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Whenever a doctor writes a prescription, a savvy patient will ask about stopping it: when should you stop taking it? What is the best approach for discontinuing? The physician should warn that Cymbalta withdrawal can be exceptionally challenging. It may require extremely gradual dose reduction over many months.
One Reader’s Cymbalta Experience:
Q. I’ve been on Cymbalta for six years. My rheumatologist prescribed it for fibromyalgia neuropathy in my feet. (It felt like my feet were in a bonfire all the time.)
When I first began taking it, the pain stopped. But I developed depression and high blood pressure and gained a lot of weight.
Last October my husband lost his job. The Cymbalta was going to be nearly $600 a month. Since my liver enzymes were high, I decided to wash out of it.
It took three weeks to taper from 120 mg to nothing. The withdrawal produced “brain zaps” and violent outbursts in which I hit my beloved husband of 20 years, threw things and terrorized the dogs. I hit myself until I got bruises. My husband hid our guns and my medications because of the suicidal threats I made. I can’t sleep and the pain from the fibro is worse than ever.
Will this ever stop? I feel like I’m at the Hotel California, where “You can check out any time you like, but you can never leave!”
Troubles with Cymbalta Withdrawal:
A. Cymbalta is prescribed for depression, anxiety, nerve and muscle pain as well as fibromyalgia. Patients are not always told when they start this medication that stopping it can be challenging.
We have heard from hundreds of people that the symptoms of withdrawing from duloxetine (Cymbalta), desvenlafaxine (Pristiq), escitalopram (Lexapro), venlafaxine (Effexor) and similar drugs include electric shock-like sensations (brain zaps), dizziness, anxiety, irritability and hostility, digestive difficulties and nerve tingling.
Although the symptoms can last for weeks, they usually fade. We are sending you our Guide to Dealing with Depression, which discusses withdrawal and provides some non-drug alternatives for depression.
sierra
nashville
I am just curious how long your brain zaps lasted for. I am currently going through day 3 of my withdrawal and suffer from borderline personality disorder. I don’t like this drug. I don’t think it is really benefitting me to live my life to the fullest. Just need to know when you think it will subside. It is very debilitating. Thanks!
Gretchka
Nebraska
Not recommending anyone did this they way I did- I’m extremely bullheaded and once I make my mind up to do something I do it. I got off all my fibro/psych drugs cold turkey. I COULD NOT have done it if I had not eliminated processed food, processed sugar, and anything with the ingredient “natural flavor” in it first. That in and of itself cleared up some awful side effects I was having from being on all these drugs. The drug is sugar coated like candy. My body naturally started rejecting it. The drug also contains so many other things, it is nuts.
This nasty drug was a miracle, I thought. However, it is a nasty addiction. How else could you feel effects (positive) instantly like I did. I went through a pharma nightmare the past 6 years or so. Never again will I so blindly hand my well-being over to people who throw pharma at me like it was, in fact, candy.
Some day we will face it. We are what we eat. We are what we ingest. I knew all of this stuff in the 90’s. I’m going to be 46 this year. I FEEL like I’m reverse ageing right now.
It’s been a week since my last ingestion of any drug. I could feel how people without other crap detoxed from their bodies go through nearly impossible withdraw. It is not a “syndrome” it is withdraw. I would have ended up with seizures, convulsions, lock jaw, maybe even dead. I could feel how. The “brain zaps” I had when I would miss a dose of it- I could feel it differently, and now it is more like “body zaps”. My brain/stomach is rewiring my body back correctly. I’m sure there are years of nerve damage in my spine.
Taking back my diet and lifestyle was first. All else fell into place. Fired my DO, Specialists, Psych Dr. Searching for an honest-to-goodness general practitioner. Harder than you think, especially here in no-where-smack-dab-in-America.
Now, I am left dealing with and wondering why and how I let so many years of my life be dictated by doctors, who really don’t GAF. Fibro/depression turned into the least of my problems because Cdiff overtook my body, I had experimental procedures done on me, I’m still broke from ones that didn’t work. That sucks the most- knowing my quality of life was depleted, I was waiting to die. Now, I live each second, hopefully have a path to stop working in an office, which I hate.
