I am finally going off of Cymbalta!! Hip, hip hooray!! But I'm really scared. I have heard that?

Thank you Minda, excellent suggestion. You are right, it is not be, but a chemical reaction.

PS: At this time, I have not even thought about going on something else. I have been on antidepressants for so long (about 23 years!!), I think that I want to "know myself" again first. I have recently really turned off regarding antidepressants. I am beginning to think that they are WAY over prescribed. When you read the literature, depression is the number one illness in the country, but when they couldn't treat depressions chemically in the 50's, depression wasn't even mentioned as an illness at all! I could be wrong, but the way the drug companies are pushing antidepressants, advertising, to doctors, they are the biggest money makers they have. I don't want a medication that has to be advertised for doctors for them to prescribe them.

Thank you Kat. I was already talking to my doctor today, and he said that if I need extra clonazapam during this time, he is happy to help.

We are in this together :) I have been on anti -depressant meds for about 23 years too. I also believe that they are too easily prescribed... Unfortunately I need them just like diabetics need their meds - I am such an Insomniac, and that compounds the depression. Its runs in my family - both insomnia and depression - I am sure its genetic!
Loved your other post..

Minda again, I should add that I just weaned off Celexa after 11 years too. The tapered approach really helped lessening the ups and downs. Try listening to music you really love that distracts and soothes? We're with ya

I really appreciate all the help!! I even worked out today, (if you call what I do working out :-), but that seemed to help. I haven't had a panic attack today, so I WILL NOT OWN THEM!! Also, as I am writing this, I have turned on my music too!

The best thing I do for helping myself on medication questions is to ask a pharmacist all the questions I have on a medication I will start on from now on. I have several I ask. I was giving an antibotic which nearly killed me from listening to the doctor. Thank God my husband told me to stop it even though the doctor told me to continue it till Monday, it was a friday when I called him. So you are right go with how you are feeling. If you are having bad reactions to the way doctor is weaning you let doctor know your not comfortable with going so fast. It's your body and we have the right to be a team player in our treatment. Knowledge is power. So asking here is good but also use other resources to help you learn all you can.

Thanks Dees. (I sent you a note before, but it didn't pick up). I will be careful with the weaning process.

Thank you Rajive. You are so sweet!

Thanks, you stay well!

Thanks Wendy. If you read my other posts, most of your answers are there. I don't know if I want to switch to another antidepressant. I am on narcotics for pain, and I am getting a spinal stimulator hopefully before Christmas, so that I can lower my narcs. I know that you get depressed with constant pain wearing away at you always, but I am starting to exercise again at a gym that has a hot therapy pool where they hold classes, along with sitting arthritis classes, and special weight machines just for core strength. I'm going to try exercise as my antidepressant. I never was suicidal, but again, who knows?? I just want to feel ME again.

Thanks Jaimelyn, that med sounds interesting, and I will definitely check it out. I am not psyching myself out, that's why I didn't want to hear horror stories. I know that they are out there, but I want nothing to do with them. Realistically, I know that this med is extremely hard to get off, but my doctor is working with me, and will stretch it out as long as I need. Heck, I've been on the stuff for years, so as far as I'm concerned, I can take years to get off of it.

Thanks Pledge. As I've told others, if this is too fast, I will slow it down. What I don't understand is if it only has a half life of 12 hours, why does it take so long to get off?? Also, how do you feel now, Pledge? Any different, more pain, depressed? Did you go on another med? Thanks

Thanks Marie, and i do need mercy :-) I don't think that I will have a hard time. I just know it!! But, I want to know about how your felt after you were off the meds. Were you in more pain? Why are you getting off of the opiods now? What is hyperalgesia? I know that after you are off of the pain meds for awhile, your opiod receptors go back to normal. Then you will know your "true" pain. You were on Cymbalta for five months?? What dosage, and how long did it take you to come off?

