Cymbalta Side Effects

I am currently on cymbalta, I had to ween down to 30 mg a day 60 was to much. still have a dry mouth and nausea ocasionally, but if I forget this medication, I definitly know it, I get and awful feeling and become disorientated in a way hard to explain. I fear stopping this medication. if anyone has advise send it to me...

I have been taking Cymbalta for about a month. I was first diagnosed with major depression when I was twelve. I've been treated with tricyclics, ludiomil, mellaril, trazadone, prozac, zoloft, effexor, and paxil. This is the first antidepressant that I've ever been able to continue taking more than a few weeks without side effects problems. In addition, I have fibromyalgia, and it has greatly reduced my pain symptoms. Side effects I have experienced were nausea the first week or so, really dry mouth (so I just keep a water bottle handy), and it makes me a bit 'wired' so I have to take it fairly early in the day. Cymbalta doesn't make me feel 'flat' and apathetic like other antidepressants I've been on. For me, this drug has been a life saver. I take 20 mg 2x a day.

This is my second entry as my first did not show up. If the first entry shows up, please disregard this. I was on cymbalta for 4 months to treat depression. Within the first 2 weeks I was experiencing the common side effects. By the beginning of the 4th month I was experiencing the unlisted, rare side-effects...including extreme jaw pain, insomnia. I weaned off the cymbalta creating full fledged withdrawals. I was completely off the med, but was forced back into weaning. I'm currently on 10mg per day - home-made capsules since cymbalta's lowest dose is 20mg. I'm in my 3rd month of major withdrawals which have not eased up. Withdrawal symptoms include major brain zaps, flu-like symptoms, pin point pains throughout my body almost like fibromyalgia, withdrawal induced depression, night terrors -- though I already suffer from night terrors, the withdrawals have made them dangerous. Other withdrawal effects include audio hallucinations, and the feeling of the brain not connected to the body.

I am not going to be nice to cymbalta. I took it at 60mg for six months; spent another three months tapering it to "0" and the last 4 months (near the end of tapering, and following its discontinuation) with near death-like illness: constant suicide ideation; thousands of "brain zaps" and blackouts every day; convultions; vomiting 10+ times a day; unable to sleep at all -- even with ambien; incessant, debilating headache; sweating, sweating, sweating (day and night, hot or cold; deep, constant depression x10 worse before use of the drug; unmitigated, uncontrollable anger (just drop a paperclip); chills; blurred vision; intolerable body pain everywhere that did not occur prior to use of the drug; and more to numerous to list.

I wish to provide a response to those who have taken cymbalta for only a few weeks or month and report it to be "sunshine in a bottle". The true character of this drug comes only after months of use. Scores of people say the same thing: it was great at first, then something went wrong. I am in this group. They return to their doctor and the dose is increased. Shortly thereafter, a person begins to know there is a problem. We all know the music of our bodies and are acutely aware of what substance is causing a problem and the problems it is causing. For cymbalta it simply quits working and then causes the problems. Once you figure it out, and decide to quit its use, its too late. Instinctively, you know if you continue its use you will die; but you cannot simply stop its use. The withdrawal is pure HELL, and it does not seem to matter much if you slowly taper the dose.

I agree. Slowly tapering has not eased the withdrawals in the slightest bit. I might as well have just stopped cold turkey, but then if I did that...I would hear all the same excuses - "You stopped cold turkey, what did you expect?" Weaning versus cold turkey - there is no difference. The withdrawals are the same either way...and they are horrid.

I too felt pretty okay when I first started the cymbalta. Then just by a matter of 2 weeks, things started happening. But I accepted it, and continued with the med...eventually increasing to the therapeutic dose of 60mg per day. Then more things happened, but I continued with the med in hopes they would ease. Well they never did. They got worse. Cymbalta was my last resort as I am very sensitive to meds. Thanks to cymbalta...I will never ever put myself on another anti-depressant.

I am a former Cymbalta user for 9 months at a dose of 60 mg daily. It helps to decrease some nasty symptoms from Briquet Syndrome during treatment. My problems begin when I weaned from Cymbalta in a period of 3 months and a half. Major symptoms were:
Brain zaps, dizziness, severe fatigue, depression, some anxiety, blurred vision, heaviness on eyes.

Tried Cymbalta for vulvodynia. Now using Lyrica instead. Both seem to work on the pain, but the Cymbalta did not combine well with Trazadone (I tried it with and without, going off the Traz very easily but missing it) Cymbalta gave me TOTAL insomnia, going off the Trazadone just returned me to my usual poor sleep. Cymbalta made my eyes open very wide (I know that sounds strange, but i looked like I had thyroid disease!) and made me much more wired and loopy than the Lyrica, which seems to be working on the same symptoms very effectively.
I do not suffer from depression.

Was on Cymbalta for 2 years at 90 mg for anxiety. It helped me get through it...I started getting panic attacks after college and Cymbalta did help me. But when I went off, I did experince horrible withdrawal effects. I should have weaned more slow. I went from 90 to 60 then to 30 every other day. About a month or two after stooping my anxiety came back..So now I just trying to deal with it with out medication...Natural ways, food, excersize. The only side effects I had was sweating and weight gain. I am not overally against Cymbalta but I think it is important to wean slowly...Best of luck!

I've determined that the withdrawal effects from cymbalta are the same whether you wean or not wean. The withdrawals are horrid...there is no other word to describe it. I weaned as directed, was completely off the drug....the withdrawals were still going strong....and was forced back into weaning. Of course, the withdrawals have NOT eased up one bit for me. I know everyone is different -- I know these withdrawals are rare, but what's sad is, when and if they happen, there is NO HELP available. And LILLY, the maker of cymbalta....of course suggests for you to wean, but their lowest dose available is 20mg. How is a person supposed to wean correctly and slowly when the lowest dose is 20mg? This is why I'm forced to make my own capsules here at home, which isn't fun to do because my hand tremmors (from withdrawals) are so bad that the little balls inside the capsule fly everywhere. I'm just plain old tired of all of this. I want it to be over. It's now over 3 months of withdrawal hell. Still weaning...down to 10mg (home-made) per day. Due to drop to 5mg (home-made)per day in 2 more days.

I must admit, all the talk of bad withdrawals scares me, but after 20 years of trying different means of ending my depressive episodes, Cymbalta is the first real success I've had. With only a few breakthrough exceptions, I'm finally getting some real longterm relief from 20 years of terrible depression. Guess there's no reason for me to stop taking it.

Am just starting to take Cymbalta at 30 MG...would you suggest starting at a lower losage?

After many years of anti-depressents and no long-term relief, i used Cybalta for 2 weeks.30mg for 7 and 60mg for 7.After 2 weeks i could not take the side effects.I was constantly sweating and my neck felt so tight.I lost 10 pounds in those 2 weeks and i still have problems focusing my eyes,something crazy going on in my head(feels like shockwaves) and I have constant headaches.I will never try it again!!!

I was prescribed cymbalta for fibromyalgia pain and depression 2 years ago. At first, I thought this drug was wonderful. Pain was better as well as depression. However, I developed trigger point pain and tightness in my neck and jaw. Brain zaps and dizziness were very bad if I forgot a dose. I was very apathetic, had short term memory problems, and sleep problems. I started tapering in July and went very slowly. Withdrawals were the worst when I got to 20 mg. I have been cymbalta free since early Sept. I still have the occasional brain "whush" and dizziness. I was not prescribed cymbalta for urinary incontinence. However, since stopping cymbalts I have been urinating more frequently with an urgency that was not there before cymbalta. Hopefully, this will go away. I really believe that doctors should not prescribe this drug so freely. Please study long term effects and withdrawal in much more detail. thank goodness I found a website forum where others discussed openly the pros and cons of this drug. This definitely helped as I was tapering. Otherwise, I would have thought that I was totally losing it. I wish I had known the pros and cons before taking this drug.

I was on Cymbalta for about 8 months for depression/anxiety but has since quit cold turkey (when I ran out). During the last 4 months of being on the med, my PMS became worse with suicidal ideation, my level of lethargy/apathy was horrible, all I wanted to do was sleep. Anyway, now since quitting cold turkey, so far only 3 days, I am very dizzy at times, I get chills, break out into cold sweats VERY OFTEN, sleep problems, terrible & constant headaches, ready to cry at any moment, nausea, and other GI issues. I have been on other antidepressants (prozac, lexapro, effexor, & zoloft) and I think that Cymbalta has the worst side effects of them all. People need to know that Cymbalta is not a long-term helper. It stopped working for me after 4 months and the withdrawal symptoms are just horrid.

i have been on 60mg cymbalta for 6 months. when i 1st started taking it, i felt like i was bigger than my body. i was unbelievably tired all the time. i lost 8 lbs in the 1st 3 weeks, i had to force myself to eat. i stopped taking it for 4 days cold turkey, i felt irritated and went back on it for about 2 weeks straight. I am going through some personal funk, and i am really depressed. Now i feel like it's not working. one day i stay in bed all day, or like tonight can't sleep. this is crazy

(I posted this info before on "Ask A Patient," but was invited to repeat it here. I'm happy to do so.) My doctor prescribed me this poison as an alternative to Klonopin, which has worked very well for me over ten years (I suffer from severe panic disorder). He thought this stuff would be less harmful to my body. HA!!! After only one dose of Cymbalta (60 mg), I became deathly ill almost immediately--threw up all morning and into the early afternoon. I could barely move or get out of bed. At one point I was certain that I was having heart failure, because my entire body seized up and I could not move or speak. It took me a day and a half to finally sleep. List of side effects: blurred vision, sweating, shaking, nausea, vomiting, brief paralysis, tingling in extremities, fainting, heart palpitations, insomnia, severe abdominal pain, auditory/visual hallucinations, dizziness. ONE DOSE DID ALL THAT TO ME. Avoid this crap at all costs--and believe me, it IS costly, not only financially but physically as well.

Linda....30mg is the usual dose for starting out.

This is the worst antidepressant I have taken. Side effects for me were sleeping 18 hours a day, dry mouth, heart palpitations, irritable, my husband said that i was on pms the whole time and he deserves an award for staying with me, night sweats, sleep patterns eratic, nausea in the morning, food lost its taste, acne, menstural irregularity, apathy...and now that I am trying to get off this horrible drug that the company LILLY has distributed I am crying, dizzy, disoriented, seeing hallucinagens (colors are different), diarrhea, throwing up, nausea, irritable, night sweats, heart palpitations and ache....this is a highly addictive drug and WOULD NOT suggest that anyone EVER take it for ANY reason!!!

I have been on Cymbalta for about 2 years. I always questioned if it was doing any good, so I tried to go off of it. In two days I was a mess. I cried all day. I decided that it must be doing some good, until I read about withdrawal from it. It really scared me, but it scared me more to be on such a drug. I tried again to get off. I couldn't do it. Here I am again, after 2 attempts of suicide, trying to wean my self off this time. I have cut my dose from 60mg to 30mg for this last week, and today I started to feel like I had the flu. BUT, I am not stopping this time until I am off of this poison!!! I hope I have kept someone from taking this stuff by writing this. Good luck to all that are unfortunate enough to be on it.

I have been on Cymbalta for three months. I had problems so I weaned off as doc prescribed over one week. I was on 30mg per day and now nothing. I went to the ER last night and was given an IV to rehydrte and meds for nausea and headache. I am very depressed today and could cry easily, and have. I am a nurse and did not take the drug for depression but for spinal nerve pain. I am wondering how long this crap will last as I have a very responsible job and deal with people's problems all day long. The office manager at my doc was nasty to me and I feel apart after work when I was alone. I am tired, my stomach is swollen and slightly nausea today, etc. The doc had said I should be fine in about a week. Really? He gave me Phenergan for nausea, Fiorinol for headache and Zantac for anxiety. I took nothing yet as I hate medicine now. This sucks and is not worth any benefit it may have had.

The commercials on TV inticed me to try this as I have depression and neuropathy from Guillian Barre Syndrome almost 10 years ago. After 4 months (2 at 30 mg. and 2 at 60 mg.), I am returning to my doctor tomorrow asking to get off of this and back on my old meds (Paxil and amitryptiline). I feel like it has quit working. My anxiety level is through the roof, my jaw started hurting extremely bad every day, neuropathy symptoms have returned and I just about got myself fired from work with an outburst of anger that is not me. What a shame this didn't work for me. Hopefully it is working for someone. I'll find out tomorrow the plan for switching meds. Please say a pray for me as it looks like it will be a few weeks of hell while I get off of it. Good luck to all you others weaning off of Cymbalta.

I was on Cymbalta for about 3 months.I was taking it to treat the depression aspects of bi-polar 2. Nothing else had ever worked and we were desperate so we gave it a try and I have to say-while I was on it I had no serious depressive episodes BUT I had SEVERE diarrhea. So bad that I lost about 18 pounds in about a month. I stopped taking the Cymbalta for 5 days and it had no effect on the diarrhea so I assumed that wasnt it. They ran blood tests and fecal tests. They ran a tube down my throat and were about to put one up the other end trying to find out what was causing this. I was taking the maximum allowable dose of lomotil to try and slow the diarrhea and that only slowed it to 5 or 6 times a day. Then my doctor suggested I go off the cymbalta for a longer period of time. After a week or so THEN the withdrawals started and they were wicked. I felt like my brain was jiggling in my head for weeks. An electrical shock feeling similar to effexor withdrawals only worse and for a much longer period of time. It took about 3 weeks of NO cymbalta and then the diarrhea stopped. I keep seeing the advertisements on TV talking about constipation and I wanna scream "what about life threatening diarrhea?!?!?!" It was the Cymbalta that was causing it and its really sad becuase I have been on every single antidepressant and mood stabilizer available and the Cymbalta was the only one that showed any signs of helping me....... but dying happy? I think not

I went on Cymbalta for fibromyalgia pain. I also suffer from major depression. The Cymbalta didn't help with either, so after two weeks, I weaned slowly off the Cymbalta. The side effects were unbearable. I became suicidal, cried nonstop, had brain zaps, achy and flu-like symptoms, memory and concentration problems, and the list goes on and on. I could not work or function. My husband had to take off work and take me away for a week to try to get me away from any triggers or stressors. I am now in week 13 and I still do not feel well. I don't know if I will ever be myself again. This medication should have never been approved for use and needs to be withdrawn from the market. It is a very dangerous medication and action needs to be taken immediately!!

Ugh, I weaned off off Cymbalta this past 2 weeks. As mentioned on other postings the withdrawl symptoms are NOT FUN.

I'm glad I read these as I identify with the brain-zaps, dizziness, nausea, and feeling JUST OFF. At work this week everyone irritated me, I cried like crazy and the sound of son's voice and his constant questions put me over the edge.

I was on Zoloft once and the withdrawls are NOTHING compared to Cymbalta.

I'm glad I used Cymbalta to help my post-pardom depression for 9 months. It helped, but WOWEE! No more side effects PLEASE. They suck!

I feel spacey, crazy and have dry mouth. The weird thing is, is that I feel great in the mornings, then mid-afternoon I start to feel ill.

The one thing I do know is THIS TOO SHALL PASS.

I have enjoyed an appreciate the information on weaning from cymbalta. I have weaned off after taking it for 6 weeks. I couldn't hold my head up while taking it. It must still be in my system after being off of it for 9 days. I have cried, slept, and worst of all am so extremely dizzy that I shouldn't be driving.

I consider this medicine EVIL for the way it has effected me and my entire family for 9 weeks now. So do not take this medicine for any reason. Has anyone else experienced the horrible dizziness?

I have enjoyed an appreciate the information on weaning from cymbalta. I have weaned off after taking it for 6 weeks. I couldn't hold my head up while taking it. It must still be in my system after being off of it for 9 days. I have cried, slept, and worst of all am so extremely dizzy that I shouldn't be driving.

I consider this medicine EVIL for the way it has effected me and my entire family for 9 weeks now. So do not take this medicine for any reason. Has anyone else experienced the horrible dizziness?

I only took Cymbalta for about a week and a half. I stopped taking it at the advice of my doctor because it caused badly blurred vision when before I had perfect 20/20 vision. I only stopped taking it a couple of days ago, and no one seems to be able to tell me how long it will take for my vision to return to normal. I even called Lilly and asked them, and of course they won't say anything negative about their own product. Did anyone out there have this problem, and if so, how long did it take for your vision to return to normal? Thanks.

I was on Cymbalta for 3 months. Developed the jaw pain several people have described. I became a zombie incapable of feeling anything. It did nothing for my chronic pain which is why I started it. I have been tapering off 60mg for two weeks and have had to stay on Phenergan for the nausea. This drug is too potent for words. More research should be done on it's effects and terrible withdrawal symptoms. I hope I am not permanently affected. This should be taken off the market.

I'm afraid that cymbalta has permanently affected me. Why should I type anymore about it. What's the point anymore. It should be taken off the market immediately.

i have been on this drug for 2 weeks i am sick all the time and a head that i feel is just about to burst cant take no more.

posted by: Florica/10/17/06

Hi. I'm a high school senior that started on a combination of Cymbalta (30 for 10 days, then up to 60) and Lamictal. My first dose was at 3 pm today. Now I have nausea, my throat feels swollen, and i feel drunk (I feel like Im falling over and my hands feel like they arent connected to my body). The fact that nearly every post above is negative doesn't increase my spirits. My hopes are that people who have benifited from Cymbalta wouldnt look to research it and post about it.

I was prescribed Cymbalta 9 months ago after taking every other SSRI over the last 15 years. I started at 60 mg a day. It worked great at first for atypical depression, but after a month it started going downhill rapidly. I was horribly depressed, fatigued, and apathetic. My psychiatrist raised the dosage to 120 mg...yep 120! I was on that for 2 weeks during which I slowly got extremely depressed, had terrible anxiety, and generally felt awful. So my shrink told me to wean down over a week. I was only on the 120 mg for 2 weeks, and I weaned down as he said to. I've been cold turkey now for 7 days, and am starting to experience severe withdrawal symptoms: severe diarrhea, terrible constant headache that no OTC helps, extreme dizziness, vertigo, and an extreme sense of being on a strong narcotic or hallucinogenic: in that colors are WAY too bright like the contrast is turned up too high on a screen. I just had to leave work earlier today because I feel so ill and can't think. Driving home was actually frightening. These withdrawal symptoms are, in fact, terrifying! In the last 15 years, I've taken Zoloft, Paxil, Prozac, Effexor, Celexa, Welbutrin, Lexapro, and finally, Cymbalta. Nothing ever caused such horrific withdrawal symptoms as Cymbalta. I'm a high level computer professional and can't afford to be brainless because of this poison...yes I said POISON! I swear that I have not exagerated about anything I have said. This drug should be taken off the market as soon as possible! It only worked for a few weeks, make me ill and depressed after that, and withdrawal symptoms are far worse than my original depression symptoms. I'm about to contact the lawyers involved with the class action suit against Eli Lilly. This product is dangerous. I hope it doesn't cost me my job of 30 years.

I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia,and was put on cymbalta for it at 30mg 1x a day monday, October 16th,2006 I have NO apetite at all and have had to force feed myself just to eat, I would say that all the food I have eaten would amount up to probably one meal in the past 3 days. I have been going to doctors and hospitals up in Chicago to try and figure out a way to manage my pain, high blood pressure, ulcers, migraines, etc. Well this guy who I thought was a miracle doctor is now my enemy. He has potentially ruined my life and my body! After having a friend that was prescribed cymbalta for the same thing by the same doctor, and hearing how bad it was for her, I asked him about it when he prescribed it to me and he told me that it a great medication and that it works great and that it should, if anything at all just give me a slight bit of nausea, and I thought ok well i have dealt with feeling sick daily and I can handle this, WRONG!!! I went home that night and took that one little pill only 30mg. with dinner, and about an hour or two later I felt sicker than I have ever felt in my entire life.........way worse than any flu or anything I have ever had....and I have been sick ALOT since I was younger! Well that was just the beginning of the dropkick into hell! After having to lay there all night just awake enough to feel sick to my stomach all night, but not awake enough to fully be awake, I had to get up for work early the next morning! Well when I woke up I have an even worse migraine than I have ever had as well, it would not even go away with my prescribed migraine medicine and that stuff is strong! I believe but I have such a bad short term memory now becuase of this crazy pill but i believe that the migraine lasted all day at work and while I felt sick to my stomach all day ( did not eat all day no breakfast, no lunch no dinner), Well I also dont remember much of anything I did or said that day or since taking cymbalta! Whatever I say or do, is pretty much gone once I have done it, it is truly SCARY, if I talk to someone, I probably will only remember that I had seen and talked to that person, but not a clue about what we talked about! Well that day my I decided that after only taking it once and reading all the severe side affects it can most likely have on people, I decided to not take it that night, because it was only one time and I shouldnt have a problem after taking it only one time! Well again WRONG! About the same time I was due for it, I was throwing up what looked like coffee grounds (yuck I know) this was a Rare but Serious side affect of cymbalta. Not to mention blurred vision, feeling drugged all day, even more severe migraines, very low energy or concentration level, excessive sweating (hot then cold) throwing up, Itchy skin, Involuntary shaking (as if were cold) Anxious and paranoid, mood changes, high blood pressure (which I already had but was increased) It caused my joint, back, and muscle pain to become even worse than before taking it, my muscles were twitching in my arms, head pains, along with migraines, sluggish, and definetly feeling weak! I had all of these from just taking it ONE time! And when I told my doctor about this, he told me that I should just take it through the weekend, and that I would be fine. The doctor lied to my mother anyway, telling her that all of his patients had not had any problems with this drug, that's garbage,my friend that saw him on Tuesday had to be weened off of cymbalta because it is addictive and also because it made her so sick and didnt help her pain at all! He had an appointment with her right before he called my mom back about how cymbalta was affecting me, he knew all about her problems with cymbalta and still told my mom that all of his patients did great on it! Liar! Well anyway I really wish people could have be warned before taking drugs like this, because I should never have been prescribed this drug for pain without him asking for a family medical history (like your supposed to before you take cymbalta) and he also should have took into account that I already have errosion of the stomach and kidney/urethra problems since this medicine can cause and has been known to make those issues worse! But he knew about my stomach and kidney issues but yet still went on with his prescribing happy ass and gave me this poison, in which now my brain is like mush and I have had to re-read this post 6-7 times before now, cuz I really cannot think that well now and I have been off it for what? Ummm like 2-3 days! I have so many problems just from taking this drug, just once..........I really want you all to know and spread the word to anyone that has been or is thinking about taking cymbalta

Eli Lilly 10% profit rise is nearly all from Psyche drugs including zyprexa.

How have they schemed to squeeze more money from their zyprexa cash cow when pill production has actually gone down?

ANS-Eli Lilly profiteers have jacked up the price of zyprexa to the federal govt,from the Medicare D payouts.

Eli Lilly is a big drug company that puts profits over patients.

They covered up findings that their Zyprexa has a TEN times greater risk of causing type 2 diabetes

Only 9% of Americans trust big pharma,right around the same rating as tobacco companies.

Daniel Haszard Eli Lilly zyprexa drug caused my diabetes www.zyprexa-victims.com

I just found this post and you'all are scaring the hell out of me....I've been on Cymbalta for about a month and a half and have started have bad headaches and horrible constipation. I go to the bathroom once a week and on that day I cannot go to work because the pain is so bad. My stomache goes into convulsions and nothing will stop it not even phenigren. the episode ussually last about 12 hours. I stopped taking cymbalta 2 days ago and I am freaked out what the side effects are going to be like!!! Somebody help me.

I agree with that posters that took Cymbalta and had horrific withdraw symptoms. I am furious that my doctor put me on this stupid med! I was thin and atractive before, now I am really getting depressed because of the ridiculous amount of weight I have gained! Not to mention the horrible electric shock like sensation, in my brain! If I miss only one dose, I feel like I am having a hert attack or that I have a brain tumor! My Doctor lowered the dosage to 30 mg. But, I am so angry at all these side effects that I want to quit taking this crap or any other antidepressant! Does anyone know of a more natural approach to curing depression?

I feel for you all. My doctor for some odd reason has gotten mad at me. Cut me off my meds cold.. cybalta 60mg / hydrocodone 10mg (8per day), buspar 10mg, soma 350mg, and tenormin 150mg. Should be illegal to do this to people!

I have been on Cymbalta for over a year. I have lost tons of weight. I have a few side effects like jaw pain but I thought it was working fine for me. You guys are really worrying me as I often feel ill or woozy and now I'm starting to wonder if its the meds.

Do any of you get chest pains on cymbalta? I also get like a dip at certain times of the day when I feel weird. I take 120mg each morning.

I have been on Cymbalta for 3 months now and have seen none of these terrifying effects. Before Cymbalta I was on Lexepro-both for anxiety and depression due to anxiety. Benzos were not enough to handle the severe anxiety I was having my final semester of college. A saving grace for me has been to stay active in sports to keep myself in shape, as well as surround myself with supportive people. At this point I no longer have anxiety nor wake up depressed or nervous. I was hoping all was well. Hopefully the weening goes ok. I notice that if I miss one day, the next day after that I'm a little dizzy until I take my daily dose.

I have been on Cymbalta for over one year. I decided to go off because I discovered it was causing me to lose my hair, in addition it was making me sleep for hours on end each day. I have taken Lexapro and Zoloft in the past, but they began to no longer be effective for me. I found this site because I have been weening off for a month. I was on 60mg and weaned to 30mg. I have now been completely off for two days and I am experiencing horrible withdraw symptoms. I am dizzy, confused, have headaches, crazy dreams, vertigo, etc. I feel like I want to chop my head off. Does anyone know how long this lasts or does anyone have any advice for how to deal with this horrifying withdraw?

I started taking cymbalta one week ago for hormonal depression. I felt fine until the 5th day when I slept for 18 hours and proceeded to lie in bed and watch tv falling in and out of sleep for 4 days. I barely had the motivation to take a shower. I have also experienced exessive sweating, dizziness, constipation, restless leg syndrome and paranoid anxiety. I also am usually very social but haven't wanted to see or talk to anyone in days. Thanks to all of your postings I am definitely stopping it immediately and reporting my side effects to my doctor. Thanks for sharing your experiences and good luck.

I was on Cymbalta, 30mg once a day. I was experiencing extreme fatigue (sleeping 12 hours at night) and taking 3 hour naps during the day. After 20 days, I stopped taking the drug. I have been off it for 8 days and I feel SO SICK. I have gone off other antidepressants and have never experienced such sever side effects of withdrawal. I am dizzy, my eyes are extremly painful, I am loosing my balance walking, nausea, and extreme crying jags. This is unbelivable. My doctor said she has heard of this type of W/D from Effexor but not Cymbalta (sister drugs). Anyway, I just want to make folks aware (since Eli Lilly) doesn't of the sever W/D effects from Cymbalta. I am not alone either. Google "Cymbalta and Withdrawal". Horrible drug and I think patients should be severly warned of withdrawal side effects upfront.

I have been taking 20 mg of Cymbalta for three weeks. I suffer from lupus and already battle with fatigue, combined with the Cymbalta the fatigue is unbarable. I'm sleeping for 13 hours at night and then napping during the day. My mind is awake but my eyes can't stay open. My vision is blurred and I am constantly grinding my teeth. I have no desire to eat and have lost 8 pounds since starting. I called my doctor who said to take the dose early in the evening so I could sleep off the side effects. I tried this, but then I was wired after taking the med at 6 p.m. and couldn't sleep. If I take it right before bed I fall right to sleep but can't get up until after noon. My blurred vision is what scares me the most. I quit the drug cold turkey 4 days ago and the fatigue is getting slightly better (only slepping till 10 a.m. now) but my vision is still blurred. This is scary to me. How long will it take before my vision returns to normal? I don't wear glasses and have never had a problem with my vision before. If you have any experience with your vision being blurred, please contact me. I need some hope. This is a horrible drug and should not be perscribed to anyone.

I'm now in my second week without Cymbalta and feel there is life after Cymbalta. I did go back to my old medication - Paxil for depression and amitryptiline for the neuropathy. I believe I don't have a bad case of 'brain zaps' because I switched from one SSRI to another, but I can tell there is a feeling of withdrawl happening. Some days are better than others. Vision is not good today and I keep yawning. I will definitly be interested if a some type of lawsuit is started on this drug.

I develop my first case of shingles and am going thru menopause. I went to this doctor for the shingles not knowing what they were and he gave me free sample of cymbalta, he felt i was stressed out and this would help. Help my ass, i was proud of being off of paxil for a year, i took it for 6 years. I have been taking 30 ml for weeks and just up it to 60 the last few days. I have not been able to get a good nights sleep for 7 days and am starting to feel like a walking zombie. Thanks for all your emails, the nurse said give it til Monday but I will go crazy if i wait til then. I am going cold turkey and i too will never take another anti-depressant after this HELL!!!

I have been on Cymbalta since may. Started at 30 mg then moved to 60mg. I have had side effects, since starting it, increased sweating, irregular bowels and I have lost 30 lbs. I can't always eat. I have since gone back down to 30 mg. I have accidently skipped merely a day and the effects I had were horrible. My heart was racing I was crying uncontrollably, I experienced wooshing in my head along with brain zaps. My muscles were twitching ridiculously and I became very disoriented. I am starting anew job and I cannot handle the withdrawal while starting a new job. If I do not take the med at the same time I start to get disoriented. This is hell. I am petrified of how much worse it is going to get before I can completely wean myself off.

I too have been on Cymbalta 30mg for about 3 weeks now. During the first week I sufferred sever restlessness. It is passing, only if I take it early in the morning. I am a slim guy, but I have noticed a difference in my body, I have certianly lost weight. I have NO appitite, and I have to force myself to eat. 4 days after starting Cymbalta I blacked out at work fell over and slammed my head into a granite couter top and had a seizure, foamed at the mouth and stopped breathing. The ER and my Dr. neither denied or admitted that Cymbalta was the cause. Things have gotten better, but I get angry easily at night, and something just isnt right with me. I am certianly different than before taking this med. I twitch alot, and get very dissorriented when it wears off at night. Maybe this will pass, but I do dread coming off this med. I had less side effects with Crystal Meth.

i have been on cymbalta for about 6 weeks now. i am very disturbed by all the withdrawals i have read about on the internet and upset that my doctor did not go over this with me. i have only one kidney and have experienced difficulty urinating. sometimes my brain feels like it's at war in my head. i have experienced the "disconnected" feeling or like walking around like a zombie this was last Thursday. i've had headaches, stomach upset. one day i did not take the medicine because i was out and i got a severe tension headache that lasted two days now i realize it went away only when i took the medicine again. i'm terrified to run out of the drug because of the withdrawals. my doctor's gonna hear about it. i have kidney disease and that's right there in my chart and now i'm taking this drug and it could kill me. i'm so upset this needs to be pulled from the market RIGHT NOW before people die.

I have been very pleased with Cymbalta. I'm on a 30mg dose for anxiety and perimenopausal symptoms including hot flashes. My hot flashes are less frequent, my aches and pains are lessened, and my anxiety no longer gets in the way of being a functional human being.

I did have a scary experience this week when my pharmacy sent me fluoxetine (Prozac) instead of duloxetine (Cymbalta). The names are similar enough that I didn't catch it, and went ahead and took it for two days, and wept and became suicidal. I'm very glad to have my Cymbalta back!

Please people, I came here because I have a very dear friend who was just prescribed this terrible drug. I am a totally holistic person and have tried to tell her to change her lifestyle. I send her so much information from www.newstarget.com and www.healthranger.com Nutrition, supplements and exercise can do remarkable things to help a person cure themselves! psychiatry came here from Hitlers era and has continued to ruin peoples lives. I am copying and printing out all of your testimonies to give to my friend, before her life is made a living hell from this drug. Be well and stay safe from these evil drug companies!

I have just started this drug 3 weeks ago, for panic attacks/depression. 30mg first week and 60mg the last two weeks. These stories are scaring me too. So far I have lost about 8lbs. No appetite, this is OK with me, a benifit. But I slept last weekend away, could not get out of bed. I feel a little better now , but still lethargic. My anxiety is gone but still depressed. I also have been getting little twitches here and there and brain zaps occasionally. I have insomnia, but I had that before taking the med. My vision has definately gotten worse. What is up with that? Constipation is also a problem for me. I have never been on any antidepresant drugs before so have nothing to compare it to. I am thinking of stopping the drug.

CABOSUN PLEASE stop her. Today i am twitching so bad and having palpitationas and brain zaps sooo bad I want to DIE. I start my new job tomorrow, I hope I can pull it off. I refuse to take another Cymbalta no matter how bad this gets.

I went from 6o to 30 a month ago and 4 days ago I stopped completely. Everyday seems worse. I am taking Omega 3s B6 and B12 to help me get througt the day. I am also dtinkg Mega Green when I can stomach it. This things have helped and that is what is scary... I just want the twitching and zaps to stop. When will it stop?

Shara, I am so sorry to hear that you are going through this terrible nightmare of withdrawls:( I have no idea how much longer you have to endure this hell,but hopefully it stops now. AWFUL garbage that big pharma makes and then Dr's push it on people. Our bodies were NOT made to accept such TRASH! I am getting all of these testimonies to my friend today, and hopefully she will see the light! Do a google search on THE EVIL OF PSYCHIATRY. Also go to that www.newstarget.com site and www.curezone.com lool into doing a total body detox, such as www.drnatura.com to get this poison out of the system.

Here is a great article to read from the Newstarget site. Mike Adams used to be depressed until he found out about natural health. hugs to you all here. Lynn
http://www.newstarget.com/001352.html

Also, there is a great new wesite that you folk's can go to and report the HELL you are going through with this drug. www.dangerousmedicine.com

Just register and post under antidepressants
Hugs to you all! Lynn

I've been off of cymbalta for a few months now, i went through all the hell everyone has described. the problem is, when i quite the drug my pain level increased 10xs, i have diabetic nueropathy, osteoarthritis on the knee, and fybromyalgia, the pain is unbearable, and the narcotics i am on (all day) only temper it a bit. The dr has given me another prescription for cymbalta, and i am considering it, i did well on it as long as i didnt miss a dose... i just dont know what else to do, im only 50 and really cant go on like this

I started Cymbalta in June 2006 at 20 mg. At first it seemed to work well and I was becoming my old self again. I went back to the Dr and he kept increasing my dosage- first 30, then 40. The higher the dosage, the worse the side effects. I could't concentrate, I was losing hair by the handful, I was crying constantly, dizzy, blurred vision, and many more that I won't list -you'll see them all from what others have typed. And all the time my MD is telling me it's all in my head. Jerk! I wish Drs would take the poisen they give us for awhile and then maybe they would believe us! By the time I was back down to 20 Mg I was still having terrible problems. I started coming off Cymbalta 6 weeks ago and even at 20 mg I couldn't stop. Since that is the smallest dose I too have been opening the capusle and counting out the tiny beads. This is my second day without Cymbalta. The Dr. says it should be completely out of my system in 2 weeks. From what I read, it's going to be much longer. I'm having a rough time of it. Irritable doesn't even begin to describe it. Constant headache. Vision problems. Suicidal Idealation (which I never had before going on Cymbalta). To those of you who can take this drug and get relief I'm glad. For me, this and all other SSRIs, SSNRIs have been hell. For those of you going through what I am now, I wish you the best. For those who have successfully tapered and are back to "normal", how long does is take to get this evil, evil stuff out of your system completely?

I started Cymbalta in June 2006 at 20 mg. At first it seemed to work well and I was becoming my old self again. I went back to the Dr and he kept increasing my dosage- first 30, then 40. The higher the dosage, the worse the side effects. I could't concentrate, I was losing hair by the handful, I was crying constantly, dizzy, blurred vision, and many more that I won't list -you'll see them all from what others have typed. And all the time my MD is telling me it's all in my head. Jerk! I wish Drs would take the poisen they give us for awhile and then maybe they would believe us! By the time I was back down to 20 Mg I was still having terrible problems. I started coming off Cymbalta 6 weeks ago and even at 20 mg I couldn't stop. Since that is the smallest dose I too have been opening the capusle and counting out the tiny beads. This is my second day without Cymbalta. The Dr. says it should be completely out of my system in 2 weeks. From what I read, it's going to be much longer. I'm having a rough time of it. Irritable doesn't even begin to describe it. Constant headache. Vision problems. Suicidal Idealation (which I never had before going on Cymbalta). To those of you who can take this drug and get relief I'm glad. For me, this and all other SSRIs, SSNRIs have been hell. For those of you going through what I am now, I wish you the best. For those who have successfully tapered and are back to "normal", how long does is take to get this evil, evil stuff out of your system completely?

I started taking Cymbalta a year ago as a treatment for diabetic nueropathy. Within a week I was taking 60mg twice a day. It really helped with the pain I was experiencing in my feet and hands. I started having nightmares immediately after taking the drug. For the first 3 months or so I found the nightmares rather entertaining. Then the nightmares became personal! I started dreaming about beating, raping, and killing people I know and love. The dreams soon centered around my loving wife of 25+ years. Every night, every time I nodded off I was having horrific dreams of brutalizing the love of my life! I would wake up soaked and disoriented and it started taking longer and longer to discern reality from the horrors I awoke from. I could no longer sleep in bed with my wife and when she would wake me from these nightmares I would have to get her to back away from me until I could get a grip on reality again. The last straw for me was one night in bed with my wife after an intimate encounter I dreamed that I snapped her neck in the throws of passion. I woke up screaming, the bed was soaked and I was scared to get close enough to her to check and make sure I had not killed her. I called the Doc the next day and he switched me to Lyrica and Metanx to treat the diabetic nueropathy. It is helping the pain but the cold turkey withdrawl from the Cymbalta is severe. My brain is fried and the nightmares have moved into the semi-coherent state. I can not sleep. I have dropped off the edge into a dark depression and for the first time in my life I feel truly suicidal. I am not in control of my thoughts and my desires. I take so many other drugs for severe pain, Hypertension, diabetes, and nueropathy that I don't know which way to turn for help. It has been 5 days now since I stopped the drug via a 50% reduction for one week (that in itself was brutal) before stopping the Cymbalta all together. I fade in and out, my head constantly rolls thru the rushes and the feelings of blacking out, and my emotional responses have a hair trigger. Tomorrow I am supposed to start taking Seroquel to help boost the Ambien and clonazepam I take now to induce sleep. I am more than a bit leary at adding an Anti-psychotic to the mix. I too experience Vertigo and exxagerated colors and hues, from the Cymbalta while taking it and now while kicking it. Please read each of these comments and research any and all drugs prescibed to you before blindly swallowing the newest, latest and greatest pill to be pushed upon your Doctor. BTW I found the effectiveness of the drug to quickly rise and reach a plateau that deceptively started to receed after the first six months of use. by then I took it twice a day as prescribed just to keep from feeling so ill. If I missed a dose I would get dizzy, sick to my stomach, vomit, experience very flu-like symptoms and became lethargic. If not taking a pill makes you sick you WILL take it without thinking much about it just to keep feeling normal. Constant sweating and rapid weight gain without changing my diet were also problems I encountered. User beware!

maybe i am one of the lucky ones, i have been on it for a month, i am taking it for pmd, (pre menstral disorder)i have forgotten to take it up to three days, no problems, it pulled me outta a real bad spell of pms it seemed to last at least 3 weeks, the only thing i seem to be having now is very vivid dreams like every night, not bad dreams just weird and very life like, i came here looking to see if the meds could be why, now i'm scared shitless, not to offend anyone here, but you cannot take a pill once and be messed up forever, and no way do withdraws go on for months, and to tell ya strait up, no doctor is going to subscribe the good meds to anyone who they think might be a pill hound, it's just how they have to be, this med is not suposed to taken for long periods of time, i was told it's used to just pull your head above water, which thank god it did, i am not a depressed person, just felt pms was outta control, once i started my period, like the hour i started it, i felt like i had been away from my life, then i spent days trying to repair my family from my mood swings, and being a total nut job for 2 weeks prior, i honestly dont want to take it anyomre because i need for these dreams to stop, cause there very strange, but i will start taking them again when i feel like pms is starting, cause they made me feel normal, but every day not good, dont need em every day, chances are if you have been going to the same doc for years and trying 10 different depression meds, dont like any of them, and keep asking for something else, the doc thinks you just want to be high, they dont want to help you then, it's just the way they have to be,

Hi Tina,

Pills can mess up your system. Good for you that you went three days wothout symptoms. Wait until day 4 or 5.
I could handle withdrawal until day 4. AFter that, I went "psycho" from the constant shocking. I was forced torestart Cymbalta, so that I could start my new job.

If it is helping ou good. However, I thought cymbalta was great until around month 5 and now that I am trying to stop... it is hell. Good luck to you. If you can stop it NOW, I would highly recommend it.

Before Cymbalta, I was on Lexapro 10 mg. for 6 months for anxiety & mild depression. I felt I needed something stronger, so I was upped to 20 mg. Lexapro for another six months. It totally cured the anxiety, but I felt "sad" all the time and my heart weighed heavy.

Then I was given 30 mg. Cymbalta for the first week, then 60 mg. thereafter. I'm on my third week and I feel so light and breezy and wonderful. The only side effect is that I cannot get to sleep at night & get "jimmy legs" or restless legs (and tired the next day). I'm offsetting this with a glass of milk and an ibuproferen before bed, which helps me sleep. Anyway, I love it so far and my co-workers say the change in me shows physically,too. I'm spunkier and smiling again.

I hope this is proper to refer readers to a web site for help/understanding... http://www.websitetoolbox.com/tool/mb/focussober

Good luck to all!

Please share your story in this support forum which is seeking entries for people in withdrawal, as well as any success stories.

www.christahines.com

I hope this was okay to post.

Myself...this is day 23 without cymbalta. Over 4 months total withdrawals as I had to try 3 different weaning plans.

I have been on cymbalta now for 2 months and I think we (my dr.) now have finally found the one that works for me. I was diagnosed with depression in 2001. I take 30mg each a.m. I have been on effexor, zoloft, lexapro, and wellbutrin, all to make me feel extremely tired, lethargic, or has swelled my tongue. I can now fall asleep at night and be alert and functional during the day. No more sleep aids. I also take a B.P. med to help control my chronic (and very painful) migraines and I can count on one hand how many migraines I have had since starting cymbalta. It is truly so nice to not be in tremendous pain anymore. Whether this is harmful in the long run or not, I am now able to have a more productive life and not miss so much work or spend my weekends in bed or in the bathroom --vomiting.

I've been on Cymbalta for ten months to a year for depression and chronic pain (neck and back following an auto accident). At first, I thought it was fabulous. Whenever I missed a dose, I had a HORRIBLE headache, making me think it was neck related pain coming through from missing the dose. (Now, though, I realize it was probably a withdrawal h/a.) During the time on it, I gained 10 pounds or so--also experienced heavy sweating, mostly with activity or bending over (but not like the hot flashes some of my friends describe). Over the past month, I had an increase in suicidal ideation, different and more serious than in the past. I tapered off over 8-10 days. WOW! Horrible headache for 3 days, DIZZINESS, crying jags, suicidal ideation spike (no attempts, thank God), bad dreams, extreme irritability, unable to restrain bitchiness (sorry--no other word), ITCHING, dry skin and hair, and diarrhea. I look horrible (pale, weird coloring). Frankly, I'm relieved to find out that it might be caused by something other than my just totally going crazy. I am 50 and haven't been having menopausal symptoms--but don't know whether the two together exacerbate each other.

Good news! I gave my dear friend all of your testimonies here and she has decided that no way in H is she going to take this drug or ANY drug for her depression. I have finally convinced her that poisonus drug's are not the route to take. she is going to start following my advice and make some very serious lifestyle changes. the first being stopping her nutrasweet and splenda consumption. one thing at a time for her. If you folk's here are interested in a wonderful quality of life, go to http://newstarget.com/ and hop on the health wagon today. drug's are only going to make you sicker because your body does not respond to this poison in a positive way! My heart goes out to you all, and if you want to email me for support, please do so. mrscm4871@aol.com

THE TOP FIFOODS FOR BEATING DEPRESSION ARE HERE.......

http://www.newstarget.com/020611.html

http://www.stopshrinks.org/reading_room/antipsych/psych_drugs_shorten_life.html

These dangerous psych drugs shorten your lifespan as well:(

i took my last cymbalta 10/31 and my psychiatrist admitted me to the psych ward to adjust my medication. she switched me to celexa and lemectal (spelling?) and topomax and seroquel at night. did not have too many withdrawals so far. the thing i've noticed most is horrible headaches and nightmares - awful nightmares, violent. in one i'm somebody else and my father shoots me in the neck. yesterday, at hour 55 past my last dose - i got horrible pains in my kidney (i only have one) and started vomiting violently. i puked and puked. my blood pressure shot up 50%. i could not pee. this continued for 8 hours. after getting out of the psych ward i had to go to another hospital ER and have a CT scan plus 2 shots of pain medicine finally they gave me Toradol and the pain went away. i had to be catheterized because i could not pee. it was awful. i finally had to chalk it up to withdrawals from cymbalta because they could find nothing wrong with my kidney.

I tried Cymbalta yesterday at 2:00 PM. the doctor started me with 60 mg.

I had tremmors. My chest, jaw felt tight and breathing felt heavy and restricted. It felt like a weight was on top of me. I was also a little light headed.

I don't think I should use it anymore. Did anybody else have these side effects?

well, just quit taking cymbalta cold turkey yesterday. My blood pressure is 150/70. . . and I'm only 28 (& no Hx of HTN). Having heart flutters. Will post results on how things go. . . The drug didn't work for my anxiety/depression, just made me feel sleepy all day long & have wild & vivid dreams. If I have another dream about my boyfriends ex-girlfriend, I think I might have to hire a PI. ha ha. wish me luck!

BIG PHARMA DRUGS FAR MORE DANGEROUS THAN TERRORISTS.

http://www.newstarget.com/009278.html

Took my first Cymbalta lastnight Jim and I'm having the same side effects.

Geez! My physiatrist prescribed Cymbalta to me for its off formula benefit of relieving neck and back pain. I was also mildly situationally depressed because it was the 4-year anniversary of my accident and I realized I was never going to be rid of the daily pain. I was also unhappy about having gained weight in the 4 years since my accident due to feeling unable to perform physical activites the way I used to.

I took 30 mg at 2 nights ago and couldn't sleep all night. I asked the pharmacist about this and she said insomnia cases are more rare than being sleepy and then she suggested I take it in the morning instead. So I skipped taking the Cymbalta last night, took 3mg of melatonin to help me sleep, slept like a baby, and then took my second 30 mg this morning. I just found this website and I am now terrified of all that I've read.

For what it's worth, the Cymbalta made me quite jazzed but not really anxious, more like energized and I was grateful to be able to get some things done around the house that I had deferred. I am not ordinarly a depressed person and am usually upbeat but I can see how this drug would upilft people. I haven't felt the pain since before I took my first pill (almost 2 days). I love that I have no appetite. I had no other side effects.

All that being said, I am going to throw the rest of these away and hope that I don't experience all the horrors you people have cited.

Good luck to all of us!

I have posted here before about Cymbalta and weight gain. Well, I decided to reduce my meal portions and eliminate a certain amount of bread and whole milk from my diet in the last two weeks. Fortunately, I have lost about 6 pounds in two weeks! therefore I believe that controlling apetite could help with the weight gain on Cymbalta. Still, if I even miss one dose of Cymbalta, I get these horrible side effects! Otherwise, I think I'm ok. But, I would like to be well enough eventually, and be taken off the drug permanently.

On 11/1, Tina wrote:
maybe i am one of the lucky ones, i have been on it for a month, i am taking it for pmd, (pre menstral disorder)i have forgotten to take it up to three days, no problems, it pulled me outta a real bad spell of pms it seemed to last at least 3 weeks, the only thing i seem to be having now is very vivid dreams like every night, not bad dreams just weird and very life like, i came here looking to see if the meds could be why, now i'm scared shitless, not to offend anyone here, but you cannot take a pill once and be messed up forever, and no way do withdraws go on for months, and to tell ya strait up, no doctor is going to subscribe the good meds to anyone who they think might be a pill hound, it's just how they have to be, this med is not suposed to taken for long periods of time, i was told it's used to just pull your head above water, which thank god it did, i am not a depressed person, just felt pms was outta control, once i started my period, like the hour i started it, i felt like i had been away from my life, then i spent days trying to repair my family from my mood swings, and being a total nut job for 2 weeks prior, i honestly dont want to take it anyomre because i need for these dreams to stop, cause there very strange, but i will start taking them again when i feel like pms is starting, cause they made me feel normal, but every day not good, dont need em every day, chances are if you have been going to the same doc for years and trying 10 different depression meds, dont like any of them, and keep asking for something else, the doc thinks you just want to be high, they dont want to help you then, it's just the way they have to be,

"No doctor is going to prescribe the good meds to a pill hound?" Is this an offhand way of saying that because some people are depressed and therapies through the years have stopped working that we "deserve" to be given medications that screw us up?

also, if a doctor gets to a point that they "don't want to help a patient" they have a moral obligation to stop seeing that patient, rather than prescribe poison and kill them.

I'm sorry, but I do not agree with you.

You are having to take anti depressants for PMS? What kind of quack do YOU see?

go to www.google.com and google Cymbalta + Withdrawals and you will find THOUSANDS of people who have had horrible side effects from this drug. If it works for you, more power to you. Perhaps you should become a spokesperson for Eli Lilly, and help sell the poison that has damaged the rest of us.

