I have been on 60mg of Cymbalta for the past year due to Severe Depressive Dissorder and have recently felt like I was ready and in a much better state of mind to get off it as I feel I am ready and also sick of the side effects (It definently helped when I needed it). I taped my doses down from 60 to 30, then 30 every second day over the course of 2 months. It has now been 11 days since I last had it and the only way I can describe it is living hell! Some of the horrible effects I've been experiencing have been: Massive brain zaps (feeling like an electric shock charging through your skull), headaches which come and go all too regularly, extreme mood swings (feeling like smashing everything/everyone around you at the slightest annoyance), lots of frustration, loss of coordination and cognitive ability( to the point where it's scary even just trying to cross the road), feeling of utter uselessness and that nothing will change, dizziness, complete inability to feel/express any happiness, feeling completly vacant, memory troubles, getting caught up on all the bad decisions that I've ever made (sounds a bit stupid but all the crap keeps coming back), very vivid dreams (usually consisting of ultra realistic nightmares thus making it feel like I haven't slept), absolutely no motivation or energy, occasional muscle pains, perceiving things that aren't actually there, shortness of breath, irregular heart beat and what seems like mild panic attack just being in public places..The list goes on and I know there are people out there a lot worse off then me and I'm hoping that by posting this it might help other people too. I know this isn't going to last forever but all I want is for some sort of relief until these symptoms subside. The docs have put me on valiums which don't really seem to have much of an effect apart from making it easier to get to sleep at night (yay.. More time for nightmares :/ ). I have heard that Prozac is meant to make it a little more bearable. I am willing to try anthing at this point as I've had enough of it! I havent been able to work for a week( let alone leave the house) and I know it's only going to get harder to return the longer I have off. So if anyone has any advice that can help it would be greatly appreciated. Everyone feel free to comment with your experiences on getting through Cymbalta withdrawal. Thank you
Reading these type of articles and hearing of others experiences have put my mind at ease a little and at least stopped me thinking I was going to die
Relief from Cymbalta withdrawal?
Question posted by Haydz1988 on 28 Sep 2013
Last updated on 4 July 2020
10 Answers
I feel your pain. I have been on Cymbalta for 7 years for anxiety, and have gained so much weight on it. at least 50 pounds and can not loose the weight no matter what i do, so I have decided to switch to wellbutrin. My dr. had me on 60 mg. daily. Then she had me slowly add the wellbutrin as I taper off cymbalta. I was doing every other day for 2 weeks, then every third day for 3 weeks. I experienced mild brain zaps the last week. I took my last cymbalta Monday of this week, it is now Friday. Each day the brain zaps have worsened and I am loosing my mind. Today is day 5 without the drug. I am experiencing mild trembling, headache, Major brain zaps that hit several times in a row even just walking. I'm having some kind of "TRACERS" where I don't know if my eyes are actually shifting side to side but my vision is somehow impaired while walking or moving my head. I know brain zaps are mini seizures but good lord this is REALLY REALLY BAD.
I've been in tears all morning, I feel like I've been hit by a truck, I've had diarrhea today and I feel like I cant breathe, it feels like extreme anxiety. I've been drinking lots of water and gatorade, as I've heard that this is supposed to help ease the withdrawal symptoms... but i'm not seeing any relief. If I would've known it was this bad to stop, I would never have agreed to take this drug for my anxiety. THIS IS HELL!!!
Im so sorry you are going through this. Just know. IT GETS BETTER!!
I wouldn't believe myself if i didn't actually experience almost if not ALL of your side effects when tapering off from cymbalta.
I tell everyone i know if your doctor is ABOUT to prescribe cymbalta tell him/her no thank you!!
What's weird is the withdrawal didn't come until about a week after i was almost finished tapering off. It lasted about 2 weeks. I felt like death. My doc gave me a medication for nausea?
Prozac was going to be next but i declined it because i was nervous id go through withdrawal with that as well.
