I have been taking cymbalta for over 5 years. I am horrified to have found out about how common "withdrawling" from cymbalta is, and the "truth" about the side effects of this medicine. I have never been addicted to anything in my whole life, so for me to try to eliminate this medicine is very devestating. My daily dose was 60mg. It has NOT helped much with my depression for over 1 year but it was a miracle for my fibro. My Dr. has put me on a regime of: 60mg every other pm, 30mg every other pm, and added 10mg of prozac every am. Ive only been doing this for 13 days, and Im not sure I can make it the next 4 days to my next appt. I am experiencing a persistent head ache, severe irritability, very short tempered, excessive eating, bouts of crying, confusion and am in severe fibro pain. Other people thinking of starting this medicine need to do their own research, dont just take your Dr.s word!!!
Has anyone successfully withdrawled from cymbalta? I'm not sure this pain will be worth it!!?
Question posted by deesjava on 3 Oct 2011
Last updated on 30 January 2021
The information on this page reflects personal experiences shared by our community members. It is not reviewed for medical accuracy and should not replace professional medical advice.
21 Answers Page 2
One of my doctors told me they are using Prozac to help weaning off of Cymbalta. Emptying out the capsules can be difficult. Wish Cymbalta would make different dosages. It would make the weaning process easier. Check with your docote on the best way t withdraw. I tried before and it was not worth the increase pain. maybe in the future. For now I am enjoying the decrease in pain.Let us know what works for you.
Sheila7281
I quit cold turkey and had a full mental break down. It was not good. TAPER!
Less than, Bless your heart, I hate to here that. Are you ok now? Von
Hi Less Than, Im sorry you fell so will. I hope you are doing better. Were all seeking help, dont give up. D
That was back in December, I had run out of meds and insurance and had no choice. I ended up in a closet for days crying. I am back on medication and fine now :D
Glad to hear you are better!!! Von
dear less,
so very scary for you! I am glad to hear you are doing better also.
:)
~Jillynnie
dees,
When my doctor decreased my Cymbalta from 60mg to 30mg, he had me open each capsule and pour out half of the little white dots and take them. I did this with very good success and no side effects. Can you speak to your doctor about tapering in that way? Perhaps you can divvy up the capsules each day and decrease say 1/4 of the pills every 3-4 days? ie: take 3/4 of the 60mg capsule for 3-4 days, then lower to 1/2 of the capsule 3-4 days, and so on until you are stable?
This may very well help in the wd process.
I do so hope this helps you!
Best to you!
~Jillynnie
Jilly, has good advice for you, maybe you should talk to the doc and do like she did. Sounds like a good taper. Von
Hi Jillynnie, I didnt know you can open capsules Thanks, I feel hopefull. D
Generally, you're not supposed to break, open, cut, crush or chew Cymbalta capsules because of the time-released dosage. It's suggested by the manufacturer that it won't work properly. Several months ago, someone on this site said that they had broken theirs open as well.
Jilly, 30 mg capsules are available. Why did your doctor suggest this to you?
from Wendy :)
Generally, you're not supposed to break, open, cut, crush or chew Cymbalta capsules because of the time-released dosage. It's suggested by the manufacturer that it won't work properly. Several months ago, someone on this site said that they had broken theirs open as well.
Jilly, 30 mg capsules are available. Why did your doctor suggest this to you?
from Wendy :)
Wendi,
I am SO sorry I didn't see this post. I swear I'm not getting all of my notifications. :(
Anyway, my doctor wanted me to go from 60mg to 30mg, and I still had over 1/2 of script of the 60mg. I guess he was helping me save money? He didn't seem too worried about splitting them open. I am sorry if I gave bad advice! But, he is a Neurologist and has a very well respected practice for over 30 years.
dee, do please check with your doctor before trying. But, it went extremely smooth for me. No hiccups.
best to you,
~Jillynnie
Hi everyone. I am opening the capsules of Cymbalta and I’m down from 60 mg to 15 mg now. It’s the beads that are time released so it doesn’t hurt to open them. Just make sure that you put your counted beads back in a capsule before swallowing them. There are many people who are doing this and we are getting off this drug (poison ☠️imo). Best wishes to everyone who is trying to get off Cymbalta and other medications like it. Cindy
I have 2 get off this cymbalta it's taken over my life in on 60mlg now 2 time days so can you tell me how you got off this bad drug please I need more info on how 2 get off of it
Hi Krysysldavis. I am so sorry for what you’re going through
Hi Krysysldavis. I don’t know why but my comment was cut off at the first sentence so I’m going to try to write it again and hopefully it will all go through this time. Cindy
Hi Krysysldavis. So I’m going to try again and I’m really hoping this comment gets through to you. I’ve been taking Cymbala (60 mg) for 10 years and I’ve been tapering off slowly since June of last year (2017) and I’m down to 6.5 mg now. This is how I have been doing it... I counted the beads in 3 capsules and added the numbers together. Then I divided that number by 3 to get an estimate. Then I subtracted 10% off that estimate number. For example if the estimate number is 360 you divide it by 3 which gives you 324. That’s the number of beads you put in the capsule. You use this amount for 10-14 days until your body and brain are stabilized. Some people have to go slower so try to not be in a hurry. I know it’s hard at first to count those little beads but you will be a pro in a short time. I use a black cloth and divide the beads into piles of 10 with a fingernail file.