Just wait until the day that you have to come off of it permanently, and maybe you'll be back with your tail between your legs looking for a little support as your brain feels fried and your heart wants to pop and you can't keep any food down because your digestive tract is screwed up from Cymbalta. sorry if this sounds a little harsh, just a little tit for tat from the post you gave us earlier.

I would like to comment to the current discussion that seems to be going on that Cymbalta is not only prescribed for depression, but also approved for diabetic neuropathy. I have neuropathy (not diabetic) and am a bit depressed because of anillness that I got with neuropathy as a residual over 10 years ago. I don't think this is the place to be discussing who or who should not be taking this medication. Could we please limit it to our experience with it (period).
It's been over 3 weeks since I stopped it and I guess the jaw pain it incited may stay with me a while. I go back to my doctor next week for follow-up and plan to stay on Paxil and amitryptiline, but maybe increase doses to get rid of the jaw pain. Most antidepression drugs to bring on vivid dreams. I understand.

Hi, I just wanted to share this with you. For three years I had been on Seroxat (Paxil in the States I think) due to my depression. I had very minor side effects with the exception of gaining little weight and occasional night-sweats. So in short, I was doing very well and finally decided to quit the intake because like you all I wanted to be drug free. Getting of the drug was easy just by gradually reducing the intake until the drug was out of my system. Man, I was felling happy. Than last fall I lost my job due to lay-offs at the company I used to work for. I took it very seriously because I loved that job. Than the depression symptoms returned but I was determined to deal with the situation drug-free. Well in short, the situation became very bad and I visited my doctor who prescribed Cymbalta. Prior to taking the drugs, I read various reviews on sites like this and became very skeptical. However, I decided to give a try. After three days on this drug, I thought I was going to die, I had very bad headaches, began having all kinds of weird thoughts and felt really afraid. During this time, I kept to myself and could not event talk to friends or family. I am sure that my guarding angle stepped in and Cymbalta ended in the dumpster for good. I am back on Seroxat now and am feeling a lot better. Be careful and do your studying before trying new drugs and learn to listen to you body. Also, remember that depression in not nessessary something that last forever and can be cured. Wish you all the best.
Leon

WOW...I started taking Cymbalta in April 06 for anxiety and chronic pain from 5 back surgeries and spinal disease...I have been miserable- and did not realize all of this was the Cymbalta until I read these posts. My main complaint was weight gain- I went to my Dr yesterday and got switched to Wellbutrin- due to the weight gain- which is what my main concern was when I went on it...I weighed 135 (am 5'7) the day I went to the Dr and started on the Cymbalta. Yesterday, 11/6 I weighed 153...I have been craving sugar like crazy (never been an issue for me), and I did not increase my caloric intake- actually I kept dropping weight before cymbalta- and I have not changed any eating habits- and I can not stop gaining...and like 7lbs in past 2 weeks- it is crazy- I also have bizzare sleep patterns- where I am up til 4-5 am waking every hour...NO LIBIDO...and I feel like a lump- not motivated to get out and do anything...I work from home- and I have become a hermit- withdrawing from family and hobbies...I am always very sleepy but not drowsy. I take 120 my daily- and started on 150mg Wellbutrin today- taking 60mg Cymbalta next 7 days, then to 30mg for 7 days then none- and only Wellbutrin- I pray the Wellbutrin STOPS the gaining- I told my DR in the first place that Weight Gain would make me more depressed than anything on this earth- and it all of a sudden crept up on me- I lost a bit more the first month- I still have no appetite or interest in food at all- I rarely eat- and I am GAINING- this is insane!!! I thought I was "fine" with the weight side effect- then the next thing I know I am almost 20lbs heavier...holy crap! Any good weight stories with Wellbutrin? any others with huge sugar cravings? I only crave those Sour Punch Straws- no other form of sugar...very odd...

I was on Cymbalta (120mg/day) for 2.5 years for depression. Then added Lexapro(10 mg/day) the past 8 months for more energy and pain releif for Fibermyalgia (diagnosed 12 years ago). I had a few problems going on Cymbalta. A few head aches, the usual dry mouth, and shaking. The shaking lasted about 10 weeks and would reoccur for a couple days when my dosage was readjusted. When I added Lexapro I had more energy as a "side affect". However my head was always in a fog. The meds slowed the bad depression feelings but they also took my ability to care about anything! About a month ago I went off both meds, the Cybalta I went off in one day and the Leapro I took 3 days to go off. The side affects were headache, skin crawling-like being covered with biting ants, and nervousness. These only lasted a few days. Now I feel great but forget words, or use a totally wrong one in a sentance. Like I might tell my son to pick up his backpack and it will come out as pick up the turkeys. It must take a while to totally leave the system. Cybalta is a nice drug but seems like the dosage needs to be upped often. I started whith 30mg and ended with 120mg/day.

Please, cymbalta is not a nice drug:( this drug and all drugs can make your life a living hell or kill you! Go here and look at Mike Adams recent comic and THE FACTS behind it. For one's own wellbeing, it is never a good idea to get started on drug's!
http://www.newstarget.com/021027.html

And here's one more for everyone here......only because I care! your dr's and big pharma could care less about your well being!
http://www.antipsychiatry.org/lawson.htm

This site has been an eye opener! I have come to the conclusion that we are all different, yet some people experience the same side effects of withdrawl. It is sort of like how caffeine affects some people by making them jittery, yet affects ADD folks by making them drowsy. So we do what we can with what we know and how we feel....My Cymabalta experience has been very positive. It helped me out of a deep depression after a divorce and has kept me going through lots of changes. It helped me to lose a few pounds, too! But the only bad part is that when I get home from work, I want to crawl in bed and snooze! Not good for a single mom, though, so I want to wean myself so I can be more available to my kids! I also never was smart enough to think maybe my hair was coming out in handfuls because of cymbalta--it could easily be from stress, too, but I hope it will stop once I am weaned. I am glad to know what to expect and to gradually taper the dosage. I would recommend cymbalta to anyone feeling so low they don't want to live. I have to believe the side effects of sleepiness were definitely worth the trouble so I could dig myself out of the depths of a dark depression. As my anatomy teacher used to say-"Life is a trade-off" and it is so true. Good luck to everyone and know that tomorrow is another day.

Tomorrow is indeed another day, and would'nt it be nice to step off from the right side of the bed and make a choice to become drug free for life? A choice that from today on you are going to do everything in your power to make yourself well with nutrition, supplements, sunlight, exercise, detox, getting outside yourself and learning how to help other's in need. become Yogi minded! This is not a joke folk's! Many have taken this road to take their healh back, and oh what a wonderful adventure to partake in:) I swear, some of the folk's here have no idea about giving the bodies cells what they need in order to thrive. Say NO MORE to these evil, life killing drug's and fire the dr. who has pushed them on you. take the links I have given above and do something constructive with them. I am a prime example of someone who has been down your road, and i made the choice to get well and live my life the way I deserve to live life! You can do it too! I believe in you all here:) {{HUGS}} Lynn

Oh wow, I'm scared! Because of severe fibromyalgia pain, I switched from Prozac to Cymbalta in mid August of this year. I'd been on Prozac for ~5 years, started with depression and severe menstrual emotional episodes. It was a miracle drug for me, and I've done extremely well with minimum side effect for years. At one point I had dreams/reality blurring and they added welbutrin for that.
Because of the fibro, I had the dry mouth, sweating, and constipation symptoms pretty bad for the first few weeks. The sweating thing was so bad it went back and forth from chills to sweats, put me in bed for 4 days at one point and doctors thought I had a virus. right. I asked if Cymbalta could be the cause and was told no, unequivocally. Eventually I thought the sweats were just extra Hot Flashes, since I"m that age. I figured the cymbalta didn't help them the way the prozac did (inadvertantly, not the reason I took the prozac).
When I made the switch, I was told that the two drugs were so closely related (prozac and welbrutrin) that it would not be an issue to switch. They put me on 30 mg for a week then the 60 mg since then. I'm starting to have memory loss issues and concentration issues. It is starting to affect my work. What do I do?? Is it too late to start a switch back to Prozac or off of all of it?

I'm sorry that was a little disjointed. Can you believe I do tech writing for a living?! It's concentration problems on the cymbalta I'm sure. My main Qs... can I go back to Prozac? I want to wean down even from that. Has anyone else gone prozac to cimbalta or reverse?

I lost a sentence in there. Because of the fibromyalgia, I was switched to the Cymbalta. Two docs recommended it. It has helped the fibro pain a lot. But now the side effects or truly the EFFECTS are getting bad.

I have been on cymbalta now for 2 monts for bi-polar I have been getting hot and cold sweats, no appetaite,lost 10 pounds in 2 weeks I feel sick all the time and sleepy I didnt feel this when I first started taking this cymbalta, I am taking 90mg of cymbalta was taking 60 at first then my dr raised it,2 weeks ago He didnt tell me all the side effects he only told me about a rash or diaria so I thought they was someting realy wrong with me thought I was coming down with something like the flue but the flue dont last this long.I got blurred vision,neck and chest pain,cant sleep, have no taste for food food taste weird to me now, and it goes on.I wish i was told about these systoms before I took this now I am scared to come off of it scared of the withdraws.

HERE IS ANOTHER LINK TO HELP ANYONE HERE ON THE DANGEROUS WITHDRAWLS OF CYMBALTA. HERE IS WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT AS SIDE EFFECTS WHILE TAKING THIS DRUG OR WITHDRAWING FROM IT. THIS ALONG WITH ALL OF THESE CHEMICAL LOBOTOMY DRUGS ARE PURE FILTH!
http://www.prozactruth.com/cymbalta.htm

I was on cymbalta for two months for dysthymia and started to feel like I was just in a "fuzz." I started to wean myself off of it and was doing fine, but I immediately noticed when I stopped that I would get these shooting leg pains everytime I stand up or sit for too long. I am an otherwise healthy 27 year old. My doctor told me I need to stretch more, but I am fairly active and never had issues before! I feel like Cymbalta may have something to do with it!

I quit taking cymbalta 3 days ago went cold turkey,going through some withdraws but to bad right now,having alot of irtilbilty ,and panic atacks,and feeling drowsy, for the first part of the day til about 1:00pm then I start to adjust to the feeling and go about the day,got trembles most of the day but I am detirmend to stay off this cymbalta with all the side efects, that I have read and was feeeling with it,I have 7 kids I cant feel the that my whole life I want to enjoy my kids while I am young and they still need me, so in the long run I think I made a good dicesion, by going cold turkey because I know when you get adicted to something no matter how you wean yourself it could take months and years to wean off something thats so addictive.

Thanks for opening my eyes to something I thought was a cure where in fact it was a cause to a point of feeling worse than being bi_polar and depressed.I would rather keep the mood swings they are no where near as bad as the side efects of cymbalta.
I will Keep Posting how I am doing on staying off this terrable drug.

I came on this website for some clarity in dealing with my own situation, but I decided to leave my own comment. I have been on Cymbalta 60 mg for 14 months and I wish that I had been in a better mindset to have been able to decline this med. After an eval. I was diagnosed with depression and immediately prescribed this dosage. The first day I took cymbalta I experienced dizziness, vertigo, nausea, vomiting, blurred vision, chills, tremors, overall malaise, among other things. I asked my psych. if I could stop taking it and he said that my symptoms would worsen if I stopped. Eventually the symptoms disintegrated, and I felt normal again. If I took the meds on time I felt like myself. The min. I missed a dose the withdrawal symptoms kicked in which included but were not limited to chills, tremors, nausea, dizziness, vomiting, brain zaps,involuntary muscle spasms, etc. Now I want to get off of this cymbalta, b/c I feel I don't need it anymore and am ready to save some of that money and I have no idea what to do. My psych. tried weaning and the withdrawal symptoms were too horrid for me to handle. I am at a lost now, b/c I just want off of this medication!!!!

I have been taking Cymbalta for approximately 4 months. Prior to that I had been taking Celexa for about 4 years, however switched to Cymbalta after the Celexa stopped working for me. Recently I went away for the weekend and didn't take my 60 mg pills for 72 hours....what a mistake! By Monday mid-day I was rushed to the hospital from work due to a unconscious, tremor attack that left me balled up with cold sweats and uncontrolled shaking. It scared me and my husband so bad that I did more research and found out we're not alone. I just wish that Lily would have warmed me of the terrible withdrawal symptons I would experience by not taking this medication. I'm going to get off of this drug with the help of my doctor. This drug should have never been approved by the FDA.

I took cymbalta for about 6 months. It was causing blackouts and a strong desire to drink. I have stopped taking cymbalta for about two months. In one month I have had a 20% increase in weight gain, a swollen stomach, headaches, and sharp pains in my abdomen.

I was prescribed Cymbalta to treat pain from spinal neuropathy.
Started throwing up the first week. Severe flu-like symptoms, headaches, dizziness, nausea. Night sweats so bad I had to sleep on a towel. Insomnia - but now what I think it was is that I just wanted to be awake so I wouldn't die. Sounds silly, doesn't it? It wasn't. Just one day before I was supposed to move up to 60MG per day, I decided to quit - and then the real fun started. Nobody warned me about stopping 'cold turkey'. Hallucinations, trouble talking, unspeakable nausea.
It's been 90 days since I kicked Cymbalta, and I still have speech problems, and bad dreams - BAD BAD dreams. I've never had a bad dream in my entire adult life until this stuff. I still sweat abnormally, and I threw up so much that I think I may have developed permanent esophageal and dental problems because of it. The smell of mint was a vomit 'trigger' for me, so I didn't/couldn't brush my teeth for almost a month... the list goes on. What Cymbalta DIDN'T do was reduce my pain - or maybe it did, but I was too busy blowing chunks to tell.
Seriously, how could this stuff have passed any clinical trials?

Phil, It passed due to the fact that the FDA and Big Pharma are in the sack with one another! Anything will pass as long as the price is right:(

I've been on cymbalta for over six months and now am starting to get many of the the side affects often. Really, really ... really afraid based on the w/d stories but fear staying on it too... is there anyone who is feeling any better after you have been off this stuff???? How long did it take to feel somewhat normal?

Well, here we go. After about 3 weeks of the Fibromyalgia pain returning and a sharp increase of the Cymbalta side effects (sweats, memory loss, jerking, tremors, vision issues, concentration loss, emotional issues, and on)... My doc is taking me down to 30 mg for a week and then back onto fluoxetine, which I'd been on for years with very few problems. He gave me the line that tapering off would mean no withdrawls.
I can only pray that that may come true for me. Sounds like a fairy wish.

I was put on Cymbalta 60mg for panic attacks resulting from a car accident about 3 years ago. It has been great for the attacks and I am a lot less irritable, but now I am trying to get off of the medication and need advice because the withdrawls are absolutely horrible.

My husband and I have decided to try and have a baby so I talked to my ob/gyn and my primary care doc about coming off of the Cymbalta. Neither one of them said that it would be horrible to stay on the med, but with there not being long term data, I am just afraid that if something were to happen during pregnancy, I would never forgive myself for not trying to get off. That being said, they did not offer a whole lot of advice on how to titrate down.

So here is the problem. I know not to stop abruptly, so I started taking 1 every other day and then spaced it out until I started feeling the withdrawl effects (mainly headache, and an unexplainable foggy feeling, that kind of feels like my head is not attached to my body- not condusive to everyday living and work :-). Thursday (Thanksgivng) I took one and it had been 4 days since the last dose and I was horribly sick to my stomach all day long. Today is Tuesday 11/28 and I haven't taken another one yet. I felt a little foggy today, but not unbearable. Should I just try to not take anymore, in order to avoid the nasuea, keep doing it as I have, or another method.

I am not pregnant yet, so at least I have had some time to try to get my body healthier. I just really need help with this.......

Thank you

I am livid that my MD didn't warn me about the difficult withdrawal before prescribing Cymbalta. I decided to stop due to side effects like night sweats, but now I realize the headaches, jaw pain and leg pain are from the Cymbalta, too.

I tapered from 60mg to 40mg fine, but when I dropped to 20 mg got awful chest/throat pain. I thought I was having a heart attack or anaphylaxis. I very nearly went to the ER, then I looked up withdrawal symptoms online and found that among the many. The symptoms went away after I increased back to 40mg. I guess I'm going to have to start breaking capsules and going 5mg at a time.

I'm hoping regular acupuncture will help, as well as exercise and massage.

ugh.

I wanted to respond to Jen (ref #128) - I posted my experience (ref # 121)

I met with my doctor yesterday. With his help I'm going to ween away from Cymbalta. I've cut back to 30 mg every day. We'll do that through the holidays, then after that I'll switch to taking one 30 mg pill every other day for about 3-4 months. Only then, will he let me try it without Cymbalta.

I would not just take one pill every once in awhile. According to my Dr. that will aggrivate these horrible withdrawal symptoms. Your doctor should be able to help get you a plan to GET OFF THIS STUFF.

Good Luck.

I took Cymbalta for mild depression for less than a year and stopped it the end of September 2006. I am still experiencing side effects and am very concerned about permanent damage to my health. I have since discovered that Cymbalta is to be prescribed for severe depression.....I am furious with my doctor for over prescribing. Also I now have Type II diabetes as a result of this medication. My blood sugar did not elevate until after I started Cymbalta.

WOW!!!!!!! I thought I was going crazy. I have been on Cymbalta for a year. I have tried to get off three times. It has ruined my life! One week ago I decided to STOP cold turkey. It has been a nightmare!! These "shocks" are freaking me out. Just the sound of my child's voice sends me into a frenzy. I am cold all the time, cannot sleep, and hate people in general!! Please tell me this will end. Can anyone out there tell me if they have been able to get through withdrawals and make it. When will they end?

I had taken cymbalta for almost a year for neuropathy pain and mild depression. After being diagnosed with low tyroid, i decided to try to go off it, because i was hoping the low thyroid was the cause of the depression. I had previously noted that a missed dose brought on the brain zaps, so i went slowly, and started to space out the drug, every other day, two, three, etc. for a month or two, i would only take a pill when the zaps were to unbearable and eventually quit all together. the brain zaps continued for a few months, decreased in intensity over time, and now i only have mild ones with extreme sensory overload. My neuropathy pain however had increased to unbearable porpotions and ive had to increase the pain meds, ive almost decided to go back on cymbalta, but after some more research will try a different combination. this is for those that wanted to know if it gets better, and yes for me it has, it just takes a bit longer than you would think possible. also dont put the notion aside, that some old symtoms you had may come back with a fury.

I was placed on Paxil shortly after it was released for market. After one month's usage I started having suicidal ideation and also homicidal ideation. I stopped this cold turkey, although I was told I could have had a seizure. Now my daughter-in-law who has a major physiical neurological disease has been placed on cymbalta. She is presently in a mental institution because of what Lipitor did to her and now they place her on this poison. I don't know whether to speak up or not. I know my son, is going insane because of her need for endless sleep and he is so afraid he will lose her. I think you should all go off this medicine and sue Eli Lilly, the drug manufacturer because of the symptoms you are displaying. One way you can withdraw if this comes in pill form, is to shave a little of the pill every day. With the capsule, take a bit out each day and perhaps this will help you. I wish you all success and return to good health.

I understand. I went down to cymbalta 30 mg every other day... the only thing that seem to help me at all was drinking a lot of tea (green and black). I once managed 4 days off cymbalta and it was hell. I never was able to stop the every other day routine. My NEW doctor switched me to Pamelor and lexapro. I never have taken the lexapro. I just take the pamelor. The horrible withdrawal symptoms have stopped. The Dr. assures me it will be easier to wean off pamelor than cymbalta..... we will see.

Today was the first day I was on Cymbalta. Already, I feel horribly disoriented and have blurred vision, along with other nasty side effects. I'm so afraid and I want this poison to be out of my body immediately - I feel like it's caused permanent damage.

I need to stop it IMMEDIATELY. Will I suffer withdrawal effects after just one day of taking it?

I doubt it. Not just one day. I wouldn't take anymore!

i am 21 years old with a family history of depression. i have been on cymbalta for about 4 months- my doctor switched me from about 4 years of prozac while we were trying to figure out the cause of a month of migraines (turned out to be menstrual). anyways, everything was great at first, but this past october, i was very busy and unable to refill my prescription immediately. i was unaware of the consequences of doing this (my doctor mentioned nothing!), didnt take the pill for about 4 days, and i felt it; fatigue, anxiety, bouts of depression, unexplained tension, and occasional mild shivering spells. i knew i didn't feel right. i got my prescription filled and felt better.
now, though, i've noticed that i feel great during the day or morning soon after i take the pill, but later in the day i often turn irritable, agitated by loud noises or people with high energy, i am sleeping much more, and am gaining weight.
after researching these symptoms and finding this site, i am calling my doctor and expect to change to another antidepressant. i know it will not be easy, but thanks to this site i know what i might expect. i am not comfortable being on a drug with all these nasty side effects; there has got to be a simpler way.

ABOLISH THE FDA AND ABOLISH BIG PHARMA! SAY NOT TO ALL DRUGS! LEARN ABOUT NUTRITION AND SUPPLEMENTS.

Hello again. I've been catching up on posts and thought I'd add a status as to my experiences so far coming off of Cymbalta. I went down to 30 mg for one week. I immediately saw a decrease in some of the my horrible side effects I'd been having. I continue to be disjointed mentally, have concentration issues, some bad dreams, and trouble finding words. Thank God the chills and sweats have stopped. I've been afraid of the withdrawls and have prayed a lot with my hubby about this. The first day switch to Prozac I was weepy in the afternoon, but not too bad. God's been merciful to me with the withdrawls so far. I had far far more problems on the med than coming off of it. I have now been back on Prozac for 3 days. I have my creative drive back now that was missing, I'm making crafts in evenings. I'm less fatigued. The fibro pain is back still. I hope that after stabilizing on the prozac for a bit I can start to taper that with consultation from my Dr. I am also on Welbutrin and that seems to be the med that is really doing to work on moods and such for me. If I miss a day, I'm a mess.
I'm researching vitamins and minerals to combat the fibromyalgia.
~Wishes and prayers for everyone here dealing with this horrible med. Sally

I statrted cymbalta 5/18/06, for Fibramyalgia and osteoarthertitis. It imediatley helped with the pain. OF course I had the queesy stomach for about 2 weeks that ended and the sweats started day & night, being 52 I blamed it on hormones. By July 1st I figured maybe it was the meds and stopped it cold turkey (I didn't call the dr. to ask) I was sick for 4 days major headaches & flu symptoms good thing I was off work. I then called my DR. who said I should not have just stopped and decreased my dose in half the sweating did calm down, but I now have been having migranes with vomiting which I have never had before and wierd scary dreams. I am now scared to go off and have gained 50 lbs and nothing taste good so all I eat is junk food.
My DR. wanted to increase my dosage as I built up a tolerance but after all these notes I am definetley not doing it. I would like to get off it completley but do not want the withdrawl sysmptoms.

I want to thank all of you who posted about Cymbalta. My doctor gave me a sample today for ADHD ! I had serious misgivings, which is what made me go online to look for a message board like this one. As I read, I began to pray for the individuals whose posts I was reading. I am throwing the Cymbalta away without even trying it. What is wrong with these doctors? They are total sell-outs to the Drug Companies. Good Luck everyone, and THANK YOU. You are doing a service to your fellow man with your posts.

I have been on Cymbalta, 60 mg, for over 2 years. My doctor has switched to doing his prescriptions electronically, and has failed to fill my prescription. I've known this is a very dangerous drug since I tried to quite 6 months ago and almost committed suicide, making my family "babysit" me until I got back on the medication. This took 5 days. After that experience, I took this medication religously, because I feared what I would do to myself. However, my negligent doctor has put me in the same situation again. I am on day 4 of being off and again am suicidal and can't function. I can only lay in bed and cry- my vision is blurred and I am dizzy when standing and have an undescribable mental fog. I don't know if I'll make it through the weekend until I can hopefully get back on on Monday. I started Cymbalta for chronic pain reasons only. I was not depressed. I was 21 years old and happy except for the neck pain I'd had from a 5 year old car wreck. Since being on it, I've had night terrors, nausea, insomnia, cold sweats, and depression. Antidepressants definitely have their place, but this one should have never been approved. Once your on, good luck getting off. My experience is worse of course b/c I've been forced to go off cold turkey. However, the more I research about this drug, the more I think it's a death trap unless you plan on taking it for life. I used to be a young, happy, pretty 21 year old. Now I am a depressed, suicidal 23 year old. THIS DRUG HAS RUINED MY LIFE!!!! BEWARE!!!!!!! RESEARCH THE SUICIDES OF THE DRUG PARTICIPANTS WHEN IT WAS FIRST BEING TESTED. THIS COULD BE YOU AND PROBABLY ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ashley,

PLEASE find another dr. One who will help you wean off and ont o something safer. I undertand the chrocic car wreck pain... this is pretty much why I was put on it. I know how you feel. I have been there. I have never been suicidal but withdrawal put me quite close.

Please feel free to email me. If you need a friend through this. SOmeone who understands.

my email is cheeriosinmilk@yahoo.com

I hate to give it out on a public site but oh well i can alwys change it :)

I've been taking it for 3 days and I started having slight chest iritation.
I was prescribed it for aniety and depression. So far it feels like I'm high whenever i take it but I'm sticking with for 2 weeks until my next doctor visit in 3 more days i go to 60g....

Please people, go to www.dangerousmedicine.com and post your stories under the antidepressants forum as well. The more people who know, the more lives we can spare from the evil Big Pharma Industry. {{HUGS}} to all of you.

I was on 60 mg of Cymbalta for nine months and then weaned myself down to 30 mg for a week. Today is day five of being completely off Cymbalta. I don't know if I'm lucky or if I have a guardian angel, but the withdrawawl symptoms haven't been too bad. I guess I was expecting the worse and have been pleasantly surprised.

I am on cymbalta. Have been for about 5 months, and previously before that, but at the time i was doing cocaine so i could not feel the withdrawls. I started at 20 mg, then 30, now 60 a day and i am always exhausted, irratible, and just no fun to be around. I can't make it thru the day without a nap and the effect it once had (lessening my depression) is now fading. I see my psychiatrist friday and because of all these horror stories i am going to ask to be weened off of it asap so i can get these horrible withdrawls (if i am unfortunate) over with. Wish me luck!

My husband's symptoms included strange white flashing eye floaters that lasted about a half hour...three days later the situation worsened and we had to call the paramedics...he began sweating profusly, weakened, had diarrhea and a ringing sound in his ears. He had an intense body flushing and grew pale. He even said "honey if I don't make it I love you" because the effects were so intense and scary - he thought he was dying.

I will definitely repost this on dangerous drugs page.

PLEASE DO NOT TAKE THIS DRUG!!!!

I NEED HELP!!

My wife was diagnosed with severe depression, anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, and borderline aghoraphobia about eight years ago. She has been on every drug on the market and has gone through ECTs. The ECTs seemed to help her the most, but due to iregular heart beats, she can't take any more treatments. About a year and a half ago, her doctor put her on Cymbalta along with her other meds. She started wit 60mgs and later went to 90mgs. Ever since she started the Cymbalta our marriage has fallen apart. It started with her having huge mood swings, memory loss and headaches, but it soon got to the point where nothing I did was satisfactory to her. I travel often for work, and I would call her every night, but she could hardly stand to talk to me for two minutes. Then she would hang up with me and talk to her mother or one of our kids on the phone for an hour. We went to marriage counseling for six months, and all that came out of it is that she holds me responsible for every bad thing that has happened to her, even before we met. A month ago she left me and is filing for divorce. Her reason for making this drastic decision after 13 years of marriage is simply this: She has tried everything else and has not gotten any better, therefore the problem must be me. I know none of you know me, but I have been a devoted and faithful husband for 13 years. I raised two step children as my own, and both of them are on my side on the divorce thing. My question to all of you is: Could Cymbalta cause this radical behavior? It is like she is a totally different person and truly believes she is making logical decisions, but everyone around her sees them as pure insanity. Can anyone shed some light on this for me or am I really the piece of dirt my wife thinks I am?

My Dr gave me 10 day sample of Cymbalta. I can't handle the jittery feeling, even though I feel better mentally. I want to sleep alot, have no appetite and my legs are a wreck. I debated about filling the presciption...until looking here. I will try an natural alternative to this nightmare of a drug. Paxil did the same thing to me. Why don't Dr's tell us what this drug is capable of? Oh, take this, very few people have side effects. Yeah, right. Not looking forward to withdrawl, but I hope only after 10 days it won't be too bad.

Started taking Cymbalta in April of this year. Had 60mg at 1st, but the side effects were so horrid, I told my doctor I wanted to cut the dose in half. I did that and most recently, said that I wanted to get off the med this past month.

I reduced the dose to taking a 30mg every other day, and finally stopped taking it 4 days ago. Have to say, this is pretty damn rough......the "brain zaps" as I have seen it posted, is probably one of the most eerie feelings I've had & hope they end soon. I would say the 2 biggest withdrawal effects that I've had our extreme headaches & these shocks or brain zaps........

I kept a log of my 1st 30 days on the Cymbalta, and looking back, it was pretty rough. I remember the main reason I asked to reduce from 60mg to 30mg was because of the extreme blurred vision and the absolute lack of any form of appetite (didn't eat for 3 days).

Main side effects that have continued throughout my treatment over the past 8 months have been:
heart palpitations (sometimes pretty scary), headache, dry mouth, and fatigue (you yawn like all day long for no reason).

Although Cymbalta helped me with my mild depression, the side & withdrawal effects have been pretty rough to deal with. I would definitely recommend to anyone to just try & exhaust all other options, maybe not just meds, before getting on Cymbalta.

this drug has ruined my life. i tapered for three months - had withdrawals everytime i lowered the dose, and six weeks after being off the drug i started to crazy.

i started back at 20mg and am so exhausted and dizzy i can hardly leave the house.

I have been on Cymbalta for about one year. I became a "zombie" as my husband describes it. I have been Cymbalta free for 17 days and will not ever take that horrible stuff again. I feel that it took a year away from my life. All the withdrawls everyone has described are true. I only hope they are over soon.

Hello everyone. I'm so glad I found this website. I had been taking Cymbalta since the end of May of this year. I decided to stop because: a) my prescription ran out and I didn't want to go back to the doctor; and b) I just didn't feel it was working anymore. I never had a severe depression, but the doctor prescribed it because I was having anxiety problems and was very easily irritated and would snap at people much to easily, especially my mom. I took my last pill on Sunday and by Tuesday night, I felt sick, like I was gonna throw up but never did. It's now my 5th day off of it and I still don't feel good. I feel somewhat nauseous, light headed, a feeling like I'm not really here. I called my doctor's office yesterday and was asked if I wanted to go back on it. I said no way, but wanted to know how long to expect these withdrawal symptoms to last. The nurse said since I wasn't on it very long (i.e. years), that the symptoms should wear off in a week or two. I sure hope so. I sure wish I'd known how hellish the withdrawal symptoms were gonna be before I started taking this drug. I'll admit, it did help for the first few months, but recently I was starting to feel "emotionally vacant". I wasn't sad, but I wasn't happy either. It's like I had no emotions, like a zombie or whatever. I've managed to come to work, but I may have to leave early today. I probably shouldn't be driving either, but I have to. Man, I hate feeling like this.

My husband, mother, and brother in law died quite suddenly in 2005 and so in 2006, my doctor prescribed Lexapro. After a month of that, I found myself thinking about suicide all of the time so he recommended a switch to a combo of Wellbutrin and Cymbalta. Last week, I got a bloody nose at work that continued for 7 hours -- and high blood pressure beyond belief. I have been complaining of blurred vision and tremors but nobody paid much attention. Even with the elevated BP, my MD prescribed ANOTHER med (to lower the BP!). When I finally went back after nearly passing out at home, I said I wanted to come off all meds. It's been 3 days without Cymbalta and today I cried over a stupid e-mail! Can't wait for this to be out of my system. More people have to know about these side effects (or maybe they should be called "routine effects"!)

hi, i have taken cymbalta for 1 year. i had no problems and felt great on it, however i knew when i missed a dose because of the irritability and tension in my neck. now i am pregnant, about 4-6weeks i think, my doc advised to quit taking cymbalta cold turkey now. it has been 3 days, i am dizzy and emotional, tense, nausia,due to pregnancy or cymbalta? not sure. has any one out there gotton pregnant while on cymbalta. please advise.

well I must be another lucky one been on cymbalta for little over 2 years started with 30 mg for about 1 year and increased to 60mg has done wonders for my fybromyalgia and my depression I had been off it about 3 months ago because I ran out but I never had withdrawals and I was out for 2 months it just affects different people I guess but everyone I know who is on it has had great results I feel sorry for the people it does not work for but I have been on paxil,prozac,and many others and they never worked like cymbalta has for me sure I went through the sweating and nausea for a few days but that was it been energetic and lost weight and sleep better than ever and I don't need any sleeping meds any more.

Hi All,
I have just been prescribed 60mg
of cymbalta as my last medication did not appear to work.
My previous to last medication is no longer being manufactured
which is a bit of a bummer for me,as it worked fine with no problems.
I am really concerned after reading the many negative comments regarding Cymbalta, should I try this drug which my consultant has prescribed or should I not bother even starting on this drug ?
Regards to All,
John

John cymbalta has worked for me but 60mg is to high to begin with I would talk to your Dr my friends husband is on cymbalta and he started with 20mg and he has been on it for 3 months the effect on men is different than women

Do not take this medicine!!! I was on it for 2 months, I could tell when I missed a dose and am having withdrawal because I stopped taking it.. I wasn't depressed anymore when I took this medicine because I was sleep.. I stopped taking it about 5 days ago and I feel like #%^$. Thank goodness if found this site I didn't know what was happening to me.. I am experiencing withdrawl and It's bad..

I am in the process of weening myself off of this horrible drug. With the advise of my doctor I've reduced my dosage to 30mg from 60mg since November. My plan is to go every other day in March 07. I have to take my pill at night before I go to bed otherwise I get dizzy spells and feel horrible: dizziness, slow motion, and like I'm going to throw up. I sweat all the time and have horrible hot flashes. People should not have to live this way.

If you're reading this website for the first time or are a subscriber. Get off of Cymbalta or find another drug to help you. This drug is awful!

Hi I have a friend that just recently started taking this med. She has a history of anxiety coupled with past abuse. She has been on all of the other antidepressant. Now she is not even being monitored with it. Has anyone taken too many Cymbalta like tryin to end their life? I am scarred for my friend.

I have been on Cymbalta for 3 months now for severe depression, anxiety, spinal pain and PTSD. I have suffered with these symptoms for a majority of the past 20 years and the only other medication I have taken was Effexor XR. So far, the Cymbalta has returned my life to me. Before I went on it, my depression was so severe, I had been sleeping only 1-2 hours a night for months and had become nearly catatonic. Panic attacts were constant and I would fly into angry rages from sleep deprivation. Cymbalta has changed that.Yes there are some side effects, like stomach discomfort or dry mouth, but nowhere near as severe as I had experienced with Effexor. I am now feeling like a whole person, able to interact and be a part of life again. Before Cymbalta, I was empty, numb, unable to focus, connect with others or feel in any way emotionally or spiritually alive. It was like being imprisioned. Since Cymbalta, I have felt human again. I know that alot of people have had bad reactions. I know that the possibility exists that it could turn on me down the road. (I experienced that with Effexor). But for now, I am enjoying that bit of freedom. The side effects do abate. I take mine (60mg) with an omega-3 supplement and it seems to counteract the side effects. Remember that every persons chemistry is different and what may work for some may not work for others. Do your research, weigh your options, know the side effects and their duration so you can make an informed decision.

This is in answer to the question that elliott posted on October 15, 2006 about whether or not anyone else has had horrible dizziness. YES!!!! I cant hardly stand up. I was so sick when taking this trash, and now that I went cold turkey, it's even worse. I guess I can feel for drug addicts when they are trying to get cleaned up. Its horrible! I'm praying it doesnt last too long. What a horrible drug!

Tonight I took my 4th 30mg dose of Cymbalta. For the past 3-4 days I have been dizzy, nauseous, sleepy and jittery at different times throughout the day. Now it is 10PM and I need to go to bed but I am wired. I have major depression and I have been having very bad attacks of rage prior to being given samples of this drug and told that I am probably bipolor, but I don't really know what's wrong with me. After reading all of these posts, today was definitely my last dose of this pill. I didn't really want to take it to begin with but I am worried about where these rage attacks will take me. Thanks to everyone for posting your experiences with this horrible drug. Hopefully I won't have withdrawl too bad since I have only been on for 4 days. Best of luck to everyone.

I have finally taken myself off Cymbalta. The doctor kept lowering my dosage but I finally decided to quit cold turkey. I am having horrible electric shock like sensations in my brain. Does anyone knows how long these lasts? I do not want to take any antidepressants ever again. I think I want to try a more natural approach.

Hi Aura,

After 4 days of the electric shocks I couldn't take it anymore. I had seizure like twitching and convulsive actions, along with the shocks. It nearly drove me completely over the edge. I put myself back on the cymbalta, went to a different doctor, who prescribed me pamelor, to ease those symptoms. He said if I became too depressed off cymbalta,and on just pamelor, to take lexapro as well. he said it would be much easier to wean me off pamelor than cymbalta. He was right. I am weaning off now. no withdrawal symptoms.

I don't know how long the shocks would have lasted (by day 3 they were happening several times in an hour) had I not taken pamelor.

You may want to try a different doctor to help you. Thank God I finally found one that has helped me.

Thank you Anonymous.

I started taking 60 mg Cymbalta in September of 06...thought it was working..felt tired on it and had constant yawning...weird..they BAM...one day i thought i was having a heart attack..went into the ER and have a CAT scan..( my stomach was so swollen...i didnt know what it was....) then had a Stress test..all came back normal..i had constant heart burn, nausea, sweating and jitters...my md cut me to 30 and i was still having the same problem..felt so tired all the time...then my stomach became so bloated and big..that i have now been scheduled for an Upper GI and a colonoscopy...i have weaned myself off of it..i went every other day and now im on the 4th day...i feel awful...but hopefully i will start feeling better soon...i have blurred vision and sweating....BUT NOTHING WILL EVER MAKE ME TAKE AN ANTIDEPRESSANT AGAIN!!! I suffer from Fibro and bouts of depression..but this drug is awful!!!Please do not take this under any circumstances!! I think since its a relatively new drug they have been pushing it not knowing what any of the side effects can be...the gastro dr said i was the fifth person in 2 weeks that had come to him with the same stomach problems...ALL WERE TAKING CYMBALTA!!! Hmm.....im going to try and heal myself with exercise/diet and thinking good thoughts! This is dangerous stuff....

I have been using Cymbalta for over a year now and I am so much better than I was before I started the drug. I had chronic pain, and was so depressed I could not get out of bed, all due to a toxic work environment. I have a few side effects: I get jaw and muscle jerks, my vision has changed( I have become more farsighted) and a bite my tonue when asleep. I have definitely noticed that my anxiety levels have increased on the meds, but the depression may just have been masking the anxiety. I don't sleep well on the drug. I have lost 30 lbs and have poor appetite but I am functional :) and loving life. I do not feel well when I forget my dose so I work very hard to remember to take it every morning. Not every drug works for everybody, this one has worked well for me. Don't be too scared to try to get better! I will start weaning off the drug in a few months if I keep doing this well, but if I fall down the abyss again, I will stay on it for life.

I have decided to throw this medicine away as soon as I get through typing this post!I have only been on it for two weeks and hope I don't have any of the horrible withdrawals.I had dry mouth,but it was bearable,some days I would be sleepy all day,then at bedtime,I would be wide awake most of the night,even after taking the pill early at morning.Taking it before bed didn't matter either.I went through hell last night when I went to the hospital for a sleep study for my apnea,and couldn't sleep because of the cymbalta,so that was a waste of money there too.I know the brain zap feelings you guys have cause I experienced that with Zoloft withdrawals.My overall opionion is my sleep is more important to me than my depression.

I have been having wierd symptoms of what my parents think is panick attacks. My doctor put me on Cymbalta for depression. I explained to him that I wasn't depressed, but he insisted to try this for 1 month. Starting at 30mg for two weeks going to 60mg. I can not hardly stay awake, I yawn all the time! I am having strange headaches in the front of my face and forhead and then travels to the top of my head. I have very little appetite. Just can't stay awake for very long. I went to this website to read reviews of this drug and now I am scared of what I am reading and the withdrawls. Don't know what to do.

I've been taking Cymbalta for 5 days - deciding Friday that after one too many side effects, and many like the ones described here, it isn't for me. I've had dreadful results with other SSRI's and hoped this would be different. I was taking 20mg twice daily and now I'm weaning, with the intention of being done tomorrow. Worse, I believe it may have triggered a 9.2 (magnitude)Migraine and I suffer from them regularly.

I've read many of the posts here and sympathize totally and envy those who've benefitted. I doubt I will ever take an anti-depressant again. In my case, "the cure is worse than the disease".

Well, I have taken myself completely off Cymbalta and guess what? my weight is now dropping; I am having less brain shocks. I am also going through a divorce and that per se is depressing, but I do not want to take Cymbalta or any other antidepressant and will exercise or take a natural suplement. I refuse to get fat again or put myself at risk for anymore dangerous side effects. These drugs do not really work; I think it exists just to make doctors and farmaceutical companies rich!

no matter what u think or feel, i have a very stressful life, but since i quit cold turkey after taking this med. for only 3 months, the withdrawl is terrible, i would recommend noone to take this for any reason, you think you feel bad before taking this product wait until you quit

any of you- especially teresa- who is not sure whether to come off of this drug... do it now! I have been on it for 2 years, trying to get off, and then thinking I needed it. I wondered why I had constip., bloated stomach, depression, fatigue, dizziness, anxiety, and a very short temper. Reading all of these helped me decide to go off- explained why a normal healthy person like myself felt that way. I have been off cold turkey for 2 weeks now. this drug is POISON! I am a healthy person put on this drug for PMS by my blind-as-a-bat doctor. I usually love my doc, but now want to sue him. I am having strange side effects that tell me how powerful this chemical is. It is 5 am, and I have not slept all night- jittery, weird itching, extreme irritability. Everyone out there- stick to it, or it only gets worse staying on it. anyone else out there have jumpy itching, or wanting to put their fist through a wall? take care all of you- and try fish oil- it has helped me this time with many of the withdrawal symptoms.

Everything everyone says about Cymbalta and its withdrawal effects is true. Sometimes it will seem like a life saver but beware of the point at which it stops working - a long and rocky road of crazy withdrawal symptoms is almost certain to follow and some of these are as bad if not worse that the condition it's been prescribed to treat. If at all possible, stay off this drug and try something else - you won't regret it.

my wife was prescribed xanax, cymbalta, lunesta simultaeoulsy which resulted in her suicide of dec. 12 '06. i understand now the brain zaps which others have mentioned since that was what i observed but did not realize what was occuring and she could not explain it. after taking the prescribed xanax, cymbalta - her disposition on dec.11 was one of docile as in lightly sedated, her last comment was that she was going to take lunesta as prescribed for sleep. i know for certain that approx. 9 or 10 pm she took the prescribed lunesta and suffered a reaction so severe that she shot herself 3 times in the heart area. these drugs taken in combination by doctors who indiscrimately prescribe them is criminal and the drug companies who promote these dangerous drugs with cartoon butterflies and the like are equally culpable. who ever takes these medication must be acutely aware they have the power to destroy you.

Congratulations on your success! I had much the same problems with Cymbalta and used the same technique with Lexapro - but unfortunately for me, when I stopped the Lexapro the Cymbalta withdrawal symptoms immediately came back. It's great that only two pills did the trick for you, I'm just envious that it was so easy! I hope it stays that way for you, but do be prepared just in case the Cymbalta is still able to bite back - I have read stories of the withdrawal symptoms coming back after a period of freedom. I don't want to alarm you, but keep those Lexapro handy just in case.

Day four without Cymbalta: nausea, headache, chills, whooshing in ears, fatigued. Never before have I have any withdrawal symptons when stopping an antidepressant or any other med for that matter. NEVER AGAIN! The longer I have taken it the worse my depression has gotten. I've isolated myself, had no energy, have slept entire weekends away. Feel like I have been just going through the motions of life. This past year on Cymbalta has been awful. I've take zoloft, celexa and lexapro previously and have never felt as badly as I do now.

Cymbalta withdrawal symptoms are the worst I've experienced in 15 years of taking anti depressants. The brain zaps are horrible along with the irritability, mood swings and tiredness.
I've been 'getting off' cymbalta for a month and it seems as if the symptoms are still as bad as the first week.
How do people survive getting off this crap?!

New crap. The effects it had on me.... made me suicidal.

So I have been on Cymbalta for over 6 months. I am on 60mg once a day. I have to say that I am not uncomfortable on it by any means. I do have some dry mouth issues and get an occasional headache. This has done nothing for my IBS either. I have been on every med out there for depression since I was 17. I have been hospitalized more times than I can count for attempted suicide. I have been on anti-psychotics, anti seisure, anti everything to help with my depression. The drug I was one before this was lexapro. It stopped working for me and I started to feel depressive moods. My doctor opted to switch me to Cymbalta. But before I could I was trying to get off the lexapro. Talk about freaking out. I had every side effect you could imagine and a few I have not seen listed in this forum. The cymbalta has so far been very good to me. I wished I had some of the problems you others face, like the weight loss and "wired" feeling. For me I am "snacky" all the time and have average energy. But then again I drink lots of soda so any "wired" feeling I get is from that. I do get the "brain zaps" if I miss a dose and am hard to deal with until I have had my dose but other than that, I do just fine. I have not at this point seen a reason to increase my dosage so I do not know if I will crash and burn, but I guess I will cross that bridge when I get there, or jump off it =). But I am going to cross my fingers that this is the right one for me. If I get freaky I will let you know.

That's pretty much my experience on Cymbalta. While it was working for me it was the best antidepressant that I had used to date and there were no nasty side effects for me either. But it died on me after about six months, and there is the problem, you don't know how long it's going to go on working (and neither does the medical community nor the manufacturers). The discontinuation effects from this drug are appalling, and what bugs me is that doctors seem to have no clue about this and will often even deny that there are any withdrawal effects at all. In fact my own doctor assured me that it would only take two weeks to get out of my system and that there were no unpleasant effects. This seems to be the experience of many, many people, fed incorrect information by their doctors. So when the drug starts failing and the discontinuation symptoms kick in - which they do, within a day - people think they're going to die because it's all so horrible. Good luck with the drug while you're on it, but be informed about what will likely happen if it fails on you and have a contingency plan to get you through that.

Ok people.....Im glad I was not alone with the withdrawl. Let me just tell you when I first started Cymbalta (I think it was late 2005 to april of 06) I felt like I went Insane. I was put on it because I was "depressed" due to problems with my marriage, I am now divorced. Let me tell you that was ONE of the worst mistakes of my life. When I first started I had SEVERE Insomnia. When I finally fell asleep it was between 2 to 5 in the am and it was for just a few minutes. The lack of sleep was so bad I didnt feel REAL and I though I was going to hurt my child or myself. I would have to drive to a friends house all whacked out in the middle of the night because of the fear of doing something. That lasted close to a month. Bad bad deal. VERY SCARY. People thought I was crazy and I knew I wasnt. I did some whacky things that I couldnt help. I would have episodes of just bursting out for no reason. I did 3000 dollars of damage to my ex husbands car. I just went crazy one day. Needless to say I lost alot of friends. I was on the meds for about 5 or 6 months and I knew it was time to get off. I had the ZAPS REALLY BAD. That lasted alomost 2 months. I also felt suicidal then and "crazy". I now have had really bad weakness on one side and that didnt start until after I was off the meds. So I wonder if it did any damage anywhere, Anyone else have problems like that?>???? LET ME KNOW Please. I have been to the doctors so many times for it and they find nothing. MRIs ...cat scans.......blood work you name it. So just to let everyone know going through this.....You are not going crazy.....It will pass. Its a long road of suffering and the symptoms are very real and you are not alone! This drug should be eliminated!!!!!

I am a 47 yo female and am menapausal.... you know hot flashes and hormone swings at times. With all that plus trying to break of an engagement that I felt wasn't right....I was totally stressed out. I went to the doctor asking for something to "even me out".... He prescribed Cymbalta. I started taking it in November of 2006. I felt a little weird at first, mild headache and like I was taking cold medicines.... (20 mg 2 xs a day). The doc told me we would up the dose in two weeks to 60 mg 1 x a day...the "standard" dose. December went fairly well. I noticed a lot of nervous energy.... like wanting to bounce my leg (not like me)and some of the other symptoms associated with the drug. Insomnia was the biggest one for me. I would wake at 2:00-3:00 almost nightly.... And sleep before that didn't feel like "good sleep". I was having increased sweating which also didn't help my sleep. I was getting more and more tired and just didn't feel good. I felt sick. I decided in January that I had had enough...and that the symptoms I was having now were way worse than what I was complaining about to the doctor. I broke off my engagement on the 9th and started the process of weaning myself off of the pill. I split the pill and started taking 2/3rds of it one time a day...and did that for about 4 or 5 days. I then went to one 20 mg. I forgot my pill on the 18th... and didn't seem to notice anything. The 19th I was late in taking the pill....so I thought well, I didn't take it yesterday....let's see what one more day will do. I was fine on the 19th. Three days later on the 22nd. I had flu like symptoms. Every muscle in my body ached. I even felt bruised under my ribs. I had been having pains in my joints a few days earlier but dismissed them as the weather and arthritis. Now, I realize these too were Cymbalta related. I felt some better on the 23rd, but still felt bad and had accompanying diarrah (sp) and started searching out information about how to deal with the symptoms I was having. I even broke down and took another 20 mg to see if that helped. The next day I felt better. Amazing. So, I've stuck it out. And found a great website that has helped me tremendously!!! www.theroadback.com I've implemented taking the extra protien, omega 3 caps, and cherry juice (helps with sleeping). Also, I occasionally take 1 benedryl tablet to help me sleep during this change. Since taking the natural supplements, I have slept five nights in a row and have started sleeping until the alarm wakes me or just 15 minutes before it is to go off. I can't tell you how much better I'm feeling! Today is day 14 of being off of Cymbalta!!! I still have some dizziness if I move too fast on occasion and some lingering minor headaches. I know Cymbalta is a Godsend for some, but really should only be used as a last resort. Also, the doctors need more information. I really don't believe they know how bad the symptoms are and the potential long-term effects this drug may have. I wish you all the best in your journey. Remeber this too will make you a stronger person! May God bless each one who reads here. I encourage you to check out www.theroadback.com. I think it has the best information out there for this!!!

