Spanophile Posted December 27, 2006 Share Posted December 27, 2006 Does anyone know how to lessen Cymbalta withdrawal? I've tapered to 30mgs and I'm supposed to take it every 3rd day. Well by day 2 without it I feel absofreakinglutely nuts. Head zaps, strange zaps all over really. In fact I kept feeling like I was falling out of my chair the other day. I laugh and cry at the same time and have to get up from my desk and go somewhere so people don't notice. I was just put on Lamictal too - I don't know if that helps or makes the Cymbalta withdrawal worse! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Velvet Elvis Posted December 27, 2006 Share Posted December 27, 2006 Benadryl could be worth a shot. For future reference, here's this: http://www.bipolarworld.net/Phelps/ph_2005/ph1354.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wakko926 Posted December 27, 2006 Share Posted December 27, 2006 Does anyone know how to lessen Cymbalta withdrawal? I've tapered to 30mgs and I'm supposed to take it every 3rd day. Well by day 2 without it I feel absofreakinglutely nuts. Head zaps, strange zaps all over really. In fact I kept feeling like I was falling out of my chair the other day. I laugh and cry at the same time and have to get up from my desk and go somewhere so people don't notice. I was just put on Lamictal too - I don't know if that helps or makes the Cymbalta withdrawal worse! hi, spanophile My pdoc ended up giving me some xanax when I was coming off the cymbalta. Maybe you can ask your pdoc about that. I can relate to it so much - it was complete hell for me. Good luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Guest Posted April 23, 2007 Share Posted April 23, 2007 Does anyone know how to lessen Cymbalta withdrawal? I've tapered to 30mgs and I'm supposed to take it every 3rd day. Well by day 2 without it I feel absofreakinglutely nuts. Head zaps, strange zaps all over really. In fact I kept feeling like I was falling out of my chair the other day. I laugh and cry at the same time and have to get up from my desk and go somewhere so people don't notice. I was just put on Lamictal too - I don't know if that helps or makes the Cymbalta withdrawal worse! hi, spanophile My pdoc ended up giving me some xanax when I was coming off the cymbalta. Maybe you can ask your pdoc about that. I can relate to it so much - it was complete hell for me. Good luck. Coming off 60mg Cymbalta cold turkey almost killed me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AxXiom Posted May 4, 2007 Share Posted May 4, 2007 Does anyone know how to lessen Cymbalta withdrawal? I've tapered to 30mgs and I'm supposed to take it every 3rd day. Well by day 2 without it I feel absofreakinglutely nuts. Head zaps, strange zaps all over really. In fact I kept feeling like I was falling out of my chair the other day. I laugh and cry at the same time and have to get up from my desk and go somewhere so people don't notice. I was just put on Lamictal too - I don't know if that helps or makes the Cymbalta withdrawal worse! I went thru this too and it is awful. Here is what helped. I withdrew S L O W L Y. I mean I opened up capsules and took a few beads out when I needed it. Also, believe it or not, good old benedryl will easy the pain. I used the liquid and only took the amount that I needed. For me, a teaspoon or less at a time. It really works! I didn't have to take so much of it that it felt sedating. I hope these suggestions give you some relief too. Hang in there. It WILL pass. Peace, AxXiom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drama_diva Posted May 4, 2007 Share Posted May 4, 2007 thank god it will pass how long....wondering...how long...hoping.....corr! i been off it for 2 weeks and today got benedryl (yes -helping- i think) and valium from pdoc. argh this is so hard.so messy and so painful! i was on 60mg one month. then 30 one nonth. the last week of 30mg i tapered to only one every other day for 8 days then off. it is hell. that was on my pdoc advice. but actually today i am feeling a little better thanks GOD xx good luck to you all, great site, thanks to herr for helping me with this link Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Guest_cinnpop_* Posted May 13, 2007 Share Posted May 13, 2007 I hate Cymbalta made me feel more suicidal and depressed instead of happy. I was only taking 60mg. I had migraines with 30mg dose so the doc upped it to 60mg which helped with the migraines. Sleepy all the time. Started taking my prn ativan every day to help sleep at night and help with the depression (odd i thought cymbalta was for that). The last straw was feeling very suicidal and afraid to get off the couch or open the ativan bottle. So, i sat there until my husband came home. Quit both cold turkey. I was in cymbalta withdrawal hell for 3 days - mood swings like crazy, suicidal thoughts off and on, fever, headaches, eye aches, no energy, felt like i was in a fog. My doc said i could stop cold turkey with 60mg and only feel flu-like symptoms (DA!) Then after 3 days went into Ativan withdrawal - not liking that much at all. So, now Im taking ativan and feeling a lot better. Only felt suicidal and teary twice today (day 4 or 5). I found that cymbalta has made not aware of the days or time. I do suggest a benzo of some sort to help with the withdrawals. I would like to know how long this cymbalta withdrawal last. Anyone know??????? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest phadrea Posted October 8, 2007 Share Posted October 8, 2007 Does anyone know how to lessen Cymbalta withdrawal? I've tapered to 30mgs and I'm supposed to take it every 3rd day. Well by day 2 without it I feel absofreakinglutely nuts. Head zaps, strange zaps all over really. In fact I kept feeling like I was falling out of my chair the other day. I laugh and cry at the same time and have to get up from my desk and go somewhere so people don't notice. I was just put on Lamictal too - I don't know if that helps or makes the Cymbalta withdrawal worse! I stopped cymbalta 4 days ago cold turkey and was able to work the past three night ---12 hr shift -- I am a nurse-- benadryl did help lessen the body zaps-- but I continued to have the brain zaps--but was able to function Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Headless Chicken Posted October 8, 2007 Share Posted October 8, 2007 Does anyone know how to lessen Cymbalta withdrawal? I've tapered to 30mgs and I'm supposed to take it every 3rd day. Well by day 2 without it I feel absofreakinglutely nuts. Head zaps, strange zaps all over really. In fact I kept feeling like I was falling out of my chair the other day. I laugh and cry at the same time and have to get up from my desk and go somewhere so people don't notice. I was just put on Lamictal too - I don't know if that helps or makes the Cymbalta withdrawal worse! Note that people's experiences differ. I had a hellish time coming off paroxetine (Paxil/Seroxat) and it's best to do it slowly (like AxXiom said): take a smaller dose, but take it every day. Leaving out days sounds like incredibly bad advise. Lower the dose (slowly) only once you've stabilised on the new dose. Don't expect tapering to be linear, it can take longer to reduce from the lower dosages. As for Benedryl (the same stuff as Nytol, I believe), overdosing on it can have--ahem--interesting effects. Personally, I found the temptation too great Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rogerj1 Posted January 10, 2008 Share Posted January 10, 2008 I opened up the capsule's so that I could reduce as slowly as possible by removing the little pellets. Don't skip days as you're tapering off. If slow tapering is too much, you could even plateau for a few days at a loser dose before resuming the tapering. I was still getting a disoriented feeling when I'd turn my head 3 to 4 weeks off completely. Now I'm wondering if I need to get back on. My mood has definitely worsened. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quiet storm Posted January 12, 2008 Share Posted January 12, 2008 Yeah, definitely take it every day. I dont understand how docs are still telling people to take an AD like cymbalta which has a super short half life every other day. Thats just stupid. Seems like cymbalta is getting a rep for being a bitch to get off of like effexor and paxil. I'm not looking forward to it if/when I ever go off of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest frannie Posted April 13, 2008 Share Posted April 13, 2008 Does anyone know how to lessen Cymbalta withdrawal? I've tapered to 30mgs and I'm supposed to take it every 3rd day. Well by day 2 without it I feel absofreakinglutely nuts. Head zaps, strange zaps all over really. In fact I kept feeling like I was falling out of my chair the other day. I laugh and cry at the same time and have to get up from my desk and go somewhere so people don't notice. I was just put on Lamictal too - I don't know if that helps or makes the Cymbalta withdrawal worse! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest frannie Posted April 13, 2008 Share Posted April 13, 2008 Does anyone know how to lessen Cymbalta withdrawal? I've tapered to 30mgs and I'm supposed to take it every 3rd day. Well by day 2 without it I feel absofreakinglutely nuts. Head zaps, strange zaps all over really. In fact I kept feeling like I was falling out of my chair the other day. I laugh and cry at the same time and have to get up from my desk and go somewhere so people don't notice. I was just put on Lamictal too - I don't know if that helps or makes the Cymbalta withdrawal worse! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest frannie Posted April 13, 2008 Share Posted April 13, 2008 i too just got off cymbalta. i did it cold turkey.which yes i know i was not suppost to do it that way. but each time they lower the dose you go with withdrawals.but any ways i take benadryl for the brain zaps.i take omega-3,coq-10, b6.plus my one a day. i take 2 every time i feel it warring of. ussaly two twice a day with the benadryl.it really helps tremendlasy.drink lots and lots of water to help flush your body.my chiropracter told me about the vitamins. also you should speek with a nutritionalist about going through a health detoxification. cleans your system.the first two days going off didnt seem so bad but by the third day i was so ill didnt go to work or anything. thats when i went on line and people were saying take benadryl it works.its easier to go off that than cymbaltsa.i also do alot of praying. there is a light at the end of the tunnel. I WISH ALL WHO IS GOING THROUGH THIS MY BLASSINGS AND PRAYERS AND GOOD LUCK! keep telling your self it will go away.im on day nine and im sleeping better more energetic and alot happier. good luck and my prayers are with you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
technogiggle Posted April 13, 2008 Share Posted April 13, 2008 TAPER! this is critical. crack the caps open, pour out some of the beads, close it back up and down the gullet. take your time. Benedryl also kinda helps, as does B-complex. As for the brain zaps, here are things that make them worse: loud noises stress (heights, traffic, etc) lack of sleep surprises here are some things that make the zaps better: sleep, sleep, sleep soft music low lights I tapered slowly (over a month) and 6 days ago stopped altogether. I STILL get zaps. sigh... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JooolzRooolz Posted April 17, 2008 Share Posted April 17, 2008 I'm there too! I was on 200mg and tapered to 100mg over two weeks and then went cold turkey. I've been off Cymbalta since Monday and I'm going through it too!! -sleeping is a bitch -surviving life is a bitch -my right eye is twitching uncontrollably -I think I'm getting what people are describing as zaps -my anxiety level it THROUGH THE ROOF -I am indecisive and moody I've been trying to avoid taking my ativan but I think that is the next step. I got a massage yesterday and that really really helped (temporarily) I'm also taking my vitamins and HOPING this is over soon. Massive hugs to everyone else dealing with this shit. These meds. are suppose to help us..not make us MORE crazy. *gah* Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.