Was On This And I Was Told To Go Off It Slowly..
You Take One Every Other Day.. For A Couple Of Weeks Then Go Down In Mg. And Keep Taking One Every Other Day .. Then Go To Every 2 Days... For A Week Or So Then Every 3 Days For The Next Week ... And So On...
You Shouldnt Have Any Problems If The Dr. Would Have Done It This Way... I Didnt Get Any Problems With It..
The Ones I Had Were When I Was On It... Wanted To Sleep All The Time .. And Then The Weight Gain...
Write Me Back And Let Me Know How You Are Doing ...
Angie
8 Jun 2007
why would you wean yourself off it? You are not a doctor! or a pharmacist. call your doctor if you want to go off meds. IT is VERY VERY dangerous to wean any medicine off by yourself like it is dangerous to go on any medicine without a doctor prescribing it for you. Do NOT do this on your own... why oh why do people do this to themselves. Your doctor is there to help you. Call him/her!
25 Feb 2010
I take Cymbalta for chemo induced neuropathy pain. Tried to wean off with doctors instructions, however the pain was so bad I was unable to get out of bed. I do not take it for depression, however I might be depressed if I don't take it.
My doctor suggested stopping Cymbalta and taking Prozac every other day for a week and then every 2 days for a week, then 3 days... for a month. This idea might help someone.
11 Mar 2010
I am going to suggest you get to a doctor that can help you. I have been on 60 mg's for a few years. I get the same dizziness and "head nausea" after missing a pill for 1 day. I saw my pediatrician for help. She moved me to 30 mg. for thirty days and then 20 for three weeks, then one 20 mg. pill every other day.
Guess what? Every reduction in dose has resulted in the same dizziness, brain zaps loss of breath, etc. Look around. You'll find everyone has the same problem. My doctor said Cymbalta was "mild" at the levels she put me on. Not so. Coming off is a freaking nightmare. that should be the technical term. Benadryl at night. Lots of water and steam room. Sleep a lot.
lawwlu64
14 Apr 2010
Hi
I am so glad I found this site.I have been on 60 mg Cymbalta for about 4 years,my Dr has decided that I need to change to Prozac,I went to him last week and he told me to stop the cymbalta for 2 days and then start the Prozac,I did that and I am having a terrible time.I am having terrible,[it is hard to explain}it is like electric current feelings going through my head with feelings that my eyes don`t focus right. I went back to him yesterday and tried to explain this to him,and he said that it is because I have changed the type of med and talked like the feelings will go away,but WHEN,,it is terrible.Should I be overly concerned about this. I have been going to this Dr most of my life.I am 64,and I started going to him when I was 16,so I really like,and trust him,but this is worrying me.Does anyone have a suggestion. Please any advise will be appreciated.
angielee
1 Jun 2011
the most recent info i found was that prozac, cymbalta, or effexor- but especially prozac when being changed to another ssnri should be weaned off and then 2 weeks without meds before starting the new one to prevent serotonin syndrome. Cymbalta is one of the worst meds to get off of although my personal experience was switching from prozac to cymbalta( 3 years ago) and I started cymbalta as soon as I started weaning off of prozac- I was very depressed- spent 2 weeks in my sisters bed that I don't remember a minute of! it took about 3 months before I actually felt physically ok, all the info by the others is great- I'll just repeat- get your doctor's help and move slow. I'm still on cymbalta but at 60 mg. at one time I was up to 120mg which I don't recommend. anyway- that's irrelevant right now. Good luck and keep in touch.
25 May 2010
I am on 30mgs of Cymbalta. I take it for IBS it works! the worst side effect I get is sweating, it feels like a hot flash it only lasts for a matter of seconds but wow its a hot one! I decided to stop taking it about 2yrs ago. Dumb Move! I had that out of sorts feeling my hands went numb I was driving too. I came home and threw up and the other end was uncontrollable too.Went to the Dr got back on it. I will probably be on it until I cant afford it anymore.
31 May 2011
Good luck with weaning. I weaned with 1/2 doses for 2 weeks and have been off the med. for 2 weeks. The headache started within 24 hours of my last dose I still have terrible headaches, brain fog, nausea, dizziness and depression. Per my MD these are typical symptoms of cymbalta discontinuation and he said it could be a few more days before the symptoms subside. And, the discontinuation symptoms can occur within 24 hours of the last dose of the medication so they occur quickly. I don't have a magic solution for you other than waiting it out. Good luck and I hope you feel better soon.
katy02
29 Jun 2011
Started CYM 12/'10, ongoing side effects (dizzy, severe headaches, etc) BUT depression and "malaise" returned mid-May. Decided to get off this drug. I have just started, with RN-CNP help, to wean from 30 mg Cymbalta. This is 3rd day, w/ no med yesterday (wonderful!!), but back on 30 mg today. And I'm a basket case! can say this headache is less sharp than before, started, but more dizzy, some nausea (new) etc. Almost worse than sides ON the med! Plan is to go off and on every day for a week, then to two days off, total of 2 weeks to wean.