I was on cymbalta for 3 months taking 20mg a day. My dosage was increased to 40 mg a day on the 4th month. By the third day of taking 40mg a day I almost killed myself. I immediately went back to 20mg a day by the fourth day and have been trying to ween off since; however, my boss is about to fire me because I've lost all motivation, including to live. I hope I survive.

For Rene, I hope that you get to feeling better. Please do not lose the will to live; I think that there is always hope. Listen, my advise to you is to get off Cymbalta as soon as you can. It is a scary drug. Thankfully, I took myself off about 1 month ago. I was having terrible brain zaps in the beginning, but that's about it. However, I considered myself to be an extremely physically strong person. I have read in this post that other people have much worse side effects after quiting. So, follow the advise of a doctor if you are going to try to quit. I also gained a whole lot of weight during the treatment with Cymbalta. That is also coming off now. I have been trying to get into more natural alternatives to help me with depression such as meditation and natural products.

I stopped taking Cymbalta one week ago after being on it for six months. My doctor told me I didn't have to taper off of the drug, he also claimed the electrical shocks I described were not a side effect of. After seeing him for twenty five years, I will never return to his office. The withdrawl symptoms have been horrid. Much worse than the depressed state of mind I was in prior to taking it. Irritable, angry, sad, headaches,very moody. I feel for everyone who is struggling through the same. I would like comments from anyone who has been successful at weaning themselves off. How long before the feeling of physical and emotional normalcy returns? I can only hope and pray the old me is still inside and will soon return.
No more anti-depressants for me.

I stopped taking Cymbalta one week ago after being on it for six months. My doctor told me I didn't have to taper off of the drug, he also claimed the electrical shocks I described were not a side effect of. After seeing him for twenty five years, I will never return to his office. The withdrawl symptoms have been horrid. Much worse than the depressed state of mind I was in prior to taking it. Irritable, angry, sad, headaches,very moody. I feel for everyone who is struggling through the same. I would like comments from anyone who has been successful at weaning themselves off. How long before the feeling of physical and emotional normalcy returns? I can only hope and pray the old me is still inside and will soon return.
No more anti-depressants for me.

I took 1 30 mg pill 2 weeks ago - samples given to me by my neurologist's partner's NP for back pain and tingling feet.

I woke up in the middle of the night with severe stomach cramping. Then in the morning severe diarreah. I didn't take anymore pills.

That NP also insisted I see their Osteopathic Manipulation guy - who insisted I try the Cymbalta again (I have an extensive failure with pain meds). So I finally took 1 pill last night - I slept, but feel so sick today.

Now reading what you've all said I don't think I'll ever take it again.

I'd rather have the pain than have the pain (which is increasing from being in bed all morning long) AND feel sick to my stomach.

Cymbalta sucks.

I took one 30 mg pill last night, and I started immediately having the brain zaps people have talked about, jaw pain, neusea, and brain disconnect. I am sick as hell today and I will never take another antidpressant for pain. Elavil did the same thing with only one pill, but not as bad.

I have been on 30mg of cymbalta almost 9 months, but to be honest I am not for sure. I too have had weird side effects after missing only one dose, but it has helped me with my anxiety. Recently I have been having swelling issues with my tongue, only one side of it, my hands, this alternates, feet, same alternation and most recently my face and now my lower lip. Has anyone else experienced this?

My experience with Cymbalta has been mostly a positive one. My primary physician put me on it when I was crying in his office and stating I felt there was no hope of relieving chronic back pain. Initial side effects including urinary hesitany was frightening but did not last. Some fatigue and persistent dry mouth are still present two years later. However, I feel very much in control of my emotions and pretty upbeat. I haven't felt that way in years. And I sleep very well. The pain improved significantly, also. I suddenly have been diagnosed with high cholesterol and low iron stores, also, which now I read are side effects. I might like to have children some day. I am frightened by the weening I would need to do. But for now, my life is so much better with cymbalta.

I am on day 3 of 30mg, trying to taper from 60mg. I feel HORRIBLE. Headaches, flu like symptoms. Kind of like the "hang over" from hell, except worse. I work Full time and have small children. The drug helped my depression, but i gained a lot of weight, was sedated all day and my Blood Pressure went thru the roof - which is not suppossed to happen with this med. Effexor withdrawls were horrible, but i did not taper. This really is horrific!

I took Cymbalta for about a year. I had very few side effects including sweating and nausea. Overall, I felt better. Then a few months ago, I noticed that it didn't seem to be working anymore. Anxiety was up, bad moods and anger were up, sleeping all the time, etc. My doctor wanted to add Wellbutrin to the Cymbalta, but I said no way. He then decided to wean me from Cymbalta to Effexor. In the past few weeks, I have been more and more agitated and irritable - snapping at everyone, lack of patience, increased napping, slacking on my job, no motivation, etc. Before I found this site, I had no idea that Cymbalta could be so harmful. Could I be having withdrawal symptoms from the Cymbalta or new side effects from the Effexor? As of today, I have decided to wean off the Effexor, and I am now very scared of the withdrawal involved. When and if I can get through the withdrawal, what can I do about the symptoms of depression, anxiety and panic attacks that I had in the first place which led to use of antidepressants?

As a side note, I have been looking into birth control pills and depression and have found suprising evidence that birth control may actually cause symptoms of depression and anxiety. I have been on birth control since I was 17 years old! Now I really don't know who is the real me. I would appreciate any input. It seems we are all in this together. Thanks for sharing your experiences. It has been very helpful.

I started taking Cymbalta less than a year ago. Was started out at 30mg was then increased to 75mg and finally 90mg in the midst of getting off long term legally prescribed and taken narcotic pain meds for chronic back pain due to a garage door falling on my head 8 years ago. Has anyone experienced involuntary muscle spasms almost like jerking motions throughout your entire body? I have begun to wean myself off of this as my husband started describing these symptoms that happened only when I closed my eyes (asleep or not) as increasingly violent as he was being hit by jerking arms, hands, legs or feet. Even have head jerks. I never experienced these symptoms when on pain meds. Now having to have a brain MRI????? Has anyone taking this drug experienced these symptoms. My pain Dr. is at a loss for it's cause. Have the the "brain zaps" as well. Wondering if I will ever feel normal. Depression long gone, was prescribed for the neuropathic pain although not diabetic.

I have been on 60mg Cymbalta for almost 2 years. I am taking it for Depression/Anxiety and Fibromyalgia pain. I did not have any side effects. And it worked wonderfully for my depression and Fibromyalgia pain. But I am trying to wean off of it because I want to have children. I did not realize how hard weaning off would be. I feel disoriented, I get electrical shocks in my head, and feel sea-sick, and very irritable. I thought I would try taking 60 mg. every couple of days. But that is not working. I think my next step is to get 30 mg. tabs and go from there. I'm glad I'm weaning off of this medication now. Because I would not want to feel this way and be pregnant! Any helpful hints would be appreciated!

Oh my goodness. I am sitting here thinking I needed to relook at the side effects of Cymbalta. I have been having a couple of weeks of "just feeling weird". I have been on Paxil before and new this felt kind of familiar, so I to am trying to go every other day. Currently I take 60 mg a day. I have the same effects on or off. I feel off balance, underlying headache, just not right. But looking at all of these comments makes me know for sure that I want off. Paxil gave me brain surges, but it only took a little while and I was able to be off it for over a year. I started taking Cymbalta for anxiety, but found out from the doctor, that it's not really for that. WHY DID YOU PRESCRIBE IT IN THE FIRST PLACE! Anyway, Going off it, will deal with anxiety another way. Just glad to know I am not going crazy, or experiencing a brain tumor. Besides I am a full-time adult returning to school and I need all the clear brain and memory I can have, without any wanted side effects.

Reference to posted #214:
My doctor said to start with going from 60 to 30 mg for 3 months...get stable and then go to every-other-day for 2 months and then get off the drug. Trust me the symptoms don't go away they just get manageable. The first of March I go to every-other-day....I would suggest the same method, unless someone else says otherwise. It's not comfortable, but it's manageable. Good Luck!

I have suffered chronic pain for many years due to a back injury. Today my Dr. gave me a script for Cymbalta and explained that it's been being used successfully for pain management. For some reason, I decided not to stop at the Pharmacy on the way home, and thought I'd see what I could find out about it on-line. As I read through everyones testimonials I am so glad that I decided to check this drug out. As soon as I'm done here, I'm tossing the script into the trash where it belongs! I feel terrible for those of you that have had such awful outcomes from taking Cymbalta. But I thank you for speaking up about it so others can make a more informed decision about using this drug.

I am so glad I read what you all have experienced & the effects of Cymbalta this evening. My 14 yr. old has been seeing a neurologist for migraines. Her doctor thinks she may be depressed and has prescribed Cymbalta. She took (1) 30 mg. 4 days ago, and another 30 mg. 2 days ago. Thank God I read these testimonials. I refuse to let her take this antidepressant. I can't imagine her having to go through these awful withdrawal symptoms. Perhaps there is an alternative to drugs. She's a normal, typical 14 yr. old girl with the usual hormone imbalance that comes with this age. I am going to let her doctor know and have her go on to read what you have experienced, and hopefully she thinks twice before prescribing this terrible drug anymore. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and the insite on Cymbalta. I wish all of you the best, and pray you are able to stay off this drug without those horrible effects. Please share with me any experiences you may have had taking any natural antidepressants. Thank You.

I have been on cymbalta for almost a year, I recently ran out and wasnt able to refill my prescription. I was without it for 3 days and started feeling dizzy, nauseous, had trouble with my vision, sweats...I had an appointment with my gp the first day of the symptoms and he told me he thought I was "coming down with a bug". He knew I was out of my prescription but never mentioned I may be having withdrawal symptoms. I got back on the drug yesterday and I feel back to "normal". I was so unaware that this might happen, and am very disappointed with my doctor who did not warn me of the side effects.I guess I should have learned about them on my own. I have to say Cymbalta has helped me, I have had an incredible amount of stress the last few years and it continues but I am able to "handle" it better with the pills. I had hoped I would not be on cymbalta forever, but I am scared to death to ever stop it again after what I just went through.

I only took 30mg of Cymbalta for a week, then started the 60mg. I started to get pain and burning in my urinary area. So I stopped the 60mg after 6 days. About 4 days later, I became very dizzy, and I feel like I am out of it. This is the 11th day I have felt this way. My doctor said this can be common of medicines, when it totally leaves your body, and then you start feeling symptoms.
I am totally out of it, and the doctor referred to what I am feeling as vertigo. It's been terrible. I have no equilibrium, and I feel totally out of it.
I have always had anxiety, but I don't remember feeling like this after trying a medicine.

I had a wonderful experience with Cymbalta. I was on 90 mg/day. It kept me balanced. But after a while, it just stopped working so well. So I went off of it, gradually. I had little to no side-effects, barely any withdrawl symptoms. Sure, some nightmares, but you gotta just take that stuff in stride. You can't get bent out of shape over the little things and annoyances. Those things are going to happen. And you can't just stop cold turkey. That's stupid. Follow your doctor's advice. It's not a perfect world...there is no perfect drug. If you go into it with those kinds of expectations, you're going to be disappointed. Also, I started exercising 3 times a week while I was going off the Cymbalta. That may have helped to counteract any additional withdrawl symptoms.

Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences. I recently took cymbalta for neuropathic pain and only lasted 3 days before stopping it. I have epilepsy and I have taken many seizure drugs over the years but none compare to the hell I felt with this. I didn't sleep for 3 days, my throat felt swollen shut,nausea,dizzness, brain zaps, ect. I will never take this drug again no matter how bad my pain is.

My husband was put on CYMBALTA about a year ago,and it worked great, he got him self into "the donut hole," any one who is on Medicare D, will know what I am talking about. The Medicare D, stopped paying for Cymbalta it only paid for gernic drugs. So his Dr. put him on something else, he got more and more depressed, after the 1st of Jan. his Ins started paying for the Cymbalta again, it works great for him. He had gotten real depressed while he was off the CYMBALTA. Since it worked so good for him, I asked my Dr. to put me on it. I had been taking Elavil for years and I thought it was not working for me any more. The CYMBALTA kept me awake at night, so the Dr. said I could take the CYMBALTA in the morning and the Elavil at night ( I'm starting to think not a good idea.) Any way after 4 weeks and 1 day. I had to go to the emergeney room for something else, my blood pressure has always been normal to low, at the hospital it was 165 over 80, I was schocked, the nurse took it again with another cuff and it was 155 over 80, needless to say I stopped the Cymbalta, a couple of weeks later I went to my Dr. that I see for my liver and it was 144 over 80, I'm hoping it will go back to what it has always been. If I hadn't had to go to the hospital who knows how high it would have gone. I firmley believe it was caused by the Cymbalta, I just stopped taking it, no side effects that I can think of, I feel for any one who has the awful side effects, becaused I have had that with other medicine.

Ruth

Just wanted to say thank you to all the people who posted comments about this drug. My husband was handed several free sample bottles from his doctor and told to just take one a day- as if it was Candy! Thankfully, I went with him to the Doctor, since I am a nurse myself, and saw how lackadazical these guys hand out pills. Especially after reading how incredibly harmful and frustrating these things can be. My husband has been on them only 3 days and showed very little side effects but I will not take my chances especially with my husband's life. I don't want him to be miserable all the time so I read all these comments in time to stop him from taking it anymore before we are in too deep. Pain and side effects from meds affects the whole family, not just the patient. I wish the doctors would do more of their research before handing out pills that could cause so many problems. I always try to do what is in the best interest of my family members and patients- why in the hell would I want to give out a type of drug that makes so many people so miserable???? Anyhow... God bless to those of you who are still struggling, and I just pray to get this krap out of my husband's system before it does any more damage. Thanks.

I am trying to get off of this horrible med by weaning myself slowly. So far it has been hellish. I started on the cymbalta 8 months ago. At first it worked great, but after 6 months it stopped working and my depression came back. I saw my doc who upped my dosage to 90 mg. I started feeling bad side effects- dizzyness, vertigo, nightmares, confusion, huge and fast weight gain (50 lbs in 8 months), temporary paralysis and numbness in my left arm ( I went to ER and was told it was not from the cymbalta but I don't believe that. They never did figure out what caused that but I am positive it was a side effect), short term memory loss, and even some personality changes. I am scared to quit but I want to so badly. I am down to 30 mg now and I feel like I am dying if I forget to take my pill each day. I still plan on cutting my dosage down slowly. I wish I had never taken this drug. I had worked so hard to get in shape and was in the best shape of my life before starting this med, but now I am 50 lbs heavier and keep gaining even though I am dieting. I can't exercise anymore due to the dizziness and vertigo. I am so glad to see that I am not the only one who has had a miserable experience with this drug. It needs to be taken off the market before it hurts more people.

Oh I forgot to mention, I also get these weird twitches at least once everyday and the brain zaps that others have mentioned.

and just to add.. when i weighed in at the doctors 6 months ago when i was starting cymbalta i weighed 147.. i am now at 183 and have not changed my eatting..this medication does more bad then good.. and it stops working, and when it does,.. trying to come off it is scary.. my b/f doesn't want to leave me alone by myself,.. and when he does, he is always calling me to check up on me, tell me he's here for me, and tell me he loves me,... i HATE the people that allowed this drug to be approved... i'm a prisoner in my own body.. THIS IS LEGAL AND POT ISN'T?!?!?! this is ruining lives.. i can't wait for a lawsuit againt the makers... good luck to all and try to hang in there...

Cymbalta was absolutely the best drug to treat my depression. All symtoms of depression were gone! However, the side effects were horrid. The side effects outweighed the gain from depression so I quit use. The best way for me to stop was 1 60 mg every three days for 2 weeks, then 1 pill every 4 days for two weeks, then none from there on. I felt all the withdrawl as previous folks stated but not as severe with my method of withdrawl. The horrid side effects for me were:
1. Pimples ontop of pimples ontop of even more pimples. Somebody needs to pop me!
2. weight gain.....20 lbs in 2 months
3. sweating profusely
4. blurred vision

I would never take this drug again. wish you all luck

I have noticed one important thing about Cymbalta that differentiates it from other antidepressants. When you stop taking it or even skip one dose you will feel very depressed nearly instantly. I've spoken with some others on it. Alone we didn't connect the dots, but together we realized this and that it is critical not to skip a day.
Beyond that, I am also at the point of considering a med change. My eyes are perpetually itchy, with my tears feeling somewhat viscous. Allergies? Dehydration? Both are possible, but from what I've read on some sites about side effects I'm concerned. This med is new, and I'm too scared that they don't have enough data on long term effects.

Hello to all. I have been taking Cymbalta for about two years now. I am on the med for severe migraines, although I have never had depression. From the looks of all the comments, this seems to be a very risky drug that I have been popping like candy for for the past 24 months. I want to get off this med based solely on the money I spend every month to refill as fortunately I do not experience the side effects most others have noted. I have tried to quit taking Cymbalta for the past 6 months, first cold turkey (yeah right!)and then weaning from 60 mg to 30 mg and have experienced the same withdrawal symptoms as many others...VERTIGO is the most annoying...I feel like one of those ghosts that you see in scary movies where they picture them walking by skipping a frame..I feel like I'm skipping several frames when I walk...hence I seem to sleep all day (probably another withdrawal symptom)..I have NO motivation..a fact that is affecting my family in a big way. HORRIBLE WITHDRAWALS!! Cannot seem to get off this med! Any ideas for a smoother transition to the self I used to know? My husband and I would love to have another baby, but I cannot stay on this med while pregnant and cannot seem to get away from it at the same time!(I will gladly take the migranes back now)!!

I have been on Cymbalta for 1 mo (30mg). I started feeling wierd a week ago. My eyes are blurry and i've had a headache for days. I'm really scared to stop taking my med after finding this page. It does seem to be working for my stress but I am very tired all the time, which is hard since i have four kids. Should i wait to see if the side effects increase or should i stop taking it? Is it better to wean or go cold turkey?Help

So much BETTER than Prozc !!Started Cymbalta 7/06 at 20mg/day, was unhappy (still anxious & depressed) 2 weeks later so Dr increased dose to 40 mg/day. Within a three weeks I was feeling calm and more normal. Felt a little sleepy so reduced dose to 30 mg. Felt better and better as months went on. No other side affects. Am withdrawing now and have no side affects. Definitely recommend it!

I'm on Cymbalta (60 mg) for neuropathy. I'm not diabetic; the pain in my feet is due to a compressed nerve in my back. Surgery released the nerve, but my feet never got any better. My pain management doc put me on Lyrica but it caused awful swelling, so she switched me to Cymbalta. I've been on it for 5 months and I'm pretty much pain free. There's been some weight gain which may or may not be related to the Cymbalta. But it's a small price to pay to be pain free. My feet used to hurt so bad I cried at night. My heart aches for all those who are having such awful experiences with the Cymbalta, but for me it's been a life saver.

I think the reason there are so many negative comments about cymbalta is because those of us doing realy well on the drug won't search the web for sick-effects because we have none. I've been on 60 mg of cymbalta for about 18 mos. My mother and daughter take it too (same dose). Three generations of chemical imbalance -- I believe it is genetic. Anyway, I also take 25 mg of Trazadone for insomnia. I recently decided to look into lowering the dose of cymbalta (hence the reason I found this website) to see if it would help to increase libido and increase energy. With my doctors consent, I lowered the dose of cymbalta to 30 mg and increased my trazadone to 50 mg. Results: increased libido and increased energy. I have had no withdrawal symtoms at all and especially none of the symtoms being reported on this website. Perhaps that is because while tampering off the cymbalta I increased the trazadone. I have also decided to check into acupucture in an effort to try and cure the chemical imbalance in my brain permantely. However, this is a longterm commitment and a financial investment. I can't afford to do it both for myself and my daughter so my thought is to try it myself (as the guinna pig) and if it works for me recommend it to my daughter and my mother (and their doctors, respectively). I don't think anyone should be messing with their medication without consulting their doctor. I do like the idea of cutting the doses using empty capsels (thanks for that) to save money. So its been two weeks since the adjustment of my meds and I feel great. I will report my progess as time goes on. By the way, my mother and daughter love cymbalta. The only side-effect I notice with my daughter is lack of energy (but she also had mono when she was 16, she is 18 now -- and I think she suffers with Epstein Barr as a result of the mono. My mother has only good things to say about cymbalta. She is retired and living in FLA. She is 70 yrs. old and in otherwise excellent health. Also I should note that I have been on other antidepresents in the past and cymbalta presents the least side-effects, however I think 30 mg of cymbalta and 50 mg of trazadone might just be the best combination for me for now while I explore acupuncture. Hope this helps someone.

This is my second posting, as I am still coming off of the worst withdrawls in my life. I work in the pharmacuetical industry, with psych drugs, and with my doctor, have tappered, but am still VERY ILL. I also know that these drugs save lives, so I am not discounting their usefullness. They are incredible, but also dangerous. I like the idea of the posting before mine of Trazadone - it does not have a lot of seratonin activity, but more at histamine, which is why it is widely used as a sleep rememdy, when it was originally marketed and approved by the FDA as an antidepressant. I'm going to try it myself, as this is still the worst hangover feeling of my life, and I am just starting week 3 of it. This to, shall pass for us all and we need to not give up!!!

I have been on many, many antidepressants for the past 7 years (I am 47). I initially was put on Celexa when I was feeling down after my divorce. Actually, I never would have asked for it; my dr.(internist, not pdoc)suggested antidepressants and being the "good little patient" I did whatever I was told. From that point on, my doctor put me on just about every antidepressant on the market with no real benefit to me. So he played with doses, brands, combinations -- at one point, I was on paxil, xanax, ativan, ambien,restoril AND klonopin (very high dose of klonopin -- 5mg nightly)! I finally realized after speaking with a nurse who is a friend what a mess I'd gotten into. I had no idea -- I just always trusted my dr. and never questioned him ... I got a new dr. who switched me from paxil to cymbalta (I was having problems with weight gain and generalized pain that was nearly debilitating-couldn't even remove the cap from a tube of toothpaste).

Long story short,I did research and discovered there are other, better ways to boost your serotonin, so I stopped taking Cymbalta 5 days ago but am taking other supplements.

My question is, I'm definitely having intermittent withdrawal symptoms (nausea, headache,ringing in my ears, uncontrollable crying, sudden extreme irritability, facial twitches -- can't keep my eyes closed at night, insomnia, hypersensitivity to light, sound and smells). However, it's not nearly as bad as withdrawal from Klonopin! I was only on 60 mg daily of Cymbalta for a month. Is there a correlation between the length of time on Cymbalta and the length of withdrawal?

Thanks, and hang in there everyone --
Jan

I have been on cymbalta for about a year and a half. I was put on it for anxiety and panic. I definitely feel it helped. However, I am now dealing with overactive bladder and it started around the time I started cymbalta. I have been to a urologist and they could find nothing wrong so i hoped that it was the cymbalta b/c this has become so unbelievably dissruptive. I feel like I have to pee constantly and wake up every 2 hrs at night to go. my last hope was that it was a side effect of cymbalta. So I weaned off about a month ago and experienced about a week of those aweful side effects. Unfortunately, the peeing did not get better so I took a 30mg pill today b/c I have been feeling overwhelmed and stressed, and the peeing actually got worse today! I really don't know what to do. I feel that since I've been off, I am much more stressed out and overwhelmed. I am also ADHD and now I'm thinking the cymbalta was helping with that.

Has anyone out there experience bad urinary problems with cymbalta? And if so, did they stop when you stopped the drug?

I have been on 60 mg of Cymbalta for about a year now. This is the first time I have ever been on a drug to treat depression, so I don't have a lot to compare it to. However, I feel that although the easing in was a little uncomfortable, the drug has done wonders for me this past year. I think I am now ready to wean myself off, but will definitely be following my doctor's orders about taking it slow. She originally told me that if I go on this drug I should take it for at least one year so that my body doesn't get messed up with all the changes. For those of you out there trying to go cold turkey, you are only hurting yourselves! Please, take it slow and save yourselves the agony.

I've been on cymbalta for almost 5 months now. Aside from loss of appetite and weightloss in the beginning, it's been a GREAT antidepressant for me. I also take lamictal and both seem to really treat my bi-polar disorder.

I've been taking Cymbalta for about 8 months now. The first side effect I noticed was a lot of sweating. A better antiperspirant basically fixed that one. The second has been a bit of weight gain, but I can't definitely blame the drug for that! The third, dizziness. The fourth, feeling jittery. The fifth, blackouts if mixed with alcohol- even one drink. I am currently working to get off of this medication. I am down from 90mg to 60mg.

Although I don't think this is a terrible drug, I don't think it is the answer for me. Good luck to all those who are on it- my biggest piece of advice is DO NOT MIX THIS DRUG WITH ALCOHOL. Perhaps it is not the same for everyone, but for me, taking this medication (at 60 mg) with even one drink causes a blackout.

I began taking cymbalta about two years ago under false pretenses when by doctor did not explain to me this was an antidepressant and then when I wanted to stop, cautioned that I 'had to be on this for 10 months or else suicidal thoughts are common'. What a nightmare - the first months were good, but started to notice blurred vision. Should have stopped then but was nervous about the suicidal thought possility. So 10 months later, a different doctor suggested a week of weening off 60mg - to 30 for a week and then off completely. Withdrawl made me feel like I had the worst flu for about 2 months - awful is the only way to describe it. Now, I have terrible vision, when my vision before cymbalta was excellent. I am young and I could barely pass my recent eye exam for the DMV. Do not take this poison!

I have been through hell for 3 days from going cold turkey. I was on cymbalat for almost 4 weeks, how long do whe withdrawles last? No one says.

I have been on cymbalta 60mg for two years now and am starting the weaning process today. By reading all these comments, I am scared shitless. All the symptoms described above I've felt, experienced. If I miss a dose more than two days I am walking on a cloud constantly feeling like I am ready to pass out every 20 seconds or so for an episode of another 20 seconds, intermittent. Crazy, I know! But that's how the drug controls one's body functions. I just am scared and fed up that I no longer have control of myself. I don't even remember what it's like to be me...what I felt and thought "pre-cymbalta". Had I known how it affects ones ability to function daily and process just everyday thoughts, I probably would have opted for another drug, but that was never explained to me. I am a college student and find myself sometimes not even being able to process how to open a file on the computer (or rather the thought takes a long time) if I've missed a dose. This information these days is almost common knowledge.

My doctor prescribed Cymbalta for me against my better judgment, saying that I needed it for depression I don't believe I have and some bruising and muscle pain I have been experiencing. On a particularly stressful day I decided to try it thinking what could it hurt. Oh my god! This is poison, poison, poison!! The first hour the sweating and disorientation began, next came the panic, anxiety, nausea, IBS. At first I thought it's ok I'm just adjusting to it. Two hours later I am on the phone shaking violently, trying to form a thought so I can call my doctor and my poor husband. So here is the picture. I am laying over a trash can in the kitchen throwing up uncontrollably, can't focus, cannot form a solid thought, trying to chant my abc’s since it's the only thing I can grasp. Shaking so violently the trash can is bouncing off the floor with my tremors. Constant panic and anxiety overwhelming me, wired out of my mind. I can barely open my jaw to throw up it keeps clenching so tightly. I lost all feeling and control of my bladder for an undetermined amount of time. Now, it is 2 days later. I finally slept for a few hours last night. I still have the anxiety/panic in my chest and my mind just floats off while I am trying desperately to focus on my work. My jaw keeps clenching but I am making a conscious effort to tell it to relax. I'm praying to god the symptoms are gone soon! All of this from 1 30 MG DOSE. I couldn't imagine trying to take this poison everyday and more power to any of you who are trying to get off of it. I just pray no one who ever takes this has any permanant damage from it.

I consider myself usually a very unlucky sort of guy. Fortune shined on me when I found this website and the comments. I say this only because I found out today that my MD has recommended that I get off Lexapro 10mg/day (which caused severe nausea) and move to Cymbalta at a starting dosage of 60mg/day for anxiety.

I'm usually a trusting sort but I'm not a fool. When the Lexapro started making me 'space out' and what a man could conceive as labor pain hit, I knew I was off it. The doctor said that Cymbalta is probably better off for me in the long run as it would help with any depression issues I was facing (high-stress job, international travel, wife & daughters home alone for weeks to months).

Fortunately, they screwed up calling in my prescription today and it wasn't there when I went by. I consider it a sign. Finding everyone's comments here is my second sign. Thanks to all who hoped and prayed no one else would be dumb enough to go to war with their own body after taking this stuff.

-OneLuckyGuy

Great now I never want to wean off this drug (even though it is not working) withdrawls sound horrible. I've been on cymbalta for two months now (60mg) for chronic daily headaches and frequent migraines. I've experienced a lot of nausea and have lost quite a bit of weight (bonus!) Is anyone experiencing bruising as a side effect? I have many bruises and no explanation????

As a matter fact, yes Heather. I was talking to my sister in law and she has been on it for several months. All of the sudden she has bruising and skin pigmentation changes. She thinks it is another medication she is taking but now I know it's not.

If you believe this horrible drug should be stopped please sign the petition.
http://www.petitiononline.com/CYM2006/petition.html

I went on Cymbalta a couple of months ago out of desperation--I was depressed, had no ambition (which drove me crazy as I am a type A personality and a very active person) and had aches and pains such as fibromyalgia--I was on the 30 mg for three weeks--I noticed a big improvement in my mood, etc. and so did my family. I went up to the 60 mg as prescribed and after a couple of weeks of being so sleepy I couldn't stand it, I went back to my Dr. and he let me go back to 30 mg. Since then I have not been able to wake up, fall asleep at my computer at work (I mean a deep sleep!) Don't want to get off the couch or out of bed or even out of my chair at work. I have pain all over (esp joint pain) I am out of sorts, generally, not happy, sometimes mean and most of all---I have gained 40 lbs and I have not been eating larger quantities or more calories! Now I am so depressed about my body and the excess fat, that I almost wish I could go to sleep permanently. I even find it hard to breathe, and although I am trying to walk twice a day for 30 minutes, it kills me. I slowly weaned myself off Cymbalta (horrific) and went back to the Dr. for above symptoms, they ordered a sleep study and told me to go back on Cymbalta, that it wasn't that. Now I found your site and read every blog, and I am so angry I could spit nails. I am weaning again. I am not taking medication of any kind again, except maybe a vitamin and an aspirin.

Forgot a couple of things. I cannot hardly function at my job--can't remember things, ask stupid questions because I'm so confused, the list goes on. I'm lucky I haven't been fired and sometimes my boss looks at me like I'm crazy. Also, have the jaw pain--the other night my husband went to kiss me and when he touched my face by my jaw to turn my face, it hurt like hell and I screamed out in pain. I feel like I'm daydreaming most of the time. Chills, chills that short of a hot bath or shower, won't go away. Sweats at night and some during the day. Oh, did I mention the constipation and diarreah, as they alternate? All the weight I've gained is mostly right around my middle. I couldn't figure out why when I was watching my food intake and exercising, my pants just kept getting tighter and tighter. I even had my gynecologist order a pelvic ultrasound because I thought I had a tumor. Turns out it was clear, this is all fat. I used to be a size 6-8 and now I barely fit in a 12. I signed the petition for Lilly--really I'd like to personally give them a piece of my mind. Then again, there's not much left there to give them.

can anyone tell me how long the side effects last after going off the pill? I have been off about 5 days and it is about to drive me nuts. I will never take another medicine like this again. I am glad I foound this page I thought I was going crazy.

What I think is that it really depends on who you are. For instance your personal name affects your pyschiological makeup. So if you want to know if cymbalta is right for you, just imagine it as your last name and see how it feels. Goes for any other drugs.

What I think is that it really depends on who you are. For instance your personal name affects your pyschiological makeup. So if you want to know if cymbalta is right for you, just imagine it as your last name and see how it feels. Goes for any other drugs.

ONCE AGAIN, ABOLISH THE FDA AND EVIL BIG PHARMA! GET HEALTHY BY GOING TO WWW.NEWSTARGET.COM. LEARN THE TRUTH ABOUT THE CORRUPT EVIL DRUG INDUSTRY AND THE CORRUPT PSYCHIATRY INDUSTRY! PSYCHIATRY KILLS!

I've been taking Cymbalta 60 mgs for over 2 years now. I can not imagine living witout it. It gave my life back. It saved my marriage. I am sorry you all had to go through such bad withdrawal and hope I never have to. The only side effect I have is increased sweating. I love it and hope I never have to go off of it!

I have been taking Cymbalta ( 60mg) for 6 months now. I was prescribed the drug to combat chronic back pain (nerve damage) and also because of the effects of living chronic pain, the depression.

The first day I experienced what others have described as a "brain zap" and jaw pain, both symptoms only lasted the first day. I did experience a migraine type headache for almost a week, after which ceased. Also, I have experienced weight gain, at least one pants size.

All the side effects aside, this drug has been amazing for me. My entire life I have battled anxiety but I have never taken any medication for it because I didn't want to take something that made me feel like a zombie. My anxiety is almost completely none existent now. The depression I had as a result of my hip and back injury is almost completely gone also.

Before Cymbalta my outlook on my life, my future and my ability to succeed doing my dream career choice were very bleak, now I wake up each day ready to seize the day and just not hoping I can succeed as an artist but knowing I am talented and will succeed.

Cymbalta has been a wonder drug for me.

I only take 30 mg of Cybaltan per day. The main side effect is a racing heartbeat which leaves me unable to do anything. The effects kick in 3 hours after taking the pill and last for about 20 hours.

Does anyone else have these side effects ?

Will I still have side effets if I withdraw on such a low dose

Withdrawal from cymbalta must be very slow and gradual. If it is done slowly, side-effect will be minimal. Also, if you are taking cymbalta for depression, then you have to expect the symtoms of depression to return as well if you are weening off (e.g. flu like symtoms). Exercise as much as possible while weening off cymbalta. Stay on the reduced dose for long periods of time (3-6 mos.) before reducing further. You may find the a reduced dose is better for you to stay on. It's still the best drug I've ever been on but the lower dose (40mg)is best for me combined with 25 mg of trazadone. Also, I was advised to take cymbalta at night. If you are taking it in the morning it will cause sleepiness. Good luck.

My doctor just put me on cymbalta, I was on celexa ( a VA shrink) I've only tookin one 30mg capsule but after reading all this bad stuff I'm not going to take it at all. thx

help!i only took cymbalta for 3 weeks then i quit cold turkey,felt great for 3 days & then the worst hell i have been through started flu like symptoms,headaches,nausea,diarrea,nightmares,dizziness,fainting spells.so i started back on 30mg everyother day hope this works,a doctor should never prescribe cymbalta to anyone.pat

Lisa, I am also taking cymbalta (60mg) with trazodone (100mg). I've been on the cymbalta for about a year now and the trazodone since I was about 15 (i'm 20 now). I have started having panic attacks and depressive episodes, so my doctor advised me to wean off for 2-3 weeks. I'm on the end of my first week of weaning off and I've had some seriously weird side effects along with the normal headaches, constipation, etc. I have been in a constant daze, the sun is extremely bright, I scratch at myself without knowing why or when (I just show up with red marks), and I have a weird numbness in my inner elbows. I constantly stare at them like I expect something to happen. I was in no way like this before the medications, a little unstable, but not like this... I was wondering if you experienced any of these things since you were on the trazodone as well. I definitely believe this drug should have closer regulation. My mother and I have both had very negative experiences from cymbalta.

I am a 47 year old male, and have been on a wide selection of anti-depressants for almost 7 years now. All the usual suspects, Zoloft, Paxil etc., and most recently, Cymbalta. These were originally prescribed for Panic Attacks on Stage ( I am a musician who works 5 nights a week). I suppose they worked, insofar as I was functional, but numb.
The oft-quoted suicidal thoughts bgan to creep in after about 6 months on Cymbalta, and I decided to get off this stuff asap. Doc. originally wanted to up the dose fromm 60mg to 90mg, but after persuasive talk from me, agreed to a fast taper, ending at 30mg every 2nd day for a week.
The withdrawal symptoms have been nothing short of horrific! Constant brain zaps, awful fatigue, dizziness, faintness, severe muscle aches,stomach pain, bowels in an uproar, but....in the middle of week 2, slight chinks of light, hope for the future. I still feel like I've been hit by a truck, but just knowing I'm getting away from this stuff is a huge consolation.
You have to play mind games with yourself, i.e. the pain of W/D will pass, and you will be better. The panic attacks were mild compared to these symptoms, but it can be done. Good Luck, and hang in there for anyone going through this pain at the moment, and to anyone who is thinking about it, it was worth it for me.

RK.

Am in the process of weaning off of cymbalta after having been on it for almost 6 months for severe depression - am probably tapering too fast but I want off - was on 60 ml. a day - dropped to 30 a day for a week and haven't had anything in two days. Have has a severe headache since I dropped to 30 ml. and several crying jags the past two days (although my life is in major upheaval right now so that could be some of it) - I've gained serious weight on Cymbalta and have had chronic insomina since I started taking it. Has anyone successfully come off of it and lost their weight gain and have been able to sleep again? I've ordered the supplements found On The Road Back's site - should be getting them anyday now....
Susan

Also forgot to mention, my short term memory and concentration have been shot to hell as well as all motivation to do pretty much anything - feel worse now than I did before I took the cymbalta.

Susan

I have been taking 60mg of cymbalta every morning since early January. I have experience no relief in depression. I am, however experiencing symptoms or side effects that I have not experienced with other antidepressants. I've had severe headaches, sore throat, and swollen glands in the neck with an overall sense of fever and chills. Has anyone experienced these side effects? For those of you who have had success with cymbalta, how long did it take? Is ten weeks long enough? Did any of the side effects subside?

Kat

I have adhd and was prescribed cymbalta to help with some of the symptoms when I'm not on ritalin. The cymbalta has helped, but it has sapped me of lots of motivation. So, we dosed down from 60 to thirty. On 30 mg, I'm still having the motivation problems and still get dizzy when I go for my daily run, which never happened before taking cymbalta. I also feel so breezy at times or comfortable that I do not feel like running, which is odd for such an exerciser like myself. On the drug, I also find myself mentally slower, not as sharp, so to speak. I went off of it cold turkey two days ago and found myself far more motivated and productive today. But after reading this site, I took my dose of 30 mg. I became terrified of the withdrawls described above, none of which I had experienced in my two days off the drug. I will now go to my dr. and dose down to 20 mg a day and after a week go to 20 mg. every other day, then every two days, etc. until I am off the drug.

I have been taking Cymbalta for a couple of years now. Over the years of my depression, I have tried a variety of prescription meds, singly and in combination. Some of them kept my depression from becoming severe, but I still felt like I was "flying at a low altitude". Cymbalta has been great for me. It has taken me out of the "fog" I used to experience from other anti depressants. Initially had some mild nuasea, but that went away after a week or so. Since then I have had no discernable side effects, and have been very happy with this drug. During the coarse of taking Cynbalta, I did have to increase my dosage to 90 mg. daily, but that has caused no additional side effects.
I am truly sorry for those who have shared their stories of horrible side effects, and I hope that they find relief for their depression, as Cymbalta has done for me.

I went to my DR. and complained about nausia and feeling tired. For some reason he put me on cymbalta. The first wk. my behavoir changed. I was having feelings of extreme happiness and it would switch to extreme anger. I went to my Dr. and he had me stop taking the med. imediatly. He then prescribed another anti-depressant which the side effects were even worse. These drugs in my case are extremly dangerous and should be monitored more by the gov.

Been on Cym. for about a year. Have all the listed side effects: you must drink lots of water with this med!!! Do not take at night or you will not sleep. Be ready to run to the bathroom feeling like you're going to pee your pants, and then not be able to get your stream started, feeling like you're going to bust. You WILL sweat more than you ever have in your life - did I mention you MUST drink lots of water - dehydration can happen easily and it makes some of the side effects much worse - like constipation. This stuff will dry your insides out to the point you can't pass your stools. Did I mention you HAVE to drink LOTS of water!!!! I buy 1/2 liter bottles of water by the case and keep them in my truck at work. I feel sorry for you folks that got diarrhea - talk about dehydration!!! I can't imagine lengthy bouts of diarrhea without going and getting IV fluid replacement. This stuff really dries you out without diarrhea!
Some of the things folks are complaining about, that I felt too, got better with more fluid intake. Eat lots of fresh fruit and fiber - apples are great, it helps, but please, when you feel your mouth dryness, get some fluid in. Some of the things, like the jaw pain - I think you will find that it is from clenching your jaw in your sleep- and during the day when you're not thinking about it. I have broken the corners off two molars. Wear a mouth guard at night. The ones you can buy at Wal Mart for football work. You put them in boiling water for a few seconds to soften them up and then let them cool briefly and bite down on them to get them to fit your teeth. You will notice that over the course of a short time you will have them nearly bitten in half. That is how hard you will clench down on them in your sleep, and that is, I believe, why you are having jaw pain. I have not gotten the muscle spasms or zingers that I read from some folks. I think that may be because I work hard every day, and I think the exercise is the key. No matter how lethargic you feel get yourself up and out and if nothing else walk fast and swing those arms. See if the activity helps. If you are like me, you will be sore, but push it and I think those symptoms may lessen. I have started taking one 60 mg. tab every other or third day. I get dizzy and somewhat dissoriented and know that it is time to take the next pill. Paranoia and over emotional response to stimuli gets worse the longer I go without the next dose. But, NEVER take Cymbalta at bedtime. I cannot imagine taking 120mgs either.
I have clinical depression - diagnosed almost 20 years ago, runs in the family, and fibromyalgia. While the intense point pain where my muscles attach to the bone is greatly improved, I now have an overall feeling of weakness and fatigue, and get very painful soreness after working - and I am in construction, so I am in pain all the time. The difference is that now it is in the large muscles instead of at the attachment points. I never seem to be able to "get in shape". I get sore all the time in muscles I use all the time. There are mornings I can hardly get out of bed, and when I get to work after a half hour ride, I can hardly move to get out of the truck. I fear liver damage because I can't function some-most-days until 800 mgs. of Ibuprofen have taken effect. I have gained weight, which I can't seem to lose, and feel weak and exhausted all the time. My vision has gotten blurred, my dominant eye worse than my left. My ears ring all the time worse than they ever did before and I am jumpy and very sensitive to loud sudden noises - actually they scare the hell out of me every time. My resistance to illness and my ability to get better and to heal has gone down lower than I have ever experienced. It takes so long to heal - nearly two months to get over a recent sinus infection. It used to be two weeks. I feel like I am ageing and detiriorating at an accelerating pace. I have always been a great speller, but now there is a dopey feeling about every day that makes it harder to function the way I have to. I can't remember words when I am speaking, or how to spell detiriorate. Short term memory - or the loss of it - is a bad joke. I am always misplacing things at work - I feel like the absent minded professor.
I feel like I need to stop taking Cymbalta, but the withdrawal stories I read on this site scare the hell out of me. I wonder if my life will ever get back to the dynamic action packed get-things-done way it was before. I'm still that way at work, but it is so hard that there's nothing left when I finally get home. I've noticed I have to really be aware of my emotions and keep them under control. Anger can overtake me like a wave crashing down in an instant. I have to fight against the emotion when I first feel it or I snap and see white and go off. Instead, I turn away,get in my truck and drive away, close the windows and scream out the anger where it won't hurt anyone or my career. Then come back and deal with the situation like a normal mature person. My second day without Cymbalta is an emotional rollercoaster. I can hear a song and have to fight back tears.
Although I was happy with the drug's effects in the beginning, I feel like I am in a far worse state today than I was before I started taking the med. I hope I can get off it and get back to normal again, but reading some of the entries here do scare me. The thought that I can't get back to the way it was before is unsettling. I would have to say now that no one should get started on Cymbalta unless the need is VERY great and all other alternatives have been tried and failed. It is NOT the new miracle drug that can cure all kinds of things it was never intended to cure. The cavalier attitude some Dr.s seem to have about prescribing this drug is a shame and a testamony to the abilities of the drug sales people. I'd like to see the Dr. that prescribed 120mgs a day try to take that dose and maintain his career!!!! Hope this helps someone out there, it helps me just to have put this all down.
Try to keep in mind that it is Cymbalta effecting your emotions and "get a grip" and keep that grip.
I hear the anger getting the best of some of you in your posts. Know that something is happening to you because of something you put in your body and maintain your control. If you don't YOU will let Cymbalta do more damage then it already has. Keep hold of that rational center within you, and let it grow back to what it was before Cymbalta screwed up your life. You have everything to gain if you do, and everything to lose if you don't. Forget about Lilly. There's nothing you can do to hurt them. They already have made their millions and sent the dividend checks to the stockholders. Forget them and concentrate on you and making your time left here as good as it can be!!!!!!!

Day 6 completely off Cymbalta - still have a pretty bad headache but am not weepy anymore...Feel like I'm starting to get my motivation back...

This drug gave me the will to live my life again. After months of hiding in my bedroom due to constant pain and the ensuing depression, I finally had some energy again! There are no magic pills for depression or chronic pain but this drug really does work for some of us.

To Susan who posted #274 & 275. I have been on Cymbalta for 2 years at 60 mg. and had no idea how much it affected my whole life in the worst way! Yes The Road Back porgram works and hopefully you will improve shortly. I have been doing great until I tapered down to the 20 mg. from 30. I am definitely more fatigued and have flu like symptoms. My migraines have multiplied by intensity and frequency so much I was bed-ridden for half of this last year and most of 2005. My family is so happy I am coming back and I am so thankful for The Road Back! If there is any type of civil lawsuit action being taken against Eli Lilly I want to be first on the list! Brain altering drugs are poison to humans and should NOT be consumed by us because we are not made to handle them. I am on my way up from the depths of hell and can't wait to have more life each day forward.

I feel like I am going to die or kill myself or someone else. I only took this for 5 weeks, started at 30 and bumped up to 90 within a week. i guess this was because i was in the hospital psych ward, and so this was the next newest thing. The dr there said i was a perfect candidate, chronic pain,, fibro, suicide attmepts,, need energy, etc. He said the only complaints he heard was nausea the first few days. Well, i figured out why that's all he ever herard. he only sees you the first few days on it, then you are out on your own, so that's all he sees. I was ready to file for divorce today i was so angry at my husband for staing home and painting. Go figure. I have been off for 3 days, and I feel nausea and dizziness, but the mood stuff is the worst,and I am afraid I am going to get thrown back in the pscyh unit so I don't hurt anyone. Oh, I also spent money, bought computer without consulting with spouse, impulsive things, cutting myself.. I amlucky that my therapist is keeping me on a daily contact and check in, so I have to keep it togehter or he will call 911. I wish I had seen this before, I was so hopeful that this would be it for me and I wouldn't want to be dead anymore. Worse than before, but at least I have people watching out for me. For the poster whose wife committed suicide in december, I am so sorry. I am also scared stiff, as I was ont he same three meds, and felt the same, so I thank you for sharing something so personal and overwhelming, as it will hlep someone, maybe me, to recognize what is really going on.
Thank you to everyone, I don't feel so alone in this.

Hello. Hope everyone is doing well today. Just for some of you who don't know what the "brain zaps" are that some people have been reporting (because I didn't know until about an hour ago)... it really does feel like you stuck your finger in a socket. ZAP! it's not fun. wow. I hadn't had any until today and I've had about 4 in the last hour. I mean, I literally have to brace myself after a zap because I feel like I could fall over. Today is the day that I start 30mg every other day, so this is the longest I have been without in awhile. I know most people reading these posts are worried and scared ( know I am), but everyone hang in there!

Wow, thank you for sharing your experiences. I have a prescription for Cymbalta sitting in my car, and I am NOT going to fill it now!! I have been really conflicted about antidepressant therapy for some time and have been agonizing about this. I've been moderately depressed for years and recently tried Prozac (after Zoloft and Wellbutrin did absolutely nothing for me). It caused my lupus symptoms to start flaring up like crazy. I wondered what was wrong and went and read about the drug, and I found out that some people during clinical trials experienced "lupus-like syndrome" b/c of the Prozac. I couldn't believe how absurd it was that I was taking something with THAT in the warning list when I already HAD lupus.