And, like I said, it sucks. I knew all of this in the 90’s. 2000’s hit and boom! The cultural conditioning of low fat/science in food is good/take this pill got to me too. The recommended American diet is crap. I knew that too. That’s ok, I can’t save everyone and can tell that I am still detoxing, but that would be me- running down the street after her morning “exercise” of dance/walking/sweating with a carrot in one hand, natural cottage cheese in the other, just ate a half of a baked chicken last night ball of freaking energy. Better than can’t exercise because it hurts, mood swinging because of sugar addiction and feeling worse and worse and worse and popping another pill and pill and pill and pill.
It can be done. There is life after Cymbalta & all psych meds, stomach meds, allergy meds, etc.
alan
South Australia
I beg all of you to add yourselves to the “cymbalta hurts worse” closed group on Facebook. There are over 8000 members that will help you and support you to tapper off safely.
Karra
Minnesota
I have been on cymbalta for 4 months now due to a head injury, depression and pain. This pill did nothing to help. I decided last week to stop taking it. Just quit cold turkey. Nothing happened. My pain is the same, hopefully my weight will drop. No side effects or withdrawal symptoms. From what i’ve been reading I am one lucky lady to not be experiencing the nasty withdrawals. Bye bye cymbalta.
Sarah
Michigan
I have been on Cymbalta for 9 years to help manage headaches and RA pain. I recentry went from 90 mg to off the mec in a rapid reduction of just two weeks. My brain zaps pretty debilitating. I have been completely off the drug for 6 days. Should I ride this out or go back on a low dose and wean off from that? I am scared to put that drug back into my body. I am scared and not sure what to do.
Kathy
I was prescribed Cymbalta about 6 years ago. It really didn’t do much for my anxiety and depression. It never put it into remission. I feel like I have had a case of the flu for the last few years. About a year ago, I started to have anxiety attacks that woke me up very early. Not being able to sleep is awful!!!!! I made the decision to go off Cymbalta almost 3 months ago, cold turkey.
Horrible choice but I am in too long to go back. I will never, ever go back on this drug. It messes with your memory and makes you feel confused. I am taking supplements and doing acupuncture to get off Cymbalta and also Lamactal (I forgot to mention I was advised to take that also). It is so difficult but I will not give up!!!!!!!!
I was also given clanazapan and I have been using it too often, so I am quitting that also. There are other things you can do for anxiety and depression that are natural and safer. Withdrawal is the worst ever!!!!!! It is nice to know that I am not alone. The panic attacks and shaking inside, along with the sweats are memorable. Some of the things that help are epsom salt baths, meditation, yoga etc. Good luck to us all. We can get through this.
Lisa
Atlanta GA
Kathy, I used to take Effexor, and it took me 9 months to get off. Then Lamictal was fantastic except my hair came out in clumps. Switched to Cymbalta, and asked doc if it was difficult to come off as it was in the same SNRI family as Effexor. Was told no; it was really easy. Took it for a year and finally got sick of all side effects. Was told to taper off in 10 days.
I feel like I am in a living hell. The brain zaps I expected. Then came the fire/burning feeling in feet and hands. Severe acid reflux that is causing asthmatic shortness of breath symptoms leading to panic attacks, and my arms and hands go numb and tingly so that I can’t hold them up. Feeling stuffed up but don’t have cold or allergies. Severe ear ache and riniging in ears. Bursting into uncontrollable tears, bouts of severe anger when I just want to smash the house up. Feelings of “Well, if this is what life is going to be like then check me out now.”
I have to take Ambien just to get a night’s sleep. Weaned myself off the Klonopin months back and did great with the withdrawals. I now have to take them again some days for the severe panic attacks. Tried the Omega Three oil capsules, and they made my acid reflux worse. Taking three types of acid reflux tablets. Can’t eat and drink anything no matter how bland. And the list goes on. I feel like I am being tortured. Please tell me it eventually goes away because I don’t know how much more I can take. I’m even suffering from short term memory loss, vision issues, dizziness, clumsiness, bruising. Agggghhh!
