I’m weaning off of Cymbalta; at the same time, I’m going off of Xanax and Klonopin?

Question posted by Lahoftx100 on 12 March 2021

Last updated on 27 February 2023

I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Acute Anxiety, Major Depressive Disorder, and ADHD in 2005, re-evaluated and diagnosed with the same in 2010, and re-evaluated and diagnosed with the same in 2018.

I began with 120 mg of Cymbalta at night (2 60 mg capsules). I’m down to 50 mg per night.

Now, I’m taking myself off of Xanax (1/2-1 mg) - been taking Xanax a little under a year. Ive been taking this at night only.

I’m also going off of Klonopin (1/2-1 mg) - been taking 25 years. I used to take twice daily. I stopped completely after beginning Xanax.

I’m having weird withdrawal symptoms. The main system is that it feel like an electrical impulse/shock is going through my body into my head every few minutes. Some milder symptoms are nausea, upset stomach and dizziness.

Could my withdrawal symptoms be caused not only because I’m trying to quit cold turkey, but also because I’m not finished taking myself off of Cymbalta?

I’ve already been advised not to quit both Xanax and Klonopin at once, cold turkey. So, I’m going to run it through my doctor and determine the best route to take.

If anyone knows exactly what needs to be done as well as if continuing to go off of Cymbalta could be adding to my problems, please advise.

I am getting off of the Xanax and Klonopin so my pain management doctor will give me Percocet instead of hydrocodone.

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7 Answers

interlink 25 May 2021

Stopping Cymbalta is not pleasant. There is even a syndrome dedicated to it: Cymbalta discontinuation syndrome. One of the problems is the electrical shock you experience. I would concentrate on stopping one medicine at a time if I were in your shoes. Finding a doctor to help you through this is critical as others said. Good luck!

cleo130 14 March 2021

I have always withdrawn from one medication at a time, except for the first disastrous time that I thought I could do all of them at once. I ended up in the hospital and discovered that I had hypokalemia (low potassium) as well as low sodium. I really thought I was completely losing control of everything. I now understand that my body is a delicate instrument and must be treated with the utmost respect. It takes such a small amount to throw us off, so stopping one med at a time, under your doctors supervision of course, is the only way to go. Having a good friend to talk with helps as well. Best of luck to you!

Votes: +2

Lahoftx100 14 March 2021

I’m having the most difficult time getting off of Cymbalta. Once I’m done with that, I will never take that antidepressant/pain reliever again! This is the worst drug I’ve ever had to come off of! Thank you for your support ❣️

sara12345 17 March 2021

With so many comments where I commented above, I am not sure that you received my comment below, because you always responded to new info.

It is so great of you to respond to answers and comments. I am sorry that you are suffering from Fibromyalgia, CPS, and PTSD pain. That is a lot to deal with. I suffer from fibromyalgia and post-stroke pain. I wear buprenorphine patches (formerly Butrans) for my stroke pain which has been excessive, but my neurologist said that it is also prescribed for fibromyalgia. Before my stroke I was taking trazodone for my fibromyalgia which worked very well. Before taking that, it was painful to get dressed. But of course what works for one person doesn't necessarily work for others. It is a very old antidepressant which to my knowledge has not been used for depression for many years. It also is sedating which I like and I only need it at night.

Expand...

When I first started it, 10 mg put me to sleep, but now I am able to take 100 mg which works well.
The world's most knowledgeable researcher on fibromyalgia is Dr. Dan Clauw at the University of Michigan. You won't like this, but he says that the single most effective remedy for fibromyalgia is exercise. I have found this to be very true--just walking through a warehouse to shop, I notice a difference the next day. Although given my medical problems, I often cannot do much walking.
If you do look into the buprenorphine, it is expensive, but it has recently become available much cheaper in generic (which is not cheap with the original manufacturer, Rhodes which claims to be generic.)
Pain is my middle name it seems. I battle pain in so many places. Now a surgery that failed has added to my pain. I do wish you better days with your pain. I will be interested in what your doctor has for you now. And you may want to get a second opinion from another doctor if this doctor doesn't help you enough. Is your doctor a specialist, e.g. a neurologist or a doctor at a pain clinic? Again, I hope that you will find better days with less pain.