You know, I think I am just going to work out every day, join a yoga class, start meditating, and change my diet. I will see what happens. Maybe I won't ever be the happiest person in the world, and maybe that's just life. Plus, I think being told that I should take this pill robs me of some feelings of agency and self-empowerment. I feel like the doctors have convinced me that there's something seriously wrong with me and that I need to take these expensive meds to fix it or else I'm just going to be deranged and helpless forever. The drug companies are really out of control... we're all being brainwashed. I think there is something seriously deranged about western medicine.

Katherine (279) - Cymbalta's half-life is 12 hours. 90% eliminated in 2.5 days. Typical onset of withdrawal Day 2-3 after each drop in dose.

From Joseph Glenmullen's book on Antidepressant withdrawal....

"None of the short acting depressants should be taken every other day as a method of tapering them. Because of their short half-lives, the every other other day schedule can result in roller coaster levels of the drugs and roller coaster episodes of withdrawal symptoms"

30mg every other day does not equate to 15mg/day, due to the drug's short half-life. Be careful, because this seems to be an oft-initiated 'withdrawal regime', yet it is at odds with basic pharmacology. It is generally very bad news, with drug levels unstable. It leads to loads of people ending up straight back on the drug.

Reputable withdrawal timetables emphasise the need to take the drug every day, but aim to reduce the amount taken over time, stabilising at each reduction, monitoring a patient's individual response to each dose drop & the severity of withdrawal encountered (mild, moderate, severe).

I'm so glad I found this website! I went off cymbalta about two weeks ago and I'm in hell. The day I went off I started eval that night. Since then I feel very, very, tired!! I don't want to clean, go places, see people, all I want to do is sleep. I have four kids and I'm married to a amasing man but I have to watch myself because my temper will get out of control in a second and when it happens I have to leave the room or the house. I sweat like it's 120 degrees in my home, I have to change my bra and shirt all of the time. I don't feel like I'm in control of my life. Any advice on what to do

Did anyone have hair loss with this medicine

Gina,

I believe that these meds can cause hair loss. I got some good advice the other day. It was that I should trust my own body and respect my experiences, even if the doctors want to blow them off. Everyone responds differently to these meds; that's why they work for some people and not for others, or cause certain effects in some of us that are more severe.

When I was on Zoloft I was having a lot of hair loss. I stopped taking it, started on a multivitamin, began using Nioxin shampoo and scalp therapy, and brushing each night with a boar bristle brush, and the hair grew back within 5 or 6 months. I'm back to my normal self now and feeling great.

A lot of things can cause hair loss, so it might not be your meds, but I think it's worthwhile to be open to possible causes. Also, keep your scalp healthy so that the hair can grow back in the right conditions. Once a folicle closes up and dies, the hair won't come back, so it's important to keep them open and unclogged to allow for regrowth.

Sarah

To Deb and everyone - It is now been 8 days completely off Cymbalta - have gotten my supplements from The Road Back which I started last night as the program suggested. I have been taking the supplements all day as prescribed and have to say this is the first day that my head has not hurt. Everyone - please, hang in there - Cathy - post 278 - I know how bad you are hurting I've never wanted to seriously hurt myself as much as I have since I've been on the Cymbalta and this past week has been hell - last suicide ideation was Thursday and my counselor has me on a daily check in as well ... Check out the The Road Back website and come back here and read when you're feeling really down and know that we're all here and thinking about you...

I've been on Cymbalta for six weeks. It was prescribed for depression following a brain injury. I am going cold turkey tomorrow. While it has helped my mood somewhat, it has had a horrible effect on my daily life. I can barely stay awake more than four hours at a time. I am sleeping 14-20 hours a day. My sleep prior to Cymbalta was very regular, 8-9 hours a night, and I never had a problem. A few days after I started Cymbalta I began taking afternoon naps. Now I sleep almost all day and have very vivid, very weird dreams. My epileptologist suggested this drug, saying he had good success with it. My PCP prescribed it since he has thought I have been depressed for over a year. He was happy I was finally willing to admit it and use an antidepressant. I will see him in another six weeks. I hope my sleep has become normal by then and that we can try something different. I can't live sleeping 20 hours a day.

I have been on Cymbalta, (120 mg) for almost 3 years. I also take Zoloft (150 mg). I take both of these for severe depressive disorder and OCD. I have tried many other meds. in the past 5 years. This combination has really worked quite well. The only side effect while on Cymbalta has been weight gain - about 25 pounds. I have discontinued the Cymbalta before, cold turkey - that was awful! I could only take about 3 days without it. I had more physical symptoms than emotional. I felt as if I were going to die! Cold sweats, chest pain, racing heart - flu-type symptoms. I am currently trying to wean myself off of this - I am cutting down 30 mg every 5 days. Today was the first day of 60 mg. So far, so good. The withdrawal symptoms are not near what they were - racing/pounding heart (off/on), hot flashes, and every now and then a little "blue". Why quit if it's working? Several reasons - it is extremely expensive (no insurance), and I really do not like being on all this medication. If needed though, I will not hesitate to try something else, or go back on Cymbalta. I also know others on Cymbalta - great results - most have been on more than a year. Good luck to you all.

I have been on Cymbalta, (120 mg) for almost 3 years. I also take Zoloft (150 mg). I take both of these for severe depressive disorder and OCD. I have tried many other meds. in the past 5 years. This combination has really worked quite well. The only side effect while on Cymbalta has been weight gain - about 25 pounds. I have discontinued the Cymbalta before, cold turkey - that was awful! I could only take about 3 days without it. I had more physical symptoms than emotional. I felt as if I were going to die! Cold sweats, chest pain, racing heart - flu-type symptoms. I am currently trying to wean myself off of this - I am cutting down 30 mg every 5 days. Today was the first day of 60 mg. So far, so good. The withdrawal symptoms are not near what they were - racing/pounding heart (off/on), hot flashes, and every now and then a little "blue". Why quit if it's working? Several reasons - it is extremely expensive (no insurance), and I really do not like being on all this medication. If needed though, I will not hesitate to try something else, or go back on Cymbalta. I also know others on Cymbalta - great results - most have been on more than a year. Good luck to you all.

Does anyone have anyhting good to say about this drug? I was thinking of taking it, but now I dont know

I am one of the many who have taken Cymbalta and now feel as though my head is going to explode. I am so nauseous that I can barely function. I am weaning now from 60mg a day for the last year and a half. I tried cold turkey but couldn't function. My ob put me on 30mg a day and I truly feel as though I am going to die.

I have taken Cymbalta for 2 days.. my rheumatologist gave me a 7 day sample bottle 30 mg. and prescribed several months worth to be filled at the pharmacy- which I was going to do tomorrow. After feeling as sick as I do, and then reading all these previous posts, I wont be taking cymbalta at all. I wonder what kind of withdrawls I will get from only two days of pills? The bad part is I am pms-ing this weekend so I hope my husband will be forgiving if I turn into a monster! LOL have to laugh because it is almost 9pm, 13 hours after taking the second dose and I am jittery and sick like a crack addict! How am I going to sleep??? My throat feels swollen, my head hurts, my eyes are blurry, my heart is beating too fast and too hard for just sitting here typing. This was prescribed for depression, anxiety and fibromyalgia. Well I am really anxious now so I guess it doesn't work for me!

I can't believe all the side effects people have been experiencing. I started Cymbalta 4 weeks ago, so far the side effects I have are sweating, off and on, so I am getting chills too, headaches, and heart palpatations. I am also on Inderal for migraines, so I am not sure if the Cymbalta and Inderal are cancelling out some of the effects on my system. I feel better than I have in a long while--I don't plan on quitting the drug anytime soon.

My Mom, 84 yrs. old, has been taking Cymbalta for 3+ months. She was admitted to the hospital approx 3 wks. ago for dehydration, acute bronchitus and beginning stages of pneumonia. Her blood levels were checked and discovered that her Coumadin level was 68! The norm is 5-7. The doctors in the ER were shocked, as were my Mom and I! The dr. said that had Mom fallen, she would have bled to death in 2-3 minutes and the ambulance could have never arrived in time.

The PA at the hospital looked up Cymbalta and discovered only 2 other people who had taken Coumadin and Cymbalta; their Coum. levels were 38 and 45!

I knew that Cymbalta was relatively new. The dr. who prescribed it didn't know that Cymbalta can raise Coumadin levels, as this "side effect" is not listed.

This is to warn others of this drug interaction, as it may save someone's life.
Sincerely,
Mary E.
Snellville, GA

My wife was given Cymbalta about 1.5 months ago for chronic pain and depression. Her doctor gave her samples as our insurance will not cover her. She will eventually run out and i am horrified about what could happen. I think he has a few screws loose as he has her on 60mg cymbalta, a large dose of topamax, lortab7.5, percocet7.5, inhalers for asthma, and ibuprofen 600. She takes all of this trash DAILY and she is just 20 years old! We have a 7 month old baby girl and i kiss her on the head and hope to god she will be alright every time she gets in the car with her. She ALWAYS has a pounding headache, cannot sleep properly, and our marriage is on the rocks due to her mood swings and outbursts with myself and our families and friends. We have no friends anymore and my wife has no drive to do anything at all. She is constantly miserable and in pain and i am starting to feel strong symptoms of depression. She has mentioned suicide in the last couple of days and i read one post where a woman shot herself! I am hopeless and am staying with family apart from her because home is no longer a safe place for our family. I dont know what to do and am considering a detox clinic for her. Please help us in any way you can! I am so afraid of losing everything.

Hi again. I am not feeling quite as bad as i was last week when i wrote. It has been 9 days since i went off the cymbalta, cold turkey off the 30 mg. I still have night sweats, dizziness and nausea when I lay down at night. i am still moody and tired, although i am not feeling quite as suicidal and homicidal as i was. I have had more pain, fibro and back, than i have in awhile, but i have also done phenal injections, so I don't know if any of it is cymbalta or a combo. I am going to stick with going off it though, and hope that the syptoms don't gegt worse,.only better. Even my therapist says cymbalta was bad for me, but he is worried for me not on anything. I went to therapy today and was just weird and detatched, and kind of pissed and paranoid, like I didnt' trust him anymore. So I will have to ask him what he thought. I dint' like feeling that way for sure!! I realize i may have to go back on something, but now i will appreciate the side effects a little more and deal with them better, this has been the worst drug ever, and i have taken everything.

It's Shawna again, from post 292. The two days on cymbalta didn't cause any real withdrawl symptoms for me. I am soooo lucky I found these postings before I got hooked on that crap. My rhuemotolgist's office finally called me back and increased my elavil from 30 to 50 mg. at bedtime and just 10mg of flexeril twice a day for my muscle pain. (I have Fibro) This is just fine with me. Elavil (amitryptiline) is a mild tricyclic antidepressant and when taken only at bedtime, it helps Fibro patients reach the elusive stage 4 sleep. I will never take any SSRI meds of any kind ever again. I was studying more of the side effects and it actually seems contradictive to prescribe for Fibro!!! I know the pharmacy sales reps really pressure doctors, but I don't understand how a good doctor can be pressured into prescribing ANYTHING off-label! The FDA has NOT approved Cymbalta for Fibromyalgia or neuropathic pain. It is for deep depression ONLY from what I read in the paper that came inside the sample box from the drug manufacturer.

Here is a really great video on YouTube from a former drug sales rep.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JX5Qzfcf-74

To Hopeless,

MY husband has been in the same situation you are currently in. About seven years ago is when I started taking meds for depression and anxiety. On top of that I had just had two kids one year apart. He had me on prozac and different pain meds, plus muscle spasm pills. Looking back now I can see where my doctor was nuts and I was on way to much meds. Overall I think it was my hormones giving me the most problems. Watch your wife carefully, love her, and just remember that on all of the meds she is on that she couldn't possible anywhere near herself. My childern were the only thing that help keep my sanity at the time, but if you feel that your wife is not getting better, I would find a different doctor! Research a little before you go to the next doc. Let her know you are there for her, even if you don't really understand whats going on. The best thing you could do for her is stay with her and get new help. GOOD LUCK!!!

I would like to report that the hair loss has gotten better! I really believe that it was the meds making my hair fall out. And to SR, just because a side effect is not listed doesn't mean that it can't happen. I'm like you I've been on different meds for depression over the past 8 years and this is the worst one!!! The withdrawls were very bad!!! I wish you good luck finding a new website, but as for me this one is perfect!

I have just stopped taking cymbalta (for depression/anxiety) after only 2 weeks.

The side effects were awful. Blinding headaches, nausea, constipation, sore stomach, deep depression, wound up, agitated, aggrivated, complete loss of concentaration, loss of interest in everything.

It's 5 days on, and I've still got terrible stomach pains & constant headaches.

I was hoping that after hearing rave reports about cymbalta that it would realy help get back to some kind of normal life- sadly not.

I'm back on clomipramine (my long term pill) again, and already emotional symptoms of cymbalta are easing - I'm hoping the physical effects will wear off soon.

I have been taking this drug for three weeks. I wish i had seen all of the comments before I started taking it. I couldnt get out of bed the first week and a half and I lost 10 pounds in one week. I thought I had the bird flu or something ha ha. I have had severe constipation for three weeks. I cant go at all. The pill has really just made me numb and uncaring. I am going back to exercise. When I stick to it , it seems to work better than anything. I never thought I would say that. I just hope that only being on it for three weeks will make it easier to ween myself off the 40 mg that was perscribed to me. I will never take an anti-depressant again. I wont suggest taking cymbalta to anyone. To anyone who is taking it......STOP NOW I have taken other anti-depressants and have never had these types of problems. In the three weeks I took cymbalta i never had one good day.

I have been on Cymbalta 60 mg for a little over 8 months.(also elevil, meloxicam, and placquinal for my Fibro symptoms and RA) My story sounds like many of the others I've read here. Started out feeling like this was the greatest thing that has ever happened to me and then BOOM..down hill from there. I've gained 40lbs since last July and the sweating has become almost intolerable. I talked with my doc and she said according to the med research this should not happen but CLINICALLY she sees it in spades, so hmmm...who is not telling the full story???? Lets all say it together folks.. PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES ARE NOT NICE PEOPLE!!! At any rate decided to go off it, reduced my dosage to 30 mg every other day, every 3rd day. etc. to wean off. That has gone okay until today. I am shaky, trembly, want to cry because the sun is shining or any reason equally as senseless, dizzy..feel like I'm out side looking in to my own body. I came across these posts while googling "Cymbalta side effects" and realize what is happening to me. My question is...if the side effects are the same by weaning as they are by going cold turkey am I better off just going cold turkey and toughing it out or does anyone have any info as to weight gain? Will I be able to shed this extra weight once I'm off and will the horrible sweating stop when the drug is completely out of my system?And how long will THAT be? HELP!!

LuAnn, (post #305)
I am now 10/11 days completely off Cymbalta - during my tapering processing I had a terrible headache and when I was completely off I spent the first 4 days crying non-stop. I have been using the natural supplements that I found on the Road Back website and they are helping tremendously. I've slept for 7 nights now without a sleeping pill - can't address the weight issue yet - I've gained 40 lbs. on anti-depressants and it will take time for me to get it back off...Hang in there - it will get better. We have to believe that.

Lets see, it's been 12 days now, and I am still having withdrawel symptoms. I m,ean, come on. I was detoxed from high doses of Ultram (legitimate, but high), and it was bad for 3 or 4 daays. I am nauseous when i lay down, when I am riding in the car. Dizziness hits whenever and wherever. I have hateful spells of anger,then I am wired and can't seem to speak fast enough.
so I am hoping for better every day, and then i think I am feeling a bit better, then I take a step back. I'm glad Im off, but I am worried I'llneed another drug again. I all of the sudden don't like doing naything, and i hate my therapist, he really pisses me off and I feel like I can't talk normal to him. Weird. Dreamsare getting a tiny bit better, but still a bit craz;y. So, all in all, slight improvement. At this pace ma;ybe i'll be normal by the end of the summer.....

I just started taking Cymbalta (20mg/twice per day) for depression and anxiety about 3 days ago. I'm having jaw pain, no energy, unable to sleep, and headaches. The comments I've read have me very afraid to continue taking this medication, but the withdrawal warnings also have me concerned about stopping.

I have been taking Cymbalta, 30/mg at night for 6 weeks for severe depression. Over the past week I have become very jittery and have suffered from total mental confusion. I have actually thought that I might be losing my mind. Today I called the psychiatrist's office said I was going to stop the drug. I asked what withdrawal symptoms to expect and was told that since I was taking a 30mg tablet once a day there should be no withdrawal symptoms and I should just stop the meds cold turkey. I don't know what to expect.

I just receive a rx for Cymbalta last week after an expensive and very brief visit to a psychiatrist ($250 for a 35 min visit). I am a health care professional and know I suffer mild anxiety and depression, PTSD from a surgical error that landed me in the ICU for 3 days last yr. The psychiatrist just accepted my chief complaint of anxiety and depression (didn't ask the questions necessary for a DSM IV medical diagonosis of any condition including suicidal ideation--important wouldn't you think?), didn't ask about my previous/present medical history, family history, current medications, if my symptoms could be due to any other medical conditions such as thyroid disease, etc. I couldn't believe the level of service this MD was offering, our office has him as one of our top referral sources. Anyway, I've taken the sample for a week, haven't slept more than 3 hrs a night, the rest of the night I lay there with my eyes closed and brain WIDE awake, worrying about how I'm going to work or take care of my family the next day on so little sleep, lost 3 pounds, sweat all night, headaches, feelings of indifference. I'm going to do the natural method of raising nautural endorphins--excercies to a sweat daily, drink lots of water, eat right, maybe take a sleep aid for a couple nights (benadryl or valerian root) so I can get some rest. I believe this may work for most people with mild-moderate depression, with nothing but good side effects. Working in pediatrics we are very careful not to over rx meds. I can't believe how quickly and inappropriately, I was rx cymbalta with no follow appt for 6 wks! We all need to be responsible and educated about the healthcare decision we make for ourselves and our family.
There are no magic bullets for most illnesses.....

Do not take Cymbalta! I started taking a minimal dose of 20mg a day in Nov '06 for depression and anxiety. My doctor said I had what she called "Hurried Mom Syndrome". At first it was great. I was motivated again and it just sort of "leveled" me out. Now it is March and I am very forgetful and I have begun to feel spacey and unorganized. And (normally)I am an organizing freak...I label everything and use spreadsheets to plan things. I cannot stay on task without getting sidetracked. And then I seem to get tunnel vision on what I am working on and forget about everything else, until I'm sidetracked again! Nothing seems urgent until I HAVE to deal with it. I cannot prioritize properly because I just don't care if a task gets done or not. When I told my docotor about my concerns and that I felt i needed to quit taking the Cymblata, her response was, "So quit taking it." She did not suggest weaning off and warn me of any symptoms.

So I went cold turkey on Friday March 23, 2007. A headache came on around lunch time that did not go awy until the following evening after taking two Alieve, two Excedrin Migrain and using an ice pack over my eyes and forehead. My eyes hurt so bad on Saturday I just wanted to pull them out of my head! On top of that, I felt hungover on Saturday after not being able to go to sleep Fri nite until 3 AM. I'm so tired and lethargic. Today is Monday and I am still feeling light headed and dizzy whenever I move. Not to mention moody, cranky, emotional and or flat, depending on the moment! I feel like what they call Texas weather...give it 5 minutes and it will change!
Thank you everyone out there who has expressed their symtons as well. It is nice to know we are not alone. I do not wish this on anyone. I wish I had never taken this "happy pill" and would have prayed more and looked at what was really the issue of my depression and anxiety. I feel so bad for the ones out there that are truly chemically imbalanced and need a prescription to help out. Spouses and family, please be patient and gentle with the ones that are coming off this drug. It wreaks havoc on your whole system and is very tough to come out of what feels like a "walking coma".

I was so glad to read other comments and experiences, because I no longer felt I was simply crazy. I started on Cymbalta 30mg for the first week and then increased to 60mg the second week per my doctor. Needless to say, I stopped after the third week because I was so sedated and "zombie-like" I could hardly hold my head up. And all I kept thinking was, this is only making the problem of depression worse! I also began to experience SEVERE tremors and anxiety - at least I think anxiety - very hard to explain. I had noticable physical tremors and I could even hear the tremble in my voice when I spoke, still do.

Needless to say I have been off of it for 1 1/2 weeks now and those side effects have not resolved. I am very concerned and alarmed by the constant feeling of "coming out of my skin". I am so very anxious and have become irritable and snap at others. I HATE this feeling of absolute loss of control over my body. It includes nerve sensations down my arms and legs accompanied by weakness. Unfortunately, most of your comments do not offer hope that these problems will resolve quickly. I can't imagine dealing with this for a long period of time. Mine seem mild compared to some I read and I am truly sorry for those of you experiencing problems.

I have decided after taking Cymbalta that I do NOT intend to try any other anti-depressants as I cannot risk having further problems that may persist. I am very alarmed by this medication and plan to advocate to both my doctor and my patients to avoid this medication. I am a nurse and encounter lots of medications; however, this drug and its side effects are unacceptable and incompatible with normal daily living.

I am 23 years old and I am on wellbutrin 150 mg and just started taking cymbalta about a month ago. At the beginning the 30 mg of cymbalta made me feel great. Then started getting night sweats/ dehydrated constantly, sore throat, insomnia, and the "good feeling" had gone away. Also memory loss. Doc said to get off. Did not taper, dropped cold turkey after one month. This morning was the first day off. Awoke in the middle of the night with sever headache. Still had night sweats. Slept after i woke up in the morning for 2 more hours...felt dizzy all day. Felt nauseuos later on in the day. Still feeling cloudy and dizzy but glad to get off of this drug!!

This is day 2 of no Cymbalta and my brain hurts. I'm still having jaw pain and I just physically feel like crap. I will never take another medication for depression or anxiety. Thanks to all of you for sharing your experiences.

Susan (post#306) Thank you so much for taking the time to adress my last post..and thank you to everyone else that has posted and shared experiences. I can't begin to say how good it is to know that all this craziness of getting off Cymbalta is not just ME. It has been day 5 for me. I am still sweating so unbelievably much, in fact it's almost worse, still very weepy, very agitated. Is there anyone who has made it..I mean gotten completely off and back to "normal"? Does anyone have any idea how long this weaning process takes? Susan, you are right..it WILL get better, it has to and just knowing we are not alone helps.

I am on day 5 now of no Cymbalta. I feel angrier, frustrated, lethargic, dizzy, sad, unfocused, and spacey, all with a headache. I understand now why you hear about people on the news that just suddenly SNAP!

Last week I started on Cymbalta to treat pain associated with Neuropathy. I never have been so sick in my life. It started with vomiting and progressed to other GI symptoms. My head was messed up so bad, that I thought I was going to have a seizure, I had a stiff neck, my vision blurred and I was so apathetic that I almost didn't care that I culdn't get out of bed or had any desire to even look at food. I only took 3 doses. I know that my doctor is going to tell me I'm full of hooey regarding the effects. I was so relieved to find this website - to know that I am not alone in my horrid experience. All the illness caused me to lose 12 pounds in 4 days. To me this is a dangerous drug. I am a single mom of 2 young children and this was one frighening ride for me - one that I don't want to experience ever again.

I have been taking this drug for the past few months with no noticible side effects. Because of a scheduling problem, I had to go cold turkey about 3 weeks ago...my dumb ass doc wouldn't write the bridge prescription to get me to the next appointment. I need to get back on this stuff. withdrawal symptoms have included weight gain (10% of my body weight), severe back pain, irritibility, sleep issues, shaking and some night sweats. After reading the posts, I am concerned. My issues have all been in the withdrawal, not in the use of the drug. Are there any posters that have had a decrease in the effectiveness, or increase in side effects, after prolonged, successful use? Most issues I see posted talk about problems shortly after starting, not after many months of use. Thanks

I posted a week or so ago and things are slightly better but I have been on the 30mg for the last two weeks and I am supposed to start only taking it every other day for the next two weeks but I am seriously afraid. I started by not taking it today and I feel like crap. I just don't know if I can do this, I want to cry all the time and for no apparent reason. Can someone tell me this going to be better. I talked to my ob and she wants me to go off completely and I am scared. I have been on some antidepressant for 7 years. I started taking the birth control pill Yaz and am having wonderful results with the majority of the hormonal problems. Now if I could just get this under control. My entire body hurts.

I did feel the nausea right away on 30mg, but it was well woth it. The biggest side effect was the farting. The incessant flatulence. The were loud and very very smelly. My building was actually evacuated for fear of a gas leak. I goit the day off because of my own farting. Lucky me. Cymbalta is wonderful

LuAnn (post 316)and everyone - it has now been 2 1/2 weeks completely off the Cymbalta and I can say that I feel better than I have felt in a long time. Feel like I'm taking control back of my life. I have slept 6 hours a night for the past 11 days (without ambien) which I haven't been able to do in I don't know how long. I will never ever again go back on any type of anti-depressant. I'll continue with my counselor and try and focus on my health/exercise - continue to read all the "self-help" books that I can find and I'm going to use the philosophy of "taking what I need and leaving the rest" with regards to the books/advice etc. that I receive. I'm going to decide what is best for Susan. Hang in there everyone - remember - we're not alone and even if our families/friends don't understand what we are going through, we have family/friends right here that do.

LuAnn (post 316)and everyone - it has now been 2 1/2 weeks completely off the Cymbalta and I can say that I feel better than I have felt in a long time. Feel like I'm taking control back of my life. I have slept 6 hours a night for the past 11 days (without ambien) which I haven't been able to do in I don't know how long. I will never ever again go back on any type of anti-depressant. I'll continue with my counselor and try and focus on my health/exercise - continue to read all the "self-help" books that I can find and I'm going to use the philosophy of "taking what I need and leaving the rest" with regards to the books/advice etc. that I receive. I'm going to decide what is best for Susan. Hang in there everyone - remember - we're not alone and even if our families/friends don't understand what we are going through, we have family/friends right here that do.

Have you guys ever heard of the road back. It helps you wean off of medications and drugs with minimizing the withdrawal. It does not stop the withdrawal but does ease it up. I will say that I have took a lot of medication in my life, but after 2 doses I had nausea, sweating, diarrhea, the jitters, dry mouth and I lost my taste buds. It is bad stuff. Good Luck to you all!!!

I've been using the road back supplements for 12 days and all I know is that I'm sleeping without drugs for the first time in forever. I did it backwards - I started tapering before I received the supplements so I went through the withdrawals - the horrible headaches, the crying, etc. but after the second week of withdrawals and the first week on the road back supplements things have been much, much better.

I am so grateful for everyone's comments. I took one dose of this drug and within 2 hours I was throwing up, dry mouth, dizzy, and my eyes became completely dialated for hours. I also felt extremely depressed all day. I thought I was crazy for feeling all of those effects after just one small dose, but now after reading everyones comments I know to never touch this stuff again!

To Hopeless

I would like to say that I have been in a similiar situation for about 10 years now. I had my first 2 children very close together, and after that I beagan having headaches. I was put on lots of meds. Quit them. Had 2 more children and the process began allover again. I would take the pain killers, anti-depressants and anti-anxiety meds. This has went on for 4 years. I finally went to my Dr. To get off of the pain meds. Went thru Detox. and have had horrible withdrawals from suboxine(the medicine they give you to take you off of pain killers), so I go back to my Dr. The NUT gives me cymbolta, depakote, and skelaxin for chronic pain, took 2 doses of all that stuff and WOW the side effects began. I would say it is now been 3 days since I have stopped everything and I feel better but still have some diarrhea. I would say find a GOOD chiropractor, and start her on a detox program. It has been a rough road for me, I think most of mine has been hormone induced but the painkillers will settle in the muscles and joints and cause you to have more pain, and your pain receptors are intensified so the pain seems worse than what it is. I have been seeing a chiropractor everyday for 8 days now and my head ache is almost gone. I would do some heavy research for detox, natural supplements(the road back), and a GOOD chiropractor that can recognize the bodys response to all of this stuff, and have her do a liver cleanse at the end of Detox. Pray ALOT. Good Luck to you and your wife. She needs to know that you care and you love her and that you will be there for her. Like I said this has been a 10 year battle for me. I feel like I am finally at the end of it all. GOOD LUCK!!!!

Ok I may have some ray of hope. I am in the weaning stages of only taking it every other day right now for the next two weeks. The withdrawl symptoms are horrible but my boss has a masters in bio and gave me a wonderful suggestion that I did try and am having luck with and thought I would pass it along here. I have lots of problems with being exhausted and having a hard time waking up, opposite of some of you I know. He told me to start taking it at night before I go to bed so that the withdrawl symptoms are worst while I am sleeping. I did this and woke up very easily yesterday and felt good all day. He related it to a bell curve saying that I would be asleep when I would feel the beginning effects and awake to feel the full effect and asleep to feel the worst and then I might be able to cope better and it has worked.

I'm just trying to figure out how any of the people that have tried Cymbalta were able to "last so long". I took my first pill yesterday and felt fine until about 4 hours later. Oh, my goodness, I was so sick, had a severe headache, stomach cramps and felt like I was going to vomit for the rest of the day/night. Since I'm still feeling funny in the stomach and light headness, I couldn't bear to take another pill today! I'm making an appointment to see what other options are out there for fibermylgia since the Prozac I was taking isn't working anymore...

I've been taking Cymbalta for 8 months now and it surely hasn't caused my depression to fade away. It has reduced my depressive episodes and helped me to control my anger and some, not all though, of my suicidal thoughts. Since beginning this medication I have had difficulty sleeping. I've also gained more weight then I needed to, which only makes me more depressed. If I forget to take the medication I become somwehat dizzy and forgetful. I don't want to take this medication anymore.

There is still hope! It's now been 10 days since I quit Cymbalta (last post #311). I am only dizzy periodically. I was able to finally drive Tuesday and not feel like my body was separate from my head!
I am a person who belives in prayer (I am a Christian) and have truly prayed as much in the past 10 days as I ever have for "ME".
I am still having nightmares and some trouble sleeping at night.
I am able to function during the day much better as the sweating has decreased, I would say about 30 percent.
I still have a little nausea, and really bad headaches.
The main thing I want to mention however is that Tuesday, day 7, I woke up with a lot of swelling. I finally went to the dr. about it yesterday and was so swollen all over that they suspected congestive heart failure or a blood clot. I had gained 8 lbs in fluid in 3 days. They put me on a water pill and want to see me again Monday.
I thank God for this "support group" and encourage everyone to keep posting your progress so that people coming off of this drug, starting or considering starting this drug will be informed and encouraged.
YOU WILL GET THROUGH THE WITHDRAWAL - DONT GO BACK ON THIS DRUG, I TRULY BELIEVE IT IS POISON TO OUR BODIES!

Honestly, I have tried so many different medications I feel I am an expert on side-affects. I have had all the side-effects listed from all the meds listed. I have only been Cymbalta for a few days now, so we'll see how this does. I will tell people that it takes at least 2 weeks to know if the side-effects of a new med will last. I truly do feel badly for those who are having w/drawal symptoms so badly. I don't look forward to those. But honestly, every med I've been on has quit working at some time or another, and I've had to move to another. Right now Cymbalta has been refreshing change from Lexapro, but I never know how long it will last. Whatever you do, don't quit suddenly or without contacting your doctor.

I was prescribed this drug for severe depression due to stress.
The first day it felt different, like I had a second skin. 2nd day same feeling. Nothing major in side effects except some minor diarrhea. 3rd day at 30mg. Didn't sleep hardly at all last night. I take them at night with dinner. The next day was weird. Tired, feeling out of it, hard to describe really. I found this thread of posts searching for Cymbalta side effects and after reading most of the posts WILL NOT take a 4th pill. Hopefully I don't have enough in my system to suffer the side effects I read about here. OMG, this sounds worse than HELL itself!
I will have a long talk to my DR. about his not mentioning the withdrawal effects of this nasty drug!! Thank you all for stopping me hopefully before it got a grip on my mind and body!

After reading these comments I feel like we are not alone about my daughter's health condition. She was put on Cymbalta last fall and has been wanting to quit since December. She is still trying to get off Cymbalta, but it has been hell for her. She is a Senior in high school and this has pretty much ruined her year..She has been so sick, and I have taken her to the doctor so many times. Even though she has straight A's, she has missed school so much that she can't miss any more unless she has a doctor's note. She can hardly function. She has had almost every symptom that has been described in the previous responses. We have taken her chiropactors, and she has been tested for every thing under the sun because she felt that something was seriously wrong with her. Her back and head hurt so much every day that she can barely function. She is scheduled to have an MRI next month, but after reading these comments I beleive that the withdrawl symptoms for Cymbalta are to blame. She is down to taking a dose once a week, but we started trying to get off this medicine in December and she continues to have effects. Last Thursday she thought she was losing her mind and couldn't cope. As a mother, this has been the worst thing I have gone through with any of my children's health. The FDA needs to step in and doctors need to quite prescribing this awful drug. Another thing, we have always been given samples of it, and this in the only drug that we haven't had to purchase. I think that pharmacutical companies are pushing this drug, and eventually it wil be recalled. I definitely want to get involved in any type a lawsuit because this drug has robbed her of her senior year in high school and has cost us so much in the continual doctor and chiropratic visits. The whole time we have seeked blood test and ever other kind of test every thing came back normal, but she doesn't feel normal. She aches all over, especially her back and head. She has bouts where she sweats, nightmares, major anxiety attacks, constipation, major depression, and an overall feeling of despair. She has everything going for her in life, but this medicine is making her feel hopeless. She is beautiful, smart and she had a great sense of humor before she quite taking Cymbalta. I am so mad at myself for trusting our doctor. She really wasn't extremely depressed when she got on Cymbalta, but someone close to her passed away and she was trying to cope..I want to give her answers on how long these symptoms will last. She didn't take any Cymbalta when she had her last attack on Thursday, and I am encouraging her to ride it out, but I know that it isn't that easy..How long will these withdrawl symptoms last. I need answers for her sake. And I also want to warn anyone who is taking it to be aware. This has been awful, and there is nothing I can do about it, but to tell others about her story..

Ok so I took mine last night and the side effects aren't too bad today. Tomorrow will be worse but I am determined to get off this drug no matter what it takes. I just keep telling myself that I can do this. I am really anxious and I am yelling at the kids more than I am comfortable with, hopefully I will be able to go off this and not have to go on another one.

Cybalta is a dangerous drug. I believe the Lilly should be sued for putting this crap out into the market. I have been SLOWLY weening myself off of this drug with the help from my doctor. I too believe this drug has robbed me of many things throughout the last year including enjoying my 2 & 3 year old boys. I am scheduled to be completely off by May 1. I started at 60mg. Went to 30mg for Dec '06 -Feb '07. Went to 20 mg Mar. After my doctor's appointment on Friday I will go every-other-day for about 4 weeks....Hoping to be off completely May 1. My side effects we're horrible to begin with but in February I started using "the road back program." It works. Please check out their website www.theroadback.org - I have been withdrawel free for about 4 weeks now. Hooray! I've got more energy, I'm happy again, and I've already lost 15 of the 25 pounds I've put on in the last year. Check it out - it will change your life. God Bless.

i started cymbalta two days ago.i feel like my eyes stay really wide open , i get cold easily and i couldn't fall asleep last night plus i don't feel like eating anything.i know that's not too bad but it's only been two days.i read almost all the posts on here and i think i will stop taking cymbalta.my question is , do you think i will experience any side effects after taking it only for 2 days at 60 MG per day?

I am so glad I found this message board. I have been on Cymbalta for 1 year to treat Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) I have had MDD for several years have taken many medications; all have eventually lost effectiveness so I would stop taking them. Unfortunately, my depression would return after 6 months to a year so I would be prescribed something different. I have taken Zoloft, Prozac and Paxil (and every generic version in between), none of these drugs yielded the side effects I have experienced with missed doses or trying to quit Cymbalta.

In March of 2006, my doctor prescribed Cymbalta citing it as “The New Wonder Drug for Depression”. I am disappointed in myself for not researching the drug prior to filling the RX. After 6 months of taking 30 mg, I still suffered from mild depression, lack of energy and weight gain. Due to a change in insurance coverage, I decided to see a new doctor that had been referred by a coworker. She suggested increasing my Cymbalta dosage to 60 mg.

I recently tried to quit the Cymbalta to no avail. As with my previous Anti-depressants, I tried tapering over two weeks (I actually quit a few cold turkey with no withdrawal symptoms). I experienced the following withdrawal symptoms:

Extreme Symptoms:
 Dizziness
 Brain Zaps
 Headaches
 Disorientation
 Confusion
 Forgetfulness
 Irritability
 Fatigue
 Increased appetite

Moderate to Severe Symptoms:
 Constipation
 Bloating
 Sweating
 Swollen ankles
 Tightness of the throat
 Dry mouth

On Friday I was so disoriented that a colleague was concerned about my well being. She said I seemed “off” and “spacy”. I am a business professional and typically do not complain, but the severity of the withdrawal symptoms is worth sharing in an effort to try to deter others from this misery.

The withdrawal symptoms are HORRID and I would encourage anyone either just beginning to take this or researching it to STAY AWAY from this drug and choose an alternative.

Ok today was a day without the drug and I had to take two naps to help with the headaches. I am very dizzy and spacy. I took one tonight so tomorrow should be better. I need to get something to help me when I am done with the two week every other day weaning.

My doc prescribed me cymbalta due to chronic pain. After the first 60mg dose i started having nausea some hours later. My doc said it was just a viral infection, a coincidence. I took a second dose the other day and the side effects went worse..undescribebale nausea, tremor, stomach pains and pain in the chest..i just wanted to vomit all day but nothing would come out..i stopped taking it for 2 days, i got a little better and the doc said to continue taking it. After a third dose i got very very sick again, with the same symptoms. I went to the hospital where they gave me medication for my stomach pain and nausea...it's been 7 days since my first dose, i took 3 doses in total and i'm still feeling bad..this thing ruined my life...question: does anybody know how long will take those symptoms of stomach ache to wear off? Thanks

I have been taking Cymbalta since it was put on the market. I was diagnosed with depression at age 8. I started therapy at that age. I started medications at age 12. NOTHING HAS EVER HELPED BUT CYMBALTA! Over the past 12 years I have been put on every anti depressant on the market. And sometimes I would feel better but not like "me". I would try a medicine and would either hate it and how it made me feel or just comply with the world and feel nothing. The main thing that people have to realize is that our bodies are different. People always ask me what I am taking. And I never really want to say because they think it will work for them. We aren't the same. Every medicine is different and every person is different. Simply because zoloft worked for one person doesn't mean that it will have the same effect on another. Cymbalta is a life saver for me. It keeps me stable without taking "me" away from the equation. I feel like without it I am out of control. I do sometimes forget to take it because I feel "better". But I know within a day or so because I am cranky and irritable and can't stand anyone. My only major side effect from this drug is night sweats. I hate them, really really hate them. But I like myself a whole lot better with the drug and the night sweats than without. So there you are. Would I reccomend taking this drug? If you are currently not satisfied with your mental state and the medications you are currently perscribed, yes, it is worth a try.

I have been taking cymbalta for lower back nerve pain. I started 3 days ago and have decided to stop taking it. I was experiencing shallow breathing, felt like there was a weight on my chest, light headedness. Felt at times like i was having an out of body experience. Slight knumbness in the arms (pins and needles).

I have tried two other nerve pain med's before this.

First one - Lyrica - made me want to bite someones head off

2nd - Gabapentin - Strong intestinal pain.

I am going to try and live through some of the pain or continue with the epidural/nerve block procedure.

well, three weeks off. I have felt a bit better every day, except for being horribly sick last week. My chronic pain elevated so much that I was ready to go in to the psych ward again, i wanted to die. So last night I started to take Celexa again, just 20 mg. I feel so much better.....It has already helped the pain level, and the only side effect is shakiness. I am angry at feeling desperate and like I need to take a psych med, I had high hopes.

But I guess I have to balance the pain and sanity, and the pain was taking away what little sanity I had.

Cymbalta is definetley the WORSE drug I have ever taken, and I have taken them all. No matter how desperate I am I will never consider it ever again, and will warn anyone to stay very clear. I am still nauseous from it, but I didnd't want to kill anyone today, so I would imagine the celexa counteracted the withdrawals. I can't believe I was still feeling like shit after 3 weeks. But I'm so glad I decided to get off. Now if I can just lose the weight I gained.

I wish you all well, and thank you eveyone who has posted, it gave me the strength to keep going even though it was pure hell getting off this stuff!!

I've been taking Cymbalta for about 8 mos. It seemed to be perfect for me, it worked better than other anti-depressants for my major depression. Except for exteme and life altering fatigue. I could sleep/hybernate for 18hrs/day. Still, it never feels as though I've slept. I guess I can't be depressed if I'm not awake.

I was prescribed Cymbalta at 20 mg and zonegran 100 mg for the treatment of depression and bulimia. After 12 days I got the flu, the worst flu symptoms of my life, it lasted 11 days! I thought it was the zonegran because it is a medication for epilepsy that also works for bulimia patients, but after reading all this terrible information about cymbalta I'm beginning to think it wasn't the zonegran!!

I went to the doctor seeking help for anxiety. They put me on a 30mlg dose of Cymbalta with the idea of working me up to a 60mlg dose. I took one dose and within 4 hours I felt like a Zombie. I couldn't think straight I was nauseas I had dry mouth my heart would speed up while I was resting. The sweating was unreal. I didn't feel safe driving my own vehicle. I couldn't go to work. All I wanted to do was sleep. Honestly I felt like I was being poisoned. If this is a cure I will suffer with my anxiety before I take another pill.

Thank you all so much for your postings. My dr. prescribed 20mg.x1 a day, and this is my 4th day taking this medication. My head has felt "fuzzy" and what i can only descirbe as "full". I have also felt slight rushes of adrenaline throughout the day. It was prescribed for anxiety and depression. I have taken Prozac for years, but it seemed to have lost its effectiveness, so my dr. thought that Cymbalta would help. I wish that I had read these postings 5 days ago. I thank God that He led me to this site. i just threw away my remaining pills, and I feel as if I've dodged a bullet. I hope that the low dosages that I've taken for this short time do not affect me for the short (or long) term. My heart breaks for all of you who have posted. It's not right that this drug is still being prescribed.

You people are crazy. Either you have never weaned yourself off of any other anti-depressant or have never been on one prior. I have been taking Cymbalta for two years 60mg, and it works great. And yes if I forget to take it for 2 days I am very bitchy but that’s my own fault for not taking it. Any medication that you use for depression has crappy side effects while weaning from it. The only reason these are all negative comments is because people only come to these web sites when they have been dissatisfied with a medication. I am only here for the fact that Lamictal was combined with the Cymbalta I am already on and was wondering if anyone had any luck with that. But as for Cymbalta it is the only medication I have taken for depression that gave me no negative side effects after the first month or so. Yeah I have a little more energy but I think that’s a good side effect.

Crazy!?!?!? Crazy is what these pills make you into. You said it yourself "I get bitchy if I miss a dose". Looks like you missed one

Today is a day that I will be taking the pill tonight and I am suffering today. I actually had a pretty bad melt down today at work with lots of tears for no apparent reason. I am so worried about what's going to happen when I quit taking it next week. I have been weaning for over a month now and on the down hill swing. I want to be normal again but this is killing me. I just keep telling myself it will be better soon. I hope that my posting helps someone else out. I am going to look into the roadback supps.

My wife started taking Cymbalta about 18 months ago to treat depression. At first I thought that it was a wonder drug, it lifted her up out of her funk and kept her from sleeping all the time. A few months later though, she informed me that she was not in love with me and that our 14 year marriage was a sham. She started having an affair with a guy and is now divorcing me. She shows no emotion in dealing with this. She tells everyone how happy she is with this internet affair she is having. She's making plans to have this guy move out here and marry her after spending a couple weekends with him. She has become selfish, only thinks of herself. our children call me at work, because mommy isn't paying attention to them.
I am sure Cymbalta is playing a HUGE part in this, but she feels it is a wonder drug that has made her see the light. Anyone who knew my wife as a kind person that always went out of her way to help others, is shocked when they see her now. She only wants to talk about herself, think about herself, and care for herself.
Anyone else out there have a similar experience?

Michelle, (post 353) - I am now almost three weeks off the Cymbalta and feel soooo much better - withdrawal was bad - headaches, crying, etc. but it is something that can be done - the supplements from the Road Back do help - especially with the anxiety and in my case the insomnia...

FYI Teck (post 351) thank you so much for your support and encouragement - just so you know I don't think I'm crazy and I don't think the rest of the people here are either and I have weaned off of other anti-depressant drugs and NEVER had these kind of side effects and if you had taken the time to read the posts completely you would have seen where others have mentioned weaning off of other drugs before. We have enough people putting us down in our lives who don't understand depression and what we are going through we don't need it here....

I've just started on 30 mg for two weeks, and my doc wants me to go up after that. It's supposed to be for anxiety... but I feel more anxious and honestly "stoned" I feel dizzy, I yawn all the time, my stomach hurts. I feel like I'm in a cloud. Not to mention the shakes, the nervous leg jitters. It's horrible. Ick.

Bob (post 354) I am so sorry to hear what you are going through. I couldn't say if this change in behavior was Cymbalta related or not. Is she open to the idea of marriage counseling?

Cath (post 356) I feel for you Cath. The doctor did the same thing to me. I think Cymbalta can help people that are severly depressed but I don't think it is a good drug for people that have moderate depression or anxiety. I think it is an extremely powerful drug that should be given out with caution. I would try to talk to your doctor about a different med. This stuff made me feel hollow. I would rather live with anxiety than live without feeling but please talk to your doctor before you decide to stop taking this med . Take Care

I have been taking Cymbalta for about 4 months after back surgery for radiculitis. 30mg was not enough 60 mg helped (for a while) my symptoms are coming back. I tried to wean off and it was just as bad as everyone says. Although milder than some others. Side effects: decreased appetite, now I know where these migraines come from (which I have had but rarely with older age 49), lots of fatique, constipation which now has turned to very loose stools. Radicular pain is coming back and I want off this drug. I am going cold turkey as it does not appear that weaning makes a difference, I figure might as well get it over with. My husband is furious over my decision, he is just worried. I will keep you posted on going cold turkey.

I've just found this board after trying to get completely off Cymbalta and having a horrible day. I've taken Cymbalta for 2+ years after switching from some other antidepressant (I've tried so many I forget which one.). I've been tapering off for almost a year using the taper method in the "Antidepressant Solution" by Joseph Glenmullne, MD (worth a read btw). I was at 60mg 1xday and am down to 5mg 1xday. The book suggests tapering slowly (about 1 dose reduction a month) dependant upon the withdrawl effects. Some reductions have been easier than others. Three days ago I stopped taking it and by today the withdrawl was intolerable. I finally took a 5mg capsule (which I made myself by counting the little white beads) and within a few hours, the dizziness started to subside and I'm not crying anymore. I have decided to stay at 5mg until the symptoms abate, then try 2.5mg for awhile. Maybe then it'll be summer and I can devote two weeks or more to feeling like crap and staying in bed so I don't kill anyone until the med's gone. I truely believe I don't have depression anymore and it was the withdrawl from the other drugs that kept my dr. thinking I was still depressed and switching me. When I complete a taper until I'm not experiencing withdrawl, I actually feel pretty good about life. Then I taper down. I think the worst withdrawl symptoms are the dizziness (incapacitating) and the brain-zaps. The first time I experience those were years ago when I went off of Prozac. They had me doing MRI's, EEG's, and every other test and finally said "you must have vertigo". No one ever related it to withdrawl (not even me). Cymbalta withdrawl for me has been so much worse. Personally, I think this drug should be reserved for serious depression and only under the supervision of a good phych who is knowledgeable about the effects of these drugs.

Anybody every get completely off this drug and do okay???

Just a note from someone who has “been there and doing that” - going cold turkey! Weaning off Cymbalta has not worked for me in the past - it only prolonged the torture that I experienced by downsizing dosages.

Currently, it’s been ten days of HELL (and still counting) by choosing the cold turkey method . . . there’s got to be a point somewhere down this road when all these hellacious symptoms cease.

During the two-plus years that I had been taking 60 mg, once-a-day, of Cymbalta, my personality changed for the absolute WORST and I ended up walking out on “the love of my life”; requesting and receiving long-term disability from a job I truly loved; and moving to another state where I had no friends or family so that I could be “alone” to deal the raging, impatient person I had become. And, this was only the first year (2005) on the drug.

Currently, I am experiencing every one of the WITHDRAWAL symptoms and a few others which haven’t been mentioned: like all of my teeth hurting along with my jaws, too; and then, there are the noise levels, sounds of the radio/TV, and vibrant colors which all appear to be in a heightened-sensitivity state. Even my own taste buds have changed. WOW – Diet Pepsi Lime actually has “lime” in it.

When I try to sleep at night, I must wear earplugs and have an eye-mask over my eyes, along with taking a Dramamine® for motion sickness and a Benadryl® for the itching. Yes, eye movements will bring on my motion sickness and the blinking of my eyes will create the dizzy feeling.

My sense of balance has been compromised to the point of needing the security of a cane when I walk in open places where there is nothing to grab onto to prevent a fall. I could go on and on but others on this website have commented on everything “we all” experience or have experienced in the withdrawal process. If there is an end to this HELL, I want to know!

My employer has “separated” me from the company, there’s no hope in reconciliation with my lost love of 13 years, my family and friends are miles away and as they say, “Elvis is dead and I don’t feel well myself.”