Holly
TX-Texas
Maybe I was just lucky. After a few years on this drug, I was forced to quit cold turkey due to a problem with my Dr., insurance, and the pharmacy. I expected the worst but all I experienced was one day of feeling weepy and crying and then I was ok. I stayed off the drug for about a year until I felt the need to go back on it and I’m glad I did.
B Smithly
Southeast
Am tapering off Effexor XR. Suspect that my trembling and shaking, plus balance problems, are from this. Sometimes can’t even stand up due to the overall trembling. For some meds, weaning off slowly for a couple months is not long enough.
I now know there is a DNA gene test that gives a report for your specific gene group that defines which meds should be effective for you and which not, plus those that may cause too many side effects. Well worth it! Your doctor can order it.
K
AZ
I’ve been on duloxetine (generic) for two years, 60 mg./day. I had had excruciating sciatica for 10 years, and was at the point that I would rather die than live with the chronic 24/7 pain.
My dogs are my adopted children but I was even looking for homes for them for when I would no longer be here. My doctor prescribed gabapentin first, which helped some, and then the duloxetine. It has taken a while, but the combination of the two has reduced my sciatica by over 90%. Sometimes I even have NO PAIN at all! I couldn’t even remember what that was like. So, I don’t mind staying on this drug that everyone says is a nightmare to get off of instead of having dangerous back surgery. I can again hike for miles (I couldn’t even walk to my mailbox most days with the sciatica). My doctor said if I want to get off the duloxetine sometime, she will put me on a different drug that will help reduce the side effects while I’m tapering off.
By the way, everyone mentions “brain zaps”. Please describe exactly what they are like. I currently have sort of a thwap-thwap-thwap every 1/2 minute or so in my brain a few hours after I take the duloxetine, but it isn’t particularly bothersome. I can’t believe that is what people are calling “brain zaps”, but maybe these are just tiny hints of what happens when withdrawing from the duloxetine.
Lisa
Atlanta GA
The Cymbalta is awesome for fibromyalgia and MDD. However suffered too many side effects. I did not suffer the “brain zaps” until coming off the med. They are like little mini electric shocks in your head. I hear “buzzzzz, buzzzz, buzzzzz” sound every few mins. My hubby says my eyes twitch from side to side sometimes. I once read where someone stated the brain zaps sounded like two light sabers from a Star Wars colliding, which I thought was pretty accurate. I made a comment above about when I’m going through now trying to get off Cymbalta, and it’s a nightmare.
Kristy
Yes! That’s a great way to describe the brain zaps. I was only on 30 mg of Cymbalta for a month , then 60 mg for about a week. I was prescribed it to try to prevent migraines. It didn’t work. I was forewarned by a friend to wean off it, so I stepped down to 30 mg for one more week and was done. HOWEVER, I then had four days of back of the head explosive pressure headaches upon waking up. Then a few days after that came the brain zaps. I have had them before when going off other migraine prevention drugs (antidepressants and anti seizures) but NEVER with this frequency. It’s happening about 15 times per minute. I always called then brain and eye stutters in the past. My eyes feel like they are moving along with the zapping. It’s not painful, but really interferes with your life. Every time I turned my head or eyes, ZAP ZAP. Started to make me anxious and agitated. Becoming manic and panicky too. Dizzy. I feel like a pissed off energizer bunny with insomnia! My friends and family told me I was talking super fast and wasn’t myself. Crying bursts. I have never experienced anything like this. I am trying hard to get through it without taking meds for the withdrawal. But I teach in the fall and am dreading trying to deal with this. It’s almost debilitating. I feel like my head just won’t stop! Again, there’s no pain, but all this mental stuff takes its toll. Eventually, the brain zaps cause a migraine too. GOD help us all is right!
Kristy
And another thing….the biggest reason I went off was the severe constipation. Laxatives for two days. Then I called it quits and went off cymbalta. Bad drug, but if it would have prevented my migraines, I would have stayed on it.
AC
TX
While there seem to many with reactions to Cymbalta, I would also like to say that there are many of us with fibro where Cymbalta has changed our life for better. I don’t want to go back to my life before Cymbalta when no one could touch me. I have been on it for over 4 years and have no plans to come off of it at this time. I also do other healthy things for my body but none of them provide the neuropathy pain relief that Cymbalta does.