I believe I was on 120 mg. I will look and will let you know. It was A LOT. I built up over a long time. I have been on Opana ER for 1 1/2 years now. So I was taking it for pain, was on opiates, and had a consistent pain level both on Cymbalta and off of Cymbalta. I am coming off OpanaER for a million reasons--I don't think the pain is less with it, than without it. I probably have more pain being on these Opiates, than not on them. That is hyperanalgesia. Anyway, if people suggest doing a taper over time, I would really consider that. Is there a reason you aren't doing that? Much love, Marie

Thanks Gail. Great time I picked right before Thanksgiving and Christmas, and NEW Years, huh? I think that movie line was "Today was not a good day to give up cocaine", but then what day ever is?? I just want off of this stuff before my son's wedding in May. I'm sick of the side effects, especially the sweating. I start sweating, and I don't stop for HOURS> By then I am totally wiped out. I'm also sick of my mouth being so dry all the time, and I really want to lose weight. I will take as much time as I need. This is just a start. Did you start another medication after you were weened off? How long did it take?

I went off amitriptyline and yes, I did end up on another medication. Cymbalta! lol I went for about four months without anything at all except the Celebrex I take for arthritis, but in the end I was going crazy from the pain and had to take something. I am aware that I will go through withdrawal again with the Cymbalta if I stop it, but after going through it once, I figure I can do it again. It's a one day at a time effort, and I know what mistakes were made last time. I was titrated down too fast (she had me off it in 3 weeks, after 10 years of taking it) and I refused to restart it after I had been completely off it for a week, in spite of the problems I was having (nausea, headaches, etc). In the end, I figure it was worth all the upset. The side effects from the amitriptyline was just getting to be too much.

Terri, thank you so much for all the positive compliments and support!! I really appreciate your friendship

What are brain zaps? What do you mean by electric like feelings? How long do they take to stop, and when do they start?

Thank you Thor!! Good to hear from you! Hope all is well with you. I asked the pharmacist if Cymbalta came in any other dose besides 30 or 60, and he said no. So did my doctor. If things get too hard, I will start putting the meds in capsules and taking it that way. I have no shame :-) And you are right. I have weaned myself off so many benzo's that I dont' even tell the doctor anymore, and he is giving me as many as I need at this time.

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hey Thor, I just checked, and you are right!! There is a 20mg dosage for cymbalta. Now I can understand physicians not knowing, I mean drug reps want to sell the most for their buck, but pharmacists not knowing that it comes in 20mg? That is plain irresponsible, don't you think?? If I run into problems, I am going to demand that they get the 20mg dosage for me, though I'm sure that I will have to wait a few days "for it to be ordered and come in, you know). As of now, day three, I'm doing ok!!

I have heard that. I just don't want to swap out meds. I just want off of EVERYTHING!!! AGGGGGHHHHH I am so sick of side effects, and weight gain, and swelling, and dry mouth, and drowsiness,and not sleeping at night. I think you understand. I will ask for prozac as a last resort though. Really I am taking everyone's suggestion to heart. Thank you so much.

I am just through 7 days of my second Cymbalta weaning. Taking Prozac while weaning this time, and its definitely helping. Went from Cym 60 mg to 30 mg while taking one Prozac.. Next step is half a Prozac and 20 mg Cym, then quarter Prozac and 10 mg.
I have tried cold turkey, and couldn't do it with Cymbalta - I lasted 2 weeks (impressive) but the dizziness was mindlessly crazy, so I went back on it until I could get a decent tapering programme sorted out. I took it for depression for almost 3 years, and it just stopped being effective. I am moving onto Valdoxane now. Good luck!

I would guess that your headaches are part of withdrawl. It's also probably anxiety. If you don't get your sleep, you will have problems, big time. I take 1/2 of a .05 Lorazapam every night. Then I take 1/4 of .05 Lorazapam of a morning. If I get anxious in the afternoon, I'll take another 1/4 of .05 Lorazapam. That is 1 mg total in 24 hours. I sleep great and I haven't had any troublesome anxiety for a while now. Again, do this in tiny steps. Take your meds at night and rest. Do you ever get a massage? This would be a good time to try. If you have fibro, tell the massage person to be very gentle. Explain what you are going through. It needs to be very soothing and relaxing. Do just 1/2 hour first to see how you like the person. I sometimes do 1/2 hour so that I can go more frequently. A massage usually keeps me out of the chiropractor's office. Don't forget to BREATHE!!! Deep breathing controls pain sources. I'm so please that some of my suggestions helped. Don't forget to get hugs too!! Keep me posted! Wylene