Mood Disorder Community
|
| Author |
 Topic  |
|
|
craziecj
Starting Member
2 Posts |
 Posted - 09/03/2007 : 13:18:22
|
Just a summary of my opinions on this medication as well as HOW LONG IT TOOK ME TO GO THROUGH THE WITHDRAWALS/DETOX of this evil drug.
I would not recommend taking this medication. Honestly, it should be taken off the market. I can't beleive the FDA actually approved it. Things are great for the first few weeks and maybe the first month. After that, be careful about missing you doses. You'll become extremely emotional, aggressive, and/or many other things if you miss a dose. You won't realize that the reason you're like that is because of the cymbalta, but it is. The day I missed my first dose (about 2 months into it on 60mgs) I freaked out at my friend and stormed out of her apartment crying for NO reason. I continued to cry all day long and thought I was just majorly depressed and nothing could help me. I was having suicidal thoughts and to be perfectly honest, I have a lot of great stuff going for me right now in which case these thoughts should not have been there. The next day I started to do some research on the evil drug and found forums (tons) of people going through the same thing as I was: "Cymbalta Withdrawals". It isn't fun. It was probably the hardest thing I've ever had to do in my life and believe me, I've had to do some pretty hard stuff. I was getting this dreams that were taking over my body and I literally couldnt move or wake up. It was so scary. Amoung that you will be dizzy ALL of the time. Lightheadedness will not go away. You will be on the verge of tears pretty much all day and will have a breakdown at least once that day. These are just all withdrawal symtoms I've had, I think it's important to let ppl know. I don't know why doctors dont tell you about this crap. It's not right. Some of the side effects are apparent during with withdrawals as well as being on it: over emotional, aggressiveness, crazy dreams...if you have any questions let me know. This drug sucks and I wouldn't recommend anyone to take it. You WILL go through withdrawals and the drug benefits DON'T last forever aka you're going to want to stop. Basically, it's just not worth it.
With all of that being said I was only on Cymbalta for 2 months on 60 mgs and yea its that strong to have the power to make u go through that crap. I quit taking cymbalta cold turkey the day of the incident at my friends apartment. That one missed dosed was enough to scare the $*it out of me. I know quitting cold turkey is against what a lot of you guys think is right and to some point its not safe for all ppl. I decided to do it bc I read through all of the withdawals and ppl were experiencing the same crap I was even while tappering off the drug. So why not just get it over with sooner. No tappering bs for me (no offense at all).
So I stopped and I feel COMPLETELY better and its been 10 days today. I can say I started feeling myself again on day 9. I was on a workout regime before I decided to quit the med and after i quit it was impossible to work out due to the severe lightheadedness and the vertigo. Now I'm better with that. I just got back from the gym and ran 5 miles. I feel great.
I did go see a regular doctor he told me he had another person come into his office complaning of the same thing...he told that person to take 20 mg of prozac to help. (we all know prozac has to build in our systems, but the fact that neither of our psychiartrists tappered us off of that, that too was still in our system so the prozac would help with being able to function at work). I will take it for about a week (his orders). He was also shocked to see that I had never ever been screened for thyroid disorder or any other organ disorder that could be contributing to my depression and anxiety. So I reccomened going to get some blood work done just to see. No one should be on antidepressants if there is another underlying issue. That can just be dangerous.
Also, things I did do (that I learned from the forums) were take Omega 3 vitamins. I took two in the morning and two at lunch. At first I was able to eat anything at all so I couldnt really tell, but once I got my appetite back I could tell that they were being absorbed in my body for sure. I also started taking a multivitamin. I can tell these both helped with my mood. Also, if you have klonopin, it's not a bad idea to take it when you're feeling overly aggressive or emotional (esp. when you're at work- you dont need to go insane at work when u know its just withdrawals and YOU WILL get over them).
Another thing I did was go home to let my mom take care of me. That's something that helped me the most. I think it helped my recovery quicker. I was scared that I was going to be going through the withdrawals for a longer time than I did. But I didn't and I couldnt have done it without my supportive friends and family and of course my awesome mom. You need ppl to be there for you and what I've learned through all of this is that the people who can put up with you're over emotionality and agressiveness and cry fits are really true friends, those who can't and/or aren't there for you should really not be in your life anyways.
I know this is long but it's rather informative. If you have any questions feel free to ask. Even though I wasn't on the med for as long as some of you I do know that we all feel pretty much the same withdrawals. 10 days for me :D I'm back to normal.
oh yea I forgot...my best friend wanted me to let you know something. Here is our convo via aim:
Her: tell them in your message: your friend says she can even notice it in your voice
Her: you dont sound spaced out
Me: i sounded spaced out?
Her: always
Her: like you werent all there
Her: no offense im just being on the real
Her: (ghettoooooooooooooo phrase sorry)
Me: no thats important
Me: wow
Her: yeah like you were on another planet
Me: just for that two month time on cymbalta?
Me: or always?
Her: a little before too but i think the cymbalta made it worse
Her: i think that is just an effect of being on antidepressants, almost sounding "too calm" if that makes any sense
Me: yea i see
My mom says she can hear it in my voice. She can tell that I'm okay. She said that makes her happy and her happiness makes me happy. Couldnt' have done it without her.  |
|
| bluemorrow
Starting Member
2 Posts |
Posted - 10/04/2007 : 10:22:21
|
| Congratulations on getting off this horrible drug! Taking Omega 3 was a great idea. Interesting about you sounding spaced out, too. I've noticed people on some of these drugs seeming really out of it. |
|
| Laurie9905
Starting Member
2 Posts |
Posted - 09/18/2008 : 17:32:23
|
hi,Iam new. And hoping for help my doctor switched me from 90 mg. Of cymbolta to 20 mg. Of Prozac on Monday I fell horrible has anyone gone through this and if so how long am I going to b sick for ......
laurie andrade |
|
| Laurie9905
Starting Member
2 Posts |
Posted - 09/18/2008 : 17:40:25
|
Oh my god I know exactly what you are talking about I just did not know why I did the same this with my husband I told him to get out I want a divorce I was so irritated on that crap I hope Prozac is different!!!!!
laurie andrade |
|
| becy
Starting Member
1 Posts |
Posted - 09/26/2008 : 20:54:00
|
Hello,
I am new. never been a part of any forums. I have been taking Cymbalta for years. I am bipolar and am taking Cymbalta for the depressive side of my illness. Due to a current manic episode my psychiatrist advised me to take half of my usual dose of cymbalta which was 120 mg. I didn't have any idea that there were withdrawal issues with this medication. I apparently am taking the max dose of this med. I am now taking 60 mg and have been having a lot of the side effects that many of you have mentioned. It is very comforting to know that these side effects are "normal". I am going to wean myself off of this med and stay off. The noises and/or feelings that you call brain zaps do they sound like "squish,squish" to you? The worst symptom for me is the feeling that my head is going to explode. I am also dizzy and can't tolerate minor irritations. I'm glad I found this forum. I was causing myself unnecessary pain by trying to wean myself too fast. thanks.Becky |
|
| xek
Incredible Member (2000+ posts)
3278 Posts |
|
| |
Topic |
|
|
|
| MyTherapy Communities |
© MyTherapy |
|
|
| Total | Today | Yesterday | Topics: 27759
Posts: 273617 | New Topics: 0
New Posts: 63 | New Topics: 0
New Posts: 508 |
|  |
|
*Cymbalta Withdrawals Update*