Lahoftx100 17 March 2021

Sara, I know I answered your message. I don’t know why it wasn’t posted.

Anyway, here goes:

I’m sorry about your “post stroke” pain. May I ask what happened?

I take trazodone for sleep. I take 400 mg per night. I used to take Ambien on top of that, but not anymore. I have insomnia really badly (another problem due to Fibromyalgia). I read that Ambien can contribute to Alzheimer’s. Xanax and Klonopin contribute to Alzheimer’s as well.

I have also read that exercising is good for Fibro. I try to walk 1-2 hours a day (at least every other day). Try to get my 10k steps in. Right now, I think I have Covid, which makes everything difficult. I have all of the symptoms except the respiratory symptoms.

I will definitely ask my pain management doctor about the buprenorphine patches. I don’t know if my insurance will cover it. Hopefully, I can afford them.

Expand...

Like you said “Pain is your middle name”. I can’t agree more!

What kind of surgery did you have that failed (you don’t have to answer if it’s private). Whatever happened, I’m truly sorry.

I won’t talk to my doctor again until April 7, when I have my next pain procedure. If you want to be updated, I will make sure I message you.

I have a pain management doctor, a “well-being doctor,”, who also has been my Fibromyalgia doctor since 2005, a Neurologist, and a Psychiatrist.

Thank you for your words of encouragement. It’s greatly appreciated.

Good luck on your continued journey. Blessings.

If you want to email me, I can give you my address or you can give me yours. Just a thought.

Again, thank you!

Lahoftx100 17 March 2021

I’m sorry about your “post stroke” pain. May I ask what happened?

I take trazodone for sleep. I take 400 mg per night. I used to take Ambien on top of that, but not anymore. I have insomnia really badly (another problem due to fibromyalgia). I read that Ambien can contribute to Alzheimer’s. Xanax and Klonopin contribute to Alzheimer’s as well.

I have also read that exercising is good for fibro. I try to walk 1-2 hours a day (at least every other day). Try to get my 10k steps in. Right now, I think I have Covid, which makes everything difficult. I have all of the symptoms except the respiratory symptoms.

I will definitely ask my pain management doctor about the buprenorphine patches. I don’t know if my insurance will cover it. Hopefully, I can afford them.

Like you said “Pain is your middle name”. I can’t agree more!

Expand...

What kind of surgery did you have that failed (you don’t have to answer if it’s private). Whatever happened, I’m truly sorry.

I won’t talk to my doctor again until April 7, when I have my next pain procedure. If you want to be updated, I will make sure I message you.

I have a pain management doctor, a “well-being doctor,”, who also has been my fibromyalgia doctor since 2005, a Neurologist, and a Psychiatrist.

Thank you for your words of encouragement. It’s greatly appreciated.

Good luck on your continued journey. Blessings.

If you want to email me, I can give you my address or you can give me yours. Just a thought.

Again, thank you!

sara12345 18 March 2021

Lahoftx100, I asked for you to be my friend, so that now you can accept it so that we can message privately. Thank you for your suggestion.
I had my stroke about 12 years ago. It left me with severe 24/7 migraines. I needed speech therapy to regain my word finding, plus a LOT of physical therapy for my arm and leg. Never regained my stroke hand to be able to hand write. It also left me with a lot of disabilities--most don't show. More when we can privately email.

Lahoftx100 18 March 2021

I accepted your request. I didn’t know and still don’t know where to find fried requests. I, very new to this!

Lahoftx100 18 March 2021

Tell me how to find friends, request friends, and post and receive private messages please ma’am. Thanks in advance.

sara12345 18 March 2021

It looks like you figured out how to get friends, because your profile shows many new friends. You just click on their name, then click on Add Friend. You responded to my request for you to be a friend, so you can write to me privately now. I am sending you a message now.

