I have been taking 60 mg. Cymbalta for approx. two years. I just recently found out I was pregnant. I am six weeks along. Of course I wanted to get off from the drug as quickly as possible, but also do it is safely for both me and my baby. I have been slowly weaning myself off from the drug for about a week now. I started out only being able to go 34 hours without taking a pill but I am already up to almost 60 hours. My question is how long will this take for my withdrawal symptoms to start to fade? I have already noticed they come much slower, but the seem to kick in pretty quick when they do come on. I have dizziness, fogginess, vertigo, shortness of breath, and a general detached feeling. It goes from tolerable to bad pretty quick. My doctor was not much help. She only told me to get off from the drug by doing it slowly. I just want to be done with this, but I want to do it right. Any help or info would be so appreciated
Pregnancy - dr told me to slowly stop taking Cymbalta , how long will withdrawal symptoms last?
Question posted by mrsuramkin on 16 June 2012
Last updated on 11 August 2014 by Browneyedgirl428
7 Answers
Will you please elaborate on a general detached feeling? What do you mean? I know your post is over 2 years old, but I am currently 6 weeks pregnant and I have noticed that going from 60mg to 30mg Cymbalta is miserable!!! I hate brain zaps and worse of all, I started weaning myself off the 30 mg, which was incredibly stupid and I only lasted 36 hours, hopefully I can take 30 mg daily and my psychiatrist will be ok with it
Hello mrsuramkin. I have not read the previous answers and suggest a slow taper. The slower, the less harsh and more comfortable the withdrawl symptoms will be. Best of wishes and health to you, pledge
The Dr's advice was accurate, although it sounds a bit frigid. Find another Doc right away, one who will help you get off this horrid stuff the right way, with time and sometimes with the aid of other meds. Doing it yourself like this will continue to cause grimness, this drug must be handled properly. Hope this helps.
That's my fear is that this will continue. I just want to be done with it already! I have decided that I am changing doctors right away. Currently my family doctor is handling this issue, but I am finding a good OB first thing. My family doctor is a good doctor, but I don't feel like she has the time or the extensive knowledge that an OB would have. I also know I will NOT being going back on Cymbalta after the baby comes. With everything I have read and everything I am dealing with now, it's just not worth it. Thank you for sharing!
Believe me, it pays to go slow with this, really slow.
My daughter just had her first baby last Sunday! She also takes Cymbalta!! Her doctor told her that the benefits outweigh the risks and they kept her on the Cymbalta but cut her dose down from 90mg to 60mg. Like I said her baby was born last Sunday... they were BOTH to be discharged from the hospital last Tuesday morning... well... on Monday evening they told her that her baby was in withdrawal from the Cymbalta!! they had to keep him and they told her that they may have to transfer him to another hospital and that he may have to stay there for weeks!!! They started him on meds for his withdrawal symptoms and thank God... he is doing great and they didn't have to transfer him! They moved him to the Pediatric Unit of the Hospital that he was born in and he will be released either Tuesday or Wednesday of this coming week!! I am telling you this because no matter how bad the withdrawal is for you...
IT IS GOING TO BE MUCH MORE WORSE FOR YOUR BABY!! so please do what you have to do to get off of this drug as fast as you can!! I know that this isn't much help for you as far as your withdrawal goes but I just wanted to let you know what happens to newborns who's moms take this drug... My daughter was told that it was safe to take it in smaller doses and her baby is suffering because of it... I wish you luck and God Bless you and your baby!! :)
Thank you so much for sharing! As soon as I found out I was expecting I knew had to get off from this drug. I want to do it as quickly as possible and at the same time do it safely for both me and most importantly my baby. Your information confirms my fears. I will not be taking this med. throughout my pregnancy.
I'm glad I could help! Just make sure that you wean yourself off of the medicine, that is the safest way to do it for both you and your baby! When I read your question, I just had to tell you what we just went through with our daughter and our new grandson! I wouldn't want to see anyone other new mom or baby go through what they have gone through over the last week!! I wish you and your baby well... and I am looking forward to hearing from you months from now when you give birth to a beautiful, healthy baby! You are doing the right thing for you and your baby! :) Take care... and good luck! :)
How could a dr. tell your daughter it was safe to take that during pregnancy? I don't believe there has even been a study done. That is awful and I am glad that baby and your daughter are ok. I am currently trying to get off of cymbalta. I've never been on crack, but I think this would compare to it! Awful awful drug!
Just to be safe, call you OB doc and ask him/her what to do. I was on psych meds and my baby doc told me exactly what to do.
Just to be safe,
Sweet Hippie
PS... psych docs don't know much bout babies.
It is best to taper from this medication slowly overtime. I recommend reducing to 30mgs a day for two weeks. This means getting a script for the 30mg capsules. If the doctor is unwilling to do this then take the 60 mg pill every other day for two weeks. At the end of the two weeks go to every other day if using the 30mg pills or every three days if using the 60mg pills for another two weeks. At this point you should be able to stop without much trouble. You may have some diarrhea, headache and what are called brain zaps for another couple of weeks but shouldn't be too bad.
The way you are presently doing it, by waiting as long as you can to take a pill, is only making your body have a yo-yo effect; medicated for awhile then nothing for awhile. It is better to gradually reduce the concentration evenly.
I agree with Laurie, but I'd definitely get the dr to give you a script for the 30 mgs and not just take 60 every two days. I've been on it for years and I tend to feel like you've described if I miss just one. It always reminds me to go take my dose. With your hormone level being off kilter you're likely to have a harder time with the wd's. Congratulations! What a wonderful reason to have to taper off your meds!
Lisa
Have you spoken to your dr. about how to withdraw from this medication safely? Cymbalta is Very hard to get off of due to the horrible side effects & you have this medication built up.
I would definately talk to your dr. as they may be able to give you another drug to wean you off the Cymbalta. I wish you luck & congratulations on your pregnancy. Kathy
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Further information
- Cymbalta uses and safety info
- Cymbalta prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Cymbalta (detailed)
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