Shelly.
New York
I have the brain zaps I don’t like it I am currently trying to come off the medication
June
VA
I too, have experienced the withdrawal symptoms from taking Cymbalta for 3 or 4 years. I researched online and found that you literally have to take the capsule apart and count down the beads in them. My husband helped me do this so that I could wean off of Cymbalta. That drug may help people, but I gained weight from it, and wish I had known what I would have to go through in order to stop the med. It should come with a black box warning. The weaning process was very hard.
Sharon
I’ve never been on Cymbalta but after reading these comments I know they’re so typical of so many drugs. I have 5 drs I receive medication from and learned recently that 1 of them didn’t even know what other meds I was taking. That’s too scary and I use 1 pharmacy with 1 pharmacist but even now I’m concerned that he too has become a bit lax in his attention to all my meds. I do have many physical issues and Itake approximately 12 medications. It’s terrifying to think about the fact that I’m a walking chemical.
Luke
Doctors and their magic happy pills.
Kelsey
Ny
I was on 160 mg of Cymbalta, and began weaning off of it. I started getting the brain zaps and just thought it was uncomfortable and no big deal. Meanwhile, my wife and I have been fighting and mostly because I would start it. Then randomly start crying. I thought i was going nuts until I saw this website and it’s helped so much. I mean it still sucks because the withdrawal symptoms are terrible and getting worse but now I understand what’s up. So thank you all
Tara
Virginia
I was on cymbalta for a year. I went through 3 months of the worst withdrawals I have ever experienced, all the same ones that have been mentioned here on this site and several more that were not mentioned. I felt like I was withdrawing from heroin. I vomited profusely for 3 months straight along with the brain zaps, debilitating headaches, horrible shaking and tremors, vertigo, nerve tingling, violent outbursts towards family and friends, homicidal and suicidal thoughts, crying and screaming fits, serious memory loss and confusion, nerve and muscle pain, twitching, severe depression, anxiety and panic attacks, extreme weight gain and severe constipation which led to pelvic floor dysfunction and two rectal surgeries.
I now have chronic constipation and now I have to have another surgery. It has been 4 years since I quit taking cymbalta and I still have most of the physical and mental side effects, the worst being nerve damage, brain zaps and extreme memory problems. I have spent the last 4 years healing myself with all natural herbs, healthy foods, massage, acupuncture and being my own doctor. I go once a year to get a full blood work up to check thyroid function, blood sugar, cholesterol, etc. I see my GYN once a year to check for cancers and thats it. Anytime I have any symptoms I do research and treat myself.
Cymbalta ruined my life pysically and mentally. I have learned to except that these withdrawl effects may never go away. I have good days and bad days, and I don’t know if I will ever feel like myself again, but I do know that I will never take prescription drugs ever again. I have chronic pelvic and back pain, debilitating headaches and I don’t even take so much as an aspirin. I manage everything with heat and ice packs and natural herbs and supplements. Even though I have these issues, I still feel better than I ever did while on this drug or any other medication. I wish anyone dealing with the same thing the best of luck.
KrissyO
NYC
Same! I was on it for a couple years ’til I thought it was contributing to massive weight gain and anxiety. I weaned off but still felt like I was those addicts in the movies weaning off of heroine! I couldn’t get out of bed, I was so sick. Brain and body zaps, vomited for days and days in front of my poor young daughter, chills, name it. I’d been on every mood stabilizing drug and antidepressant and quit because nothing helped but none of them caused such debilitating withdrawal fx like cymbalta. Lexapro was bad brain zaps but that’s because I stopped cold turkey because I was actually feeling like suicidal. I knew I had to get off fast.
But looking back now I realize that during the years of taking cymbalta all my chronic back pain ceased which plagued me for years before taking it. When I stopped, a little while later, it came back very badly. So IDK if that had anything to do with this chronic pain but I do think it actually helped in completely taking it away! I wouldn’t go back on it tho, I don’t think, just because it was such a b**** to get off. But now I’m in so much pain, I miss work all the time.