Lahoftx100 19 March 2021

Yes, I figured out some of it. I clicked on your name and friended you. I only have friended those who have tried to help me. Those are who I would call friends.
I private messaged you, but haven’t gotten yours yet. Just experimenting for now. Then we can go deeper.
Thanks again! Hope all is well today.

djwheeler1969 27 Feb 2023

I liked it when my neurologist prescribed Burtans Patches. But we moved (same state just different area) and no doctors would prescribe it. It helped my pain so much. The psychiatrist I am now seeing is helping my get off of so many Rx since I have been on too many that overlap all the other Rx. The Lexapro went from 20 mg to 10 mg and now 5 mg. When I am finished with my 5 mg I will be off if it. The anxiety and sleep medications are slower to get off of. I have cut those in half but he says it will be at least another month before he will cut them down more.
I wish you the best on this but I encourage you to get your doctor involved.

View all 10 comments

sara12345 14 March 2021

You are definitely trying to do too much at once! Getting off of 0.5 mg of Klonopin in increments of 1/4 of the pill at a time sent me into intense depression for a month each time. Maybe you won't get that reaction, but these drugs are not to be cut off so abruptly. Follow your doctor's advice, but I have found that doctors can be too aggressive with their advice. Instead start with your doctor's advice, then temper it with your own reactions for you to possibly need to go off more slowly than the doctor advises.

Votes: +2

sara12345 14 March 2021

Just interested in why you want to get Percocet instead of hydrocodone. Another option is buprenorphine patches which are a safe way to get opiates. And there are options for many levels of it--5, 7.5, 10, 12.5 and up to 15 mcg. So that you can taper off of them gradually if you want to. The new generic ones for it that are not by Rhodes are far cheaper.

Lahoftx100 14 March 2021

I wasn’t aware of this information. I’ll talk to my doctor about it. Thank you, Sara.

Lahoftx100 14 March 2021

I wasn’t aware of this information. I’ll talk to my doctor about it. Thank you, Sara.

Lahoftx100 14 March 2021

I think I’m immune to Hydrocodone since I’ve been taking it, on and off, for so many years. I don’t want to take more than 2 per day. I don’t want to ever get addicted! I want to try something else to see if it helps more with my Fibromyalgia, CPS, and overall aches from having PTSD.

I’m open to suggestions. So thanks again

Lahoftx100 14 March 2021

I’m open to any suggestions that will help alleviate my Fibromyalgia, CPS, and PTSD pain.

Just want to try something new since I’ve been on hydrocodone (on and off) for a long time (since 2005). I only take up to 2 per day. I will not get addicted!

Thought of Percocet because I’ve taken it in the hospital (after surgeries) and had good results. But, like I said, I, open to any other suggestions.

sara12345 15 March 2021

Expand...

The world's most knowledgeable researcher on fibromyalgia is Dr. Dan Clauw at the University of Michigan. You won't like this, but he says that the single most effective remedy for fibromyalgia is exercise. I have found this to be very true--just walking through a warehouse to shop, I notice a difference the next day. Although given my medical problems, I often cannot do much walking.
If you do look into the buprenorphine, it is expensive, but it has recently become available much cheaper in generic (which is not cheap with the original manufacturer, Rhodes which claims to be generic.)
Pain is my middle name it seems. I battle pain in so many places. Now a surgery that failed has added to my pain. I do wish you better days with your pain. I will be interested in what your doctor has for you now. And you may want to get a second opinion from another doctor if this doctor doesn't help you enough. Is your doctor a specialist, e.g. a neurologist or a doctor at a pain clinic? Again, I hope that you will find better days with less pain.

View all 6 comments

505eva 13 March 2021

After 20 years of taking Xanax, I successfully managed to stop. You have to go slow, It took me almost six months. Good luck.

Votes: +3

Lahoftx100 13 March 2021

Thank you!