Right now, all that does matter is getting this POISON out of my body and hoping that there’s no brain damage afterwards; because, when I’m over this withdrawal HELL, I will be initiating some strong action against Eli Lilly and Company through the FDA. I plan to work with others in an effort to have this drug recalled from the market before it destroys many other families and lives.

The wrath I have for the Lilly pharmaceutical company allowing this drug to be placed on the market (with the blessing of the “watchful” eye of the FDA) is what keeps my focus alive while I’m hidden away going through a horrible withdrawal-detox HELL right now.

FYI: Lilly received approval in 2004 from the FDA for Cymbalta™, (duloxetine HCl), a potent serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor.

I wonder just how long Lilly’s clinical trials lasted and if the participants are well and alive today? When I feel up to research, I’ll let you know.

Yes, there is HELL on earth and it’s called, CYMBALTA!

I am having an ok morning, but the only thing that I can think of is how much worse this is going to get when I am out of the pills. I am so worried that I won't be able to function at all. I know this afternoon is going to be hell because that's when it starts to wear off.

Day 16 now since tapering off Cymbalta. Improvement has been slow, but now the dizzyness only comes in spells, the volume of the tinitus is lower, and the bad speaker connection effect is less pronounced. Peed 4 times yesterday! And I have finally stopped eating everyting in sight. I ran off my girlfriend during this withdrawal, but reviewing emails indicates that I would have done that anyway. Also evicted my tenants, Cymbalta withdrawal rage does have it's uses. Both the GF and the tenants would have been long gone had I not been suppressed by Cymbalta and unable to stand up for myself.
So I don't recommend a long drawn out withdrawal. Half your dosage every week til you reach the smallest pill, take it for a week, every other day for a week, then over. The longer you prolong the withdrawal the more you will suffer. I had next to no withdrawal symptoms until a few days after I quit completely.

Fred

I'm sorry so many people have so many severe problems with Cymbalta. I went on Cymbalta for anxiety (a temporary problem while I was going thru some stuff). I also have Still's Disease (arthritis, to make a long story short) and the Cymbalta helped with the pain. Fortunately for me, while I was taking Cymbalta, it helped my mood tremendously. It made me less "intense" and calmed my anger. I had no problems with it other than occasional mild dizziness and some inconvenient short-term memory problems. Was on 60 mg/day for a year and a half. When it was time for weaning, I dropped to 30 mg. for a week, then 20 mg. for another week and then stopped. The only withdrawal symptoms I had were dizziness and mild mental confusion for a couple of weeks. Quitting coffee/caffeine was 10 times worse. I guess everyone's different. I will say a prayer for all of you having a tough time.

Well I have read the comments since I last posted..which is only once...I just want to say my daugher is still experiencing moods of feeling insane amd chronic back pain. She has an appt to see the doctor (who only wants to prescribe her more) on Tues. We are changing Drs. as soon as the insurance company will cover..and I am going to demand an MRI but I know it is this poison, Cymbalta, she never had pain like this before..I keep reassure her that it will pass. She has been Cymbalta free for two weeks coming Sunday..I hope these withdrawl symptoms subside qick before she loses all hope..i feel so stupid for putting her on anything like this without researching it. I can almost feel 100% guaranteed that this med will be recalled and a lawsuit will occur. I can only say good luck and hope that no one else goes through what we have gone through. To see somone who is beautiful, smart and has everything going for them , and them to be crippled by this drug..words cannot express my feelings. I am pissed and want answers. The FDA sucks and our doctors need to realize that this drug isn't something they can just hand out because the they have so many samples..Anyway, needed to vent

Ok I have a question I went from 60 to 30 and now only 30 every other day. I suffer terrible withdrawl by the middle of the second day and can't wait to take the next pill to relieve the dizziness and horrific headaches and the desire to just sleep my life away. I am worried what's going to happen when I am done. Fred you said not to draw out the process, how long have you been off and how long before you felt normal.

Michelle, it's been 16 days, as I said above improvemnt has been slow, and I am still not completely OK. I tapered off as descrived above, but unlike you I only had severe symptoms after stopping completely. I was quite surprised by the withdrawal symptoms, compared to Effexor I had no problems at all going on Cymbalta, but the withdrawal is every bit as bad as Effexor was. The month of withdrawal is not worth the three months of relief from SAD.
I am not a doctor, but I guess everyone is different; still I recommend tapering off and then quitting completely in the shortest time possible, as I described above. Hope this helps.

Fred

Fred thank you for taking the time to answer my questions. I just want to be normal again. Brain zaps, dizziness, and the feeling of not being able to think is what's killing me and I am truly worried about what's going to happen when the weaning phase is done and I have to just suffer through.

Tried Cymbalta 20mg --Cymbalta gives me severe headache, --drys out my nasal membranes so much that my nose hurts. my teeth ache and I get muscle cramps and cold skin over different areas of my body as it gradually releases its poison into my blood stream.

It's been 3 days back to 5mg. and I feel normal again. I've read and seen from other people that the tapering isn't as bad as when you finally quit this drug. I can't not taper and the worst withdrawl effects I get from the tapering are irritablility and the occasional brain zap (get those anyway so what's a couple more). I am really dreading quitting as a stay at home mom, I can't be incapacitated for as long as the withdrawl lasts. That's why I'm waiting until summer. If I spend a few weeks in bed, my oldest can help out. I had bad withdrawl from all the med's; Paxil the worst. I really, really want to get free of this stuff. From some of the sfuff I've read, these drugs basically are damaging my brain cells, I just hope it's not permanent. If you can get off of them sooner great. Just be careful with the cold turkey and have someone moniter you. I have a friend who's mother commited suicide in the throws of withdrawl. I'm glad this stuff helps people who really need it, but we all need to be more informed of what we are doing to our bodies before we take this stuff. We really need to be able to make informed choices. I for one, had no idea what a ride I was in for.

I've been on Cymbalta for 2 months. I suffer from PTSD and depression due to my wife being killed in a car crash in Nov.
I thought all the things I was going through was part of grief, until I was idealizing suicide, extreme anger, 0 patience with anyone, constant shaking of the hands, diarreah, jaw clamping and an extreme desire to drink (I am not a drinker).
I am also on Klonopin, Xanax, and Ambien.
I have flushed the Cymbalta down the toilet. Then I started searching on the drug (never had to go to a psych. before), I blindly trusted her.
My parents said that I was becoming a monster. Now I am reading all the withdrawl symptoms. I'm on day 2 without.
I am scared now. I was a demon on it and now going to be one off it?
I was not like this before the drug, I was sad, depressed, extreme anxiety and Panic attacks and greiving with anger and normal emotions for loss.
This drug is evil (at least for me). I am glad it helps a couple of people, but for me it has created major problems now I'm gonna have more...just great. I post again after my body is clean of it and let you know. Looks like I'm in for a rough ride.
Thanks everyone for posting, I'm glad I'm getting off of it sooner than later.
The horrible part is that I read that there is a case report that it makes PTSD worse, and it was prescribed to me???? thats confusing.

Hello everyone, my name is Dana and I have just started taking Cymbalta. After reading most stories here, I'm really starting to be afraid to continue with it. I haven't had any real severe side effects on it yet with the exception of dry mouth, loss of appetite, spasms and jerking when sleeping, and hot flashes. What worries me is that I am being prescribed such a high dose... 60mg in the morning and 60mg at night! This sounds like a lot more than most people are or were taking here!!

I came to be taking Cymbalta not because of depression, but because of severe neuropathy pain caused from toxic chemotherapy. I took a treatment called Taxotere at a young age (24) three years ago and had one of the rarest side effects from that...loss of hearing. My doctor now says that should have told him that something neurological was happening, but my situation was so dire, that I really didn't have another choice. But the Taxotere with another chemo called Carboplatin caused nerve damage and the pain has increasingly gotten worse instead of better. I have excrutiating pins and needles, aching, electricity feelings, cramps, and burning in my feet, legs, hands and arms. I've tried Neurontin, Elavil, and now Cymbalta to help with the pain and nothing is helping me.

I took Zoloft for a few months when my cancer came back for a bit of depression, which is understandable. But weening myself off that was hell, and I'm scared to death that Cymbalta is going to be even worse!! I had terrible head-flickering things, that I compared to probably small seizures that would occur. I would be dizzy and irritable. And now, that I am feeling some side-effects with the Cymbalta, I don't want it to be even worse trying to stop it! I know that I will eventually have to quit taking it due to it's not helping my pain at all. So I don't want to be in miserable pain and completely out of my head too.... Ugh, this is just such a mess and my doctor didn't tell me about any of these side effects. I feel like everyone here has been treated like a big guinea pig and just had this stuff tested on them. It doesn't sound like too many people were helped, and if they were, it wasn't for too long.

Anyway, if anyone wants to share more of their experiences with me, I'd be glad to listen. You can find me on MySpace at www.myspace.com/danasapp

Thanks for listening to my story! In some way, it makes me feel better to have listened to and told others about what I am going through as well.

Take care everyone and I hope the best for you all...

~D~

This is in response to the post made by TECK (351). I can not speak for everyone, but I did not come to this site because I was dissatisfied. I found this site after I tried to quit taking Cymbalta and was concerned with the severity of the withdrawl symptoms I was experiencing. Again, I have been on several antidepressents before and have never experienced the symptoms from withdrawl as I did with Cymbalta. I truly appreciate everyone being truthful and sharing their personal experiences with this drug.

I did notice that the person calling us "crazy" did not mention whether they have tried to stop taking Cymbalta for more than a few days (because they forgot). I would recommend before they judge others, they should try not taking it for several days and just see what happens. I guarantee if they are dizzy on day 2, days 3 on will be HELL.

I am still doing the every other day at 30mg, I am going to try going to every 3 days. Today is day 2 so I would take it tonight but I have had an ok day without the severe headache so I am going to try going another day with out it. I post here tomorrow and let you know how it goes.

Was on 60 mg/day Cymbalta for a year. I helped my anxiety pretty well. The only side effects I got while on it were dizziness sometimes and an occasional brain zap (they were oddly satisfying - almost like a sneeze is). Anyway, don't believe your doctor if he/she tells you Cymbalta doesn't cause weight gain. I've gained about 30 lbs. in the year on Cymbalta. I've just tried heavy-duty dieting and am not losing anything. The weight gain is unbearable. I don't need the Cymbalta that bad, so out of frustration, I cut my dose in half to 30 mg. (I split the med inside the capsule best I can). I'm on day 5 of the dosage split and feel fine. A bit of dizziness, but that's it. Actually, I feel better. I'm less "foggy" and the brain zaps are going away. I think a day or two more with the 30 mg., then I'll just drop to zero and see how it goes. I don't expect any problems.

I hope this makes some of you less fearful of this drug. I understand some people had bad reactions, but my experience with Cymbalta has been fine from beginning to end (except for the !#@$#& weight gain). After I go cold turkey from the 30 mg, I'll come back and update my post. Good luck to you all.

For me Cymbalta was very scary. Like others have posted here, I have tried most SSRI's on the market, with either no improvement of my condition or intolerable side effects, to downright scary side effects. Cymbalta is at the top of my list of scary, along with Effexor. Everything seemed fine when I first started taking it, my depression improved, I felt like doing things, and really less anxious. After about a month I started noticing strange things, other than the usual side effects from SSRI's. I felt kind of euphoric, and disconnected, I was clenching my jaw most of the time, panic would set in for seemingly no reason, (one time I ended up in the doctors office thinking I was having a heart attack, but my EKG was fine, and my doc passed it off as stress) anger would flare (and I am not an angry person) my memory was shot, I could not speak right; like I knew what I wanted to say, but it wouldn't come out that way, I would stumble over words in a conversation or completely forget what I was saying. Oh yes and the sweats! Like it's 95 degrees outside when in reality it's 70! Then an increase in thoughts of suicide, that life was worthless. So, I decided to stop, and started tapering because I know from past experience that's what you have to do. I did like others and made my own capsules. Went from 60 to about 40 to 30 to 15 then off. But, the withdrawals are so horrible, that I found myself reaching for them again and again. This Feb.07 I decided to try again. I have been off of them since Feb. 24th. I think I have went through the worst of it, from not sleeping at all, to sleeping an entire day, crying spells, 90 degree mood swings, the fatigue, diarrhea, nausea etc. But at times my mood drops way down again, and it's scary. I really don't know what to do. It seems to me, that all of these medications, while sometimes helpful, have horrible ramifications, and I am terrified to try something else. Right now I am trying to cope with things on my own, and with the help of counseling. I hope you all get through this, and come out well on the other side. I will be reading and updating when I can.

I went off of Cymbalta because of possible complications of glaucoma. I tapered down to 20 mg every other day for about 2 weeks, then went off all together. The withdrawal was horrible: crying, flu-like symptoms, brain zaps, nausea, shivering alternating with hot flashes. The first week was the worse. It's been over a month now. The symptoms are still there but to a lesser degree. My doctor says this cannot be withdrawal now because the cymbalta is long gone out of my system. I thought withdrawal WAS your body's reaction to LOSS of the chemical. Duh.
The continuing upset stomach problems are the most bothersome. I'm really convinced it's the Cymbalta. It's very frustrating getting the medical community to take us seriously because afterall, we're just a "bunch of crazies". Thanks for letting me vent. It helps to know there are others like me who are going through this experience

I went 3 days without the Cymbalta and now am wishing I didn't take it last night. I am ready to be done with this. I was really tired and had horrible headaches most of the day but I made it 3 days that's huge to me. I just want off this roller coaster. I want to be ormal again someday and I would rather it be sooner than later.

Took Cymbalta for several months to alleviate pain from Burning Mouth Syndrome. It did help with the level of cronic pain. Went cold turkey about 6 weeks ago because I was tired of the side effects of profuse sweating, feeling disoriented and memory loss. I had trouble sleeping and lost thirty pounds. I also began loosing my hair. It has become a real problem as I have lost about half of the hair on my head. I am being treated by a dermatologist for the condition. She is not sure if the Cymbalta is to blame or the 'stress' I underwent going through the withdrawal - I only know that I will never take this medication again. I feel that some of the brain damage it caused is just now surfacing. I have periods of uncontrolable rage and other times when I simply cannot function normally throughout the day. Often times I cannot work - I cannot focus on what I am trying to accomplish. I still suffer with the Burning Mouth Syndrome pain, so Cymbalta was only a tempoary help - I hope I didn't trade permanent damage for a few months of pain relief. This is a mind-altering drug --- stay away from it.

Just wondering, I've tried to read alot of the posts, if anyone has had night terrors while taking Cymbalta. I have been taking it for about 2 months and these just started occurring. Very graphic and violent dreams, I actually punched my wife twice last week and was fully asleep.

It seems to work, I can deal with the sweating, but the terrors were not what I anticipated.

I hate this stuff. I'm on it for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Hypothyroidism. I took my first dose and an hour later I was so sick, I couldn't walk. If I moved, I knew I would be sick. I also felt really high, like I wasn't even in my body. It kept me wide awake all night until I had to go to work the next day and then I just wanted to sleep. I had (still have) a really bad headache and I felt like my brain was trying to get out of my head. I'm constantly going from hot to cold to hot and back to cold. We thought I had a stomach bug at first so I didn't take anymore meds until we knew for sure. This stuff stayed in my system for 2 1/2 days before I could move and not be sick. One thing that I can say is that I was the happiest sick person ever. I couldn't cry or feel bad emotionally at all. I took it one more time this morning and I'm sick again and I'm feeling like I'm not in my body again. My vision is blurred beyond belief. My co-workers keep asking why my eyes keep crossing and it's because I'm trying to focus. If I cover one eye, I can see straight, for a few seconds anyway. I'm still going from hot to cold. I feel antsy, like I could snap at any second and lash out at some poor unexpected person. Yet I still can't make myself upset so I'm still the happiest sick person I know. It's wierd feeling wired and tired at the same time. I'm only on the 30 mg! Otherwise, same symptoms as most people with the dry mouth and tight throat and heavy eyelids. Anyone else feel like their eyes are dry, too? I'm not taking any more and I'm hoping I haven't taken enough to get the withdrawl symptoms. I would say don't take this stuff but what doesn't work for one person might do wonders in another. Listen to your body, nobody knows it like you do. If you feel horrible after the first dose, DON'T TAKE IT AGAIN! Then you shouldn't have as big a problem with the withdrawl side effects.
Oh! And the really bad memory loss that you can't remember what you're currently doing or why. Like searching franticly in your house and your car for your cell phone while you're talking on it to someone who's trying hard not to laugh as you're asking where your blasted cell phone is. What was I talking about again?

I have been on Cymbalta (60mg per day) for 2 1/2 years. It has been part of a combined course of treatment for burning mouth syndrome. My condition has been greatly improved by the entire course of medicine that I take, however, I have had to adjust to a few side effects. I am not sure exactly which medication has given me the side effects, but, since reading the posts here I am assuming that it is the Cymbalta. I have developed ADD, rather severly. I find that I am unable to concentrate fully on one particular thing. I will start one project and all of a sudden realize that I am somewhere else, doing something else, without completing the first task. And I have rather severe short term memory loss. I find it difficult to recall simple words or phrases or remember to do specific tasks I had planned on doing. Unfortunately, my condition averages 7 to 10 years to cure, possibly never, so I am looking at a very long-term usage. This medication has helped my condition, but with a high cost. I would investigate this medication and others prior to starting it and would look at all options available, discussing it in full with your doctor before beginning. My blessings and prayers to all who are suffering.

My doctor prescribed Cymbalta to me to help deal with a dependancy to opiates, which I became addicted to after many failed attempts with other anxiety/depression medication to help treat the crippling social anxiety and hopelessness that I have been battling with my whole life. It helped me feel better for a couple of weeks, and then seemed to quit working, it just made me feel more anxious and shaky. When I decided to quit taking it, the painful withdrawl began. I had never experienced nightmares as frightening as this before, which my new doctor calls night terrors, hot and cold sweats all night, I would wake up screaming, and have no idea where I was for a couple of seconds. As for my daily life, each minute was unbearable, I was afraid of the public, and making it to work was quite a daunting task. Reading what everyone else had wrote, I was relieved to know that someone else understood the "brain zaps" , try explaining that to a physician, they look at you like you're insane. Anyhow, after battling the withdrawl for a couple of weeks, (I only took Cymbalta for two months, mind you), I desperatly searched for help. I discovered Suboxin, a medicine prescibed to help withdrawls, which is non-narcotic, and the regimin includes intense therapy in the first couple of months to help with all the underlying issues that made you turn to any sort of drugs in the first place. Sorry to ramble on, but I know where you all are, and how it feels to hurt so much all the time. GET AWAY FROM CYMBALTA, never even start it. Suboxin treatment has changed my life completly, my anxiety and depression have become managable, I recommend that everyone should look into programs that may be in your area. Oh yeah, the best part is that the withdrawls you experience,(if you even do), are so minimal compared to Cymbalta. Good luck everyone, there really are people out there that care about you, and genuialy want you to feel better about life. If you have any questions, or want to talk, feel free to E-mail me.

I am so thankful that you have all listed these things. I was taking Cymbalta 60 mg for 18 months.
On the good side, it interrupted a chronic nerve pain cycle. That was it.
On the bad side:
I gained 16 pounds and lost the ability to do endurance sports

I had problems with my heart that weren't there prior

I've had to take time off work (which for a self-employed parent isn't a good thing)

Then, THE WITHDRAWALS:
extreme dizziness even when I don't move
nausea (probably related to dizziness)
VERY Irritable and short tempered
Nerves feel raw
Joints have swollen in areas and are VERY painful
The pain is back and worse
I have compelling suicidal thoughts
I have crying jags for no reason that last for hours
I can't sleep and am agitated
I'm exhausted
I can't think straight
No one seems to know when / if this will end
I am so unfit for human company that I'm isolated and taking time off work
I totally blasted my ex boyfriend
My impulse control is compromised.
I'm depressed, but think it's temporary.

REALLY NOW , Do any of these things stop?

I feel so bad for all of you. I have decided I am going to just suffer through the withdrawls. I am tired of the weaning and I think I can do this. i actually woke up this morning and was able to get out of bed by myself. I have been weaning for over a month and I am ready to be normal again.

I've posted comments to this website before. I have gone from 60mg in December 06 to 20mg every-other-day...in two weeks I'm off completely. I have been using The Road Back program. I swear it has changed my life. I don't have any withdrawel systems....try it - it works. (www.theroadback.org)
Get off this nasty drug or better yet, if you haven't started DON'T. God bless.

All I can say is OMFG. My doc went on vacation, couldn't get a refill and I went cold turkey for 7 days. Absolute heck. Brains zaps like crazy. Feel like I have the flu and am sweating. Will "hopefully" pick up prescription today and begin to tape.

I just can't stop crying and I hurt like hell. I finally got in to seem my GP this morning after making myself get bloodwork. I brought in documentation, listed symptoms, meds. I cried most of the time. He refused to talk to me, said I should go to the ER or get help. He prescribed this crap! Then he walked out saying they'd call 911 if I didn't go to the ER or a psychiatrist. Holy Shit. I trusted that guy to help. I looked up the road back last night and ordered their products. It is spring break and my child is home off school and I feel so pathetic and miserable. It's a good time not to own a gun.

Marie I am so sorry you are going through this, this is exactly where I was a couple months ago. My Dr wanted to up the dosage and I knew it wasn't the answer. He told me to go to the er if I felt like I was going to hurt myself or anyone else and gave me a referal to a pych. I called my Ob and went and saw her and we took another plan of action for me, that included getting off this stuff. I thought I was losing my mind, he told me to try to relieve stress and have my husband help out more. They are so quick to prescribe this carp but not so quick to help put the pieces back together.

I am a 25yr old female who has just taken my first dose of Cymbalta (30mg) My doc prescribed this for me for withdrawls from opiates. I was hooked on 10 Hydrocodone loratabs a day for around 8 monthes. Doc says the cymbalta will help with withdrawls, anxiety, mood swings. I just wanted any advice anyone would mind giving me on this drug.
Thanks for your time!

I have been on Cymbalta for about 10 months. I started taking it for anxiety at 60mg. a day. At first I thought this was a miracle drug because I used to dwell on worries and would get really scared about things that I could not control and all of a sudden I didn't worry much any more. I have been taking 30mg. for a few months now because I gained about 17 pounds in 5 or 6 months. I had my weight under control and all of a sudden I was craving sweets and just drinking caffeine more. I am going to try to get off this drug now. I am sick of being out of control with eating. I now supposedly have sleep apnea since taking this drug. They say it isn't from Cymbalta but I feel otherwise.

It's day 4 and I can't stop crying, I can barely hold my head up. I feel so disoriented and I just want to crawl into bed and never leave, but i am at work.

Michelle, This is Marie. I'm not crying at this moment and had my first good night sleep since this nightmare started. I still feel weak and beat up but better. Start looking at the lenghth of time in-between crying jags-- they slowly get longer. Notice the dizziness when you don't move slowly goes away as does not nausea. The problem with staying in bed is that constant feeling of beeing chilled and sweating and no onther distractions. I had to get through two days of it at work before taking this week off. Remember to buy running shoes and run as fast as you can next time you're told, 'there's this new medication....
Remember the story of the ring that made a sad person happy and a happy person sad. Inscribed in it was "this too shall pass"
God bless you.
Marie

First of all, let me thank all of you who have taken the time to make comments about this drug and your horrible reactions to it. You have saved my wife from going through the horrible experiences you have all suffered..My wife saw a commercial on a local tv station in Tampa, asking for volunteers to participate in a test for a pain medication for those who had lower back pain. My wife has lower back pain that comes when she makes a wrong move..She was very anxious to try something that might help her, and they were going to give her $35 per visit for her time to participate in this test program...Well, from everything I have read that you wonderful people took the time to write about your horrible experiences, I want to thank you all...I believe you have spared my lovely wife from the pain and suffering you have all experienced, and possibly even becoming addicted to this drug..I am so concerned about it that I have asked a local tv station to check into this test program to prevent other people, unwittingly becoming addicted and experiencing some of your same symptoms..It sounds as if many people can become addicted and suffer all of those symptoms with as little as one dose of Cymbalta..I don't know if the tv station will check it out, but I hope so..Thank you all again..I am sure you have spared at least one unwitting person from what you have experienced..I hope you will all be able to come out of this ok..

I have been on cymbalta for 5 months now. Over a month ago I started having a rash all over my body. Which is too bad, because the medicine, although pricey, seemed to be working. I have been on paxil and welbutron. I much prefer cymbalta.

Three & 1/2 weeks completely off the cymbalta - doing good - no more brain zaps, no more crying spells - I did use "The Road Back" supplements and for whatever reason it has helped. I have slept for three weeks without Ambien CR which I haven't been able to do in months. For all of you who are considering whether Cymbalta is the answer - my opinion for what it is worth is NO - I gained 30 lbs in 6 months and didn't sleep the entire time I was on it. I will never again take an anti-depressant. While I was on this medication I made life changing decisions that shouldn't have been made while I was under "the influence" of this drug and now I have to figure out how to make things right...

My daughter was put on Cymbalta at a first dose of 60 mg. (She had never been prescribed an anti-depressant before). Within 6 weeks of taking this "chemical" she committed suicide with absolutely no warning of any indication of a mental or behavior change. She was a very out going person who had a very promising future ahead of her. She was going to college to get her degree in law. I will be the first to say she was a Class A personality, which means she was a high achiever and put herself under a lot of stress to always do her best. She asways handled her stress with her music or dance. If she had a problem she did not keep it within herself. She wrote poems and talked. I'm not saying she did not have down days, she was 22 years old and a young lady. One day does not make you chemically depressed and warrant to be put on such a dangerous chemical. She had been treated for stress and an ulcer, but not ever for depression. She was making plans for marriage and starting a new life with her fiance. She truly had a very promising future. There was no indication of any problem until the day I lost her. The toxins of this chemical shut down her kidneys and she went into paranoia. She took it as prescribed and only complained the day before about not being able to use the bathroom. I told her to call the doctor she had seen, but the damage had already been done. I not only lost my daughter, but also my best friend. (Her primary doctor did not prescribe this medication. He was not able to see her, so she went to another doctor and on just one visit he determined she needed to be on this "chemical". My warning to all who have been prescribed this chemical is to be very careful and make sure you are monitored. She was not ever seen again by the prescribing doctor.

Thank you Marie for your encouragement. I am feeling slightly better this evening, but I have to go back to work tomorrow. Tomorrow will be day 5 and I am hoping for it to be better. My entire body hurts, touching me is unbearable right now. Moving makes me nauseous, and dizzy. I know I have to go through this to get to the other side but how can they allow this drug out there. I have been on several antidepressants and this will be my last. I will have to use good strong diet and exercise and therapy should I get into a situation again. I just want to live again.

I'm 16 years old and this is my second day of taking Cymbalta 20mg for sever aniexty. I'm 100 lb. & 5'2

I get really bad panic attacks, I'v been on prozac, provigil, zoloft, concerta, celexa, I'v tried them all & everyone of them I stop because they didnt work or made me throw up every two seconds.

Well this time On the the cymbalta I'm experencing something very obscure. I went to the ER yesterday I told them how I was feeling which my symtoms include: really bad headache, sharp pains in different parts of my brain, confusion, dizzyness, nausa, loss of time conception (for example I was in the ER for about 5 hours, I swore I was only there for an hour) disoriented, racing heart, really tired but cant sleep, diarehha, HUGE puples, When I close my eyes and lay down I feel weird sensations through out my body and just feel really abnormal. The ER knows me pretty well from coming in for panic attacks so the immdaitly assume that I was having a panic attack and made me leave but my symtoms are becoming more intense. I'm really afraid!! has anyone else felt this way?

Hello everyone. I hope you guys are doing better, Michelle and Marie. My heart goes out to you, Brenda. These drugs are so scary. My friend's mother comitted sucide after trying to withdrawl from Prozac. I really think these drugs are prescribed too causually and without monitoring. Ashly, from some of my research and what I've heard here, you could very well be experiencing bad side effects. Be careful. I am one of the lucky ones that didn't have horrible side effects from Cymbalta, I just can't seem to get off of it now that I'm doing better. Weigh your benefits against the cost before embarking on any antidepressant and definatley have a good physician monitoring you the whole way through. My dr. is one of the ones that tries to up the dose everytime I have problems or change the drug. Once I get off this, I'm done with these drugs. Good luck to all.

I have been on cymbalta for 5 mon. Just recently stop taking it. It has cost me my voice. I have what they call pressure of seech. It started with stuttering and then with slurred speech. Now it takes all me effort to form words. Cymbalta has taken my self esteem and caused me many painic attacks over what was happening to my body. The loss of motor skills and muscle pain, and headaches are unbearable. God help us all. Cymbalta should have never been put on the market.

I'm still kickin!. I wish I could say kickin a.. and takin' names, but I really just mean managing. My son (now on spring break) looked at me happily yesterday and said "Mom, have you noticed you're not crying today?" that as late in the morning. All the tears you couldn't cry on cymbalta seem to well up at once as you withdrawal. I spent literally hours crying uncontrollably last night. The only thing that made it less scary was that it was less than in past days. I still have the insomnia and awful body pain. The sciatica was sceaming last night (reason I was put on this in the first place). and to to persona who noted the study-- this is an abusurd misuse of brain chemical alteration. I think it is far more threatening to the general population than opiate pain blockers because of the belief that it is a non-opiate, not a steroid ("bad names, oooh, why so they can add another to the list of ssrI/NE inhibitors?-- make another few trillion in the process at the cost of others pain?

I'm disgusted about the whole deal.

Michelle, It is getting better, you have to look for smaller gains than normal-- i.e. decreased frequency of crying, start rating your pain 1-10 and noting every 5 min until it subsists to find patterns, I wasn't dizzy much at all yesterday. While waiting for the Road back items, I started omega 3, vitamin B, chondroitin mix for joint pain and I think that helped. I'm just now starting the other supplements.

I'm also aware of other ways of managing chronic pain and those techniques can be helpful-- learning to be less intimidated by symptoms (decreasing your stress response and exacerbating symptoms), charting self-care, etc.

God Bless you. I also find great solace in seeing God as my lifeline-- the one who will pull me gently out of this muck.

Marie

Have been on Cymbalta for two years now. Can't live with it, can't live without it. Never took any prescription drug for anxiety before, however, at 48, after complaining to my doc about severe stomach problems (that I felt were psychologically induced) stomach always tied up in knots, etc., inability to perform job without running to bathroom first, my doctor prescribed Cymbalta. Well, after taking it for only a few days my stomach problems literally no longer existed, which proved to me what I had thought all along. (Psychological, not physical.) And Cymbalta continues to this day to help me with this problem, which is almost non-existant. I am now able to go out, perform my work without any of those anxiety-driven problems. Because my earnings are dependent on the quantity of work I go out and take, my income has increased dramatically because of no longer having fear to go out there and take on certain intimidating jobs. Whereas before I used to give work away, now I am willing to take on even the toughest assignments. I am quite relaxed now on the job. I am no longer a so-called people pleaser, and I'm not afraid to say what's on my mind. So, in this regard I cannot live without this drug.
On the other hand, I am so relaxed, I feel as though I could go to sleep anytime, anyplace. I have gained 38 pounds in the last two years, which makes me truly "depressed" about my appearance. I am always hungry and too tired at the end of the day to go out and do any form of exercise. Just look forward to going to sleep. I have lost all sense of time. While I used to pride myself in always being very punctual, now I'm lucky if I arrive exactly at the time I'm supposed to be someplace, if not a minute or two late. I spend money more freely, without really thinking about the consequences and have racked up quite a debt, and I also feel as though I'm in a zombie-like state most of the time, although it doesn't seem apparent to others. Occasionally I also have a loss of a word or two and have to really concentrate to complete my thoughts. After reading some of these comments I would be fearful to try to wean from this drug, and as I said, as long as I have to make a living in my chosen career field, in that regard I cannot live without it.

Thanks to all these postings. It's nice to hear someone else describing my feelings!!! I ran out of Cybalta (60mg daily)about a week ago and thought nothing of it. I'd see my doc and get it refilled. Wrong!!! I feel like I've just gotten off of Mad Hatter's Tea cup ride at disneyland. I've been very dizzy now for 4 days and snapping at my children constantly. I know I'm doing it, but can't help myself. I don't know how you guys can type either. I can't stand looking at the letter and the blinking cursor. I'm not taking anymore. I just hope this ends soon. Thanks again for your postings.

I want to say thank you to everyone who has been supportive. I am in day 6 now since I took my last pill. I am crying now more than I have in the last year and a half. I am in so much pain physically that I can barely move and when I do I am so nauseous and dizzy that I just want to go back to bed. Sleep is the only thing that is bringing me relief right now. It's really hard but thankfully I have a rather understanding boss.

I was prescribed Cymbalta for fibromyalgia;30mg for 1 week, 60mg for the second week, then follow up with my Dr. at that point. I took the first dose at 430pm and ended up in the ER around 130am. My husband had to call 911 because I was so disoriented and in & out of consciousness that he could not get me off the bathroom floor where I was vomiting for about 30 minutes. I was nauseous about an hour after taking the med and felt like my heart was going to beat out of my chest. My entire body felt like it was burning and tingling. I feel fortunate that I only took it for one day. The pain I am in everyday does not come close to the misery that I experienced on Cymbalta for one day. It has been about 27.5 hours since taking the drug and I am just starting to feel a little better.
I think that I will continue to pray and read the bible for treatment instead of risking my life to take this medication. God Bless to all.

In my opinion this drug needs to be re-called!

Iv only taken two doses of this med and I refused to take it this morning. I feel all the same sever symtoms I posted yesterday only worse. The ER has done every test possiable and said that they cant find anything physically wronge.

the ER doc believes that there is something chemically wronge in my brain due to the cymbalta and my syc. doc needs to get in touch with me immedaitly but shes on vacation and will not respond to my calls or the ERs since the ER can not do anything for you unless you have something physcially wronge I was sent home!

I feel hopeless, and as if I lost my mind, I'm extermly disorented and I scream from the brain pains and constantly crying because my head feels so weird. I lost all of my time conception and short term memory!

I feel like my Brain is slowly shutting down!

at this point I wish I was religious to have some kind of comforting hope!

has anyone else had the symtoms iv posted prior?!

- btw the comment above was from me..

the 16 year old girl whos aniexty has taken over compleatly, and the cymbalta has now just made me go insane. Hopefully I wont be blacking out soon & be able to keep checking back!

love to you all!!

I am so glad that I read about cymbalta. I have fibromyalgia real bad and am very depressed. Also, Is there anyone out there that can tell me what you did for fibr and arthritic severe pain. Is there any antidepressant out there for depression that is ok to take?
please reply if you read this and have any answers for me.

I first want to thank everyone for their comments on this board. I am so happy that I found this site. I thought I was either going crazy or dying for the past two months since I've been on Cymbalta, but after reading through everyone's comments, I know that's not the case. I truly believe that Cymbalta should either be taken off of the market, or at the very least, that doctors should have to pass some kind of educational requirement before they are allowed to prescribe it. I'm sure that it works for some people, but from what I've learned about the medication, doctors should have to more carefully monitor their patients on it.

I've only been on Cymbalta for two months now, and my life has totally fallen apart. My doctor and psychiatrist decided it would be a good switch for me from the Effexor XR that I had been on for two years. I've suffered from major depression for many years, and the Effexor was the only thing that worked for me. But, following a bad accident, I had become addicted to prescription pain killers, and I still suffer from moderate to severe amounts of pain everyday. The doctors assured me that Cymbalta would be a win-win for me, since it would help with my nerve pain and because Effexor is known to sometimes increase addictive feelings and behaviors. At first, the Cymbalta was great. For the first time in years, I had absolutely no pain. After about 3 weeks though, the pain was back. After about a month, I started getting sick. My doctor actually told me it was all in my head and just made me feel crazier. While on the Cymbalta, I started getting debilitating headaches for days at a time, lost my appetite and dropped a lot of weight, slept for 12-18 hours a day, constantly felt shaky inside like I was going to pass out, couldn't focus my eyes, was always fatigued no matter how much I slept, suffered from terrible constipation followed by bouts of diarrhea, started getting terrible lower back aches, and my menstrual periods were totally out of whack. I really thought I was dying and that my body was shutting down on me or something.

I find it baffling that doctors are able to prescribe this medication so freely and without having any knowledge of its side effects. I've tried many different medications over the years for my depression, and I have to say, this was the first medication that I've ever felt was actually really dangerous. I've switched back (on my own as I had plenty of refills left) to the Effexor, and so far so good. Being back on the Effexor seems to have eliminated or minimized many of the withdrawal symptoms of the Cymbalta, though I'm still unbelievably exhausted. I'm currently looking for both a new doctor and psychiatrist who better understand what I went through on the Cymbalta and who will be more willing to give me the time and attention that I need until we can find a combination of medications that will work for me long-term.

I was hoping that someone on this board might have information about any legal or other actions being taken against Eli Lilly over Cymbalta. I've heard so many terrible things about this drug now, and I feel like I need to do my part against this. I've never been any type of activist, but I really feel like something needs to be done to protect people against this medication. I would also love to know about anything that is going to educate doctors about Cymbalta as well. Any information would be appreciated. In closing here, I wanted to wish everyone the best in getting well and off of Cymbalta. Thanks again for making me realize that I'm not crazy or alone in this.

I am so grateful that I found this website. I have been taking 30 mg Cymbalta for only 2 days and feel horrendous. I feel speedy, anxious,irritable, sick in my stomach and I just generally feel like something is wrong. After reading these postings I will stop taking at once. Thanks, thanks, thanks.

I have been on 30 mg for about 3 weeks now for mild depression, but mainly for pelvic pain. It has helped my pain greatly, I have lost weight (which I was trying to do anyway!), I am happy and easy-going now. Things don't bother me like they used to. I take mine at night, and sleep fine. It does make me more drowsy during the day, but I just keep going. I work full-time and have a 7-year-old and a 19-month-old. So, I don't have the option to sleep during the day! I'm scared of the brain zaps - sounds terrifying. Otherwise, I am praising Cymbalta. I feel like I'm back to my old self. But, I do have a question - are these wonderful symptoms going to ease off and make me up my dose? I really don't want to increase because I'm afraid the sleepiness may ruin my life.

I am on day 8 and I finally feel like myself somewhat. I spent the entire weekend comatose. I have never slept so much in my life. Sleeping was the only way to cope with the dizziness and brain zaps. I completely agree with the above poster who thinks there should be something done to Eli Lilly, whether it be recalled or put tighter restrictions on this drug.

I have been on Cymbalta for over a year because I was diagnosed with both PTSD and depression. The drug has helped relieve both. Side benefits include relief of neuropathy I had in my left foot, incontinence, etc. It has not relieved my fibromyalgia symptons. During the course of the last year, I was also diagnosed with sleep apnea and prescribed a CPAP machine. I am the type who follows doctors' orders but am intelligent enough to make sure all my doctors are communicating with one another. I sympathize with each of you who have experienced negative effects you attribute to both the drug and incompetent doctors. Many of us have complicated medical histories and our stories can be confusing to others. Some medical practitioners stop listening because we have also received a psychiatric diagnosis. Over the past twenty five years I have been treated for depression, seizure disorder/Epilepsy, hypertension, PTSD, and Lyme Disease, among others. Physical diseases do, indeed, have a psychiatric component. Personally, I think Eli Lilly is to be commended for creating a medication that acknowleges this fact. It may not be perfect, but it's a start. I hope they read all your comments and incorporate changes into the next generation of medications. My prayers and best wishes are with all of you as you strive to improve your lives. Don't give up. If you truly believe your symptoms are not being properly managed, find a new doctor that you can communicate with. Doctors are human beings: some are saints while others are sinners. Keep researching your own personal symptoms on the Internet and find doctor who will assist you in the way you want to be treated.

Cymbalta is a double edged sword. It has indeed taken away the pain I suffer from Fibromyalgia. In it's place however, it has created a blurred vision, dizzy, comatose patient who sleeps more than a hibernating bear (and is slightly grumpier). I had a massive headache when I started taking Cymbalta which the doctor said to take Tylenol for, Tylenol?? Pill pushers should be banned from medicine. See me once, charge me $400 and don't let the door hit you on the way out. I haven't started weening off the 60mg yet but unless I want to wake up in fifty years with a long white beard I have to do something.

While I agree that Cymbalta, and any other medication for that matter, may work well for some, a drug with these type of side effects should be more closely monitored. Most doctors either do not have the time or interest to learn enough about these medications to be prescribing them to patients, and it's painfully obvious to most who have tried to stop an anti-depressant that very few doctors understand how to properly wean patients off of the drugs as well. The truth is that many of these newer medications have just not studied long or thoroughly enough, as they are muscled through the FDA by powerful pharmaceutical lobbyists. Unfortunately, even if doctors were more educated about medications like Cymbalta, they would still be limited by the information a manufacturer has available or chooses to release or withhold.

Reading through Lilly's prescription literature shows no study data beyond a 12 week study trial. This is highly problematic considering that the same literature recommends treatment with the drug for some conditions beyond this 12 week period. From much of what I've found online, it seems like a lot of patients really start suffering with this drug after they are taking it for a longer period of time. Fortunately for Lilly, there is only anecdotal data to substantiate this. Personally, I've never been particularly sensitive to any medication or susceptible to side effects, so I was really alarmed by what I went through on Cymbalta.

Although, a quick look into Lilly's recent history illustrates pretty clearly why Cymbalta was rushed to market so quickly, and why we're just now learning more about its potential problems. The company was in a bad way following the fallout their infamous drug, Zyprexa. Lilly had their reps push Zyprexa for all sorts of off-label uses in a campaign they referred to internally as "Viva Zyprexa." From what I understand, they've since been found liable for withholding dangerous side effect information. Apparently, Lilly has chosen to follow the path of Zyprexa by touting Cymbalta as a real miracle cure-all, panacea of sorts, for all sort of on and off-label disorders. If Lilly withheld and minimized the risk of Zyprexa causing diabetes, I can only imagine what they've withheld about Cymbalta.

Myself, I'm just praying that I didn't take the drug long enough to suffer any permanent or long-term damage from its use. And I'm still kicking myself for trusting my doctors and not doing more thorough research before taking this drug. Lilly's reputation poses a real trust problem with this medication, whether you believe that it's working for you or not. I would urge anyone that is taking Cymbalta to closely monitor the way they feel and talk to their doctor immediately if something doesn't feel right. I can only assume that if a class-action suit isn't already in the works against Lilly over Cymbalta, we're all going to see one very, very soon.

OMG, I am so happy to find this site. I took my first 30mg pill today and have spent the past hour running and forth to the bathroom throwing up. After reading everything here, I am not taking anymore. I rather deal with the tears and the depression than the side effects.

My neurologist prescribed cymbalta to me for genenic form of neuropathy. I was worked up to 90 mg over a three week period I was having chills and had some blurred vision. I was told to hold the cymbalta for seven days to see if the chills and blurred vision went away. I asked the nurse can I just just stop taking this . She said the doctor said to hold for 7 days. By day two I couldn't hold a drop of water in my stomach and couldn't get out of bed. the next day I felt a little better but was still nauseated. By evening I was vomiting again and my stomach was so tore up I was in tears. I asked my husband to call the pharmacy to see what I could do for my stomach. The pharmacy was shocked to find out that the doctor had me abruptly stop. So I took 60mg and in 2 hours I was able to get out of bed. I called the Doctor the next morning. His assistant said the doctor wants you to take the cymbalta for 7 days now. He thinks you have a virus go see your family doctor. I told her I didn't want to take the cymbalta I know that it is addictive and I'd rather have something else. the nurse told me to go to my family doctor. MY neurologist dumped me is what he did. I guess he is covering his butt. I immediately called my famuily doctor and they are going to help me get off. I was told to cut dowm to 30mg and then skip some days and I would have to take zanex for a few days to get me off. What a nightmare. I will never recommend this drug to anyone or the neurologist that I went to

I am on day 9 and holding my own. The brain zaps and headaches are non stop, I am really anxious and excited. Not a good excited, meaning I am calm. I hate this part, I am normally ok and can handle most situations but this is making those things impossible. I want to be normal again.

Just a quick update - almost a month completely off the cymbalta - feel better off than I did on - I am still sleeping (which I didn't do for the entire six months that I was on Cymbalta) and the brain zaps, headaches and crying have stopped. I've gone back to exercising and hope that I will one day get back the person that I used to be. I am feeling hopeful - I know that I still have my depression issues to deal with but I'm going to find another to get through that - never going back to any type of drug that messes with my brain...

I won't go into all the awful details, but count me as another person who thinks this drug is a nightmare.

I am in my 40s and have struggled with major depression off and on since my early 20s. I have tried just about every med out there and have had plenty of unpleasant side effects that would make me get off a med and move on to the next. But nothing, ever, like this disaster called Cymbalta. I'm sure it probably does work for some people, but it shouldn't practically kill those for whom it doesn't work.

I ask to try Cymbalta simply because the ads sounded good. I have MDD with arthritis pain and residual nerve discomfort from Guillian Barre Syndrome. For the 4 week duration of my Cymbalta trial I suffered the following:

- Extreme hot & cold sensations
- Extreme sweating, especially at night
- Extreme apathy (On easter I couldn't bring myself to do anything for my poor children. Thank god husband came through and was the easter bunny for the 1st time ever)
- Extreme sleepiness with insomnia
- Extreme, extreme, extreme depression
- Confusion & disorientation
- Memory loss
- Nausea
- Severe mood swings -by the minute towards the end
- Major skin eruptions on face, other wounds would not heal
- My arthritis and nerve pain became much worse
- Finally, I was suicidal. Had it not been for my extremely understanding and supportive husband, and finding this site, I might not be here. I have never felt this mentally "ill" in my life.

It's been a week now since I found this site and reduced my dose to 30mg. This last Friday I took my last pill. I thank god (or whatever) that I'm not suffering any major withdrawal symptoms. My brain has also cleared up pretty quickly. I know SSRIs help many, many people. They have helped me tremedously. But this experience has been so horrendous that I don't know what I'll do from here on out.... I have an appointment with my shrink today and may demand that she help me try an all natural, supplement based regime for a while. This experience has also taught me that I need to be much more aggressive and consistent with self-care. No more skipping exercise or meals or vitamins. Wow. What a nightmare.

I wish all of you the best of luck with getting off this poison. If you haven't tried it yet, please don't. Even if you might be one of the lucky ones for whom this med might work, I sincerely believe that it's not worth the risk.

I posted on 4/10, didn't get much of a response but I did see my Dr. and he has had me weaning off of this crap since Friday. So far nothing truly irregular, the dreams are still there and violently graphic. Not sure what the next med to take is, but I'll work with the doc to figure it out.

This site has helped me out alot, I wish you all well.

Steve

Hi Steve, I also had terrible dreams. Forgot to list this with all the other awful symptoms. But the dreams were dreadful, vivid, and I constantly woke up in between. Kind of like sleeping with a really high fever but much worse.

Good luck with your doc. If you don't mind, please let us know what you end up trying. I went to doc today and am going to try 10mg Lexapro (was on 20mg for a long time before trying Cymbalta) and a very disciplined approach to exercise & diet for a while to see how it goes. Am also going to increase my Omegas to 2000 mg daily per docs okay. I'm just really afraid of trying any more meds at this point.

Good luck Steve and all of you fellow mentally interesting people! :-) (And if you're not "mentally interesting", don't touch these meds!!!)

I am so glad everyone is posting on this site. I know I am not losing my mind because everyone is posting and then I can relate to these things. I am so desperate for this to be over with. I just get discouraged because I feel so horrible and am totally incapable of daily functioning. I feel horrible that I am not doing anything well these days. I am celebrating the smallest accomplishments at this point, including getting out of bed. I will never take another antidepressant.

Hello Fellow Victims,

I have rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia--or have been diagnosed with them even tho all tests are negative.

Had two recent total hip replacements--lots of pain to deal with and lots of pain meds. Primary care doc prescribed 30mg cymbalta for one week prior to 2nd surgery Jan 8th this year--then 60mg to start day of surgery.

Long story short--found this site a few weeks ago and it has saved my life. Today is my 3rd day without cymbalta and I have flu symptoms along with the spacey feelings, irritability, bowel and bladder issues, facial numbness, blah blah blah. I have in the last 90 days experienced almost all of the side effects listed above. I went from 60mg to 30mg after only a few days--maybe 2 weeks--memory fails me on that and other things. At any rate, I did the making my own capsules down to about 10 mg gradually. Read somewhere that the every other day approach is not advised with this particular poison, so I just decreased the dosage and stayed with that for a few days, then decreased again for four or five days. Saw the doctor a few days ago and she said I could try to stop now.

Thank God I was on it for such a short time. I'm doing OK, and look forward to the day when this should be out of my system. Doc says about 3 weeks. Wonder who I'll be then?

I called my rheumatologist yesterday to inform him of my med changes and the nurse made me an appointment for today--she insisted. Think the medical profession knows something we don't? I'm going in today, but will not start any more or new medications.

To anyone who is considering this medication--forget it. It is poison. To anyone going off of it, go carefully but consistently down in your dosage, keep your doc informed, keep a journal and pray. I'll pray for you all.

If you can, make one medication change at a time and keep a journal of your symptoms. I can't believe all of the med changes I accepted during the three month period between surgeries made by three different docs--not to mention all of the stuff I was on before the surgery.