Also, I’m completely off all antidepressants which makes me so happy. I’m no longer depressed but my chronic pain makes it hard to live normally now. I tell you tho, I’d rather be in pain than be depressed or even suicidal anyway. Nothing compares to the weight and danger of depression. Good luck to you all! :)
sue
Like most of you, I was not warned of the withdrawl symptoms. I have been on Cymbalta for 6 months, and although my headaches lessened and my twitching, my fibro pain did not improve enough to warrant me continuing. I told my doctor I was weaning off, but he did not tell me the horrible withdrawl symptoms… I was more depressed and weepy… suicidal thoughts, anger, anxiety… horrible. I would rather suffer with pain, then go through the emotional and mental trauma caused by this drug.
W.K.D.
USA
I took Cymbalta for 6 1/2 years for fibromyalgia. It helped me a lot with the pain and depression, but the usefulness would fade so my doctor upped the dosage until I was maxed out at 60mg. I’m glad I didn’t go higher on the dose, and my doctor told me that 60mg was the maximum, not 120mg. I developed a tremor in my arms and left foot. Last year, as the efficacy of Cymbalta wore off, I asked to try Savella. My doctor helped me through the slow withdrawal process, which was horrible! So much pain, crying, suicidal thoughts, I thought I would die. Then the Savella was no help, so I went back on Cymbalta.
Lately my pain was getting worse, to the point where I realized, to my horror, that I would wake up and not feel awful, but then I would take the Cymbalta and THEN I would feel awful! The next day I stopped Cymbalta cold turkey. Surprisingly, stopping Cymbalta this way has been easier than tapering off was. No brain zaps, although I’ve had some bad headaches. I’ve had very blurred vision, hot flashes (done with menopause 10 years ago.), dizziness and sweating. The worst has been diarrhea. It has been almost 3 weeks, and I’m glad I stopped. My doctor has put me on Amytriptolene, after mentioning that I really wasn’t maxed out on Cymbalta, and asking if I wanted to try a higher dose, which I did not, and so far things are going OK.
Cymbalta seems to have a toxicity level, at least in me, where it no longer benefits me. I’m happy to be done with it, and I’m trying not to fear the future too much, that of being in terrible pain. By the way, I also take Hydrocodone, which really helps and I’ve never abused it, and I haven’t been able to work for over 10 years. I think the stress of having to miss so much work, while withdrawing from Cymbalta, would probably kill me.
scott
uk
Only took cymbalta for 10 days before it turned me into an emotional wreck, cried and cried on this drug so decided to stop. Day 5 off it and I can’t sleep, suicidal, crying all the time, electric brain zaps. Moody. Mentally out of it. It’s getting slightly better. I’ll fight it. Thank God iv got an understanding partner. I’m just a normal bloke took this for fibromyalga. I’ll stick with the pain. Pure evil, please stay away from this drug. It’s the devil and that’s after 10 days, god knows how people have cut down from 120 mg to 0. Seriously scary
Kate
I was on 120mg cymbalta & 150mg lyrica for 6 months. In that time, I’ve gained 20kg due to being on cymbalta & lyrica, and not able to exercise much due to back injury from a car accident.
I had the brain spikes and all of the other symptoms while I was ON cymbalta, so I thought I’d flush them down the toilet 2 weeks ago. I now have massive chunks of time I can’t remember – and its making me even more stupid than I was when I was on it! I’ve gone from doing complex biostatistics in my head to barely managing to count the socks on the washing line…
No wonder all these people kill themselves! Trying to stay safe – wish I could get admitted to hospital, but I can’t take anymore time off work…
shana
uss
Cold turkey day 5- I am quitting from 120 mg daily taken for fibro and depression. Never ever ever ever again! I would rather be in pain! 6 hours sleep… in 3 days. Not to mention classic awful side effects. I wouldn’t wish this on my ex husband!
BGC
I took cymbalta for 9 years and stopped cold turkey 19 days ago. I had all the withdrawal symptoms mentioned in previous posts. On day 7 I found out my wife of 16 years was having an affair which greatly added to my nightmare of cymbalta withdrawals. I kept at it though and am feeling better every day. I have not used any other medication to assist with the withdrawal symptoms. Anyway, if I can quit cold turkey and find out my wife is cheating on me during the process then anyone can! Keep at it and don’t give up. It gets better!