When you get to the lower dosages it is advised to taper by 5% and hold it longer if needed. There is a weighing process that can be done if you find the counting too difficult so if you would rather do that just ask me about it and I will let you know how it’s done. I would like to know how you’re doing if you don’t mind. Please ask me anything and I will help you. If I don’t know the answer I will do my best to find for you. We have to stick together during these times and get through it together. We can do it and we will be Cymbalta free. Take care and I wish you the best. Cindy
I haven't done a withdrawal from Cymbalta but I did a withdrawal from amitriptyline and it was horrible. I went through about 3 weeks of severe headaches, nausea and extreme pain but it did settle after that, except for the nausea, which I had to control with an extended release gravol and it went on for about 4 months. The only thing I can offer is to taper off as slowly as possible and be assured that it will actually get better.
Is there a reason you are going off the Cymbalta? I stopped the amitriptyline because I had to do something about my weight and the amitriptyline was a major contributor to the weight gain. I have lost 50 lb since I stopped.
I started taking the Cymbalta in February, after I reached a suicidal level of pain from the fibro. I have decided that even going through withdrawal (if the med stops working) is worth it when the pain is controlled.
FYI, Cymbalta has been the worse RX I've ever weened myself off of. I've been on every high powered narcotic they make due to having Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome & numerous dislocations requiring surgeries. I had both patellas removed by age 33.
I started Cymbalta in 2004 for depression/chronic pain. Yes I believe it helped for awhile, but 9yrs later I'm in a much worse situation than I was prior to taking it. The weening off process is atrocious! The physical pain cannot be helped, the psychological pain could never be fixed, & the damage I feel Eli Lilly has caused me is enough to make me want to wring all of their necks!!! Cymbalta in my opinion is by far the worse medication Ive ever taken by a landslide.
Hello deesjava. I understand your concerns. I was on cymbalta, developed a very late, severe reaction to it, (At the time on it for over a year)and that was after stopping it for almost 2 months, going back on it and then the reaction.I think that your dr. should be increasing your prozac. That will help to curb the withdrawals that you're going through. And It might also be that your tapering is to harsh. You might just need to do it slower. Really hope that you find relief asap. Again, I'd increase the prozac, it should solve your delema.
I am on day 7 of cold turkey withdrawal after 3 years of Cymbalta/Cymgen. Crazy Vertigo! But it cant last forever and its better than being on it - it caused major anxiety when I moved on to the generic 3 months back. All the best! Remember, withdrawal symptoms DO go away:)
I have been on a withdrawal plan from cymbalta 60. Per dr's instructions, took 30 mg for two weeks, and then 30 mg every other day for two weeks. I have not taken any cymbalta since Oct 7th. Nausea is mild, but tolerable. I have had significant concentration issues. Not every day, but today, as an example, I had trouble staying on track at work. I took cymbalta for approximately 10 years. Am concerned how long it might take for these symptoms to go away.
I worked with my PCP to wean off of Cymbalta/Duloxetine 30 mg 1× daily.
I followed his wean down instructions daily and each day I slowly began to unplowed. Yes I had all the mentioned typical side effects but when I became a person my husband did not recognize from accusing loud outbursts to laying in a ball on the couch thinking of ending my life. This quickly ended up with my driving myself to the closest Emergency room and Baker Acted into their Phyciatric "Nut" ward for an overnight stay on a plywood mattress.
After assessed I was found to be in this state due to simply trying to live a life free from the additive drug Cymbalta. I now not only have my overnight stay on my medical records for the rest of my life, I also could not go back on Cymbalta fast enough to walk amoung the so called "living" again. But I plain to try freeing myself of "the Cymbalta cerse" again soon. I want to be me again.
Related topics
cymbalta, depression, anxiety, pain, back pain, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome (cfs), side effect, medicine
Further information
- Cymbalta uses and safety info
- Cymbalta prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Cymbalta (detailed)
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