Just know you aren't alone and you will be ok
Hi I too have decided that due to the yucky and toxic side effects including being emotionally numb and disassociating all the time and continual weight gain and sleeping too much I decided getting off this medication was better then the awful side effects ... However I too have experienced some of the same withdrawal symptoms to some degree but I went on a high dosage of Wellbutrin and that’s really helping I have less brain zaps and I do experience some but not all day like it was 6 years ago , when I went off of it the first time... I do have the nightmares but still not like 6 years ago, I’m drinking plenty of Electrolytes and looking to eating Greek yogurt and other products that will help with my digestive issues with getting a off Cymbalta...
Anyway I also to have experienced some muscle pain and aches and some mood issues but I’m finding the Wellbutrin is helping and I’m starting to see good results even though I’ve only been without Cymbalta for 5 days... Hope u feel better and know your not alone... I have experienced all of the above the first time 6 years ago and got better from it within a 3 months
I went through the same thing three years ago. I tried going back on other antidepressants I had taken before and they didn’t work anymore.
I was so short with people I had to go back on the cymbalta. I felt better the first time I took it than I do now.
I also heard Prozac helps with withdrawals from cymbalta.
I hope you’ll be feeling better soon.
My doctor put me on a Cymbalta for pain control. It worked, but suddenly I had problems bruising (you also can’t take ibuprofen, aspirin, etc..).
I had to stop when my platelet count dropped too low to control bruising and bleeding. Doctor wanted to put me on another antidepressant, but I wasn’t depressed.
Wasn’t... now I want to die. My moods are cycling anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour. I’ve known my doctor for over 20 years since I was young, he hasn’t even had his nurse call and check on me since I refused an antidepressant. That feels horrible. But screw him (forgive my language although it’s nothing compared to words I’m using with everyone around me).
My fault for NOT reading everything I could on this drug. He said it was a miracle for Fibromyalgia (I’ve had it since high school).
Two weeks today that I last took Cymbalta. I stopped by my pharmacist to pick up a med for allergies and her eyes literally filled with tears she said she was heartbroken for me, that in just three weeks since she’d seen me I don’t even look like myself.
Cymbalta, my doctor, and anyone who says “I got off Cymbalta no problem” can all kiss my a** if I can stay off the toilet long enough for them to reach it.
... I don’t know what to say to help because I can’t help myself and at this point I’m questioning quality of life over quantity of life. I just hope that everyone suffering, struggling and in pain will find some relief and peace.
ps, when I read your comment about “yay.. more time for nightmares” I started laughing (not at you but because of how true it is). Even in hell there is humor, the devil enjoys a giggle or two so I hear.
Hi Lostlight. Reading your post has me almost in tears. I probably would be crying but I don’t think I have any tears left. When tapering off Cymbalta our emotions are coming back to life (so to speak). Before I started taking Cymbalta (for pain) I was always an emotional person. For the years while I’ve been taking Cymbalta I had no emotions; except anger. I had no energy or motivation. I ended up with more pain. So much pain that I was misdiagnosed with Fibromyalgia. I was afraid that I was in the beginning stages of Alzheimer’s because of the memory loss. I had high blood pressure, high cholesterol and high liver enzymes. I ended up gaining over 80 pounds. There were so many more side effects and I was miserable. I was only existing. I had no life. People say it’s the anxiety and depression returning when stopping Cymbalta...
well how do they explain it if the person never experienced anxiety or depression before taking and/or tapering off Cymbalta? I had given up and thought things would never get better. At times I thought I was dying and other times I wanted to die. Then I found a Cymbalta support group where there were thousands of people who were having problems with this medication and they were trying to get off it slowly and safely. There are over 21,000 people from all over the world in this group now. The files are full of valuable information. I never would have made it through without them. I’m down to less than 1 mg now (4 beads) and every side effect is gone. I have a life again. I’m getting out of the house. I own a car and I’m driving again. My blood pressure, cholesterol and liver enzymes are back to normal. There is life after Cymbalta. In this group there are people who have tapered off Cymbalta too fast and some have suffered for weeks, some for months and some have suffered or been suffering for years. If it’s been 2 weeks since quitting Cymbalta they advise to go back on Cymbalta and taper off slowly. I understand it’s the last thing many people want to do but tapering off correctly lets you get off Cymbalta and still be able to have a life, work or take care of yourself and others. Most doctors don’t understand that this medication needs more than a few weeks to be tapered off. They go by what the manufacturer says. Cymbalta was only tested for a few months so they have no idea what happens after we take it for years. Eli Lilly has been been sued for false information but they have paid out of court every time. Too many of us have suffered at the hands of Cymbalta and it needs to stop! I hope you check out the support group. Cymbalta really does hurt worse. I’m sorry you’re another victim of Cymbalta. Take care of yourself. Cindy
I completely understand and agree with cindy-59. I'm in horrid withdrawal from dropping down to 20mg from 30mg. I have joined a group as well with 24000 members! My doctor wants me to stop the cymbalta and take 10mg of prozac a day for 5 days. But I'm terrified to try anything for fear of feeling worse. My problem is a little different because my previous Dr prescribed cymbalta while I was already taking adderall which raises serotonin as well. So over a course of 4 months I began with horrible diarrhea and random vomiting every couple days to vomiting 5 or 6 times a day and through the night. I was poisoning myself and still am just to help ease the withdrawal. I've never felt such hell in my life and don't know which method to choose.