Lahoftx100 14 March 2021

Thank you for the information. Congratulations on your accomplishment!

cindy-59 12 March 2021

I tapered off Cymbalta and it took me 2 1/2 years to do it without having withdrawals that landed me in bed. Yes it’s a long time but I felt better during my tapering off Cymbalta than I did the whole time I was taking it. The closer I got to the end of my taper the slower I had to go. The zaps you’re talking about is known as one of the withdrawal symptoms. Some say that magnesium helps with them. Nausea and dizziness are also withdrawal symptoms. For nausea many people find that drinking Garlic Tea helps. I’ve even heard that Garlic Lozenges help. So much about medications is hard to understand. I ended up joining a few support groups to find out which way to taper off multiple medications would be best for me. Some say to taper off one at a time, some say to taper off all of them at the same time and others say to taper off one a bit then taper off another a bit and so on (called the staircase taper). I decided to taper off one at a time.

Expand...

I tapered off Lyrica first and then Cymbalta. I’m getting prepared to taper off morphine (120 mg a day) next, then Alprazolam, then cyclobenzaprine then zopiclone. I’m not looking forward to finishing this long journey but the pain I was originally given all these medications for is gone so now I don’t need any of the medications. (Some of the medications were actually prescribed for side effects of the other medications). I have talked to many people who have run out of their medications, (sometimes because their doctors stopped writing them prescriptions) so they ended up having to cold turkey off one or more medications and it can sometimes take a long time to recover. We are all different so what works for one may not work for another. I hope you get this straightened out and figure out the best way for you to do this. I really think it might help you to do more research on other support groups along with this one. You really can never get too much information. I wish you all the best.

Votes: +3

Lahoftx100 13 March 2021

Thank you, Cindy-59. You’ve given me hope as well as a wealth of information! Good luck on your journey as well.

cindy-59 13 March 2021

You’re very welcome Lahoftx100. If things get too rough it’s usually recommended to take a break from tapering so your body and brain has time to stabilize. Take care.

interlink 25 May 2021

I hope you mean *ginger* lozenges and not garlic! Ginger always helps me with nausea, whether it's fresh ginger in my tea or ginger sweets / lozenges.

cindy-59 25 May 2021

Yes interlink I meant ginger tea and ginger lozenges. Thank you for letting me know about the mistake. Much appreciated

View all 4 comments

peeprview 12 March 2021

I totally agree with Wildcatvet. Just getting off one of these can be quite challenging. The Klonopin alone can take years to come off of, even a small dose, and I suspect may be causing the symptoms you're experiencing now. I know that's not what you want to hear. I'm surprised your pain specialist suggested you quit all 3 without offering further guidance. Please look up Klonopin withdrawal. And PLEASE do this with a Dr.'s supervision. You've done great so far on your own but it's time to get help now. Best of luck.

Votes: +4

Lahoftx100 12 March 2021

My pain management doctor did not say to go off of all three.

I’ve been weaning myself off of Cymbalta for quite awhile now. I was at 120 mg. Went down to 75, then 60, now 50. It’s been at least 3 months since I began doing this.

Since I haven’t been taking Xanax that long, I guess he thought I could go off of both at the same time. He did say to wean off of the Xanax. But I wanted to try and quit cold turkey. I was hoping that you guys would say that the symptoms would subside in a few weeks. Thanks!

WildcatVet 12 March 2021

Hi, Lahoftx!
I think you're trying to do too much too quickly. All three of these medications are very difficult to discontinue, they should NEVER be stopped abruptly, and withdrawal should only be done under a doctor's strict supervision.
You might do better addressing each medication one at a time and getting off one before you attempt to discontinue another.
It's good that you're going to your doctor for professional help... it's the ONLY way to do this successfully with a minimum of withdrawal symptoms which can persist for months and get worse if you do this incorrectly on your own.
Wildcat

Votes: +5

masso 12 March 2021

I definitely agree.

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I’m weaning off of Cymbalta; at the same time, I’m going off of Xanax and Klonopin?

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