Today I am off almost all pharmecuetical poisons except for diclofenac and methotrexate for the rheumatoid arthritis. They seem to be all I need--if I even have that. I sometimes wonder if all the pills docs have prescribed since I was 12 (59 now)didn't cause the osteonecrosis that destroyed my hips. Nobody knows.

Good luck to all.
Sue

HI FELLOW CYMBALTA USERS,

LET ME START BY SAYING THAT IF YOU ARE ON THIS DRUG, PLEASE GET OFF OF IT NOW!!

I'VE BEEN ON CYMBALTA FOR OVER A YEAR NOW, AND HAVE EXPERIENCED ALL OF THE SIDE EFFECTS AFOREMENTIONED AT ONE TIME OR ANOTHER. MY PROBLEM HAS BEEN THE CONSTANT AND STEADY WEIGHT GAIN...THIS PAST DECEMBER I DECIDED I HAD HAD ENOUGH, AND ARMED WITH NOTHING BUT SHEER DETERMINATION, STARTED WEANING MYSELF OFF...WHEN I BEGAN TAKING THIS MEDICATION I WEIGHED 125LBS, I NOW WEIGH ALMOST 200LBS..IT TOOK ME ALMOST 2 MONTHS TO GO FROM MY NORMAL 60MG TO 30..I HAD BRAIN ZAPS, NAUSEA, DISORIENTATION AND HORRIBLE MOOD SWINGS TO THE POINT OF FEELING LIKE I WAS BYPOLAR. THE MOOD SWINGS WERE UNBELIEVABLE AND LET ME JUST SAY PMS HAS NOTHING ON CYMBALTA WITHDRAWAL!! ITS NOW ALMOST THE END OF APRIL AND I'M STILL TAKING 30MG, BUT ONLY EVERY 4-5 DAYS..WHAT IS IT ABOUT THIS DRUG THAT MAKES IT SO HARD TO QUIT?? WHEN WILL THIS WEIGHT START TO COME OFF?? WHY CAN'T ANY OF THE DRS I'VE TALKED TO EXPLAIN TO ME WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON??

HOPING FOR SOME POSITIVE FEEDBACK..CHRISTINE

Anonymous,

Thanks for replying, I hope that somehow Eli Lilly sees this information and corrects what they are peddling.

I have tried Paxil (side effects realy sucked for me) and this is my second anti depressant. I may try Wellbutrin but will confer with my doc before doing so.

I hope everyone fares well after getting this crud out of their system.

Hey,

I have been on meds for depression for almost 10 years now. I just went off of Effexor (which I hated because of all the side effects) and went on cymbalta. I thought it was working for a while. but now after almost 4 months i feel so darn tired and apathetic all the time. I just dont have the mental or physical energy to do anything. What should I do? I am afraid my doctor will think I am just making this up. I am worried I will lose my job if I cant get this straightened out.

Christine - you've done really well to handle your schedule. The basic rule for withdrawing from these drugs is to avoid at all costs the 'miss-a-day' routine. Because of the short half lives involved with this class of antidepressants, the extending of time between doses does NOT equate to a gentle reduction in dose, it equates to drug levels all over the place. Accompanied by roller-coastering withdrawal effects. Which may explain why you are currently suffering so badly.

Cymbalta statistics: half life 12hrs; 90% eliminated 2.5days; typical onset of withdrawal day 2-3 after every drop in dose.

Your doctors are unable to explain what is going on (despite over 15 years worth of facts on SSRI withdrawal, and by logical extension SNRI, and serotonergic antidepressant withdrawal) because they are fed ghost papers in the journals, carefully manipulated trial results by the Pharmaceutical Companies, and are taught by their drug reps that withdrawal is actually not withdrawal at all, just a 'return of the original problem' which means that the patient must be re-medicated. The return to the drug, in a stable once-a-day format - as opposed to the doctor recommended miss-a-day withdrawal schedule, or incredibly unrealistic fast tapers - promptly gives the body what it is screaming for... constant levels of the drug to which it was accustomed. Then the patient, unsurprisingly, starts to feel better - unless too long a time gap was left before trying to stabilise, in which case some people now exhibit a sensitivity to the drug, and are unable to return to their old regime because their bodies are now sensitised.

The doctors, seeing their patients more-or-less returning to 'normal' after abandoning jaw-dropping withdrawal timetables and back on-drug, conclude the drug is retackling 'the original problem' (just like their drug reps told them) despite EVERYTHING pointing to an 'addiction'/dependence problem.

So your doctors can't tell you what is going on, because they are ignorant of the true situation. They don't read up on the subject, because their reps tell them it is 'depression', 'anxiety', 'a load of other things' that their product has been 'helping'. Those few doctors who do investigate further find their professional literature is curiously uninformative (despite years of patients saying the same things over and over again), and unless they stumble on the wealth of independent information (mainly provided through the hard work of David Healy, Joseph Glenmullen & Peter Breggin) they remain unilluminated.

So the patient gets stuffed.

Mood swinging like crazy? Welcome to the wonderful world of withdrawal. This can now be misdiagnosed as bipolar, and you wouldn't believe the amount of people who end up on antipsychotics, mood stabilisers, benzos, other drugs... to combat withdrawal. Or disbelieved withdrawal. So now you can have a new (mis)diagnosis, a drug cocktail, and you're still in withdrawal hell.

The weight problem (also typically associated with these drugs) is one that can be tackled. But it does seem like there is a period of time once you are off-drug, before things start settling down, and then (often suddenly) matters in this area can start to improve. That doesn't mean it will be easy - it seems more difficult to shift than might normally be expected - but keep in mind the drug's effects on metabolism, blood sugar, appetite, pretty much everything... and that can help put the matter into perspective. Once you can handle it, try some mild exercise (be careful you don't over-fatigue yourself, people's exercise tolerance varies wildly in the withdrawal and post-drug phase and you don't want to set yourself back, through over-taxing your body).

I just started taking Cymbalta for severe anxiety. I am worried about all the comments made... is there ANYTHING good about the medication?

Ok, so what you're telling me is that I shouldn't be skipping days?? Dividing the capsules is OK?

Thanks for the advice, this website is a godsend. I work in the medical field and let me tell you, in my office alone there are 4 other women on antidepressants..it seems as if its an epidemic

Well today was day 10 with no Cymbalta and I almost feel normal. No headaches today thank god, very little dizziness but still the inability to finish thoughts or sentences. This is the best I have felt in a long time, hopefully it will continue. Stick to getting off this stuff.

Yes, the advice is not to miss out days as a method of withdrawal - check out David Healy's 'Halting SSRIs' (available on-line as a .pdf file) or Joseph Glenmullen's 'The Antidepressant Solution' (bookshop; whole book dedicated to antidepressant withdrawal, recommended reading, and a great list of the standard withdrawal symptoms). However, you must do your own research on this, and draw your own conclusions. Get yourself some of the independent professional SSRI/SNRI antidepressant information and carefully go through it, matching it against your own experience.

The problem with trying to manage lower dose drops is that the manufacturers often don't produce tablets/capsules that allow easy tapering. Some of the serotonin boosting antidepressants have a liquid version that allows for accurate dose reduction, but as far as I know (check with your pharmacist) the lowest dose capsule of duloxetine (cymbalta) is 20mg.

TWENTY.

Yes, this is crazy. And yes, lots of people know this (mainly the patients, ex-patients, and the 'trying-to-be-ex-patients'), but no, it doesn't appear like the situation will be rectified anytime soon, since that would indicate that there is a dependence/'addiction' problem, which would be detrimental to sales. Keep in mind that people trying to get off Effexor (another SNRI) have been struggling for years with no liquid version of the drug, and no easy method of accurate reduction.

Opening capsules? This is where it gets tricky, and you need to speak to a professional/do a lot of research, because:

1. Some people have been told it is okay to open the capsules and split doses, others have been told you can't.

2. Some people have had capsules made up to different strengths by a compounding pharmacist, but apparently it is expensive.

3. The pellets inside the capsules are apparently of different sizes, so I've read of people diligently sorting out the pellets then, once in 'size order'... splitting the dose accordingly. Dose accuracy is SO important if you fall into the category of people who suffer badly at the slightest reduction in dose. You could try a google search, then e-mail individuals who have done this/capsule splitting, to get more information?

4. The 'switch to prozac' option (Healy), followed by a stabilising period, then taper. Pros - longer half life, liquid version available, allows for tiny & accurate dose reductions; cons - drug switch, possible drug reactions, may produce agitation/anxiety response... might help/might not help/might make problem worse.

You have a variety of choices, but the immediate problem is your body is all over the place because of the on/off doses. Do some reading, a lot of reading, get yourself armed with major SSRI/SNRI knowledge, then sort through the main options.

The overriding priority, though, is to get your body stabilised. Let it recover from the trauma of the past weeks. Find out where you really are in the withdrawal stakes (Glenmullen, Healy), then tackle as appropriate. This could be by stopping the drug and carefully monitoring what happens (reacting as appropriate), or by going back to a stable dosing regime for 3-4 weeks (minimum)... then starting to drop again.

e.g. Glenmullen (p.93) looks at a 60mg-40mg-20mg-10mg-0mg
taper for cymbalta, with a 3-5 weeks wait period at each drop in dose. With the proviso that the reductions may need to be adjusted as appropriate for those exhibiting moderate-severe withdrawal reactions. Many self-help groups/ex-users seem to have concluded that a 10% drop in dose, at any one time, is the max that should be attempted. Healy (http://www.ssri-uksupport.com/files/haltingSSRIs.pdf) talks of an initial 25% cut in dose, followed by evaluation of the patient response, and then proceed as appropriate.

I can't emphasise enough, though, that you have to do your own research, and draw your own conclusions. Ideally this should be via your medical professionals...

THERE IS NO PERFECT ANTI-DEPRESSENT! I have had problems with all the new SSRIs and now the Cymbalta. As i started weaning of Serzone,(which was excellent for seven years),I had a trauma and a year after it, the Serzone started to fade.I went on Cymbalta in small increments with small amounts of Serzone and at first was amazed at the improvement of major depression! After mixing some alchol after a month, I felt bad and stopped the wine for a while while increased the Cymbalta. Things got better, but the side effects, while tolerable, are troubling. All of the same ones as reported above, although my sense of the day being nice is still there!(puzzling).The one side effect i am experiencing which will determine whether i stay on this medication is occasional suicidal ideations for no reason at all! I find this crazy and very bothersome, but being on this drug for three and a half months I am going forth a bit longer for the good days are great, the bad days are tolerable. I also have a side effect which no body has mentioned: a compulsion to remember things i did each day for weeks, that corresponds when the suicide ideation comes and goes.(sickly,,, I started writing a diary). My doctor is good and am still sticking this out with the hope that all will be well, although Im a bit frightened by these withdrawel effects I am reading about. ODDLY enough, the most natural antideppressant I have ever used was Elavil, and while its has bad weight gain and constipation, I think, in proper dosage, IT still is the most effective for anxiety and deppression. By the way, anyone using an SSRI or SNRI should try xanax with it for the agitation. Well see what happens, besrat Hashem(please g-d).

Hey Angela,

There is absolutely nothing good I can say about this particular anti-depressant. Please, please don't become one of us. Talk to your Dr, there are other alternatives to try, I urge you to do some research and become informed as to the dangers of this drug. If you must continue on cymbalta, pay close attention to the side effects you're experiencing, and don't hesitate to discuss with your Dr any symptoms you are having trouble handling. Although, I agree somewhat with Howards suggestion for Zanex as an alternate, try not to add in any other drug which could possibly cause dependency and withdrawal symptoms. Let me know how you're doing...talking to others with the same problems has been a huge help to me.

My only question is "Why is this drug still on the market?" What has to happen before this stuff is taken off the shelf? How many more people need to suffer before there is a recall? I only took one does and had REALLY bad side effects. I feel like I got off easy. My heart aches for everyone here that has gone through this pain and the many others that have not found this website. I send HUGS out to everyone and a hope that this horrible life altering drug is discontinued.
*HUGS*
Melissa

I wanted to address the weight gain issue....has anyone else noticed that the weight gain is all in the mid-section??!!! What is that about? I've had 4 children and my stomach always had a small pooch, but this is ridiculous...I look like I drink a case of beer everyday!!

I had been taking Cymbalta for 4 years and started to have a strange twitching movements with my lower jaw especially when I spoke. My dr decided to take me off of the medication and I have been in a living hell for about 2 months now. My dr stopped me cold-turkey without weaning me off the medication. I ended up in the urgent care because of severe nausea and diarrhea, I was dehydrated. The Dr at the urgent care decided to have me start the medication again to ease the withdraw effects and wean back off the medication. This never eased the symptoms I was experiencing. I have had flu-like symptoms, diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, body twitches, severe hot flashes and cold sweats. I am lucky to get up out of bed to make it to work. The insomnia is so bad I have not had a good night sleep in a long time. I have also experienced shortness of breath since I stopped the medication along with heart palpatations. I am wondering if anyone has eventually gotten over these symptoms? I cannot get any answers from my dr about the medications effects. I called the Dr and was advised that these were not effects from not taking this medication and I know nothing else has changed in my life to cause this hell. After reading all the other inserts on this website I am totally convinced it is from this drug. Thank you to all the others that have added letters to this site. I will definately be printing off some of these to show to my doctor to prove him wrong.

Tracy - get yourself a copy of Joseph Glenmullen's book 'The Antidepressant Solution' which will give you the rundown on antidepressant withdrawal.

Here's Glenmullen's list of withdrawal symptoms:

That Mimic Depression
1. Crying spells
2. Worsened Mood
3. Low energy (fatigue, lethargy, malaise)
4. Trouble concentrating
5. Insomnia or trouble sleeping
6. Change in appetite
7. Suicidal thoughts
8. Suicide attempts

That Mimic Anxiety Disorders
9. Anxious, nervous, tense
10. Panic attacks (racing heart, breathless)
11. Chest pain
12. Trembling, jittery, shaking

Irritability and Aggression
13. Irritability
14. Agitation (restlessness, hyperactivity)
15. Impulsivity
16. Aggressiveness
17. Self-harm
18. Homicidal thoughts or urges

Confusion and Memory Problems
19. Confusion or cognitive difficulties
20. Memory problems or forgetfulness

Mood Swings
21. Elevated mood (feeling high)
22. Mood swings
23. Manic-like reactions

Hallucinations
24. Auditory hallucinations
25. Visual hallucinations

Dissociation
26. Feeling detached or unreal.

Other
27. Excessive or intense dreaming
28. Nightmares

That Mimic the Flu
29. Flu-like aches and pains
30. fever
31. sweats
32. Chills
33. Runny nose
34. Sore eyes.

That Mimic Gastro-enteritis
35. Nausea
36. Vomiting
37. Diarrhoea
38. Abdominal pain or cramps
39. Stomach bloating

Dizziness
40. Disequilibrium
41. Spinning, swaying, lightheaded
42. Hungover or waterlogged feeling
43. Unsteady gait, poor co-ordination
44. Motion sickness

Headache
45. Headache

Tremor
46. Tremor

Sensory Abnormalities
47. Numbness, burning or tingling
48. Electric zap-like sensations in the brain
49. Electric shock-like senstions in the body.
50. Abnormal visual sensations
51. Ringing or other noises in the ears
52. Abnormal smells or tastes

Other
53. Drooling or excessive salive
54. Slurred speech
55. Blurred vision
56. Muscle cramps, twitches, stiffness
57. Feeling of restless legs
58 Uncontrollable twitching of the mouth.

Cardiac effects are not on the list, but, as David Healy states: "There are clear effects on the heart from SSRIs and from some there are likely to be cardiac problems during the post-withdrawal period. Such problems if they occur should be noted and recorded."

And yes, the breathing problems have been noted by others.

Your on-drug movement disorder is also know to be connected to this class of antidepressant - for more info read Glenmullen's book on the side-effects of these drugs 'Prozac Backlash', or google on EPS, movement disorders, jaw dystonias, dyskinesias etc in relation to SSRIs, SNRIs, duloxetine...

People can get over this. People have survived the most horrendous experiences with these drugs. So, now that you've started to find out what the heck is going on (movement disorder side-effects, known and documented; then cold turkey withdrawal after a long time on-drug, oh so not recommended) right now could be considered the turning point. Here could be where the hope starts to kick in.

P.S. When I said 'cardiac effects are not on the list'. I meant Glenmullen's list... there are reports all over the place of people experiencing a range of cardiac effects when they withdraw. They've been referred to hospitals, self-referred to emergency, had slews of tests... it is not unusual, nor should it be surprising, particularly when you take David Healy's statement into account.

Ive been on cymbalta for about 3 months (30mg) and have found it works great for my feelings of anxiety. I was racked with fears about every aspect of life! everything made my stomach hurt! i mean everything and now i can do things i could never EVER do ! of course i know it will be hard for me to stop but it is well worth it. I did not NOT want to be on 60 mg cause this drug is very strong. At first i felt bizzare but later it i felt nothing but normal...like actually normal. It helped me relize the things i was feeling before cymbalta was just NOT RIGHT. All these people are just adicted (try kicking herion) Kicking any drug that affects the brain heavely you will be stuck in a horrible state for months.

I am on 120mg a day and I have experierenced serious confusion, memory problems and an inability to remember words. My speech is also affected where I want to say something and the words that come out are totally different. I am really concerned. Can this be as a result of the Cymbalta? Is having a bad memory and confusion a common side effect?

hi

Whenever I've gone a significant amount of time, say more than 24hrs without a dose, I experience problems with speech..I'll be talking and mid sentence forget what I'm supposed to say, or I stutter to get my words out...I definitely believe that this is a Cymbalta side effect Rob..take heart and hang in there, there are alot of us out here in the same boat with you.

Christine

All I can say is stay away for the HELL that is Cymbalta! I don't know what to do, how long does it take to completely stop feeling like this? I am dropping it cold turkey and need to know does it ever end. I'm a completely different person and don't know how long I can make it through the withdrawal effects.

Brandy just be careful, going cold turkey. I tried it and ended up going back on it to do the weaning process. I am on day 12 of nothing now after 6 weeks of weaning and just in the last two days am I feeling slightly normal.

Thanks Christine. I have decided to come off cymbalta. I guess I have lost trust in Doctors. I have suffered from Panic Disorder for 10 years.Not being able to speak properly just heightens my anxiety. I feel desperate as Cymbalta was supposed to redeem me from the miseries of anxiety and the associated Panic Attacks. I guess life holds no cure for me. Certainly I dont think life the way it is now was God's plan for me and Cymbalta wasn't either. Are there support groups for anxiety riddled people?

Rob - yes, memory problems are associated with this entire class of antidepressants, plus you are on the max dose (side effects are usually dose related). Usually short-term memory is affected, but can be seen in regard to loss of 'context' and other aspects. When you inform your doctor of your memory problems, try to make it clear that this is a new/altered state of function - too many people are told it is 'the original problem', despite evidence pointing to an alteration in ability after introduction of the drug. The patient histories in Glenmullen's book on side-effects indicate that the problem disappeared once the drug was withdrawn. Others are not so fortunate.

Speech problems? You'll find many people talking about them, both as an on-drug and post-drug issue.

There was someone on another board, who was a professional dealing with post-SSRI/Antidepressant patients (I think some kind of 'life coach'), asking about this, because she/he found it a common problem with a lot of her clients. Word finding problems, misuse of words etc. Read about dysphasia and aphasia; and cognitive function.

If you do come off the drug, please read up about the process first.

Lots of support groups for anxiety - and once you find somewhere you are comfortable, you may unearth some of the non-drug methods of anxiety control which are effective. If you try some of the recommended reading e.g. 'Power over Panic' by Bronwyn Fox, or head over to www.mind.org.uk and download some of their booklets like 'Making sense of coming off psychiatric drugs', 'Understanding Anxiety' and 'Making Sense of Antidepressants' that may help get you started.

I am sorry so many people have had such negative effects with this drug. Sometimes it is just the negatives that reply. I have been on Cymbalta for 8 months since I was suffering from severe back pain and major life stresses. It has helped tremendously. I apparently was carrying all my stress in my back and could not relax and be happy (caring for a mother with Alzheimer's). Cymbalta has been a life saver for me- I carry on with work, children, mother with no pain and and a good disposition. I have forgotten to get the pills refilled at times going without for 2-3 days, and I do get light headed. Some times I get a little twitch under my eye- don't know if that's Cymbalta or allergies. But I surely am glad Cymbalta is on the market. I take 30 mg. 1 time day. I am sorry it doesn't agree with some people. We're all so different. Guess you just need to find what's right for you.

cymbalta is one evil drug i will never take this again. they should outlaw this stuff. how is it fda approved?

Have been off cymbalta for about 8 days, the brain zapping is making me nuts, does it ever go away, is it dangerous?

I was put on Cymbalta by a rheumatologist that specialized in Fibromyalgia. My mother has Lupus, and I had insisted from the first time that I saw him that that was what I had. But he continued to insist that I had Fibro, and so he decided to put me on not only Cymbalta but Trazodone, too. When I didn't show any improvement, he just increased the dose. All throughout the first few months that I was taking Cymbalta, I had a lot of chest pain and weird symptoms that would start when I got in the car. Then, when he increased my dose to 60 mg 2 times per day, I thought that I was having a heart attack about 30 minutes after I took each dose every day. I stopped taking the second dose, but I still continued to have terrible chest pain. Then, after I told him for the 24898587th time, he sent me to a cardiologist. I am only 22, so it was a little weird for me to be there for chest pain. They found a heart murmur that I had never had before, and I also had Mitral Valve Prolapse. I think that this was caused by Cymbalta, and I don't think that there's anything that I can do but to continue taking it. I am afraid that I will die if I stop taking it because the chest pain is so bad that I can't do anything else but cry. Oh, and to top it all off, now that I am seeing a new doctor, he has diagnosed me with Lupus. He's only seen me twice. I really want to file a lawsuit, but I don't really know what to do....Does anyone have any suggestions? Thanks!

Has anyone ever tried 5-HTP for anxiety?

I had no idea that this many people were having these kind of problems. Very scary.

Evidently, I'm one of the few that have had a positive reaction to Cymbalta. I've been on it for a little over a year and what a difference it has made.

Before Cymbalta, I tried several different anti-depressants, but nothing would work. I was in what seemed to be a constant anxiety attack. My work was suffering tremedously, but worse was the pain it was causing at home. I didn't enjoy life at all, despite having a wonderful wife and a beautiful little girl.

I started Cymbalta and within a couple of weeks the anxiety was gone, as well as the depression. I have been feeling great ever since. I do find that if I miss a dose, I get the brain zaps, but that's about it.

I was on 30mg twice a day, but dropped down to just 30mg once a day (about 3 months ago) to see what would happen. Suprisingly, nothing bad. I still feel good, and I didn't have any side effects or withdrawal symptoms.

Until reading these posts on this site, I wasn't even aware that the withdrawals could be so bad.

After reading all of these posts, I must admit that I am somewhat concerned about long term use.

Is there anyone else that has actually had positive results from using this drug for more than a year? My

I'm just trying cymbalta and for me it is different. Sometimes I feel like I am tripping. It is the only way I can describe the drug. Ofcoarse, my doctor makes sure a cocktail of meds are provided. Ambien CR for sleep. I too, have the fibromialgia. I told a friend of mine how I was feeling, he said "be carefull driving." I'm into 60 mg and my third week. and yall are saying "the withdrawals are terrible." go to www.mousesear.com and tell me which is worse. OK.

re: post 463 above. Don't go to site mentioned. It's not about cymbalta.. :-( and you're blocker will be run overtime.

I am sitting here reading all of the horrible things that everyone has experienced on Cymbalta. I find relief in what I read. Let me explain: I was really getting fed up with myself, thinking that I was just a tit-bag and "there is always something wrong"...I need to toughen up and stop having myself pitty parties. This has been my internal dialog for three weeks now. I have had many of the things that everyone talked about happening to me; altough I didn't realize at the time that it was that medication. I did feel better for a while...my depression was better...which caused me to have the tendancy to overlook the other little things that were happening like hearing things or rapid, hard pounding of my whole body at night...or grinding my teeth while trying to sleep...sweating no matter what...and now that I have run out and due to several circumstances have not been able continue. Now....gosh! I have had a horrible time. Almost everything that anyone listed in there withdrawal syptoms...I have had. Mostly is insomnia, headache, brain zaps...and most recently tummy, digestion issues. I feel like I have the flu...but worse. I do have fairly good spirits right now, with the exception of my short fuse and crybabyness...I cry so easily - and over nothing. Sometimes feeling like I am loosing any bit of sanity I might have had!! My advise to everyone...and reminder to myself: GOD! I have an awesome relationship with God and that is where I can find my inner peace. My soul is at peace and it makes all the other pysical and emotional "demons" a little easier to tolerate. They will pass...we all just need time and understanding.

Well, I've been doping the weaning as my dr. prescribed. I was afraid of the side effects, but so far, knock on wood there haven't really been any.

Started off on 40 mg per day (20x2), last week went ro 20mg once a day. No I'm at 20 every other day. Most of the time I was o.k., the true side effect that made me go off were the vividness and violent dreams, they were as bad as a Tarantino movie with taste and smell added.

Hopefully, I'll find something to assist with the depression and have no or limited side effects.

I was originally on Zoloft and then switched to cymbalta. I've been on 60mg for God knows how long for fibromyalgia. It got to the point that if I didn't take my pill at the exact same time everyday, the flu-like symptoms would start. I had been wanting to get off of cymbalta and because of my doctor's office and them not refilling my script in a timely manner, I got the chance. Unfortunetly, cold turkey. This Thursday will be four weeks. I've been through the sleeplessness, the headaches, the short-temperedness, body aches, blurry vision, tired eyelids, brain-zaps, sweats, etc. The withdrawl SUCKS. I've dealt with fibro for 15 years now. I have a fairly high tolerence to pain and I've tolerated side affects from other drugs, but Cymbalta is the freakin worst. It makes you feel like you're going crazy. Especially the brain-zaps. If someone hasn't been through this, they have no clue what you are going through. I think I may finally be seeing the light at the end of the tunnel with this crap. It does get better....

Cymbalta's half-life is 12 hours. 90% eliminated in 2.5 days. Typical onset of withdrawal Day 2-3 after each drop in dose.

From Joseph Glenmullen's book on Antidepressant withdrawal....

"None of the short acting depressants should be taken every other day as a method of tapering them. Because of their short half-lives, the every other other day schedule can result in roller coaster levels of the drugs and roller coaster episodes of withdrawal symptoms"

30mg every other day does not equate to 15mg/day, due to the drug's short half-life. Be careful, because this seems to be an oft-initiated 'withdrawal regime', yet it is at odds with basic pharmacology. It is generally very bad news, with drug levels unstable. It leads to loads of people ending up straight back on the drug.

Reputable withdrawal timetables emphasise the need to take the drug every day, but aim to reduce the amount taken over time, stabilising at each reduction, monitoring a patient's individual response to each dose drop & the severity of withdrawal encountered (mild, moderate, severe).

typo, that should read "short acting antidepressants..."

I had a sudden onset of idiopathic peripheral neuropathy (damaged nerves in my extremeties, cause unknown)in January 2007. My neurologist told me there is no way to stop the disease and I must take pain killers for the rest of my life to cope (I'm 53). So I was put on a cocktail of drugs, one of them cymbalta. The cymbalta seemed to help the pain, but within ten days I became so apathetic I felt like if my house was burning down, I wouldn't have the motivation to get out. That scared me. When I wasn't apathetic, I was extremely irritable; small things set me off and I was quite unkind to family members. And the headaches....oh my, the headaches. They migrated all over my head, even onto my face. I quit cold turkey - knew nothing about having to wean off (but only took it for 10 days), and the headaches were gone in 24 hours. Apathy disappeared in several days. I have now found another neurologist who also specializes in holistic medicine. She is not ready to just hand me prescriptions for pain meds, but wants to work on finding the source of the neuropathy. In my mind, idiopathic doesn't mean cause unknown; it means a doctor isn't interested in doing the hard work of finding the source of a problem. We all have to learn to advocate for ourselves.

Hi Gang,

I sincerely hope everyone is feeling okay. I am feeling much better since getting off this poison just after Easter.

Was mentioning this drug during an unrelated meeting the other day and one of the people in attendance happened to be a nurse for a local pharmaceutical company. She alerted me that we should all be reporting these adverse reactions to the FDA. Otherwise they'll never hear about them!! Chances are not good that -even if they take us seriously- that our docs would take the time to report these anyway. I did a little research and here's the FDA Cymbalta information link. Towards the bottom of the page there's button to "report adverse reactions." Please do this!! Let's get this crap off the market and save some lives. :-)

http://www.fda.gov/cder/drug/infopage/duloxetine/default.htm

**PLEASE REPORT YOUR REACTIONS TO THE FDA**

Hi Susan from post 471. Did your doctor look into Guillain-Barre Syndrome? Did you have any paralysis associated with your illness?

In response to poster of 473 - thank you for your follow-up qustion. Yes, Guillain-Barre was ruled out. What hasn't been ruled out is celiac disease. My 3 blood tests for celiac turned up negative, and my 1st neurologist ruled that as conclusive, even though you can still have celiac with negative results (my mother has celiac). The 2nd neurologist said to definitely go the next steps with the celiac testing, so that's where I am now. My apologies to the others for being off topic. I agree strongly that our experiences should be sent to the FDA.

I took Cymbalta about 2 years ago for a month's time span after being diagnosed with moderate depression. I was given samples of 30mg then upped the dose to 60mg after two weeks. I never had any trouble with the excpetion of upset stomach for the first three days of taking Cymbalta. I went to get a percription filled after running out of the samples and realized that my insurance did not cover Cymbalta. I was feeling good so I stopped cold turkey after realizing how much the meds would cost. I suffered what many of you have referred to as brain "zaps" and dizzyness, as well as feeling "tilted" for about a week. After which, I was fine. I do not reccommend quitting ANY medication cold turkey without consulting a doctor. Expecially AD-s. Recently I started experiencing the same depression symptoms as in 2005 and decided to go back on Cymbalta as I don't think I was officially "cured". I will tell you this. I've never felt better than when on this medication, and I WILL ween off this time albeit for a short period of time. From what I read from you guys, an extended "weening" period is the wrong way to go.

GOOD LUCK EVERYBODY!!!

Just today I was given Cymbalta for chronic pain (five spinal fisons, hip replacement and fibro), and intended to start it tomorrow. Now I am VERY far from sure of what to do!! I've been on Prozac for several years with a few sides, but nothing too serious. I will be 60 and certainly do NOT need to introduce horror into my life at this point! This new internist was loathe to prescribe more hydrocodone for me (only 5 mg she gives me, #30, no refills), but enthusiastically praised Cymbalta. I've never abused pain meds, use them only when seriously needed and greatly appreciate the help they give me. She would rather see me using Cymbalta than a narcotic once in a while?

WHAT SHOULD I DO??? Maybe only G-d has the answer! I must ask her!!

Of course I meant "fusions" !!

Dudes and dudettes!! I just read on Wikipedia that it's NOT FDA approved for fibro. Hmmmmmmmmm..............

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duloxetine

Go here and read.

I have been on Cymbalta for approximately 5 months. The first 4 months I thought I had found magic. I had slowly built up to 90 mgs. and was feeling awesome. Than I began to have ringing in my ears, next it was lethergy for part of the day, next it was wild rapid heart beat. I have backed down to 60 mgs. and am somewhat better but I am still experiencing some of all symptoms except the wild and rapid heartbeat. These posted messages are really making me feel uneasy about continuing at all.have any of you had these experiences and then level out again?
Judy

Combined a new prescription of Cymbalta (30 mg, 2 days) with Ambien. Took it the first time during the day but it made me loopy and sleepy. Took it the second night with Ambien and had a full-on trip...haven't had a trip like that for well over a decade (fungi). Don't know if it was just the Cymbalta or Cymbalta plus ambien. My friend took the two and for three days had to be hospitalized because she couldn't breathe...almost had respiratory failure. What is this crazy stuff? I imagine I can quit after only two days, without the horror everyone else is experiencing. I'm truly sorry. My husband has fought addiction all of his life and every so once in a while he has to go to the basement and sweat it out in pain because we can't afford detox. It's horrible. And it sounds exactly like the experiences listed here.

I've been on cymbalta for the past year and a half. Sure, typical side effects; nausea, blurred vision, dry mouth for the first month or two. But as with any other drug, they eventually went away as your body adapts to a new chemical. Personally, cymbalta has been my miracle pill. I've been on wellbutrin, paxil, prozac, zoloft just to name a few. And for the first time in my life, cymbalta combined with lamictal, I felt like my life had been saved. (Even though i am in the process of getting off lamictal due to life threatening side effects) Everyone has a different chemical make up, and god bless those who have found the combination of medicine to make us who are "mentally unstable" normal like the others who function without meds. Cymbalta may not work for everyone (as I can tell from previous posts) but it's been my lifesaver.

Regarding Post 472:

Here is a more direct link to report your experiences to the FDA:

https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/medwatch/medwatch-online.htm

Regarding Post 461:

Please go here:

http://www.fda.gov/cder/drug/infopage/duloxetine/default.htm#ssri-triptans

2nd day on Cymbalta. This site scares me ...

My Doc really stressed that he wanted me to give it a "good long try". But now, geez, I just don't know.

So far, I've just felt a little nauseated. And maybe a bit more alert? But after reading the above posts I'm darn near terrified to continue taking it.

I was on Cymbalta 60 mg. since October of 06. In March, I got Mono and also severe dizziness and numbness. I was referred to a neurologist who did an MRI and said I had a lesion on my cerebellum and that it was strongly suggestive of MS. Since then, I have come off the cymbalta. Does anyone know if the cymbalta could have been causing my problems (while I was on it) and not MS? So many of my symptoms are similar (exhaustion, dizzy, occasional numbness, cognitive
delays, etc.) Thank you for any insights...

Laura - you can research the links between this class of antidepressants and their action on the immune system.

For the side-effects, get a copy of Joseph Glenmullen's book 'Prozac Backlash' (it is relevant to all the serotonin boosters, not simply prozac). It won a top medical award. Unfortunately it appears that in general it's the patients, not the doctors who are aware of the contents. Could the drug, independent of the lesion, have caused your side-effects? You'll find many of them are documented.

I'm checking in-- I've now been off the medication for over two weeks. I'm still tired, my joints ache and swell less fequently, and now I have spells of crying AND laughing uncontrollably. Talk about feeling off balance. The dizziness is almost gone. These effects aren't lasting forever as I'd feared. It feels like my system has been under major stress getting off this though. The road back vitamins / suggestions help stabilize discontinuation effects too. God Bless all of you. Who would have ever thought that the prescription drugs would potentially kill ya?

I'm at my wits end, today someone asked me when my baby is due!!!! Has anyone else experienced the mid-section bloat?? Any suggestions as to how to get rid of it. I've been off the cymbalta for almost a week now, and although the withdrawal is makin me crazy..I'm hangin in there..

Withdrawal Sympton (as per Glenmullen):

No. 39 = Stomach bloating. (Part of the withdrawal range that mimics gastroenteritis)

About 95% of the body's serotonin is found OUTSIDE the brain. The drug acts on serotonin. Period.

The majority of the body's serotonin is tied into the "gastrointestinal tract, where serotonin modulates the rhythmic movements kneading food through the stomach."

Christine I am in the same boat you are with the mid section and I haven't figured out why. I was able to put a pair of pants on two weeks ago and now I can't even zip them now and nothing has changed with me other than going off this medicine. Hang in there guys I had all the same problems and I am now 18 days off and still have problems remembering words while I am talking. The headaches are gone for the most part I still some brain zaps but nothing like before.

i have been on cymbalta 30 mg for a lil over 3 months now for depression. it has worked pretty well for depression BUT my mind cannot stop racing, i am totally wired, major nervousness and edgey and its almost impossible to sleep without sleeping pills. i also am just so, so content to do nothing all day and feel like that is normal. i just dont care. some suicidial ideations but i wouldnt do that but i do notice the thoughts. ive read about all the withdrawal problems. can i start taking the 30mg every other day, then like every third day, once a week and so forth?? man my brain is just on overdrive with this med, like i am on speed or cocaine (whatever that must be like) and i cant take it anymore....the only way for me to stay on this med would be to also take valium or zanax. rapid heartbeat as well...

i have been taking CYMBALTA for at least at month, slowly building up to 60 mg, which i have been taking for 3-4 weeks. I am taking it primarily b/c of persistent daily headaches (severe ones), relentless fatigue, and strong sleepiness. I thought that i have felt better at some point in the last month. but now i doubt it. I still feel like shit. Head hurts and i cannot concetrate to be able to read for longer than 15 minutes or write (both activities i used to enjoy but already had difficulty with for over 6 months). Cymbalta did not help. Maybe it helped with depression, but i suspect that because i actually got a social life and befriended good people to whom i can talk honestly and easily that is what actually helped.
I got help from a different source. It said that aches and pains and depressions are real pains, and that the brain creates these as a distraction from the real pain which is emotional--emotions that we keep pushing away.
I am not liking Cymbalta at all. I am gonna quit it today, especially in light of what all the people said.
What REALLY helps is jogging. and other moderate regular exercise. also getting a caring for a pet. and also caring for other people, of course. But most important, is spiritual growth. Depression, i think, is a sign that your spirit has a lot of room to grow.
hope my post helps.

I have been taking Cymbalta 60mg for about two years, and it has probably saved my life. I have not had to be hospitalized for depression/suicide attempt during the entire time I've been on it. I also have a great reduction in pain from nerve damage from previous suicide attempts. I do have to drink more water and don't feel WONDERFUL... but I feel better than I did for a long time. Nothing else has worked as well for me by far. I'm thankful it's available.

I have had horrible withdrawl from nearly every anti-depressant out there. However if I could go back I'd stick with something else AND NOT CYMBALTA! I have the withdrawl (I'm down to 30mg) but what is worse is that it only goes down so far and then you have to quit cold turkey. I've went off of it before and was stupid to not go back on something different. But the doctor said he could give me samples since I had to quit work. SO... anyway I wish I would have passed and asked for something else...AT LEAST with the other "regular" pills you can cut them with a pill cutter and go to shaving them to little pieces if necessary. I also do not believe that Cymbalta got rid of my depression nearly as well as others have in the past. HOWEVER, I have decided to go the natural approach. I don't eat any sugar, yeast or vinegar. It has taken a month but I feel much better. I also take pure herbs (the ones that absorb immediately) and I go to a good naturopathy doctor that uses the bio feedback system. It cost me 200.00 the first time and 25.00-50.00 there-after for any follow-ups you might need. You will need at least a couple follow ups, depending on your condition. She discovered my depression was caused by hormones. I'VE BEEN ON ANTI-DEPRESSANTS ON AND OFF (MOSTLY ON) FOR 15 YEARS! Had I known it was hormonal, I may have never had to go on a single one. I was also diagnosed with fibromyalgia. It is a very real disease! BUT I'm cured of it!!!! Two months ago my "Doctor MD" told me there was no cure for this disease that I've had for 3 years. He said it would only get worse. WELL he was wrong! There are different things that can cause fibromyalgia. I would recommend a doctor of naturopathy. I personally go to a Doctor of Naturopathy who just wants to help people and is not pushy with herbs or prices. I know some charge a fortune but shop around. Even a drive might be worth it. Or a trip (compared to a lifetime). I'm not going to down doctors. They just know what they learn and what they are promised by certain companies. Not only do the presiption drug companies make a lot of money but the sales people that go around to the doctors offices and sell or "persuade" have to make a living too right??

Whatever you do, if you are suicidal...DON'T be alone and get help. Whatever it takes until you can feel some sense of normalcy. If the doctor says Cymbalta...you can say no to cymbalta and yes to something else (there are other alternatives). If you really feel like you need an anti depressant see if you are able to take one that is in a cuttable pill form SO when you are ready to wean off you can wean off by shaving it down in the last stages. There are also other combinations out there similar to Cymbalta (in how they work) and they are NOT capsules.

Another thought is asking your doctor about switching from Cymbalta to something else first and then weaning off. I had made switches to other drugs and did okay. It was a combination of two drugs that were pill form and not capsules. If I could go back I'd have done that before weaning off this time, but I don't want to trouble with it now, being so close.

I believe detoxifying your body is very important too.

My digestive system was all messed up. I didn't really even know it except for some slight trouble now and then. However the more easily your digestive system flows the easy it is for your body to get rid of these poisons. Whether it be drugs, yeast, or parasites.

My anxiety attacks went away after going on the no sugar, no yeast and no vinegar diet. I had lots of yeast in my body (however never a yeast "infection")

My practitioner knew almost before even doing the tests (which by the way they are pain-free tests). She knew this because she had paralizing anxiety when she was younger as well as ovarian cancer and just by getting the yeast out of her body started the healing process.

My anxiety left within a week.

After starting the herb for hormones the depression is starting to lift after about 4 days.

I'm sure it varies for everyone.

Again, if you have support and are able to try a natural approach it has been miraculous for me. But don't just try herbs that you get off the internet that promise miracles. Ask around and see a real naturopathy professional. They also know where to order the right herbs. All mine are in liquid form and they do work. But, I would not have known exactly what to take without the bio feedback system. It shows everything on a computer right down to what is causing your depression. That is what it did for me.

4 weeks ago, I didn't want to live.

Now I feel like a normal person again (besides the withdrawl still). BUT I want to live AND I'm also am getting help with withdrawl symptoms by taking these herbs and being on a healthy diet that I was given by the naturopathy doctor. It's a good feeling to have hope (Glory to God)!

The majority of people posting have had problems with Cymbalta. I've had problems with Cymbalta, so that tells me, I would never go back on it...no matter how bad I felt. There are just too many other options. Whether you want the Medical or the Natural, there are others. Personally, I want to stay away from anymore pharmacy pills because over the years I've seen this type of writing on many of the other anti-depressants too, but like I said capsules can make it all the more difficult to get off of if you need or want to.

By all means if you really know in your heart that this drug has kept you alive then I would not even come here unless you do have problems with it. This could be really negative for you if you feel Cymbalta has in fact saved your life. I posted the above however to help with those wanting to get off the drugs. And to those specifically wanting to get off Cymbalta. I just thought I'd better make myself clear that I'd hate to see anyone make themselves worse or suicidal by going off of anything that they felt was keeping them alive.

Cymbalta was a lifesaver for me...and now that I have gotten over the death of my mother, I have come off of it. I did have a little bit of dizziness but it was so much easier to come off of than Effexor!! Have you ever tried to get off of that med? My doctor has used Cymbalta to help people wean off of Effexor who can't. When I came off of Effexor 4 years ago, I had senses of electric shocks, my teeth tingled, and scalp felt like it was on fire. I also felt very disoriented and cloudy with a dull constant headache for almost 3 weeks. I even went down slowly from 225mg, reducing some each week. It was so horrible I thought I'd have to stay on it forever. Weeks of misery.

Been on Cymbalta for 5 weeks. I had nausea for the first week. Changing it to taking it right after I finished my dinner (on a full stomach) really helped. I switched from morning dosing to after dinner. Some people feel more energy though and so taking it in the morning makes more sense. I guess you can experiment and try which one works best to mediate your side effects at first. Hope that helps.

I have to agree, the only good thing about Cymbalta is that it is not as bad as Effexor.

I want to share my story. I have been on Cymbalta for 5 months now. Before Cymbalta, I tried both Lexapro and Zoloft, but both caused excessive uterine bleeding and clotting.

My doctor wanted me to try Cymbalta as an alternative. I started with the 30mgs for 2 weeks and then moved to 60mgs. To date, the only 2 side effects I have experienced have been increased sweating and the occasional "mind-zap" sensations when I miss a pill. I've gone as many as 3 days without a pill and have been fine.
This drug has made a HUGE difference in my anxiety levels since I've been taking it. Before I started it, I stayed up for 24 hours one time crying and hysterical over the rumors of bird flu. I have never been diagnosed with any form of depression or mental illness, but suffer from occasional, irrational anxiety and fear (which is usually self inflicted by my thought patterns). But, since taking this drug, I am happier overall and feel so much better. My energy level has increased, I have more motivation, focus, and have even received a promotion at work. I have become a more loving and understanding wife, sister, daughter, and friend because I no longer battle with extreme fear and anxiety.
I am on a diet plan as I am currently about 75 pounds overweight. I am also working on balancing my hormonal levels through weight loss. Once I reach my goal weight, I will probably try a step therapy plan to come off of the Cymbalta as I feel my anxieties were weight and hormone related.
I can't say that I recommend this drug for everyone as it is apparent that it doesn't work the same for all people. However, for someone that does not have a significant mental illness or suffer from severe depression, this drug seems to do the "trick" and really help.
If you have had problems with the drug, by all means, do not take it. However, if you're taking it and you only experience one or two mild side effects, try it for a month or so before you decide to stop.
You have to also remember that people like me that are doing great on Cymbalta would have no need to look for or post on a site like this. I just happened to come across it when I was checking for drug interactions for my weight loss drug.
The important thing is that you make the determination for yourself. You know your body. If it says no, then don't take it. If it says "ok", then try it for a bit. You might find that it will help more than you expected.
If you would like to contact me to discuss this issue, please feel free.
heather@bigbizstudios.com

For those of you for whom Cymbalta has worked -good for you. But don't think that the discussion here is a normal slamming of medication simply because it didn't work for a few. The point that I get over and over again in these posts is that when this medicine doesn't work, it REALLY DOESN'T WORK. And even if it does work, god help you getting off. These are NOT the normal side effects of the other SSRIs. Just compare the number of complaints on this site about Cymbalta with -for example- Lexapro. 500+ vs 7 last time I checked.

If you do more research you'll find that this drug was not tested for long term use before approval by the FDA. The clinical trials were for 90 days only. There are a few other questionable things about the trials but you can research and form your own opionions if you're interested.

I'm glad you've found relief. But you know- people find relief with cocaine and alcohol too, for a time. This med seems to be a very dangerous option for now. And there are many other options out there.

Please folks. Just try something else first. And remember, recovering from depression isn't all in a pill. We MUST be proactive in our diets, exercise and social structures -the last things we want to deal with when depressed, but truly our first lines of defense. Meds are a wonderful tool too. This one just seems way too dangerous for now.

Blessings to all and please hang in there!

I started taking cymbalta in Aug. 2006. I have felt bad since taking it- nausea, nightmares, dizziness,etc. If I was late taking my daily dosage, I got dizzy, irritable and just didn't feel right. Trying to get off cymbalta has been a nightmare. I am so sick, dizzy, and I can't function at all. This has lasted over 2 weeks. Who is able to put their life on hold until they can get over the side effects? I am starting to feel somewhat better but can only drive short distances and spend more than half my day in bed. At times, I can't even sit up. This should not be happening!!!

I am planning on weaning off cymbalta in May.O.k., so I'm scared--especially after reading some of these postings.The electric shocks--I have tried to explain them to my husband and when I start talking I just shut up because deep down inside I think--how am I going to explain this weird feeling--now I know it IS real. All I want to know is "does anyone have a weaning off cymbalta story that has a happy ending?"

Janice yes weaning off has been a happy ending for me. If you follow my posts you will see my day to day struggles. I purposely posted everyday so that people could see how it really was. I am on day 21 and I feel great. I still have a brain zap here or there but now I barely notice it. I think it took me 12 days after the last pill to make it through a day without wanting to cry,scream or sleep my life away. I am done I will never go on another antidepressant again. I am going to try to control my life with proper diet and exercise. which there in itself is going to be an up hill battle since I have gained 40 pounds since being on this drug.

Wow! I am so glad I researched this with real people!! Thank you everyone (at a terrible price for you) for making my decision very EASY!! NO WAY would I take this evil poison! Thanks to all, and peace to all.

I have been on a few different antidepressants in my lifetime. I lost my Mom when I was 16, lost my daughter during her birth and have gone through a divorce. My nerves have always been shot but nothing ever straightened me out. I have been on Paxil, Zoloft, Serafem and lexapro. They all had a few side effects that I couldnt deal with. I was started on Cymbalta for both depression and back pain which comes from an old back injury (broken back that I got from my ex husband.). I started on 60 mg a day about a week ago and I can honestly say this medicine was created from God himself. It is GREAT!!! I have so much energy. I dont feel lifeless like usual. I can wake up and function with my kids with no depression at all and no pain! I do have that " buzzing" feeling but it is gone by bed time. This medicine is great. Its a life saver as well as a marriage saver. I am avble to care for my family with no mood swings, no depression, I have a feeling of self worth and I am able to play with my babies. It is so great! Thank you Lilly..