What happened to my reply to Haydz1988. ~~ I have been going through the SAME symptoms for over 4 months now, and more, while BAWLING, and I am NOT even a crier. I have read this from many... I see no light at the end of the tunnel. The only thing saving me right now is GOOD OLD DEPENDABLE VALIUM! ~~~ Does anyone else out there feel that Cymbalta Withdrawals causes PTSD or a form of that (Meaning you are permanently damaged)? ~~The government CONTROLS Valium, which does NOT mess with your mind, nor does Valium cause any of these HORRIFIC- SATANIC symptoms only satan can make you feel, BUT they are pushing Cymbalta, satans med. ~~~ I have never knew Depression before this. I am a former lung cancer / DVT-PE patient. I believe the Cymbalta was prescribed to get me to lower Valium... After going through this (Still in it) and Reading all of this from SO MANY others... is this a drug planted by the government to CONTROL the people...
WHY ELSE would this drug be ALLOWED to be Consumed. CAUTION EVERYONE: Do not take Cymbalta EVER and warn all you know. Cymbalta if taken, then you stop, you become a Hopeless Zombie... Read on if you question my opinion. I have NO DOUBT the Dr.s are made or paid to PUSH this crap. Also Cymbalta is lilly's #1 or 2 money maker. Not only is it a nightmare, once you stop it, you will have nightmares while sleeping or awake... LIFE becomes a nightmare! I am having to sell my house it is so bad... ***I must add, they say to eat well... WTH? I have always cooked from scratch... I am UNABLE to now. ~~~ Read withdrawals from Valium, NOTHING like lucifers Cymbalta... 6/27/2019.
Hi lilGTO. I understand what you’re going through. Getting off Cymbalta can be a nightmare; especially if it’s not tapered off very slow. I started tapering off Cymbalta (60 mg) in 2017 and I’m down to 1 mg. At times I really thought that there was no light at the end of the tunnel; but there is. Every side effect is gone for me now and I’m actually getting out of my house again. I agree with everything you said about Cymbalta! I believe it’s a poison to our bodies and our brains. If a person doesn’t have trouble with it I believe most eventually will. Then to get off this drug can be completely debilitating! Most doctors are being paid to prescribe Cymbalta and many of them are getting paid very well. Just check out Doctors Without Borders. Personally I don’t think Cymbalta should be on the market. Truthfully I don’t understand how it actually got approved by the FDA. It’s a terrible shame that this drug is taking people’s lives away from them. It has taken 10+ years from me but this is the last one! Cindy
Do you remember how long it took for you to come down from the withdrawal?
Everything you said about how you feel... i feel...
Hi Soccermomma86. The amount of time differs for each person. It depends on so many things; like what dosage were you taking, how long were you taking it and did you taper and if so did you taper off slowly? In my experience I was taking Cymbalta for over 10 years and I started tapering off in 2017 and I’m down from 60 mg to 1.5. The withdrawals have been manageable for me unless I tried tapering too fast. I hate to hear of what you are going through. It can be a living nightmare. I try to tell everyone to taper off slowly if possible. It really does pay off in the end. I wish you the best. Take care of yourself. Cindy59
Hi Haydz1988
The side effects you are experiencing are very common when discontinuing cymbalta. I've been there so I understand how you are feeling.