LGR
Another vital thing to remember, especially in these days when doctors so rushed. First, be an Informed Consumer. Do your homework on not only all medications, but your specific health problems, and the physician too.
Beware of the ‘God Syndrome’ doctor. Easy to spot. When you ask questions he/she looks at you like, “Who are YOU to question ME?”
RUN from him/her as fast as you can. Because they think they are a God, if they ever get stumped with a diagnosis, do you think they would ever refer you to a specialist, or one with more knowledge/experience??? NO. Not worth the risk. If you have a catastrophic problem, disease, do your homework to find not only the best specialist, but medical center too.
Finally, and MOST IMPORTANTLY. I have had numerous pharmacists I respected tell me two things. #1, Not all pharmacists run the computer check of all medications and conditions, to see if any contraindicated with each other or for medical problem. Example. Prednizone and Bipolar. #2. Many physicians, understanding being overwhelmed, are not aware or remember “all” the side effects of the thousands of medications out there, both prescription and over the counter.
Your pharmacist is the most up to date, and most able to explain and answer any questions you have about that.
Beware, and be your own Best Advocate. Do your homework.
MM
I agree with you Cindy, 1000%. I used to trust my Dr’s implicitly and then one of them prescribed a codeine syrup for my 18 month old daughter. The Pharmacist refused to fill the prescription stating it was almost pure codeine and that it wouldn’t do anything to help my daughter, all it would do for her was to put her to sleep for a good long time, maybe permanently.
The Pharmacist was furious and was on the phone to the good Doctor when I arrived back at the Dr.’s office. Turns out he was just tired of me bringing my daughter in and thought all I needed was some sleep. To say I lost it on him is an understatement but the whole experience made me question anything a Dr. tells or tries to sell me.
Since that experience, I kept myself & my family away from Doctors as much as possible, preferring to eat healthy, exercise, think positive & meditate. My husband & I are in our mid 50’s now and take no prescription medicines. I was just in for my 1st physical in 8 years and I’m still as right as rain and so is my husband.
It just floors my Doctor who actually said “I don’t know what you’re doing but don’t tell anyone in the waiting room, I’ll be out of a job”. Health. It all boils down to eat healthy, exercise the body & mind, think positive, drink water. And listen to the People s Pharmacy, I have learned so much. Thanks Joe & Terry!
Cindy M. B.
Y’know, if a doctor urged me to take some drug like that, telling me nothing of the side effects or horrible problems going off the stuff (even if that happened to only a small percentage of patients!), and I subsequently suffered those problems, I would sue the pants off that jerk! That’s the trouble with doctors and why I rarely take anything a doctor says very seriously — because they pat you on the head, never bothering with the “small print;” obviously they think you’re an idiot.
They don’t do due diligence re your personal situation vis a vis the drug they’re pushing on you. And yet, confoundingly, they warn you against doing something even if there’s, like, one in a thousand chances anything could go wrong if you did do it! All to avoid any possible legal culpability!
I guess they’re not worried about culpability from NOT warning patients about side effects because they can just later say, “Well, all patients react differently; I couldn’t have predicted…” I have rarely followed a doctor’s advice on anything at all, and I’ve never suffered any negative consequences for it.
Carol D. E.
I went off of this drug and the withdrawal symptoms were awful. They lasted for three weeks to a month. Anyone who prescribes this medication should clearly inform patients that severe withdrawal symptoms are possible.
LC
This is very interesting. I was on Mirapex for a short time, only 3 months, and I’m still struggling with side effects a month after going off it slowly, and it made my PD worse. No wonder there are so many class-action law suits. However, there is a website ‘Point of Return’ which aims to help people successfully stop taking prescription drugs like cymbalta. It is a good information source. Cymbalta and other SSRI’s can make Parkinsonism worse too, which PD patients are not always told.
People need information sources like yours,
thanks
joe h
Had same experience with Lyrica, was hell for a while getting it out of my system. Have to weigh side effects against benefits.