Haven't seen any comments on this site re contradictions w/ other meds - you?
I see you posted 5/23 - how are you doing now?
thanks K
8 Aug 2011
I have been off for 10days. I have to say the first week was awful the brain zaps and crying spells were awful. But by day 9 I was able to focus a little more at work and day 10i have felt much better. I still get the zaps but they are way less often I think if u can get through the first week without just starting it again becuz ur desperate to feel better then ur on ur way. I did take benedril at night cause I couldn't sleep but for the most part my doc said it's something ur just going to have to make it through
26 Sep 2011
I started taking Cymbalta in 2005 - starting at 20mg/day and increasing to 60mg over the course of the year. In 2009, my psychiatrist told me that some people need to stay on the drug for life. In a nutshell, I am tired of this crutch, and know that there are natural alternatives... I've been doing my own research for a couple of years.
I started weaning in 2010 by reducing to 40mg, earlier this year I reduced to 30mg, and last week to 20mg. I am not doing this with a doctor - but have managed to get my Internist to continue my prescriptions when they run out. However after reading all these posts, I'm going to visit my Internist and talk about all this b/c I'm really scared about side effects.
tabowe
17 Nov 2011
After becoming "hopelessly hooked" on Cymbalta for two years, as a postpartum patient... I started receiving regular adjustments. Seek Chiropractic help! It is helping me make the transition of eliminating Cymbalta from my life! Peace to all!
21 Jan 2012
I am pretty upset with my psychiatrist for even putting me on Cymbalta to begin with. I am a 32 year old female who has been diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder. For 11 years, I used methamphetamine to self-medicate until checking myself into inpatient treatment in June of 2010. I have now been sober for 19 months, but about 6 months ago my psychiatrist put me on Cymbalta for my anxiety and panic attacks. I told him I was very worried about taking any medications that I could become "addicted" to. He assured me that Cymbalta was non-addictive because it was a non-narcotic. He never explained to me what would happen if I tried to stop this medication. I have been pleased with the changes in myself while taking this medication. It did do everything he said it would do as far as relieving the symptoms of my disorder and eliminating my panic attacks.
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I just started about 5 days ago, I am taking 60mg every other day right now, instead of 60mg every day Seems ok so far, what do you think? How should I proceed, I have probably 20 pills left.
I was on 60mg, reduced to 30mg for 2 weeks and off after 2 weeks at 30mg. It has been awful... started on Paxil today and hope that will help with the discontinuation affects. I've been drinking gallons of water and taking meds for the symptoms. Sleep has helped substantially with the side effects and I am taking Omega 3... just as part of my general medication regimen. Good luck.
I have been on Cymbalta for a few years, and I insisted on being taken off of it. I started on 30mg, then went to 60mg, and now am back on 30mg. I can go for 3 days without it with no problem, but by the 4th day I start getting dizzy. I've been forcing myself to go without for 5 days and it is brutal. I have to hold on to things because I am so dizzy. My mind gets foggy and I have memory problems. This has been going on for a few months. Is there a easier way to wean off of this. This is just driving me crazy! All the doctor says, is that people claim they feel like electrical charges are going thru their body. What kind of an answer is that?
I have successfully withdrawn from Cymbalta Taking your usual dose every other day is nonsense, that is a 50% reduction on day one. I am 78 years old and was taking Cymbalta and Opana ER for lower back pain. Opana ER is great for the pain. The Cymbalta was started at the same time about 15 months ago. After month I was diagnosed with COPD, by three renowned LA doctors including a Pulmonoligst and Cardiologist and my personal physician. I started Cymbalta at 20 increasing slowly to 60. By the time I was taking Cymbalta at 60, my chest felt like I was encased in a metal jacket. My primary Dr. Suggested that I stop taking Cymbalta. I went down very slowly, by removing some Cymbalta from the Capsules. I went to 50 for a week, the 40 for a week, then 30, then 20, the 10. It took 30 day to stop Cymbalta. My COPD is gone and so far, no side bad side effects. My conclusion is you have to be your own advocate!
TO RON HARRIS - You said you took some of the Cymbalta out of the capsules. How did you know how much to take out? I'd really appreciate an answer.
Thank you.