Cymbalta Question

I agree with the previous posters. You can't just stop. I was on it for about a year and sucessfully weaned off based on my doctor's instructions.You have to gradually be weaned off. I don't remember the details (regarding dosage), I just recall that he lowered the dosage gradually.

I had a serious car accident several years ago that resulted in chronic pain and depression. I really think the cymbalta helped me get out of my depression. Once I was off the cymbalta for several months, we began trying for #2. When I got pregnant, my ob-gyn was concerned the depression would come back, but it didn't. I had a healthy baby girl and I didn't experience post-partum depression either.

You can do this; you just need to make sure it's with your doctor's guidance.

Hope this helps!

You did not mention the dose or how long you have taking Cymbalta.

This is one of the more trickier ones to wean yourself off of, depending upon duration and dose, your doctor should be able to prescribe a weaning cycle give the fact that you are so set on coming off it.

The 'brain zaps' are quite common and you might try having a strong cup of coffee and also taking Alleve or Motrin about 2-3 x week for the achiness, but not more as it will cause rebound issues.

It sounds like the diarrhea and stomach upset are your anxieties returning and it is starting in your gut with IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) symptoms. Did you have these same symptoms with anxiety before Cymbalta?

I highly recommend you wean yourself by following your doctors orders.

You REALLY REALLY need to be working through this with your doctor. I was on Cymbalta as a test subject, I did have sevear depression and after a year they decided to lessen the dose to start to wean off of it. THE DOCTOR was the one who monitored and suggested what amount to take. It took about 2 months for me to slowly come off of it, I had almost NO side effects because the doctor was very careful taking me off. Going off of it when still depressed or not having other ways to deal with the anxiety will only make matters worse and take longer to recover.

Your body is in shock! You made a sevear/major adjustment that your body is having a hard time handling. You really should be working this out with your doctor, strong drugs like this is not ment to be delt with by oneself.

You could explore diet and nutritional supplements that help with detox from the drug and help rebalance your hormone & neurotransmitter systems. Things like acupuncture and biofield/aura focused energy healing also help with restoring balance. The drug companies know that their drugs can screw up your system and make it uncomfortable to get off the meds - they are pleased with that since it leads many people to just stay addicted to their products. Using drugs to suppress psychiatric symptoms is dangerous, well-informed people work with natural healing approaches.

I'm not sure about your doctor, but I've been on 4 different types of anxiety and depression. I'm on Zoloft right now and the first month I took 25mg, then the second month I took 50mg. That is the dose I'm currently on. When coming off any of these types of drugs, the slower you go the less the side effects. Depending on your dose of Cymbalta, i would've thought your doctor would have start taking 25mg a dose off at a time, and do that does a minimum of 2 weeks, depending on your side effects. Rule of thumb I've been told is, that if it take 2 months to get into your system is can take double or triple the time to get off them. ( cause you have to ween yourself off them slowly). I hope you'll find some relief soon.

Is your doctor monitoring the withdrawal ? I have not come off it but I did just switch to another drug. I do know it is bad to come off of and you have to do it very slowly. Good luck !

Thank you for the data on how hoerrible this drug is-thank goodness you are getting off of it. There is a group called Narconon that has something called the Purification Rundown, and if you are planning to have another baby you need to make sure all that drug is out of you body, and this group can help you do that. Part of your responsibility as a mom is to make sure you make a great body for your baby-get all this drug out of your body to do that.
Anxiety depression is not caused by a lack of cymbalta- think about that- finding the underlying cause is important- usually a lack of B vitamins, and other nutritional problems- Weston Prcie.com is the referance we use.
Very well done to you for getting as far as you have in getting rid of this drug-
and for sharing this, so that others know how addicatve this awful drug is.
It is withdrawal. Makes one think about what that was actually doing to you.
Best, k

Hi S.Y. - I cannot remember then name of the drug that I was on but it was about 7 years ago. I tried to come off it myself also. OMG the side effects were horrible. I sympathise with you. I fully agree with the other moms who say consult your Dr. However at the time I was newly separated, 3 children aged 4, 5 & 6, no income, hardly any insurance and my Dr was in another town (we lived in the boonies). So the right way was not available to me financially. I did go to our local Homeopathic Clinic and the lady there did some kind of reading on me and recommended some supplements and it did help. It seemd like it took about a month to get my head back on right.
Good Luck
M. F

Research some good quality CoQ10 it's very good for treating anxiety AND helpful in assisting with fertility!
Eat well and NO sugar, no processed foods, it will help to clean out your body of the toxins from the drugs.