I have been using cymbalta for over a year and it has worked a miracle for me. The depression is gone and I feel at peace finally. I am one who is grateful for this particular medication

I have been using cymbalta for over a year and it has worked a miracle for me. The depression is gone and I feel at peace finally. I am one who is grateful for this particular medication

Hi Greg- I just wanted to say that you are incredibly brave to be going through this and working so hard to get through it at the same time. I can relate to almost everything you've gone through (sparing the boring details.) I'm off the Cymbalta (& nightly wine) now and have soooo much more energy. I actually found that it didn't help my neck pain at all. Seemed to make it worse even. Anyway- It sounds like we're on a very similar road and just wanted to say "hang in there!" Also- I found an incredible book that I'm about half way through called "The Chemistry of Joy." I'm finding it really helpful in trying to get more proactive in handling all this crap without relying solely on meds all the time. It's kind of a lifestyle guide for those of us blessed with this lovely illness. :-)

I am so thankful I looked up this drug today. My doctor gave me some samples this morning(actually a month's worth) of 30mg for chronic pain in my back and exhaustion from caring for 2 small children. He stated that this was a miracle drug and had many uses-including pain management,anti-depressant,weight loss,and that it would give me tons of energy-the only side effect he mentioned was slight nausea the first day or so. After I took the pill this afternoon, I noticed that my throat was very sore and dry and I am feeling very tired and disconnected-I keep having to reread what I have already read and can't concentrate.After reading these comments, I will not take another single one of these pills as I feel that these symptoms are only the beginning of a slow descent into a really bad place. I also feel that doctors shouldn't hand these pills out to everyone calling them a "miracle drug," as that seems to be very much incorrect.

I've been taking Cymbalta for a month now and I pretty much agree with some of the symptoms people are describing. For the first couple of weeks I felt a euphoria, a "high" if you will, on 60 mg. That is also mixed with Ambien CR, 2 mg Zanax and 10 mg Flexeril for Fibromialgia. I take the Cymbalta first thing in the AM. The other drugs I take at night to sleep. I have experienced the upset stomach, dizzy headedness, it is really a strong medication. Within three weeks I was ready to quit my job, get a divorce and move out of the state. I am in therapy and I am trying to learn to "THINK" before I react, but still, my life is completely different. I am so SURE of myself, I am calm, I am focused. Maybe my husband has felt the brunt of this drug, but it ticked me off when him and his redneck buddies decided to go to a strip club two weeks ago. They lied about going, then told the truth later. It made me sick to think some sleazy woman was all over my husband, even my therapist said it was "inappropriate." What crap this all is. You have this high, then something goes wrong and you have to look for mechanisms to work them out. And you feel depressed and ticked off if something goes the wrong way. And you fee so numb. Before, when I was on Zoloft, I was "here honey, here's $100 one dollar bills, have a good time." In other words, I was stupid. My therapist says I've been "healed" by this drug, I've come out of my depression.....well, maybe, but the side effects are hard. It is a weird drug.

I have been on cymbalta for 6 months now. I suddenly developed neuropathy throughout my body. After not finding any disease to link the symptoms to, My neurologist put me on 30 mgs then up to 60. I am currently taking 2 60 mgs a day and finally feel much better. I have dry mouth and some swelling, but the relief I feel outweighs the side effects.

I took Cymbalta for six months for ADD and my drive to live life completely went away. I didn't care about work, my house, or any of my favorite hobbies. I just exisited. The more I 'exsisted' the more depressed I felt. It was a vicious cycle. My friend, who was also on it, and I compared notes and she noticed the same thing. I stopped the drug cold turkey and went through two days of hell, but after that I was fine. I'm finally back to my old self.

Thanks for posting Teresa... I am like you. I suddenly developed severe neuropathy throughout my body. Since I have been taking Cymbalta (8 mos), I can walk now again finding my feet underneath me in the mornings. The burning and tingling have almost totally gone away. I had swelling at first too, but I found out it was from the Lyrica. Once I got off of that my pain relief has stayed the same and my "edema" has gone away.

I also have neuropathy (mine is from having diabetes for 14 years). Cymbalta has done 2 things for me--relieved my pain, and now I am off my antidepressant Effexor as it takes care of my mood as well. I couldn't be happier that I get pain and depression relief in 1 copay!!!

I took a dose of Cymbalta last night by mistake. It was 60mg. I had it next to my medication in the cabinet and the bottles were similar. I had the Cymbalta in there because my daughter was on it for a short time last year.
Well, it's been 24 hours since I took that pill and I still feel TERRIBLE. My pupils are dilated. I feel all this pressure in my eyes and the back of my neck like someone is choking me. My head is punding. I have coordination problems. I had to leave work early today. I can't think. I feel so weird. The cold chills are terrible.. like when something bad happens.. I feel like I am about to have a seisure and my heart is palpatating. I thought for sure this would be gone by now but the effects are still in full swing! If I am not better by morning, I guess I will have to make an ER trip. But what can they do?? I'm throwing this crap right into the garbage.

just checking in....you'll note that i changed the question mark in my name to an exclamation point!

I started a weaning program the day after my initial post (dropped from 60 to 40), and i promptly lost 2 & 1/2 days of work. since friday, i've been awake maybe 6 hours a day--i obviously have no way of really knowing whether this is just a result of withdrawal (given how excessive my sleepiness has been) or if i'm feeling really depressed about all of this. probably a combination. in any event, while my BP is all over the charts, the sleepiness is still an issue in the mornings, i'm so thirsty i can't seem to drink enough water, and i'm still incredibly dizzy all day long, i have to say that i already feel better than i did during the last couple of weeks i was at 60mgs. the brain zaps have stopped (for now, anyway!), and i don't feel QUITE so disconnected from reality. it's still uncomfortable to feel so out of it all day, but i was able to return to my crazy, high-pressure job today without wanting to cry throughout the day. it helps that everyone there is being really supportive (regardless of how much or little they know about my situation).

my shrink is cautioning me not to put all of my eggs in one basket, but it's hard not to feel crazily optimistic at this point given how much better i feel already (which is still pretty crappy!)--even if cymbalta's not the cause of ALL of my symptoms over the past 6 months, i'll be really surprised if at least 90% of those symptoms don't clear up once this terrible drug is finally out of my system.

oh, and if it turns out that cymbalta IS the culprit here, my shrink has vowed never to prescribe it to another patient, despite the success she's had with other patients, because in her mind my case will tip the risk/benefit scale waaaaay over to the risk side.

thanks again to all who have posted here with personal stories, helpful suggestions, etc. it's been so affirming for me, and it's really helped my boyfriend get a sense for what i've been dealing with as well (since i'm not always forthcoming when something's wrong with me). i wish everyone suffering ill effects from this drug the best of luck and the warmest wishes i can muster....

OK--I have been taking Cymbalta for well over a year-I really don't remember things like I once did and am not certain how long it may have been. I will admit to being a huge fan of this stuff in the beginning. Then I began to notice that if I was late taking a dose, or God forbid missed a dose, I would develop a horrendous headache. Now it seems like I suffer from nearly every symptom that anyone on this site has listed to some degree or another. Saw the doctor today and told him I want OFF of it. Tomorrow I drop from the regular 60mg dose to 30mg--I am scared to death of the withdrawal that everyone is talking about, but I cannot physically or mentally afford to keep on taking this and letting the symptoms get worse and worse. Wish me luck--I'm sure I'll be back over the next few days and weeks!!

I'm so glad that I found this website. I called my husband just a few minutes ago and told him I'm not crazy!! I started on Cymbalta about 10mo ago after being on Lexapro for a year. I tried to wean off of it about 6wks ago and finally gave in to going back on it because of the withdrawls. I have gone cold turkey off of it now for the 6th day, and still am feeling no relief from the dizziness, confusion, brain shocks, nausea, neck tightness, headaches, drowsiness, etc. I only wish I had found a website before taking the Cymbalta, I would have never started on it. I remember forgetting to take it one day a few months ago and already the withdrawls were unbearable. I thought I needed to wean off of it, and that didn't seem to help at all. The symptoms were just as bad as this time going cold turkey. I say just go cold turkey and not prolong the torture. I'll let you know how it goes in the next few days....

I think that Cymbalta, like every other drug that has more than one use - i.e. some take for fibromyalgia, some for depression, some for quitting smoking, etc. cannot be that good! It's like the doctors are playing odds in Las Vegas that it will cure SOMETHING we have; they just aren't sure which symptom!

I began it almost a month ago for chronic depression and panic disorder. I found this site yesterday so I am not sure if I am having psychosomatic reactions or really experiencing these things! For the first 2 weeks I couldn't quit singing the praises of Cymbalta and after I read some of the the posts last night, I experienced my first brain zapping experience and insomnia even after taking my Ambien. Then, while not being able to sleep I got the most unbearable restless leg thing going - it was doing a dance of its own! Later on in the middle of the night, I dozed off for a milisecond and had some hellish nightmare.

As with all drugs, there are pros and cons. I am like all of you and have tried all the depression drugs, whatever the newest and latest is. I think we are all just guinnea pigs for the big drug companies. We don't want our kids using meth but these drugs are just the same: we don't know what's in them!

I can recommend what I did for 2 years without using any drugs (prescription other than Xanax). Marco Pharma from Germany produces an extract of Lithium that is homeopathic and is awesome. Systemic Formulas produces a capsule Called N3 Relaxa and I took it in place of Ambien. The FDA won't approve these types of medicines so they have to be called "homeopathic". Go to a homeopathic practitioner. I highly recommend them and, remember Jack Nicolson saying: "Maybe this is as good as it gets"!

I started Lexapro July 2005 while going through a divorce. After it seemed to no longer work my Dr. switched me to Cymbalta a year ago. B/c of the excessive weight gain Monday I was taken off Cymbalta and placed on Wellbutrin. I feel aweful. The brain zaps are almost unbearable along with everything else. I tell you what I am not taking anything else again. I am sorry but for me it is just not worth it. I just hope this does not go on for months like some of you.

I have taken this medication for 2 days. I was about to take my 3rd pill today, but thought I should really look up the possible side effects before I commit to it. I am currently taking 75 mg of Lamictal and 30 mg of the Cymbalta. So far I have noticed: insomnia, food has lost flavor, euphoria,lowered appetite, not having to go #2. I am about 4 hours late in taking my Cybalta, this is what I am observing: diarhea, cloudy feeling, headache, shaky, nervous.
I have taken Effexor in the past and know all about the brain zaps. If this is something I may experience, I will not continue to use Cymbalta. I have noticed there is little possitive feedback on longterm use of this medication. I really liked the way Cymbalta made me feel already (more energy,lowered intrest in food, euphoria)but I am not willing to take the chances. Thanks to all who have put their own personal experiences here. God Bless..

I was prescribed Cymbalta for depresson and nerve pain. Due to Sciatica and 4 ruptured discs. It was supporsed to help with the pain and depression. It helped neither and actually made me more depressed. I stopped taking it, but as soon as I stopped taking it, within 24 hours, I began getting a zapping electrical feeling eminating from my brain through my body. These physical withdrawls are driving me insane. I am despondent, I cry uncontrollably and feel unbelievably detached from my body. I don't enjoy anything like I used to, and I sleep all the time. I consider suicide to end this hell everyday. The only reason I havent killed myself is because I care about those I love and I dont want to go to hell. I beg anyone for help! How can I make these brain zaps go away. How long will they stay. I cant take it anymore!!!!!! If there is anyone out there considering this medication, DO NOT TAKE IT! If there is something to make this hell stop, please let me know. I never thought there could be anything worse than the pain of sciatica, and there is not, but this feeling cannot be controlled and I fear it is going to end up killing me. Is anyone else in my boat, because I am sinking fast and I am too young to hit the bottom.

Marshall,

You are describing classic withdrawal symptoms from the drug.

CLASSIC.

That includes the suicidal thoughts (number 7 on Glenmullen's withdrawal symptom list). Take a copy of the withdrawal effects - post 446, above. Consider getting hold of Glenmullen's book, 'The Antidepressant Solution' swiftly.

A patient is supposed to be tapered off the drug. Questions to consider should have included:

a) How long have you been on? The longer you've been on, generally the longer you should have been weaned off.

b) What dose(s) were you on? So an appropriate taper could have been devised.

e.g. Glenmullen talks of a Cymbalta taper (for simple & uncomplicated withdrawal) of: 60mg - 40mg - 20mg -10mg - 0mg, with 3-5 weeks at each level.

That's for people who exhibit MILD withdrawal.

You adapt the schedule accordingly, to those who exhibit moderate-severe withdrawal e.g. much, much smaller dose drops.

Some SSRI/SNRI antidepressant help boards now look at no more than a 10% reduction in dose at any point.

Advice in Glenmullen's book, if you find yourself in the sort of position you are describing - severe withdrawal - is to go back to the last dose at which you were comfortable, and stabilise for a time period (a few weeks), once steady, having given your body a chance to recover... then you taper accordingly. i.e. take a small dose drop, take that dose every day (do not miss out days), wait, see what happens. Based upon your body's reactions, you will then know whether that drop has been appropriate, or too much. If too much - go back, then take a smaller drop; if okay, mild symptoms only, wait for 3-5 weeks until they pass, then drop again... (and repeat).

You describe severe antidepressant withdrawal. In all its glories. It's a hellish position to be in. But you aren't alone, lots of people will be in a similar hell, most of them without having been pre-warned of the possible withdrawal scenarios.

You urgently need to speak to a doctor who knows what they are doing with SSRI/SNRwithdrawal. I'd suggest - via Glenmullen's advice in his book - that you need to consider getting swiftly re-stabilised on your old dose, letting your body recover, before proceeding any further, but I'm no doctor.

You've found out, as have so many before you, how desperate the situation can be when you stop the drug. You aren't underestimating the severity of the situation.

People have died in these circumstances. In the Cymbalta urinary incontince drug trials, a healthy volunteer, a young lady, hung herself off the door in the lab, after her high dose was switched to placebo i.e. she was deliberately cold-turkeyed off the drug. Three days after the switch, despite monitoring, she was dead.

That isn't going to happen to you. You've managed, despite the horrors, to hang on and look for answers. You can dismiss everything here as a load of rubbish (always a safe place to start) - but you do have a solid book reference, published, written by an independent expert.

Get it. Right now.

Download David Healy's 'Halting SSRIs' document... read the withdrawal symptoms. See how they mesh perfectly with your description.

http://www.ssri-uksupport.com/files/haltingSSRIs.pdf

If you feel your family could help, then perhaps considering whether letting them read Healy and Glenmullen might be of help to both you and them?

Hang on in there!

Now that you know what's going on... you can take steps to swiftly improve the situation.

The ones that give you back your life.

I had no problem coming off of Cymbalta by tapering it from 60 mg to 30 mg for 2 weeks, then 20 mg for 1 week. My doctor gave me 2 boxes of Cymbalta 30 mg and an Rx for 2 weeks at 20mg which is only in the pharmacy. This medication got me through a really difficult time (loss of my daughter to leukemia). I was on it for 16 months. Tapering will definitely help with discontinuation syndrome, which is actually lower than most antidepressants since the half life is 12 hours. (Paxil and Effexor are the worst--hardest to come off of.) I work in a psychiatric office, so I am familiar with hundreds of patients on this med and other antidepressants. Hope this helps someone.

P.S. As a RN at a physiatric center, I forgot to mention something for you all to think about: over 6 million people have been on Cymbalta, and over 20 million on all other antidepressants (Prozac, Zoloft, etc.). I am post #539. Millions of other patients have been successfully treated with these meds and haven't bothered to post their experience. Depression is extremely debilitating disease-- I know from personal and clinical experience. It impairs every area of life from your thoughts, to sleep, relationships, and work. Every med comes with risks and benefits. In most cases, the benefit of something like Cymbalta far outweighs the risks. If you are searching on this site deciding whether to continue with treatment or start it, remember these drugs are extensively tested in clinical trials and used by millions. You deserve a trial yourself to have this black cloud lifted and be back to yourself. No one medicine works for everyone. Trust your doctor, and your body...don't let a google search from non-medical professionals or one person's experience scare you away from getting help.

Help!!!!I just took 30mg a few hours ago. Feeling I should try to throw it up. My Husband asked me to get one line and find out the side affects. I can't believe what I am reading. Am I in trouble with just one dose???

After first taking Lexapro, Zoloft, Wellbutrin, and now Cymbalta 30mg for my depression and Anxiety. I have to say this is the worse side effects I have ever had. First week was 30mg next 2 weeks were at 60mg. First 2 weeks were fine nausea at first, which were bad but bareable, then some brain zaps. At my third week I started to have, what I call allergic reactions, hot/cold sweats constantly, tingly in my arms and legs, rash/blotchiness, jaw hurts, insomnia, what scared me the most was the memory loss and what I can best describe as an out of body experience. Getting up out of bed and almost falling over cause I felt like I was moving, but my body was not. Trembling in my hands made me feel like someone who has alcohol withdrawls. I couldn't complete simple math without having to look and relook at the problems I was working on. I could not take it anymore. Its my first day not taking it, and my doctor says since it was a short duration I should stop cold turkey. And honestly the crazy withdrawls that people have been talking about have not happened to me. I wish everyone the best. I am going back to my Wellbutrin where I felt the most "even".

I have been on Cymbalta 60 mg and Wellbutrin 300 mg for over 10 months for depression. The thing I noticed on cymbalta was the inabilty to cry and pretty much go on with life unattached. I was feeling suicidal 2 weeks ago. Went to a new psychiatrist who diagnosed me as Bipolar. She gave me lithium and took me off Cymbalta went to 30mg a day for a week and now I have been off for 4 days. 1st day: not so bad, second day: felt nauseous and out of it, yesterday was awful like my brain is on a rollercoaster, motor skills suck, headache, eyes are puffy and hurt, sleeping for 10 hours + and I cannot concentrate and today is the same as yesterday. Only thing that helps are cold compresses and laying down. After reading the posts it looks as if this is cymbalta withdrawl and has very little to do with the lithium. I wish my Dr. had weaned me off slower to avoid feeling this way. Does anyone know how long these symptoms last, I really need to see a light at the end of the tunnel. I had no idea that this would be so hellish. I would appreciate any feedback.

I have been suffering with major depression since 15. I have been on every anti-depressant known to man, natural and otherwise. I started having sever muscle pain, anxiety, and migraines at age 22. I was put on Cymbalta 30 and for once in my life I felt as though I was myself. My pain dulled and I could finally think clearly. I was then taken off Cymbalta and put on Celexa because my insurance wouldn't cover it. It was six months of extreme pain and uncontrolable mood swings. For the past six months I have been recieving free samples of Cymbalta 60mg. In a matter of days I was back to myself. I did have a bad response when I ran out for two days. I was so incrediably sick: my face and mouth went numb, I had a fever, couldn't concentrate, and felt as though I had a building on top of my body. For me Cymbalta has given me clarity and dulled my ongoing pain. Everyone's body is different and for me Cymbalta is a perfect match.

These posts have been very enlightening. I'm generally not one in tune w/ my own body. My psych doctor would ask me about side effects and I would say "none" mostly bec. I dismissed my health problems as from some other cause. I've been on Cymbalta for over a year (many yrs ago diagnosed w/ BP)and last September developed severe pain in my ear, teeth, temple and jaw. Went to an ENT doctor who was one day away from performing surgery & then at the last minute suggested TMJ, so I went to the dentist, then my internist - all insisting TMJ (stress induced I presumed). I saw an acupuncturist (who was also an internist) and after 8 treatments the "TMJ" was gone completely. It's interesting to find many experiencing jaw pain w/ Cymbalta. (BTW, not everyone responds positively to acupuncture and having an internist perform it gave me more confidence about her knowledge of the human body.)

Have had nite sweats & hot flashes - presumed it was pre-menopausal since I'm 44. Gained 20 lbs (now at 150 lbs at 5'2") and wrote it off as stress and depression (the Cymbalta probably not working as effectively).

Have major bloating - look like I'm 5 mos. pregnant all the time - figured it was just my body make-up since I didn't have abdominal pain to go along w/ it.

All that said...I wish I had read posts like these from real people before agreeing to take Cymbalta. I read the literature that comes w/ the drug from the pharmacy but even still, 1) my initial reaction is either - that's no big deal or that probably won't happen to me and 2) by the time the side effects do occur I've already forgotten about the warnings.

Thanks to "Someone" for your informative, researched posts. I'm also encouraged to push my self to eat better & exercise even though I have no desire for life itself most days. It's so much about being in charge of your own health.

As for Lisa (p.539), you've obviously been brainwashed by your doctor-friends -- besides what credibility do the patients have, they're just nut-cases! Personally knowing 3 pharmaceutical reps and having a P.A. for a sister-in-law I know full well how many "bribes", oh, I mean perks, the doctors get from these reps. Expensive dinners, spa vacations, et.al. (I'm sure it varies from ea. doctor's ofc & drug rep.) But the (mostly) pretty little blondes pushing the drugs make an ungodly amount of money having come from college with no more than an English degree. Now, how credible is that??

Just want to encourage everyone to have a healthy skepticism w/ regard to doctor's advice. Remember, it's your body, your life. Try to keep informed, ask doctors for their advice and feedback. I discount all doctors who don't have the courage to consider that maybe they don't know it all!! And don't respect you enough to take your concerns & questions seriously.

Best of health to you all....

Wow, I finally understand why I am feeling so horrible. 8 days ago, I quit Cymbalta cold turkey. After doing so, I would literally have sweat running down my neck and back in a cold room. I have had focusing problems, heart palpitations, extreme pressure in my eyes, inability to think straight, itching in my legs, mouth ulcers, light sensitivity, and much more. I have tried many anti-depressants over the last ten years and have NEVER experienced anything like this. For those of you who called it a poison, you couldn't be more right. This experience has encouraged me to seek natural treatments for any depression or anxiety I might have. It's hard to say how I truly feel since it has been almost ten years that I have been on anti-depressants. I cannot believe I wasn't warned before taking this medicine. I contacted my doctors office two times about how I was feeling and NEVER received a call back. I am done with it all. I too discourage anyone from taking this medication. There is little you can do to help with the withdrawals, but wait them out. But for how long? Months?...Years?... who can really say?...

today was my first day taking cymbalta..and now im scared to continue this.
i kno that it works different for everybody..so if i dont take this one how do i kno any other antidepressant will work for me??
i need antidepressants..i need then now..but now i dont know what to do!
please help

Ok Im not done.I keep on reading other peoples stupid opinions. Obvisiouly most of you who think "its an evil drug" have a little bit more problems then anti-depressants can do for you.IM SCARED NOW!Go back to first grade. Your an adult now, time to make your own decisions. Whats better, not taking the meds and killing yourself or taking meds that can be the best damn thing thing that ever happened to you?I ♥ Cymbalta forever =]Dont mess.

I am surprised to read all of this trouble with Cymbalta! I have been on it for 9 months and it has been a miracle for my family and me. I was prescribed 60 mg for ADHD and anxiety. The first week I did feel very nauseous and lazy. However, after that, I have felt terrific. People in all walks of my life comment on how energetic and optomistic I am. I do experience sweating at night ... and if I skip a dose, I definitely begin to feel withdrawels within 8 hours. However, since I don't plan to withdraw, I am happy to report that the side effects are well worth the peace in our lives.

its me again.
this is my 2nd day. i havent taken it yet becuz im still really naseuous, and i think it would be better at nite so im not not sleepy during the day. im still kinda weary about this pill, but i figure its maybe worth a shot? if it works well for some then i hope it does for me..il give it a week..ughh..

ps..if anyone can give me some advice id appreciate it alot!..iv never taken anit-depressants..i dont kno what to expect

Ive been taking Cymbalta for 3 days now and the side effects started on day one. I want to sleep but my mind and insides want to run a marathon. My pupils are huge, my hands and feet wont stop sweating. I have this feeling of a golfball stuck in my throut which makes me feel like Im going to choke. My body does feel disconnected and I get hot and cold flashes. I cant believe this all is happing after only 3 days! I hope I dont get any withdrawls from only taking it that long, will I?

Still working on coming off the Cymbalta--went from 60 to 30 a week ago. I feel like crap most of the time. Just so foggy--can't focus; can't think; headaches;aches and pains in general. Anyway--I am still determined to get off, but I am concerned about next week when the dosage lowers again.
For those who are still singing the pariaes--I took this stuff for over a year aand I started out loving it--my problem--I reached a point where 60 mg daily wasn't cutting it--I was having withdrawla symptoms within 12 hours of taking adose. When I took college classes they called that tolerance--just like the alcoholic that starts out getting a good buzz off of a couple of beers, but over times needs a case to take the edge off. I was not, and still am not, interested in being addicted to this or any other substance--legal or not--thus I am getting off. I would tell anyone that if you have not gotten on this drug don't, if you have--get off! It is only a matter of time until you will begin to experience the effects described on this site and they will only continue and worsen until you increase your dosage or get off this stuff!!!

I have been on this med cymbalta for over 4 years. I will say from my experience it is not working well for me. I suffer everyday from this drug, my body has become addicted to it. If a dose is missed, I feel so ill, I am like a druggie on a street corner looking for this antidepressent. I wake up every morning needing this pill, my body will not function without it. I am unable to perform simple tasks such as speaking, swallowing, thinking, you name it. I tried to stop, was very, very hard. On 60 mg and at a loss now. They dont tell you these antidepressents become addicting.This med may work for some, may not, but once it doesn't work anymore, it is so difficult to get off this med. I speak for myself, I am having a hard time and it is making me more depressed. Please research everything before, you never know what can happen. I wish I had, but when you are depressed you want to feel better so you take the meds. I am scared and alone. I can truly understand what many of you are going through. Please if anyone has any advice , please contact me. I am at a loss. I am controlled by a drug that was suppose to help me, now is ruining me even more.

I am so glad I decided to look up side effects and how long they last when beginning Cymbalta. I have taken 30mg. for two nights and couldn't sleep, extreme bouts of sweating, nervousness, clenching jaws, stomach pain, and horrible head pain the second night around my eyes and forehead. When I started reading the comments, I immediately decided to stop taking the medication NOW!!!
I had a similiar incident 8 years ago when my husband passed away and I was prescribed Paxil for depression. It worked great for the depression, but one day I forgot to take my medicine and lo and behold here comes the severe nausea (and dry heaves), unbearable headaches, brain zaps, etc. I was not aware that this was being caused by me missing a dose of Paxil. I was so sick that I couldn't get out of bed for 3 days, during which, since I couldn't keep anything on my stomach, I didn't take any medications that I normally take. I finally asked my daughter to bring all of my medicine and realized that in a very short period of time after taking my meds that I was feeling fine. This prompted me to look online to see if the Paxil could have been causing all of the symptoms. I read all the horror stories and decided to get off of it immediately. It took me almost 1 year to get completely off. I had to switch doctors to find one that understood what I was going through and prescribed the LIQUID form of Paxil, which I did not know existed. He told me that only I would know how much and how often to decrease the dosage. At a drop at a time decrease, I was able to get off of the medicine, but it took almost a year.
All of this just to say, if they make Cymbalta in a liquid form, I STRONGLY suggest that this is the way to go. It was the only thing that saved my life. I swore then that I would never get on an anti-depressant that would have so much control over me. My reason for getting on Cymbalta was nerve problems in my leg and foot and the doctor suggested it could be neuropathy. Needless to say, I did not take my medication last night and WILL NOT take any more.
Good luck to all of you and I will remember you in my prayers.
Jeanie

I just started taking Cymbalta 2 days ago and everything I've read on this page has me scared to death. I started taking klonopin as a 'quick fix' for anxiety due to some medical issues. I've always been prone to panic attack, but lately suffer more from all day generalized anxiety and depression. Doc gave me Cymbalta so that I can eventually give up Klonopin. After all the bad things I've just read, I don't know what the hell to do? Continue or chicken out and quit Cymbalta now.

I decided to look up the side effects of Cymbalta because I'm sitting here with a queasy stomach and a headache/burning eyes and I've only taken 2 pills (30 mg.) I've been on Cymbalta in the past and now I remember why I stopped...it stopped working, but I have to admit that I don't remember withdrawals. I've had the prescription for 2 months for severe depression anxiety and fibromyalgia but was hesitant to fill it, however, my daughter is coming home and I wanted to enjoy her visit. But after reading this website I am not taking the 3rd pill. Cancer was painful enough. I guess it's back to Klonopin and "faking it" for my loved ones. I am so sorry for your pain and suffering but I hope you find comfort in knowing that by taking the time to share your experiences, you have saved many of us from the same. God Bless

NICHOLE..im sorta in the same boat as u..this was my 3rd day on cymbalta..so far i dont notice much of a difference..iv been really naseous,veeery tierd,and sorta out of it..
and reading all these comments reeeally make me hav some doubts. but i figure there are many people put there who hav positive effects from this pill..and if i never try..then il never kno...i dont know if im doing the right thing by continuing to take them..but i want help..and if i take another anti-depressant then it mite be the same or even worse..i decided to giv it 2 weeks and see how i feel..altho im kinda impatient...but i dont kno what else to do...

I want to thank you for taking time to help me attempt to navigate through this hell. I certainly will not dismiss it as rubbish, and I will take everything you say to heart. The only problem is that my insurance company stopped authorizing this medication, and my Dr. stopped prescribing since I moved to a different state. I was taking 60 mg 2 times a day for a total of 120 mg. I have been off this med for 3 weeks, and it seems as though the symptoms are getting worse. Not only are the electric shocks almost bringing me to my knees and destabilizing my balance, they are affecting my speech and cognitive function. I have weird mood swings, so despondent and lonely even though I know so many others are having the same problem. Nobody ever warned me about this. My Dr. never said a word. When I told him about my symptoms at first it was from a missed dose, so I thought I was having seizures. They hospitalized me 3 times and found nothing. They didnt even suggest withdrawl. When I mentioned a Cymbalta connection to my Dr. he just told me to stay on it! Thats like putting a bandaid on a severed limb! I dont even think these doctors know what they are prescribing and it makes me sick. I have 2 small kids. My little girl is 3 and my son is 7 months. I have every reason to be happy, and they do make me happy. However, this chemical demon that nobody warned me about is killing me inside. I feel posessed by some malevolent entity. I stay awake for days at a time. My mind has turned into my torture chamber, my body is my holding cell. My wife and family are amazingly supportive, but I dont think they get it. I dont think anyone could grasp it unless they experience it. I will never kill myself, I could not do that to those I love, but If they were not here, I would. How long is this hell going to last? Will I ever get better? I already have enough pain with severe sciatica and 4 ruptured discs. I am very, very grateful that you have given me this information. I will read it all. The only roadblock is the weaning off the drug. I dont think I am going to be able to do that. If there is a hell, this must be it. Thank you so much for trying to help me. You are a very good person and should be happy that you have the capacity to give others hope. Thanks again.

To all of you who are having problems with Cymbalta, and are trying to find solace, please read closely.

Here is what RACHEL, the apparent master of life has to say about Cymbalta withdrawl. I guess we are all just making this up. See you all back in first grade........read on, you will get the pun.

Rachel: "Ok Im not done.
I keep on reading other peoples stupid opinions. Obvisiouly most of you who think "its an evil drug" have a little bit more problems then anti-depressants can do for you.
IM SCARED NOW!
Go back to first grade. Your an adult now, time to make your own decisions. Whats better, not taking the meds and killing yourself or taking meds that can be the best damn thing thing that ever happened to you?
I ♥ Cymbalta forever =]
Dont mess."

Well Rachel, dont pass judgement until YOU have to get off your wonder drug, or if your insurance company FORCES you to get off of it. As for going back to first grade, from your comments: "I ♥ Cymbalta forever =]
Dont mess." I can infer that you are still in diapers and from your attitude, I think you left something stinky in it for mommy to change. Little hearts and happy faces? You are telling others to become adults? Kind of ironic Rachel. Dont read our "stupid opinions" and reply with a moronic diatribe until you decide to become an adult and have a discussion in a forum whithin which HUNDREDS, thats right HUNDREDS of people are having the SAME serious problems. Pretty hard to label that as a bunch of idiots who have "a little bit more problems then anti-depressants can do for you." What, you think this is a coincidence? I think as ADULTS most of these poeple trusted their Dr. and made an EDUCATED decicion based on his advice!!!! To be honest, I think you are the one who has the problem. Keep taking your Cymbalta straight to hell, because if you have the last of your 20 brain cells left after you are done, thats where you are going to be when you come off this medication. That is if you have bothered to read the HUNDREDS of "stupid opinions" that people are sharing to try and get better. OK, Ive said enough, and I am not going to debate this any further with someone who sounds like they already have serious mental issues, so they lash out at others to make themselves feel better. For all we know, you peddle the "evil poison" to the doctors. To everyone else having problems, maybe leaving your opinion of Rachels childish epiphany that we are all idiots will make YOU feel a little better. It seems to work for her, so why not be an "adult" and make your own choice to put her in her place so the rest of us can have serious discussions without children stirring the pot.

Once again, for anyone with an intellect, read Rachels other post # 549, and if you did not read my post #566 read# 550 from Rachel as well. Very mature to say the least. If anything, you should get a laugh out of it, because in hindsight, it is pretty funny for some kid probably in high school from the way she talks to be judging others.

ok..its me again..lol
today will be my fourth day on cymbalta..i dont take it till 9 so im not tierd all day..
but i still wonder if i should stop now..reading everything here kind of confuses me.
So far,i havent had such bad symptoms as some people here..i hav been really tierd..and i was naseous up till today but starting to feel a lil better..yesterday i was very moody..i think its messing with my hormones..its only my 3rd day..so i dotn expect much..but my back hasnt been hurting so much when i started takin it..thats suprising! my back hurts constantly..i can never get no relive due to scoliosis.
So id wish that i knew what to do..this could be the best thing that has happened to me..it could be the "miracle pill" that sum people call it..or..it could be "hell"...and i dont need anymore of that in my life..so im scared..i pray this works..i dont know what else to do..i have never been on any anti-depressant so i hav nothing to compare it to..if anybody could PLEASE give me advice id apperciate every single bit

I've had really great luck with cymbalta. I've been on a lot of medications before, more than I can recall to name off. When I was ten I was given prozac which caused severe hallucinations, and it messed up my eyes. I see dots all the time ever since i took it. The only side effects I've had from cymbalta are brain zaps (which I found out where a side effect from reading this board) and I think I sweat more. I've been on it for almost a year, and it's really helped me a lot. My moods are much more even, I don't get depressed very often anymore, and I'm much easier to get along with. Reading this board kind of scares me, but I guess I'm one of the lucky ones. I've had great luck with it, and hopefully I'll continue to.

Well I've been on Cymbalta for - well since it first came out- so maybe 4 yrs? It is the only antidepressant that lets me function. If I forget a pill I do get brain zaps late the next day. Nice to have a name for them after reading this board. I took Prozac 100mg and it helped me not at all. So I love Cymbalta and have no plans to go off. But like AShley said- this board is a little scary but I too guess Iam a lucky one.

Hi - this is an interesting site. I had been on Cymbalta (usually 60 mg) for over two years. It was helpful with my depression. But I thought I was just getting old, fat and constipated. I wanted to nap all the time plus I had bad tremors when playing a musical instrument. I had worsening insomnia. I felt nauseated when I was hungry, then after I ate. When I developed bad sores in my mouth a physician suggested it might be due to Cymbalta. I tapered the dosage for several weeks, then stopped. After two weeks of nasty "brain zaps" (seemingly brought on by looking to the sides, as someone else observed),I finally have saliva in my mouth, my eyes aren't dry, I'm not constipated, I don't need naps, and the tremors are gone. Nausea is gone. My mouth is less sore but my sense of taste is not back to normal. I think the Cymbalta became more "toxic" to me as time went on, and I (and my shrink?) did not recognize my symptoms as worsening side effects. I won't go back on it but it was helpful initially.

hi again..its my 5th day.
im dizy so bad..i almost couldnt stand up striaght..
afetr i took my pill last nite i took sum aspirin for a headache and started getting nasoues,the chills reeeally dizy..DOES ANYBODY KNOW IF UR NOT SUPOOUSE 2 MIX CERTAIN MEDICINES WITH CYMBALATA??! im still dizzy and cant focus. :(

I was put on Cymbalta 2 1/2 months ago for severe depression. I had been taking Zoloft, but it really was no longer helping. At first the only thing I noticed from the Cymbalta was loss of appetite, which was fine with me. Then after about 4 weeks, I noticed that I was tired all the time - really I just wanted to sleep all day on my days off. Then the other symptoms started. Dizzyness, jaw and neck pain, stomach pains, leg cramps, headaches. But the worst were the mental symptoms - difficulty concentrating, memory problems, sometimes difficulty talking, coordination problems, etc. It was getting bad, and I was starting to suspect that the Cymbalta was the cause. Then this past Friday, I was fired for being unable to perform my job. Having scattereed thoughts, memory problems, etc. made it impossible for me to do my job. I was going to quit Cymbalta cold turkey, but then found a few sites that talked about the scary withdrawal symptoms, and decided to call my doctor tomorrow. I am going to get off this as soon as possible, but hope that I am not permanently messed up. I have to find another job, and I hope that this stupid medication does not interfere with my ability to do that. I will certainly tell my doctor about this site, and let him know what has happened. Best of luck to any one else who has had to deal with this, and I will post an update at some point.

I have suffered from depression off and on since the birth of my first child 23 years ago. Prozac worked for awhile, but when it stopped, the doctors started giving me the SNRIs - first Effexor, then Lexapro, then Cymbalta. Each had its own set of side effects, but one that developed - skin picking - was something I blamed myself, not the drugs, for.

I recently developed a bad flare-up of trigeminal neuralgia and ended up being prescribed neurontin for that. Well, I soon developed suicidal ideation. I wasn't sure whether it was the neurontin or what. My shrink actually called Pfizer about it. It has been 3 months since I was first put on Cymbalta, and now that I've read the reports on this site, I see that 3 months is about the ideal time for the bad side effects to appear for Cymbalta. At any rate, my shrink and I decided it was time to take me off Cymbalta (I weaned off quickly: 60 mg down to 30 mg for 5 days, then off of it). I started Luvox while weaning off the Cymbalta, which made the weaning process easier than just weaning off to nothing.

Note: When I say I had suicidal ideation, I wasn't just sitting around thinking about what it might be like to die. I was preparing to do the deed. I knew exactly how I was going to do it and was plotting how I could make it look like an accident so my husband would get the insurance money. That's when I realized - though I didn't really want any help or anyone to stop me - that I needed to call him at work and stay on the phone with him. I got through that terrible night and lived to tell about it. I am so glad I'm off Cymbalta. It's a very dangerous drug.

Okay, so I am wondering if anyone has stopped taking cymbalta while being prescribed another medication. I was having really bad side effects so I talked to my doctor and she decided to start me on wellbutrin so I wouldn't have to stop cymbalta cold turkey without introducing something else first. It had been 2 weeks now since I have been on both and 2 days ago I ran out of cymbalta, but I figured that with this new medication I would be fine....I was wrong. The past two nights I have had severe night sweats and tonight I can't sleep because I am so angry that I want to get up throw things or punch the wall to relieve some of this anger I feel trapped in me. I have been mean to everyone because my annoyance level is through the roof and I have been nauseated for the past 2 days. This is horrible and I just want it to stop, I am sick of crying because I want to feel normal I feel like I will never feel "normal" again. My mind is all fuzzy and I tend to lose concentration. I hate cymbalta

Sleece,

Wellbutrin is completely different to Cymbalta (and the other SSRIs/SNRIs). Wellbutrin will not protect against Cymbalta withdrawal. It cannot.

Wellbutrin boosts dopamine.

Cymbalta (SNRI) boosts serotonin and noradrenaline.

You have been placed in a cold-turkey Cymbalta scenario (not recommended); plus the addition of a new drug.

Wellbutrin is a very stimulating drug. In the short-term clinical trials you had: agitation (31.9%); insomnia (18.6%); anxiety (3.1%); hostility (5.6%); other effects are frequently observed.

Cymbalta statistics:

Half-life = 12hrs
90% eliminated = 2.5 days
Typical onset of Cymbalta withdrawal = Day 2-3

You describe the onset of typical withdrawal symptoms.

However be aware that some of them could also be attributable to the Wellbutrin, or the Wellbutrin/Cymbalta combination. Look closely at any new reactions you displayed in the two weeks when you were on both drugs. Were your anger and hostility already increasing before the Cymbalta was stopped? Standard withdrawal = anger, rage irritability; but hostility is also attributable to the Wellbutrin.

You are in a two variable situation (cold-turkey + new drug).

I would advise, if at all possible, that you read up on the process of SSRI/SNRI withdrawal.

Jennifer,

Yes, there are drugs which shouldn't be mixed. If you go to a drugs' interaction checker, you can put in the names of the medicines and find out if they interact:

http://www.drugs.com/drug_interactions.html

If you are having adverse effects to the Cymbalta, you might find it helpful to call your doctor and talk through those that you are experiencing. For many people, any initial adverse effects can die down over the first few weeks, and they then can go on to have a good on-drug experience. However, for others the effects do not ease, and the problems can worsen.

From your posts you are experiencing: headache, extreme dizziness, chills and nausea. Your doctor needs to know about this, so you can discuss the current situation and decide what to do.

Always remember that whilst there are mainly bad experiences here, there will be those having good on-drug experiences.

What matters is how your own body is reacting to the drug, in relation to your own medical problem, in relation to your own benefit/risk equation.

Make a list of your side-effects, then talk to your doctor?

River,

Yes, neurontin has caused suicidal ideation. It's not new.

Do any google search on: neurontin suicide; gabapentin suicides; or variations there-of, to get you started with some references.

e.g.http://pn.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/full/40/10/12

Equally, the Cymbalta could be implicated.

I was on Cymbalta for about 3 months. At first I just though the shakiness was from not having my Prozac after years on being on it. Then the nightmares came, followed by night sweats?? Could I be changing life? Is that what's wrong?? And do I watch too much gory TV, is that what the nightmares are from??? I Googles Cymbalta and nightmares and finally found out the truth behind this drug. I am in my 2nd week of weaning. Now its 1 every 2 days. I took a pill about 3 hours ago and I'm finally stopping the brain zaps or whushes or whatever you call them, but I'm finally starting to feel like I'm part of my body again. I just started a new job, am between shrinks due to the job requirements and am wits end cause my family doesn't like me like this. I feel like this will never end. I pray it does. I hope that the makers (EL) rot in hell or have to wean off it themselves.

For 2 years, I was on 60mg of Cymbalta for peripheral neuropathy and depression. It worked well for managing pain and depression but there were too many side effects. (Hair loss, memory loss, night sweats and constipation to name a few.)
I have been Cymbalta free for more than 30 days and still have brain zaps. I get angry at every little thing and my depression is worse than it ever was before taking the drug.
If you are considering taking Cymbalta, please ask your doctor for other options.

I am not sure who posted back to my response, but thank you for writing to me so quickly. You said something about me experiencing the onset of withdrawal symptoms...is it going to get a lot worse? And also, when I first began taking the 2 together I did not have any of these symptoms. My psychiatrist only wanted me on the 2 of them for 2 weeks, which is why I have run out of cymbalta and my doctor is not in the office today and hasn't been for the whole weekend, which is why I have been off cymbalta since friday. I know that wellbutrin and cymbalta are compeletly different, that is why I am switching to the wellbutrin, because prozac, zoloft, and cymbalta have had really bad side effects. Right now I am experiencing sweaty palms, nausea, fatigue, and a sort of fuzzy feeling in my head. I have no way of talking to my doctor so I am unsure about what I should do at this moment. I really had no choice but to stop cold turkey because I ran out over the weekend. The point is that I am supposed to be switching from cymbalta to wellbutrin because they are 2 different types of anti-depressants. I am already on lamictal and have been for 3 years, it has regulated my bipolar efficiently and improved my life. I am just wondering if these effects are going to worsen or if the first few days are the worst. Thank you for your response.

Sleece,

Post 446 (above) will give you the list of withdrawal effects.

If you get a copy of Glenmullen's book, then on p.145-6 you can see some graphs of the: severity of the symptoms/time since last dose drop... what they show is that people's reactions to the withdrawal process are highly variable. So it doesn't seem possible to predict how any one person will react... no apparent withdrawal, mild, moderate, severe.

The first few days may indeed be the worst, you may peak within the next week, and then the symptoms start to fade away. It all depends how you react. That's why it's a good idea to monitor the process, and rank the severity of each withdrawal symptom on a daily basis (as per Glenmullen) so you can see your progress. Some people get away without any apparent withdrawal at all.

If you've come off 30mg, you may have a milder experience than if you've gone from 60mg-0mg... again, it's generalities.

Best thing is perhaps to be aware of the withdrawal effects, and read up, so you understand and recognise the process? You may, indeed, find things improving quite rapidly, however should the symptoms not prove so transient, then a little knowledge helps illuminate the situation

Sleece,

You might find this article interesting. Click on the inset tables for them to enlarge.

http://drgreene.mediwire.com/main/Default.aspx?P=Content&ArticleID=133654

Cymbalta (duloxetine), like Effexor (venlafaxine) is an SNRI, so the nearest recommendations for switching would probably be those for venlafaxine. Wellbutrin is buproprion.

Started Cymbalta 3 days ago for major depressive disorder and chronic anxiety all my life,i'm 50.started getting treatment20 yrs ago its been a tiring battle all the way,and has effected my marriage and my life is no where, i simply exist.I have tried many, many different meds and have had problems with all of them, including not helping.I am noticeing dry mouth/sore throat, feeling very agitated, becoming enraged by minor things.Slurred speach, poor coordination(drunk)Very tired,but cannot sleep ,when i do the nightmares are wicked and violent.Restless leg syndrome is maddening,Blurred vision, poor concentration,easily distracted,driving terrifies me.Feel very ill, hot and cold shaky(weak). the anxiety has gotten worse and feel more depressed and disconected,like in a daze. I hope things get better, but now i feel worse than when i wasnt on it.Suffer from the illness and/or suffer from the meds. Living this way sucks.

ok..so heres the story
i tokk #577 advice (ps..thank u) and called my doc. and explained all the side effects i hav had while on the 5 days of cymbalta.he said i shouldnt be having these side effects still and to stop taking them. So today i will be goin to hopefully get a pill that will help me..i was thinkin zoloft becuz it helps with pmdd and i def need that!! lol.
plus i heard good things about it..
so im glad that i stopped cuz i could been one of these people posting what hell i whent thru on this pill..
i know this pill can be great for some..hence to my cousin who loves it..it works miracles for her..
but for me i think i need something else..
so if any of u hav any suggestions as to what works good let me kno..if not il follow my insinct and try zoloft and pray for the best

MIKE!
feeling aggiated on an anit-depressant is a bad sign..i would switch..or u could give it a few days about 5 maybe and if its not better def think about switching..ud rather do it now then deal with even more side effects..hopefully it works out for u

Okay...I posted about 2wks ago when I decided to come off Cymbalta...

I am now at 2.5wks off and feeling much better!!

I still have a few mild brain zaps, some irritability and have the urge to cry at nothing, and I do experience tightness in my neck still. Otherwise most of the symptoms have seemed to dissipate.

The most intense symptoms were between days 4-10. At that point I did experience a lot of zaps, dizziness, rage,and I had one incident of jaw pain. The major problems were the zaps and dizziness since it made it difficult to drive and function.

Best of luck for everyone healing.

I am glad to know that I am not the only one who has days that I can't get out of bed. I will be up for an hour and then go lay down and sleep for 3-4 and that repeats all day long. Sometimes at night, I sleep fine and others, I lay there looking at the ceiling. I honestly thought that I have chronic fatigue syndrome...did not associate it with the cymbalta or the correlation between the two. I know how I feel when I forget to take a pill and start the "crazies." I can't imagine what it is like to go cold turkey or even to cut down...but I am considering it as I also have severe hot flashes and blurring vision; something that I thought was maybe age related as I am 41. Something for me to think about. thank you!!

I've been on Paxil for about 4 years (50mg now) but it seems that I just get used to it and get depressed. I just saw a new doctor and he's switching me to Cymbalta. I'm on my third day at 30mg but after reading all this I'm wondering if I should stop. These forums scare the hell out of me. Should I just be depressed or deal with these drugs?

Was on Effexor XR 150mgs for two years, then weaned off hoping I was "fixed"; no such luck, still wanted to kill everyone who pushed the right buttons; started Cymbalta 30 then 60 several months ago and am very satisfied w/it; only side effect I've noticed since getting established is heart palps, but other stuff I noticed w/Effexor including slight ED not present at all; sorry not everything works for everyone, but that's why there's a vast pharmacopeia available.

BOBBY
u shouldnt stop just becuz of others bad experinces..it could work great for u..giv it a try for a few days..by my 6 day the doc told me to stop becuz i kept havin bad side effects..but ther are no reasons y u cant give it a try..

I have been just prescribed Cybalta 30 mg for 3 days then up doseage to 60 mg for my depression/anxiety. I was taking 30 mg of Lexapro. I must admit after reading some of these responses, I am uncertain as to whether I want to be on this drug? It appears the side effects and the withdrawals can be terrible. I've never been much of a pill popper, but know since I've been diagnosed with depression that I need meds. I'm currently going through a nasty divorce which is cause for my depression, so once it's final, I'm hoping I'll be able to move forward in a more positive way. I've been struggling for the past six months in dealing with things regarding my marriage/divorce and it hasn't been easy. However, I've now seemed to not dwell on the negative as much and know I personally want to move forward. I'm hoping that my divorce will be final soon and then it will just be a matter of time to wean off Cybalta. At least that's what I'm hoping for. I'm hoping I don't have any bad side effects with taking the medicine. It's certainly to early to tell, but I know I don't want to get hooked on it or have withdrawals from it. I don't even take aspirin much, so the comments sort of scare me.

Billie...

Started on Cymbalta about a year ago for social anxiety.

I have casien allergies and IBS. Some GI symptoms for the first two weeks or so. GI is sometimes "unstable" but this can be ameliorated by use of relaxation therapy and careful attention to diet.

Since that initial time I've had a few minor problems...