TM
I too was on Cymbalta for 5 years. However I reached a point I didn’t feel it was helping much anymore. I also had gained 35 pound, my depression wasn’t controlled and I had to ease back my work schedule. It took about 2 months to wean from 60mg to nothing. In that time I was so nauseated I couldn’t eat much at all. I was more depressed and just plain difficult to be around. My anxiety was off the charts and the constipation it had given me over all those years had produced a rectal prolapse.
PJD
Along these lines could you possible do a piece on withdrawal from Vicodin? It was prescribed for me post total hip replacement. After using for about 4 weeks, cutting back to one or two pills a day in the final weeks, when I stopped entirely I could not get to sleep at night. I was so restless I was climbing the walls, even though my body is feeling entirely exhausted. Plus I have had some night sweats for the first time in my life. Is this all related to the Vicodin? Is there some relief other than just waiting it out? No one mentioned anything about tapering when I stopped so I didn’t. I asked my orthopedic physician about it and he said he had never had anyone actually get addicted to Vicodin and that this concern was overblown for the average person. I consider myself pretty average-no history of addiction or abuse, what gives?
O.G.
Yes, yes, YES!!!!! A neurologist I was seeing prescribed Cymblta for pain in my left arm. In just three days’ use, the drug turned me into a zombie. I had almost every black box warning possible. I slept 18 hours in a fog, didn’t know where I was, became seriously depressed, was nauseated, dizzy, and generally on another–and very sad–planet. All this for no pain relief at all.
Fortunately my husband was watching over me, and when I said to him “Am I home?” he replied “Yes…and we need to get you off that stuff now.” We discontinued the drug (and the neurologist, too) but even at just three days it took two weeks for it to completely exit my system. It was one of the nastier experiences of my life.
When I was lucid again, I filed a detailed complaint with the FDA. I urge anyone who has had a bad experience with Cymbalta, (or any other drug) to do the same. In my opinion, Cymblta is a dangerous drug that should be taken off the market.
Kit Z.
I switched from Cymbalta to Lexapro because I was concerned about that drug. Lexapro has been around so much longer
and deals with my obsessive thoughts. KZ
LGR
I have never been on these drugs. However, I did experience high levels of anxiety, digestive difficulties, new to me, fecal leakage, yikes, (am old) and nerve tingling. I had low level depression, weight problems, neuropathy in my feet. It felt like my legs and feet were in a bonfire, burning, especially at night, numbness and tingling too, every night. I thought most of this, except low level depression, which has plagued me for decades, was due to my lack of physical activity and age.
I felt hopeless, helpless, and now with this newly arrived gut problem, really frightened and overwhelmed.
Then I listened to Peoples Pharmacy pod cast with Dr. Perlmutter. https://www.peoplespharmacy.com/2013/12/14/927-how-grains-and-gluten-could-be-sapping-your-brain-power/
I found his website, drperlmutter.com, read reader’s comments on his book, GrainBrain, and even before the book arrived, read, explored his site, viewed his videos, educated myself, And so desperate was I, I began his diet.
I had always said I loved bread more than cake. Give up gluten, sugar? Shows how desperate and afraid I really was.
Began with his suggested day of a fast, so much easier than I would have ever dreamed. Then on to no sugar, gluten, adding 2tbs coconut oil in coffee, eggs, more avocados, other diet changes allowed.
Began Dec 8, 2013. Within several days, gut problems gone! Energy up, body now living on good oils instead of sugar, or sugar produced from all that bread I ate. The huge surprise is how easy, effortless this was. The oil staved off my hunger pangs and cravings, amazing to me.
Today, Jan 14, have lost over 20 pounds, weight not my goal, stress down, sleep pattern completely changed, major sleep problems before, now often awake before 6am, sleep quality better too.
Best of all, 2 nights ago, when watching TV, when my legs/feet usually on Fire, happened to attend, notice, that not only were my ankles, legs and feet not swollen like they were but my legs were not throbbing, on fire, numb and tingling.
Just goes to show that when you are desperate enough, your pain and fear so great, and there is science that you are able to comprehend that makes sense, you never know till you try.