How long will I be going through Cymbalta withdrawals?
Question posted by JenJen101 on 9 July 2013
Last updated on 26 April 2024
I've been taking Cymbalta for 8 years for depression and chronic pain. I started having terrible sweating, short term memory loss, severe depression, worsening pain, and many other side effects.
My Dr started slowly trying to get my dosage down from 90mgs, & after getting down from 60mgs to 30mgs, my side effects became unbearable. I forged on and now I'm on my 2nd day of taking just 5mgs of Lexapro, after going 3 days w/out taking Cymbalta.
I'm curious if anyone has successfully conquered this transition, and how long it took to feel somewhat normal? I'm aware it doesn't happen overnight, and I'm not asking for rainbows & butterflies-but the way I feel now is NOT good!! Along with the other stated side effects, I'm so lethargic and my brain is acting as if I turned the switch to off.
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Answers Page 18
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RadAngel28
9 July 2013
Hey there, good for you for trying to make the change after suffering those icky side effects. I understand! Because everyone is different the length of time it takes to get it out of your system will vary. I will say that something that helped me tremendously is cleansing my body, so drink tons of water, add lemon to your water as it helps to detoxify the body, eat lots of fruits, veggies, get lots of sleep, and mild exercise. Even a good multi-vitamin. All that really does help! Hope you feel better soon!!
Votes: +44
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JenJen101
23 July 2013
I've been following your advice, & even had a water filtration system installed so I'd stop filling up the dumps w/empty water bottles. The sleep aspect is not happening, still roaming around the house all night. Been eating healthy-that is if I can even eat. It all just seems to sit wrong & I'm either nauseous or on the can all day. Thank you for your advice!! I'm trying really hard not to vent my opinions about Eli Lilly & their, "helpful depression/chronic pain med", but I'll just leave it like this. If ANYONE even considers taking Cymbalta, please talk to your Drs, do as much research on the drug as possible, & if you don't believe you can withdrawal from a non narcotic-guess what? It really does happen & it's a nightmare!!
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SusanG0913
10 Nov 2013
I've been taking Milk Thistle and Flaxseed Oil, along with drinks such as sour cherry juice, green goodness to detox my liver (if I still have one). I hate Lilly and Symbalta for what they have done to my life. I started taking it almost 9 years ago after my 24-yr old daughter died, and I have steadily gained weight (60+ lbs), feel like an exhausted slug and hate the world. And tried weaning off 60 mg. slowly every few days until about 3 weeks ago. Now I want to die. What can I do now? I will NOT ever take any mg of Symbalta again. I am taking 1 mg. of clonazepam a few times a day, just to try to stay calm and/or sleep.
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sickofmeds
26 Jan 2014
Been weaning off this poisin after being on it for 6 plus years. Feel like crap. All symptoms that everyone else mentioned, but a throbbing headache on my forehead has left me unable to function!! Any thoughts or advice??? Thanks!
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Gail Patrice
1 April 2014
Thanks for this info. I am now withdrawing from Cymbalta too. And I started having lots of pain. I did not know about the pain or the short term memory loss aspect of the withdrawals so it is good to know that this is normal. Thanks again!
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allessior
6 April 2014
I would say this is generally good advice, but, I found that very rigorous exercise twice a day help A LOT. I mean things like full court basketball, or full field soccer, intense weightlifting, ultimate frisbee, martial arts, boxing, full field flag football.
In addition, "lots of fruits and veggies" is "OK", but, you must add major carbs, like pasta, and high protein, like a nice NY Strip cooked medium rare. If you don't add the high quality carbs, then you won't have energy. If you don't add complete proteins with fats, you will not repair broken down muscle fibers and the cells in your body will die more quickly from lack of fat, including brain cells.
Basically, even if you are tapering down slowly, you will have withdrawal sickness, although symptoms will not be as severe as they would be if you went cold turkey. You need to fight back against the symptoms by engaging in life more rigorously.
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nanaspoils
30 June 2014
I have went off cymbalta 60mg and have been on it for about 3 years for lower back pain, depression and fibromyalgia. I feel I'm on way to many medications these days and I want to regain some of the energy I had before and wow... I have had 3 back surgeries and the withdrawal of this medication is worse than any of my surgeries. I gave in after 3 days and took a cymbalta..now it's been another 4 days and no cymbalta..Thank goodness I am a stay at home military wife because working would be like trying to work with a bad bad case of the flu plus some..I just wish my husband wasn't deployed to Afghanistan so he could be here to help... I do have a deep tissue massager that helps me relax at night..it helps with the zapping sensation and headache..I use it on my neck and shoulders and legs and even arms & hands..I am taking it one day at a time with hope that I will feel better and the withdrawal symptoms will disappear..
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tulipgold
2 Sep 2014
JenJen101 It's been a long time, still having memory problems and some fog. How has your progress been? Hope you're through the storm :) ... Let me know?
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muszakman
26 Sep 2014
Try to taper off 10mgs per 3 weeks. Have dr give you limictal in small doses as it prevents brain zaps and seizure effects. I was on 120mg for 4 years, and had to demand dr take me off. He did it this way. Don't completely get rid of the effects, but you can ride it out. Took me all summer.