Try doing a search on cymbaltawithdrawal and there are many helpful forums with people going through the same thing as you. It helps alot to see all those who have gone through it and done ok.
Signs of depression in the first six weeks are withdrawal symptoms. Signs of depression after that are signs of the depression returning.
Hang in there you can do it.
I don’t know where or how you come up with the comment ‘during the first six weeks are withdrawals and after that it’s signs of the depression returning’ but it is the farthest from the truth that I have ever heard! I was prescribed Cymbalta for chronic nerve pain and I had no anxiety or depression before starting it. Not only did it not help me with the pain but it caused me to experience anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts. That’s how so many people find themselves back on these types of medications because doctors tell them that the depression is returning and they need to be on them again. I started tapering off slowly in 2017 and I’m down from 60 mg to 1.5 mg and those symptoms have disappeared. Along with many other horrible side effects. I did find that when I tapered too fast those symptoms would get worse. I am in a group on Facebook where there are over 18,000 people who are trying to taper off Cymbalta correctly.
We are proof that these types of medications can make anxiety worse or can cause anxiety. In my opinion and experience Cymbalta is poison and should never have been approved by the FDA. Take care. Cindy59
My doc put me on 10mg prozac and 150mg welbutrin to ease the symptoms, I ended up on effexor.
I also must add, that some of your symptoms may be from the initial depression. Antidepressants do not cure depression, they only treat it.God bless
Did they help reduce your symptoms or just zombify you like a lot of other alternatives of heard of? Were you on the prozac and welbuterin for long until you could stop them? Also how long was it until your withdrawals from the cymbalta got any better, because mine seem to be getting worse if anything. Although I am slightly becoming a little more accustomed to the brain zaps as they are so frequent (Still absolutely doing my head in though)
Re: to your 2nd comment.. I can accept that some of the symptoms may possibly be the depression returning such as loss of motivation and general feeling of unhappiness but all of these other things that are going on in my brain and with my body are like nothing I've ever experienced and from what I've read about other people going through cymbalta withdrawal it's become all to obvious that this drug has serious effects on your mind and body, and not just the return of previous problems. I feel as though when this is all over I will be stronger then ever and hopefully be able to ensure that I will never let myself get to the point where I have to rely on such a potent and controversial drug.
It did ease the symptoms, however, I was put back on another ssri so that is probably what stopped them. Please talk this over again with your doc, he will help. He can't support you if he doesn't know the Valium isn't working.
I am booked in to see him tomorrow morning and will discuss what would be the best route to take. It will help speaking to him with a little more knowledge of what's going on after a very restless night of researching as much info on this site and others as possible. Instead of sitting there confused and frustrated while he talks about all these different meds and effects of which I have no idea what he is talking about. I can also refer him to these posts as I've found it a lot easier to talk about it on here then face to face. Even though it does take me about 30 minutes to write one sentence... Stupid confused brain!!!
You probably took it down too fast. You should be doing this with the help of your dr. Just remember that if you feel better, its most likely got allot to do with the cymbalta, and stopping it can plunge you right back into depression, and it will again take a month for an antidepressant to work.
I was only told to go on it for a year as i have a fairly strong mindset but for a while there everything that I had been bottling had put me in a pretty bad way, which i know happens to basically everyone. I did the tapering as per the doctors instructions plus alternating the days of dosage due to 30mg being the lowest that they had. I was told that I should be fine going off the 30mg after one month but I guess not everyone reacts the same. They said that I can start back on the cymbalta and that should eleviate the symptoms. But that's last thing I could even begin to imagine doing. I would prefer to not be on any meds at all and do not want to be someone who relys on them to function for everyday life. But for the time being there has to be something that can help me get some sort of normality and quality of life back and return to work. This feeling is much much different to the depression I was going through before.
It's having a massive effect on me both physically and psychologically. I beleive that my mind is in a strong enough place to become myself once again but I just need to get through this nightmare. I am also keeping in close contact with my doctors and by the sounds of things it all seems fairly new to them, almost like they haven't done they're research into what I understand to be cymbalta discontinuation syndrome. Thank you for you comment though
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cymbalta, prozac, depression, anxiety, withdrawal
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