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kdennis14
21 Nov 2014
I understand your pain. I started Cymbalta 11 years ago. My 25 year old daughter died in 2003, this is when I was given this drug along with some others to help me with my severe depression. I am still on Cymbalta, have tried to get off of it and I cannot. I hope you are doing ok. Please feel free to message me if you would like. I miss my daughter so much. There is not a day goes by that I do not think of her. I have a hole in my heart as I know you do. Keep in touch. Karen
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Chloem1
15 Dec 2014
This helped me a lot, lots of water has helped lessen the side affects a great deal!
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donnalfitz
28 Dec 2014
i have been on 60 mg of cymballta for about 4 years i gained 45 lbs an have been just feeling awful my doc took me down to 20 mg for about 3 wks 4 days ago i stopped takin it all together i am having the shakes an like electric shock memory loss an cant sleep this is awful when will this stop
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EM02
19 March 2015
I agree the multivitamin idea has has helped me a lot with withdrawals. I started taking Cymbalta 4 years ago. I had 4 kids and about 2 years after having my last baby(which was also 10 months after I stopped nursing I noticed a severe moodiness around my period.) I saw my doctor and he recommended that I start taking an antidepressant. I told him that I only have moodiness around my period. He told me I could take something called Cymbalta two weeks before my period when I'm ovulating and then stop it when my cycle is over. I liked that idea because i didn't want to be constantly on a med. Boy was I misinformed! I cant go three days without bad withdrawals.
I looked on a website about Cymbalta addiction and it said that some people actually go to a treatment center to get help with withdrawals. Wow! That is terrible! My mom is on 120 mgs a day taking 60 morning and night for fibromyalgia. They doubled her from 60 to 120 when she was having panic attacks. Which were probably side affects and now the doctor made it worse by giving her more. I am having withdrawals coming off 30 mg. What is my poor mom going to do? She is in her 60"s and on 120 mgs. The day I decided to take my self off my 30 mg prescription of Cymbalta. I knew It was going to be terrible coming off because I have been out for a few days before and had terrible side affects. I spoke to someone who said that maybe having babies has depleted me of nutrients. I found a multivitamin that supports brain function and I take it twice a day as recommended for improved brain function. I have been exercising and taking naps during the day when I can and I feel far less withdrawals than I normally do. Today is my 6th day off. We will see how it goes from here. As for my Mom, I am going to talk to my Dad and figure out what to do. Maybe we will consult a treatment center on helping to wean my Mom off and get her real medicine for her fibromyalgia.
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jacjar
20 March 2015
I have been off Cymbolta for 3 days now and I feel horrible. I am sick to my stomach all day, getting this zaps in my head and face. So dizzy I can't driveI feel like crying all the time. If I would have know what I know now I would NEVER had gone on Cymbolta I hate it!!! How long did it take for others to get rid of all their withdrawals? It seems like ever day is worse then the last. I am now on Welbutin. .
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jacjar
29 April 2015
I tried to get off. I just can't handle the side effects. I would have crying spells and the zapping in my head and dizziness was worse everyday. My dr finally told me to go back on, at a lower dose, and try tapering down again. I am sooo afraid to try it again. So now I feel like I will have to stay on a med that I don't want to be on just because of these side effects. I would never recommend Cymbalta to anyone.
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kdennis14
17 July 2015
I am 65 yrs old. Back in 2002 my beautiful 24 year old daughter was diagnosed with a terminal disease. I was devastated. My Dr. put me on ... yes you got it Cymbalta. I have tried so many times to wean off. Here it is 2015, and I have to STILL be on it. The horrible side effects I just cannot handle. Karen
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WhiteMagick
29 July 2016
Saw my doctor today and he looked shocked and told me he didn't want me off the Cymbalta! I told him it was going to happen and now he thinks I'm mental. He gave no advice and had to bite his tongue regarding his thoughts. I saw his face and I know that look. But it's not his body. I did stumble on a website that offers help and nutritional supplements to ease withdrawals. I like what I've read so far and plan on trying it.
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WhiteMagick
29 July 2016
Saw my doctor today and he looked shocked and told me he didn't want me off the Cymbalta! I told him it was going to happen and now he thinks I'm mental. He gave no advice and had to bite his tongue regarding his thoughts. I saw his face and I know that look. But it's not his body. I did stumble on a website that offers help and nutritional supplements to ease withdrawals. I like what I've read so far and plan on trying it.
TJ
tjkrol
3 Sep 2016
Reading about what all of you are going through makes me somehow feel better. I am experiencing just about all the reported symptoms and at my wits end. I am limiting my diet to fresh veggies and high protein because I now gave SIBO too which I think is a related. I am also going to physical therapy, warm pool therapy and massage. It all helps a little. How long will this go on? Any success storues or suggestions?
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Jjpick11
25 May 2018
So this is eye opening and much appreciated. I started Cymbalta 10mg now for 3 weeks and after reading about it i realize my Dr dosent have a clue