1. Elevation of SGOT to 50. This is a bit above the "normal" range. I've also had an effect in blood osmolality similar to drinking too much water - don't recall its name.

I get monitored every quarter or so. The next round of tests will happen next week, so we'll see how I'm doing.

2. If I forget to take the meds I get something akin to "brain zaps". This effect feels like a mild shock coupled with a sense of vertigo. The effect can come and go all day long. Taking the medication again on schedule relieves this problem.

I should note that brain zaps are not all that bad. They feel like riding on a roller coaster. I consider them good training for dealing with a drug free future.

3. Delayed ejaculation - this has been a double edged sword, both mildly vexing and appreciated by other parties ;)

Good effects -

Reduction in anxiety. Doesn't eliminate it, just reduces the threshold for action. There are times I am very calm.

Part of my past anxiety was expressed in explosive bouts of temper, never violent but certainly dramatic. Cymbalta has been VERY helpful with these episodes, especially when coupled with counseling.

Reduction in intensity and duration of anxiety.

Increases a sense of "proportion" and equanimity.

Unlike some of the older meds Cymbalta does not interfere with memory to any signifigant degree.

I've noted that memories sometime require some "effort" to retrieve and other times are easy to retrieve. I tend to attribute this to changing emotional states rather than effects.

In conjunction with taking Cymbalta I am also seeking counseling and therapy. The two go together like peanut butter and jelly. My doctors are quite adamant about "skills" such as cognitive behavior therapy, relaxation training, creating routines and establishing new goals.

I am also taking Gingko, CoQ10, and other supplements. I did this in the hope of reducing delayed ejaculation.

On the whole I would recommend this medication to anyone who is honest enough to appreciate its limitations and cope with the side effects.

G

I would like to respond to many comments made on cebalta and anti-depressents. we all know we should not be taking them with alchol.Also I do not agree it is a women's problem with the drug. All anti depresents have side effects and can be dangerous with drugs and alchol, all have horrible side effects..so the choice is yours, you can either deal with all the crap that goes along with any meds you take. And your a fool if you think that you can take a med ,and not have side effects.The choice is yours..but ultimitly do you want to survive a horrible desise or live with an inconvience. I know its not easy and life is not fair. I will not bore you with my life history but tell you it never gets easy. You will always have issues and deal with the depression. No medication will take that from you. Its how you come to terms with what you've got. Live,love and and enjoy.If this doesn't work look for something else,but there are no miracles. You all have a choice quite blamming and own this disease. There is no other alternative. Come to terms and know there are millions of people out there just like you, surviving,loving and living. Embrace what you have and start living for today.
good luck and god speed

I have been on 30mg for a week now. The only things I have noticed are hot flashes for a while just after taking the pill, and increased sweating. So far so good.

When I took Cymbalta, my muscles felt stiff. All I wanted to do was stretch like when you first get up in the morning. I felt that way throughout the day. Also it made me talk in my head a lot. I wonder if there are people out there who had similar simptoms.

I cannot even believe I am reading all of this. I have been on Cymbalta since shortly after it first came out. I am on 60mg per day (in the a.m.) I was one of the ones who had a really bad history with psych medication, and have been through just about all of them. My psychiatrist prescribed cymbalta as kind of a "kill two birds with one stone" type of a drug, as a way to stay away from benzo's for the anxiety (which I had become addicted to) and treat symptoms of bipolar (I have depressive type). At first, Cymbalta seemed like the wonder drug. I was so excited to feel like a halfway normal human being again. Infact, I never attested my declining health to the drug. I had my wisdom teeth out just around the time I started the cymbalta, and since then my health has gone from good to feeling like I'm literally dying. I do not believe a single area of my body has escaped the wrath of whatever, and I have said time and time again "I feel like my body is just poisoning itself." I have been to doctor after doctor, and have had so many tests run it's been insane. Everything has always turned out normal, and on paper I am a very healthy - almost perfectly so - young woman. But, try to explain to doctors that really you'd rather just be admitted into a hospital because this so-called-healthy person feels like she's dying, and really has just wanted some peace, some rest. It seems that no matter how much I sleep, I cannot sleep enough. I have had chronic infections - and been on antibiotics continuously, only to have infections come back. The headaches have been so debilitating, I have horrid jaw pain, and no over the counter medication provides any relief. I have begun grinding my teeth, so my jaw is constantly locking up. The pressure behind my eyes are unberable. I get waves of nausea, light-headedness, and severe light sensitivity. My ability to see has greatly decreased, and it has become scary to even drive. I've developed a crazy case of hyperhydrosis, and I am constantly sweating -despite being on clinical strength deoderant, I continue to sweat. And I am angry - alot.. I have developed acid reflux and a great deal of GI problems, and the latest development is the severe muscle weakness. I was lying on the couch crying the other day because I was in so much pain I didn't want to walk. I sometimes have to crawl up my stairs at home. I have indeed felt like a complete nut case, because nobody has had any answers to this "mystery" that has plauged my body. I've become depressed and frustrated. My mom called me earlier and told me a friend of hers was put on Cymbalta, and after just a week she began exhibiting the same symptoms. So that is what braught me here to this site. I wonder, is the cymbalta what is making me sick? And if so, that is terrifying. I've been through withdrawl symptoms before (of benzo's) and that was unberable. But I know that I can barely function now, and if it is the cymbalta.. Well something has to be done. It's gotten to the point I can hardly make it through a day at work. I have an appointment with my psychiatrist on June 6th. Part of me is pleased to be reading that I'm not crazy... Maybe this is what is wrong. But another part of me is fearful of what this means from here on out.

update on how i been! if anyone cares! lol...but anway:
i have been taking zoloft for about 6 days now..and so far i like it muuuch more then cymbalta!!! now that im on zoloft..i cant really tell im on a pill..i dont feel so weird,and zombie like as i did when i was on cymbalta..the only side effect i had has been a little tummy pains..and maybe kind of tierd..so far so good..but hopefully it helps with everything!
cymbalta wasnt for me.maybe its good for some..but i hated the way i felt on it.

really you are suprised!!! are you new to all this,we all have been thru the ringer. Life is not easy and you must expect it not to be. So how do you want it to end.... Quit complaing..you don't get that right...fight for your mental health and get what you want but don't complain. Its horrible....and painful, but it is ours to own.Dont give in and take it one day at a time....you can do it

I HAVE BEEN ON CYMBALTA FOR 10 MONTHS, AFTER MY OLDEST SON, WENT TO CAMP (I AM VERY PROTECTIVE) AND WELL I THOUGHT THAT SOMETHING WAS SERIOUSLY WRONG.......... BUT I HAVE READ, AND READ AND CONTINUE TO NOTE THAT I AM NOT THE ONE WITH THE PROBLEM, THESE PROBLEMS WERE GIVEN TO ME BY MY CYMBALTA. I AM TRYING TO TAPER OFF STARTING LAST NIGHT. (PRAY FOR ME)
I STARTED HAVING DREAMS, THAT SCARE MY HUSBAND, BECAUSE I COME UP YELLING AND REACHING AND MUMBLING, AND I EVEN WOKE UP AND HAVE SCRATCHED MYSELF IN MY DREAM!!!!!!!!! I HAD NO IDEA. I A M AFRAID I WILL HURT MYSELF OR SOMEONE NOT KNOWING, I AM ALSO HAVING SEVERE HEADACHES, WAS ON MEDS FOR H/A AND PAIN AND STILL HAVE NO RELIEF, I AM NAUSEATED ALL THE TIME, AND VOMIT TOO, THIS IS NOT ME I AM A PROFESSIONAL AND DO NOT LIKE WHAT THIS MED HAS DONE TOP ME OR MY FAMILY. I AM WITHDRAWN, SO BADLY AND I WAS NEVER LIKE THAT. I AM A LONER. THE OTHER THING IS THE CONSTIPATION, THAT MAKES HEMMOROIDS AN ONGOING THING. AND LOOSE LOTS OF BLOOD W/ EVERY BM THAT I HAVE. NOT GOOD, I KNOW I AM TIRED AND HAVE DEEP ARM PAIN.DOWN BOTH ARMS. I HAVE GAINED WEIGHT. I AM A MOM OF 4 KIDS AND HAVE HAD BEEN TO THE HOSP 3 TIMES THIS YEAR FOR PAIN IN THE BACK OF MY HEAD, AND MIGRAINES SO BAD, THAT I KNOW NO ONE ELSE COULD BARE. I AM QUITE TOLERANT.

FORWARD ANY INSIGHTS YOU MAY HAVE TO ME.

lillie_medassistant@yahoo.cm

I have been on this drug for 9 months now and i thought i was crazy when i would run out. The w/d are so bad. I'm glad I found this sight last week I was out for 2 days and i couldn't stop crying my body didn't feel right. My eyes were so heavy. i never can get enough sleep 10-12 hrs still not enough and sweating forget it. I feel so nasty. I'm always hot and wake up at night to change clothes b/c i'm soaked. My joints hurt i always feel the need to crack my neck and back. I have a 2 yr old and i feel like all i do is yell at him. My husband sometimes thinks I'm crazy and doesn't want me on this drug. Seems like it's easier to get off street drugs then this. i wish i could feel happy and great on my own. i'm 30 i have a family and a good job (which i almost lost because of this drug). The doc at first had me take 30 mg and xanax i couldn't even think clear. know i'm on 60mg and clonazepam 1mg .If anyone has anything that might help let me know.
Just another Cymbalta user

I'm on my fourth day without Cymbalta. At the present time i'm feeling very 'weard'. I have never experienced this feeling before and it is scary. My personel feeling is that this is a monster drug.

Lillie & Angela, there are two books that will help you with lots of relevant information, both written by Joseph Glenmullen MD:

a) Prozac Backlash (side-effects), also relevant to the SNRI Cymbalta; won a medical award.

b) The Antidepressant Solution (withdrawal)

For more immediate info on the basic side-effect profile of Cymbalta, google for the detailed drug sheets e.g. http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic/cymbalta_ad.htm

...has 7 pages of information on various aspects of the drug.

Lillie - the dreams where you 'act out' in your sleep, have long been reported and documented... research on the way these antidepressants act on sleep shows suppression of stages I and III REM; "during normal REM sleep, the muscle tone of the body is inhibited or “turned off” so that the sleeper does not act out, physically, the scenes of a dream. RBD is a form of “wakeful dreaming” during which a person is technically asleep, but moving – it can lead to the enactment of violent or otherwise injurious behaviors, as the person literally acts out his or her dreams" (RBD = REM Sleep Behaviour Disorder).

Headaches, nausea, constipation (roughly 90% of serotonin is associated with the gut), joint pain (arthralgia, or muscle pain myalgia), sweating, social isolation (reported by many individuals), lethargy, irritability/rage etc... yes, can all be considered as side-effects.

I have been taking 30mg, 1x daily for about 3 months. At first, Cymbalta seemed to be a good choice for me as it took care of my anxiety and made my moods stable. ( I had episodes of anger) Lately however, I have been experiencing symptoms such as clenching my jaw, grinding my teeth, extreme upset stomach, severe headaches, insomnia (even when taken during early morning hours) and I'm losing hair by the handfuls. And this is all occuring while I'm still on the damn drug. Needless to say, I fully intend to stop taking Cymbalta immediately. My only concern is that I have a 4 year old and a 4 month old that I am home with all day and if my withdrawl symptoms become as severe as some of those that I have read about on here, then that worries me. Is there any way to lessen the withdrawl symptoms so that I am still able to function and take care of my children? I would appreciate any help or suggestions you guys can offer. Please let me know.

Read up about withdrawal first?; by becoming knowledgeable about SSRI/SNRI withdrawal you put yourself in the position of being able to recognise and understand the process. This should take away a lot of the worry; the 'what ifs', can be put in proper perspective.

You may have a completely mild experience, and come off with minimal withdrawal effects. Best to approach the situation without assuming the worst - that negates anxiety. Also you haven't been on the drug for an extended period, which, as a generalisation (I emphasise, a generalisation), may indicate a milder withdrawal.

Draw up a sensible withdrawal schedule e.g. Glenmullen's book on Antidepressant Withdrawal, 'The Antidepressant Solution', has a Cymbalta withdrawal schedule on p.93 of: 60mg - 40mg - 20mg - 10mg - 0mg. This is for simple and uncomplicated withdrawal, and the advice is that it should be adjusted as appropriate to an individual's response. The book will explain about the varying levels of withdrawal reactions, time to spend at each dose drop, the importance of half-life, gives you lists of withdrawal symptoms, tells you how and when to adapt tapering... all the information that can allow one to approach the weaning off process with the confidence that knowledge and understanding can bring.

If you have family/friends who are willing to read up about the withdrawal process - give them Glenmullen's book to read - then this can be very helpful. The pages of professional references to be found in the 'Notes' section at the back of the book, may indicate to them how well researched the book is, and may help them understand that antidepressant dependence/'addiction' is fact, and deserves to be approached sensibly in the light of those facts.

just checking in--i've now weaned down from 60mgs to 10 (or thereabouts--i have to eyeball the splitting of the capsules), and it's been a long, ugly road getting off this stuff. in a fit of rage about what this has done to me, i missed one of my 20mg doses last week on purpose, deciding to try the cold turkey thing--MISTAKE! i lost 2 days of my life to the worst vertigo and brain zaps i've experienced to date. i've actually been out of work since then--i started back on the weaning program, and though i felt better after taking cymbalta again, now that i'm at such a low dose i'm really hurting from the withdrawal. i have a couple of good hours a day in which i try to get out of the house or do some chores or otherwise make myself feel productive, but then the dizziness and zaps get so bad that i end up lying on the couch for the rest of the day until bedtime. i'm worried about my job--my manager is really supportive, but i work for an enormous corporation, and so far the claims process for short-term leave has been like dealing with my old PCP that i left--i feel like they don't believe me when i explain that it's impossible for me to work right now. luckily my therapist is helping out with the paperwork and whatnot, but i hate taking this time off from work, and i hate not being taken seriously about what i'm going through.

today is the first day i'm supposed to be off of cymbalta altogether--i'm headed to my therapist's shortly to discuss it. at this point, even if i lose my couple of good hours a day and feel worse than i do, i just want this over with. i want to bite the bullet and be done with it. i take comfort from the fact that i no longer feel so oppressively sleepy all the time, and i want to see an end to the other symptoms that are keeping me from living my life.

both my therapist and a good friend of mine who is close to obtaining his degree from dartmouth medical school think that i have some sort of polymorphism in one of my liver enzymes (CYP2D6) which causes problems with the metabolization of this drug. from what i've read online, not a lot of research has been done in regards to the effects of cymbalta on subjects who are "abnormal" metabolisers. there are some cautions about prescribing this med along with a CYP2D6 inhibitor, and cautions about prescribing to anyone with any sort of liver problem, but i'm pretty sure it's not common practice for doctors to determine whether someone might have issues metabolising a drug before that person is placed on it. no wonder it took so long to connect this drug to the weird array of symptoms i was exhibiting....

anyway, this site continues to help me feel less alone (though these days of lying on the couch are pretty depressing), and i do believe i'll be free from the grips of this med in the foreseeable future. i HAVE to believe it!!!

I just started cymbalta 6 days ago. I'm reading all of the horror stories and it is scarring me. I have taken paxil, prozac, and zoloft and didn't have any withdrawls after stopping them. I'm just wondering if I will have any with this med. I'm starting to wonder if I should go ahead and stop taking this med right now. Does anyone have any advise? My main concern was weight gain when I started. Now I'm wondering if I should worry about the withdrawls.

Thank god I stumbled on this site. I have been on this for 3 months and have a lot of the symptoms described here. I will get off this asap. This all sounds worse than what I was going through before.

OK now I'm scared. I have taken this Cymbalta two days and feel like crap. I keep zoning out during the day and I can't sleep at night. I keep waking up clenching my jaw. I thought that was my imagination until I read this stuff. Forget it! I'm going back to my old meds while I can.

I am trying to come off cymbalta. As I am typing, my body is shaking inside every time I move my eyes, or change my heart rate. I want to throw up. I wish someone could put me out of my misery. There is no support from my husband, who feels that because I am trying different ways to get off, I deserve the pain I am in. This is the worst experience of my life. I pray that it will be taken off the market soon.
P.S. counting out the beads inside the pills and going down 30 beads a week seems to have the least pain associated with it. It's still hell, and at this rate will take nearly a year.....but it's the best I have come up with so far. I never want to eat, and have gone for 3 days without eating. Glad to see I'm not crazy as my husband says---other people are going through this nightmare too. Pray for me.

Another thought, as I look back over some of the recent patients taking Cymbalta.

Before Cymbalta I had mood swings--a lot of anger and fear particularly (and for no good reason)

While on Cymbalta you FEEL NOTHING. You could lose your best friend, and not feel it. Nothing moved me.

Now that I am coming off, I am starting to feel again. It's not all the time, but only sometimes.

I feel anger and fear now, but also.......happiness,sadness,eexcitement. I remember what it feels like to be a human being.

I could have stayed on Cymbalta, and felt no anger or fear.

I cannot imagine being more dead than that. Never feeling any human emotions.

Something to think about, folks. Good Luck.

I have been on Cymbalta for over a year and happened to run out and couldn't afford the co-pay. My 2-3 hour crying spells are gone. My mood has leveled off and my suicidal ideation is gone. It's been about two weeks. I am having withdrawal symptoms however, dizziness and my brain seems slower. I will never go on cymbalta again.

I was put on Cymbalta almost 3 years ago. I have fibromyaglia and the Cymbalta has really helped improve my condition. I also incorporate exercise but it has brought me back to my normal self. It helps the pain alot and i havent had a depression symptom in a long time. I believe Cymbalta has really helped me!

Worst day yet in getting off. I came home from work at 4:30 and went to sleep. Woke up a little before 10--sitting here about to fall out again less than an hour later, but I know if I go to bed my eyes will suddenly pop open and sleep will be gone. My eye site is so fuzzy I can barely read. My mind feels like it is wrapped in peanut butter---yet I hurt all over. My joints ache and my limbs are heavy. I have never been able to understand suicidal people, and while I would not say I have suicidal thoughts I am beginning to understand how it could seem like a solution. My mood is totally unstable--I have always been a litlle depressive, but now I have tears in my eyes at the smallest and stupidest thing.
Anyway it helps to write it all down--thanks for just being out there!

I was prescribed this today fot Depression and Panic Attacks. Whenever i get a new drug prescribed I always read up on it. After reading through this there's no way I will take this drug. Am really against all these types of drugs though I have never heard such horror stories for most of the others. I've only had success with Doxepin an older anti-depressent that I never had any issues with. Of course my doctor didnt fill me in on any of this especially the withdrawl parts.

Thanks to everyone for your stories. I feel bad for anyone experiencing problems with this but appreciate that your experiences have likely helped me avoid making a big mistake.

My doctor prescribed Cymbalta for me to treat what he diagnosed as major depression. I have had very bad luck with other anti-depressents and he said that this one might help. He started me on 30mg. per day (at bedtime) and a week later increased it to 60mg. Day one...I was whistleing and peppy...I also noticed what felt like increased vision, hearing and taste. The next few days were OK but I was constantly feeling "the chills". When I increased to 60mg. I became a zombie. All I wanted to do was lay down and try to sleep. That is no way to be. I also felt similar to my hippie days (70's) when I tried LSD...mildly trippy and definately visually imparred. I quit taking this nasty drug after 8 days and will not try it again. Oh yeah...dry mouth...constipation...disorientation and feeling like I was on the outside looking in also accomany this "wonder drug". Stay away!!!

Post 620- Emmy. Before reading your experience I was not able to express the way I feel. Now that I read it I know that it is EXACTLY the way I feel. I am on Cymbalta, currently trying to stop it. I am having terrible headaches!!! On Cymbalta I feel nothing...I don't care about anything. I always cared about the way I look, about going out, about people around me, etc. On Cymbalta, my life is a FLAT LINE, no fear, no joy...just nothing. Life's not worth it. I wanna get off Cymbalta and FEEL again! Feel joy, feel sadness, feel anything...but feel something.

I started taking Cymbalta about 5 months ago and at first felt a more elevated mood. I suffer from depression and anxiety and although for a short period of time it helped the depression, i always felt this agitated feeling within like a panic attack was lurking in the shadows. I noticed other side effects-my vision was worse, for an instant i would see a flash in my eyesight, i had /have low blood pressure and when i stood up felt faint and saw stars for a few seconds, and when i exercised, i felt my heart race at an off beat and finally i read many of your posts. I immediately made a dr.'s appt and discussed coming off cymbalta. i had experienced in my first month a missed dose(only 1 day) and i immediately became ill-my stomach ached, my head hurt, i was having brain "pauses" and "jolts".I decided to continue taking it, but after all the other side effects and reading your posts, I wanted off this med-fast. i did buy the joseph glenmullen book, antidepressant solution, and it is definitely informative and as an anxious person, this helped me to be more aware of what may happen and how to avoid bad withdrawals. I've taken Zoloft and Lexapro in the past-Zoloft worked for a few years and then "stopped" working. Lexapro caused extreme anxiety and all day panic attacks (that was HORRIBLE). After the bad experience i had with lexapro and cymbalta, i decided to completely get off meds or switch to zoloft. My dr. and I decided to wean down on the cymbalta (not as how glenmullen suggested-going from 30mg to 20mg in one week) .For 3 out of 5 days I was in bed all day, anxiety ridden and depressed (while on 20mg) . I cried a lot and although I have every desire to live, felt suicidal thoughts (uncontrollable almost, but I would never harm myself). I did not feel dizziness, nausea, I was just very sad and also very tired. As soon as I got off of Cymbalta and took the Zoloft, I began to feel better-it's only been a couple of days but I am hoping and praying that I stay this way. It will be easier to get off the Zoloft I think, since you can't cut Cymbalta pills down. Good luck to all-it truly is hard to get off antidepressants-

Doctors must have more responsibility in telling patients the downfalls of these medications. I may not have gone on these medications had I known what the withdrawal effects would be.

I just started taking cymbalta 3 days ago. So far I haven't had any problems whatsoever. I've read a couple posts and like many totally disagree with Rachel's comments(549,550).
However, with all due respect I believe that our body's and brain's all
react differently to many medications. Our minds are such a powerful thing if you are told over and over how bad this medication is, then most likely it will fail you. So for everyone out their that are genuinely having bad reactions to this medication.
Please don't try to scare people away from using Cymbalta. It may be the perfect drug to help them with whatever problems they are dealing with.
I will send a prayer up to the Lord to help each and every one of you struggling to find the perfect medication to help each of you.
God bless you, Donna

I was reading this list because I have a good friend that took Cymbalta and suffered/is suffering from withdrawel effects now just like everyone else. A comment was made about a clas-action lawsuit again Eli Lilly...does anyone know how to get involved in this and be heard so they take this medication off the market? Please post if anyone knows. Thank you!!

I have been on Cymbalta a little over a year. i'm sure i would've lost my job without it. I have had night sweats and teeth grinding and insomnia. but I have had a problem w/insomnia before that. also, major lack of motivation, tiredness, weakness, and one of the few, it appears to experience a lot of weight gain. all i do is eat. but through all of this, I thought it was MUCH better than the high anxiety I had. NOT! My closest friend just passed at 37 and I didn't/couldn't cry. I felt a great sense of loss, yet it was a detached sensation. like I was watching a movie, or living in someone else's body. this made me realize I had to stop the drug. So far, almost one week from 60mg, down to 30 mg. Only night sweats and daily headache that won't go away no matter what. We asked not to feel, we got it. I am not sorry I took it, but now I do want to feel again. It has put my life on hold. I have a huge guilt inside me for my friend, who I miss, but still cannot FEEL the magnitude of her absence.

Hi everyone,
I'm getting a horrible sinking feeling reading all of your posts, bc I didn't want to try this medication, having been severely depressed for 10 years after just one week on phen fen. It messed up my brain chemistry, and I reported it to the manufacturer, but they didn't get back to me until after it was pulled from the market.

I told the doc that I didn't want to try something so new, but I am going to a center for treatment-resistant depression, and they said some people have had good results. I've been on just about everything over the past 10 years, and have been treated very aggressively for the past 2 years by a very well-respected psychiatrist. The new doc won't let me stay on the 900 mg of Wellbutrin XL (2x the FDA recommended dose) bc I could have a seizure, and I was still pretty depressed, but at least was keeping my weight steady. I have only been on this for six weeks, but know all about the sleeping and the apathy. I'm very close to losing my job, and I feel like my IQ has dropped 50 points. I need to be sharp, and I'm nowhere near it. One of my signs of depression was sleeping a lot and eating a lot of junk--and now I'm doing even MORE of both. My pants are getting too tight already.

I'm freaking out at the prospect of asking to go off it while I have client deadlines, some of which I have already missed ON the drug. What the heck should I do? Will the withdrawal effects be any less if I go off it now instead of a month or 2 from now? Please, I'd really appreciate any advice. I am terrified of staying on it and not being able to do my work, but it sounds like going off it would be even worse. OMG, I feel so trapped.

I usually know more details about this next part, but I'm so fuzzy lately that I can't remember stuff from yesterday. I work in the pharma field--not at a pharma company--and I do know they MUST report Serious Adverse Events to the FDA within 7-15 days. I'm not sure exactly what qualifies, but you should all be calling and reporting the adverse events; even if they're not "serious" enough, they still have to be logged and reported to the FDA eventually. If you think the drug company isn't reporting them, please contact the FDA. I was told when I started my job that I have a responsibility to report serious side effects if someone tells me about them, but I'm not sure how it works with an online forum, bc I don't know anyone here.

Your doctors SHOULD be filing adverse event reports, but I'll bet you they're not--especially with psych drugs, where they can put our complaints down to "hypochondriasis." And if they're just going along in their practice, not reading about all the problems people are having in a forum like this, they'll likely never connect stomach problems and things like that to Cymbalta.

You don't need to be a physician to report adverse side effects to a drug. Go to the FDA website and there's a link there. I've posted the direct links many posts earlier, but am too tired to go check it out again.

Please don't rely on your over-worked docs to do the reporting for you. WE as patients have the reponsibility (to other patients at least) to report and get as much other info out there as possible.

With hugs of encouragement!!
Suzanne

Hi Suzanne,
You can file an adverse-event report yourself, but I think they need confirmation from your doc for a serious adverse event--not sure. But if Cymbalta is as bad as most of you are saying and it should be pulled off the market, each person has got to take the time to let the FDA know. Otherwise, we can't blame them for letting it stay on the shelves. And we'll be hurting others by our inaction. If the FDA is inundated with all these bad reports, they have to do something. And I'd keep a record of filing your complaint, too. I'm only feeling the awful sluggishness and fuzziness now bc I'm on the drug, but I am pretty sure I'll have a withdrawal-hell story of my own to report soon. (Damn it).

If we all report problems and the FDA still refuses to act, maybe we can get the media involved.

I wasn't prepared for the option of Cymbalta when I went to the treatment-resistant depression program, so I hadn't done my homework on it.

Once I was home again, on the med, and feeling worse, I came across a story about a healthy volunteer with no history of depression (in a phase I trial of Cymbalta) hanged herself on the premises of the testing lab. I think several other suicides in early trials were initially reported as having been unrelated to the drug.

I'm terrified to try to go off now. Not sure what else they can try except ECT or a combination of drugs. :(

I am a 50 years old female and have beed disablied now for several years. I have had depression for all my life. I was healthy until 40 except for the depression when I had a portal vein thrombosis and lost part of my intestines and part of my stomach. After that I have been in constant pain and developed fibro!!!! I can"t remember if my rymtologist(sp) or my internal medicine doctor gave it to me for the fibro and though they would kill two birds with one stone...ha I have been on it fron the start 30 mg for several weeks and then up to 60mg. I had know idea what was going on with me I was getting worse and worse now I was already on pain meds for the other problems that I have had but with this added to it I was really having some unsual problems too. I already had fatty liver disease plus irritial bowel due to the lose of part of my intestines I went from 145 to 220 in over a year didn't really think it was the cymbalta thought maybe it was one of the many medicines I was taking. Every so often though I would swell up like a ballon (my brother died of cirrious) and this is what it remined me of plus my feet gosh I looked like I was pregnant and about to pop any time. It would last a short while and then it would go away. Inernal medicine doctor put me on Lasix to take as needed. Noticed my mind was getting bad at times to . Also have a blood disease that causes blood clots so I am on coumadin too. In and out of the hospital the last several years for bleeds and I would have to have transfusions( about 8 times in the past 2 years) Doctors also thought I might have been having TIA's. I really though that this was just my disease progressing. Yes even had doppler studies done to see if I had clots even though I was wekk in range with the coumadin. Okay to make a long story short......... Husband lost his job so my doctor upped my Cymbalta to 90mg a day....... I though I was dying stomach like I am pregnant, hurting, feet swelling plus I would be doing somthing and just fall asleep... Have a tendiency to drink my coke while I am watching TV in bed and upppps I was asleep and it was all over the bed or I would be looking for something in my purse and just dose off....Went to my hematiologist and my internal medicine doctor and my internal medicine doctor said it could possible be the Cymbalta so back off to 60mg so I did but continued to be swollen even lasix wouldn't make it go down I haven't worn shoes in so long thank goodness I have several pairs of flip flops. Thank goodness I started thinking maybe it was the cymbalta in the mean time I was being sent four hours away to a University Medical School to see if just by chance I might have cirrus(SP) and no I don't drink either. just got back the report from them and it isn't that but they told me I do have a fatty liver which everyone already knew also had a ct scan done to make sure I wasn't throwing clots from my portal vein to my liver and so far that is clear next step is the colonospy and the endoscope. So we will see.......... the resident doctor said it might be the Cymbalta but you see I have been weening myself off of it for the past 3 months and have finally gone 2 weeks with out any worst thing I have done in my life but I had to do it I felt as though I were dying. By the way I actually had ankles over the weekend and didn't have to have elastic band pants. But I have noticed today again I am swelling alittle not like I have been but some I am convienced it is the Cymbalta and I feel for any one who is trying to come off it as it is horriffic(sp) Sorry my spelling is still bad guess maybe it takes a while for it to get out of your system am still having some withdraw symptoms but not like I was. I PRAY THEY TAKE IT OFF THE MARKET SOON... I am so scared someone else is going to die and it could have been me and I am convienced of this if I had continued on the medicine.

To those that it does help that is great it did me to helped with the pain and depression but it seems the long term side affects need to be studied

Has anyone experienced leg and hip pain after taking Cymbalta? I was on Cymbalta 30mg for two years. I tapered by making my own capsules. I am currently experiencing increased fatigue, anxiety, and depression. Want to go back on a med but not sure I want it to be Cymbalta.

Hello to everyone. I had been reading these comments for a while. I looked for side effects after about 2 weeks of taking Cymbalta first 30mgs then to 60mgs. I wasn't feeling right like most everyone has said. I informed my Dr. and she said not to stop the med that I should be feeling really good in about six weeks. Well it's been about 6 weeks and I just got out of the hospital after attempting suicide. I feel the Cymbalta played a major role in the happening. i will write more later as it is still hard to concentrate on the words I am typing. Now am on Wellbutrin SR. please email me with any responses. Valerie marcslove2002@yahoo.com

Holy crap. I've been on 60 mg Cymbalta daily since January of this year. I started feeling like it wasn't working that well any more, and I just got a promotion at work, so I wanted to be clear-headed again. So, I started doing a little research about this drug. That was 48 hours ago, coincidentally the same amount of time since my last dose of Cymbalta. What I have been reading scares the crap out me, and also rings very true. I now sit here, lay here, actually, 48 hours after my last dose, and I can barely type this post. I have been puking since 3pm. I too have had the severe bloating, ending up in the hospital for what my doc thought was an intestinal obstruction. I have not only brain zaps, but whole body zaps...hard to explain. I am sweaty, then I'm freezing, my skin is hot, but I feel cold. I am going cold turkey because I refuse to take one more dose of this medicine (if you want to call it that). Has anyone gone cold turkey, and if so, how long until I feel better? I have 3-year-old twins, so I can't be ill for very long. And, something in the back of my head keeps yelling "CLASS ACTION." I've been in my bed all day, and every time I see a Cymbalta commercial, I want to scream!!

I was on Effexor for about 6 months, and after gaining 30 pounds and having my blood pressure go way up, switched to Cymbalta. I liked it for about 8 months, as it had a longer half-life and didn't make me sick like the Effexor did. However, now I'm having most of the symptoms associated with withdrawal, but am not changing the dose.

Anyway, I've had problems with depression my entire life. The biggest problem is the crying spells - I'm very sensitive and cry and inappropriate times and take things to personally. Sometimes I'm fine, and other times it's bad. I've tried some other things, but they made me feel like a zombie. Cymbalta has helped, but I'm wondering if now is the time to get off of it. I have been having killer headaches, gaining more weight, having crying spells, tired, and just in a funk. It's almost like I'm depressed again :) I'm sure if I told my doctor the symptoms, she would just up the dosage.

While I'm feeling the nausea and brain zaps, along with the memory loss, this really feels akin to bad pms or hormonal problems. Wondering if my hormones have just always been way out of whack.

I have been seeing a therapist which has helped a ton - I recommend to everyone with depression to find a good therapist.

I think my husband thinks I'm just lazy, as I never seem to have enough energy to do anything. It comes in spurts.

Ok, I'm just rambling here - must be another side effect :) hee hee.

When I finally decide to wean off of this, I plan on doing a vitamin c flush to help it get out of my system. My pharmacist says it also helps to be on some good support vitamins while weaning.

Thanks for reading my ramblings! Glad to know I'm not crazy - have to show my husband these posts!

Amy

It's been two weeks for me. I'm now completely off of Paxil and on 60mg of Cymbalta. I had no problem getting off the Paxil, so that was a relief. I used to feel tired all the time but now I feel more awake and alert. I like that part. I have started having lower back pain but can't say if it's the Cymbalta or if I pulled something. Time will tell. So far so good I think.

I started Cymbalta in March. By April I felt it was helping 'some', like a thin veil had lifted. I had none of the "known" "admitted" side effects. The month of May has been hell. Headaches daily, waking with one and going to bed with one. Then I got achey, my whole body but mainly my neck and shoulders. I have zinger pains in my feet and shoulders. I feel like my skull is 2 inches thicker than normal and I have a buzzing sensation when I talk or turn my head. I am 50 so know about hot flashes. What I am feeling now is an instant HOT, just my back like I've got a huge heating pad on the high setting.
I feel dull, head and body. I haven't cleaned house myself all the month of May, haven't been able to watch my grandson, haven't wanted to grocery shop, read or watch television. I just want to sleep or lie in bed. I stopped this drug 3 days ago and I don't care what I feel like, even if it's worse for awhile. Doctor suggested a switch to Celexa, I don't think so. I know several people on Lexapro and I wouldn't take that one either. I took Prozac for 6 years and had no problems but it just didn't work anymore. Are we destined to only 2 alternatives?... taking bad drugs or dealing with depression?

I am on cymbalta and have been for a few months. Depression was why I was put on it. Seemed to work quite well but I have not felt well anyother way since. I'm tired all the time. I have had every blood test know to doctors. Checked for arthrisis lyme diseses.Every thing comes back in normal ranges. But my doctor never ever mentioned the side effect of needing to sleep 27/7. He has now added klonopin to my drug list. Help me what do I do?

I don't work for this program or profit in any way.

CHECK OUT
www.theroadback.org

It will help you get out of this nightmare!

After reading all these messages I DID glean some helpful info. Someone stated that ibuprofen helped, I tried it yesterday and yes, it helped some and at this point I will take even 'some'' help.

I also am drinking lots of water and taking milk thistle to help with detoxifying the liver. Only day 2 on this but I don't feel as bad as I did 5 days ago.

I am happy to have found this site to know I wasn't crazy and am not alone in this.

I also called the manufacturer and they took a detailed report on what I am feeling. I would encourage others to do the same so that this info gets out there.
Eli Lilly company:
1-800-545-5979

I've been on Cymbalta for six months for neuropathic pain from spondylolisthesis. I started with 30 mg, which worked well for 3 months. When it stopped working, I went to 60 mg. and it's working again. Had a week of nausea when starting at each doseage, but it went away. The only current side effects are hot flashes and increased sweating. But it's worth it for pain reduction. I've missed a dose or two with no problems at all. A friend with diabetic neuropathy has been on Cymbalta for two years and it works well for him, with zero side effects.

I've been on Cymbalta for about 2 months. At first I was taking 60 mg, then went up to 90. I have noticed a very small improvement, not much though. Actually I don't have any effects. I'm still waiting to feel better. How long should I wait to feel any benefits?

Thank you so much for all of your postings. I am having post-menopausal anxiety attacks and really had a bad one two days ago while driving. I went to the Dr. and everything checked out great, but he put me on Cymbalta...told me the side effects were minimal (sometimes nausea at first), no weight gain and you can stop it at anytime with no side effects! In wanting more info, I found this site...I have taken one dose of 30mg and am not taking another! Thank you all so much for your comments!

I looked up info on Cymbalta and found this site. I have been on several anti-depress. for years, having to change every few years when they fail to work. Four weeks ago my dr. told me to try Cymbalta. I am taking 30mg a day and so far the only side effect are the returning migraines. I am truly concerned now that I have read so many problems that have occured from using the drug. I can't afford to go cold turkey, and am scared to continue the drug.... Wow, You all have given me lots to think about. I go back in two weeks for a check up and review of how the drug is working. I'll have a lot to talk to my dr. about! Is there anyone out there who is taking it without problems?

Has anyone ever tried a sfast switch to lexapro for a short time and then stopping?

Has anyone tried jumping to lexapro for a short time and then getting off to limit the effects?

I just want to say my doctor prescribed cymbalta today and even though I have only taken one pill, after reading everyones comments, I am going to STOP taking it! All afternoon all I have felt like doing is sleeping and I feel very weird and out of it, as well as very nausous. Thank you all for saving me from something horrible. My doctor thought I could use this since I'm going through marriage problems, but I think I would rather handle things on my own than go through what you people have experienced taking cymbalta.
I can't thank you enough for having a site like this. Just think if I had never stumbled across your comments I might have gone through pure hell with this drug.

Pills do not cure depression, but they sure can help. I have taken Cymbalta for a week and love it. All medications have side effects. If you have a good relationship with your doctor, tell him/her about your side effects and worries. I was taking paxil cr for a year and it quit working. I switched to Cymbalta and think we will stay married a while.

Good luck, and Cymbalta is not evil. It's just an anti-depressent that works for some and not for others.

this is my third day taking this medicine and I am so sick w/blurred vision.. I am getting off it!

I have been taking Cymbalta for 5 weeks now. I read this site and was having seconds thoughts due to all the horrible comments. But I have to differ. In my experience you need to get past the 3 week and most of the side affect do go away. I've had crazy mood swings for many many years. I recently approached my doctor for this medication for depression but realize that my problems are a bit more than just depression. Am short tempered and have biopolar persoanlity. This medication has balanced me out to be "NORMAL" if there is such a thing..lol My advice to all is stick it out for at least a month or two before being so judgemental.

Thank you cymbalta!! : )

Judging a medicine before taking it for AT LEAST 14 consecutive days is not wise. Many side effects are transient (go away after that time) and it can take that long for it to start to work with your brain chemistry. As a health care professional, I would be leary about making quick judgments or giving much credence to postings of people who have taken the medicine for less than a month. Give it time to work and your body time to get used to it. It's much rougher on your system to stop and start and switch than to give a treatment a true trial for a reasonable period of time. Also, try adjusting the time of day you take it if you experience certain side effects such as dizziness, nausea, or dry mouth.

I took Cymbalta for 6 weeks with NO beginning (the stated "normal") side effects. It wasn't until week 7 that I started having headaches daily, nightmares, thick/dull headed and started with serious mood swings. I am not a person to let the small things get to me and I don't swear but I was cussing out anything and everyone, if not aloud, in my head. I didn't think about suicide but the quality of my life made me question wanting to live. I stopped cold turkey on a Wed. By Thursday I asked my husband to be gone all day as I couldn't stand to hear anyone talk (each word made my head vibrate as did each step I took) All I could do was lie in bed. On Friday I felt so bad I opened a capsule and dumped about 2/3 out and took that small dose. I wished I hadn't. On Friday I started taking Ibuprofen for the body aches, this helped some and also took milk thistle 3 times a day (250 mg.)Added fish oil on Sat.
It's now been 13 days (basically lost days) and today except for a headache, I feel like myself.

I'd never been on a dual acting antidepressant and won't go there again.

I'm also wondering why my doc prescribed this as it's stated to be used for "clinical" depression and at my worst I would never say I've been clinical.

I think that whatever makes this drug useful for diabetic neuropathy might be what can make it so nasty when someone takes it that doesn't have nerve pain. JMO

I have been on Cymbalta for about a month--I had been on Prozac for depression for about 13 yrs. and while it had been great for awhile, I felt that it had stopped working....I had heard that Cymbalta was newer and in the same class of drugs, so I assumed it would be wonderful. And, for the first week or so, I did feel mentally better.
I had gotten some free samples from my MD and started out taking 30 mg. a day. At first, the worst side effect was the insomnia. So I cut back the dosage on days that I knew I had to get up the next morning. Then I started having the same side effects listed by others: brain zaps, trippy feeling/dizziness, skin itching, forgetfulness, sweating, and other bad stuff.
After finding this website, I am planning on stopping this drug totally and am in the process of weaning myself off of it. I'm so glad that I happened upon this website--it's SCARY how many people are saying the same horrific things about this drug--so many people CANNOT be wrong!! Thanks and good luck to all of you!

I have a previous posting, but forgot to include this link where you can read more patient reviews about Cymbalta:

http://www.askapatient.com/viewrating.asp?drug=21427&name=CYMBALTA

I have been on Cymbalta for two day's and have had no side effects what so ever. I have notice that the medicine works right away unlike all the other meds that I have taken in the past. I feel great and feel calm. Unsually I am not a morning person and this morning I felt wonderful and awake. I had no problems sleeping in the night, nor did I have night sweats. Yes, medicince is different for everyone but everyone needs to remember people who it didn't work for are more then likely are going to complain then the people who it did work for. Keep that for thought.

I was placed on Cymbalta three weeks ago for acute depression and a near-successful suicide attempt (someone found me - 20 minutes more and I'd have succeeded). I am also a member of the medical profession and don't readily discount medications, however I have been experiencing some of the same side effects at 60 mg. daily - headache, loss of interest in life, sleeping all the time, can't get motivated, chest pain and tightness, dizzy, weight loss (15 pounds so far), nausea, insomnia, deep fatigue, headache, neck and back pain and pressure, etc. I was experiencing similar but less severe symptoms at 30 mg. and the doctor just increased my dose in response. My suicide attempt was in part a reaction to a combination of Xanax and Lexapro - both nasty medications on their own (if you're on them, research them). I plan to taper off the Cymbalta now before the side effects get worse. Thanks for speaking up. Best wishes to you all!

I've been taking Cymbalta for about 7 months and can safely say it saved my life. I was diagnosed with MDD and was literally spending days looking down the barrel of a gun or from the top of a roof. I had no desire to live and no hope for the future. Upon starting treatment of Cymbalta I've made a complete change. I no longer have suicidal thoughts and the medication has actually helped with my migraines. I do get the "brain zaps" when I forget to take my daily dose and sometimes my temper is on edge. However this is a small price to pay for being able to actually live my life without the seemingly inescapable desire to end it.

Hello, this is Jessica (from post #602

I see my psychiatrist tonight (finally) and am going to bring her a print-out of these postings and talk to her about getting me off of Cymbalta a.s.a.p.

I have continued to suffer greatly with the random effects of what I am assuming is from the Cymbalta (The last batch of tests have come back alright, and according to just about every test that can be run on someone's blood/urine, I am perfectly healthy!)

Lately my face & jaw pain has been unberable. Everything is so tight I can barely open my mouth. The pressure I feel at the base of my skull, and behind my eyes is debilitating and causing so many sight problems. The sweating is rediculous, and ofcourse the other random symptoms continue. I just want to feel better.

So we'll see what my doctor says. I've worked with her a long time, so I trust her and she has done really well with my treatment. But I'm terrified of the withdrawls
*sigh*

Wish me luck!

I have tried many different anti-depressants. Cymbalta is by far the worst. I began taking 30mg about six weeks ago. Within two weeks I began experiencing extreme fatigue, the worst I've ever had. I was sleeping most of the day and when I was awake I didn't have the energy to do anything.

This made me feel more depressed and anxious.

I asked my doctor two days ago to take me off this medication. I have already started feeling dizzy and having those strange brain zaps other people have reported.

This medication should be removed from the market. It is poison.

"...face & jaw pain has been unberable. Everything is so tight I can barely open my mouth. The pressure I feel at the base of my skull, and behind my eyes is debilitating and causing so many sight problems."

I've read of individuals talking about the 'pressure' sensation.

Have you been precautionary tested for glaucoma (also a linked side-effect), given the pressure?

People have ended up with 'locked' jaws e.g. "Ming's lockjaw became so severe she had great difficulty chewing her food." This falls into the 'muscle spasms' side-effect category.

The muscle spasms are one of the four major neurological side-effect groups associated with the SSRIs (and by extension the serotonin boosters, per se); they can range from mild through to severe prolonged contractions locking the body into abnormal positions. They are particularly reported in relation to the JAWS.

"Mild to moderate spasms may affect as many as 10% of patients"

"Often people have to be specifically asked about these side-effects, because it does not occur to them that the muscle tension is related to the drug."

From your earlier post, you also listed:

a) nausea
b) light-headedness
c) severe light sensitivity
d) eyesight deterioration
e) sweating
f) anger
g) acid reflux
h) GI problems
i) muscle weakness

All of which form a standard cluster of adverse effects. The light sensitivity is usually a dead giveaway. As well as sunlight, are you finding extra problems around fluorescent lights? Perhaps feeling particularly nauseous/faint in supermarkets? How's your night vision? Still able to see the stars okay? Headlights now painful? Need sunglasses to watch the tv (join the clan!)?

The anger is a side-effect, can also be manifested as an increase in sarcasm or the verbal nasties, as well as a desire to bite people's heads off for the most minor of non-events, or simply a lowering of the irritation threshold.

Acid reflux and GI problems? 90% of the serotonin (approx) is associated with the gut, and all manner of GI problems have been encountered. Acid reflux among them, plus constipation (reduced gut motility), diarrhoea, also the old 'lump in the throat' mystery where people report all sorts of odd feelings related to the throat but nothing is evident.

Muscle weakness - the main possibilities related to the drug would tend to be pointing in the direction of drug-induced parkinsonism. Any of this sound familiar? Every movement like dragging your body through treacle, movements becoming slower and slower, facial expressions reduced, reduction in fluidity of movement, a "heaviness" or "bone weary fatigue"...?

Any of those blood tests check out your dopamine levels? Ask your doctor to talk through the serotonin-dopamine connection with you (serotonin goes up, dopamine goes down) particularly in relation to your muscle weakness and muscle spasms... many of the effects being reported seem to relate to dopamine dysunction/drops, which is of course, exactly what happens when you take a serotonin booster.

The four groups of neurological side-effects are listed as:

a) tics (repetitive, fast)
b) muscle spasms (slower)
c) apathy and fatigue
d) agitation

If you have one, it seems to put you more at risk of others. Again, probably linked to the serotonin-dopamine connection. You seem to be describing (b) and (c); and the anger may/may not be linked directly to (d) - are you also feeling a compulsion to pace/move, or perhaps are your ankles 'racking', or your limbs rattling about at night in bed, thoughts piling through your head? Whether or not it's related to an akathisia-type effect, or a more muted form of neurological agitation... anger is still a well-known adverse effect.

I have been taking 60 mg of Cymbalta for 1 year, for depression with pain. It was wonderful. I've never felt happier. No longer had mood swings, anger issues, less OCD tendencies, smiled more, and pain finally went away.
Three weeks ago the doc and I decided it was time to wean off it. I now have similar symptoms to prior cymbalta. Sleeping a lot, pain, argumentative, down in the dumps, ears ringing, etc. I called the doctor yesterday and today he is calling in a script for 60mg again. Thinks I should go back on, as the depression has come back on the 30mg. Now I am not so sure. Maybe I should just stick with the 30mg and eventually stop altogether and tough it out to see if this goes away or not. But I have to say, up to this point I have been extremely pleased with the results and had no side effects other than sweating a little more for the first couple weeks.

Sue,

There's an easy way to separate out withdrawal from 'return of the original problem'... this is the speed at which withdrawal hits, plus the mix of medical and psychiatric withdrawal effects. If you do go back on Cymbalta quite quickly - and it all clears up swiftly, then again, that points to withdrawal.

The fact that you list ringing in the ears (part of the 'Sensory Abnormalities' group of withdrawal symptoms) would tend to point the finger in a particular direction.

Low energy (fatigue, lethargy, malaise), irritability, aggressiveness, agitation, worsened mood... are all part of the psychiatric withdrawal effects which mimic various disorders.

The pain... you got the abdominal pain, headaches, muscle/joint pain, muscle cramps, flu-like aches and pains, chest pain... or something else?

You had any dizziness or nausea? They tend to be among the commonest encountered withdrawal symptoms.

Typical onset of Cymbalta withdrawal - Day 2-3 after a dose drop.

If you google for David Healy's 'Halting SSRIs' a .pdf document (available on-line), that will give you the withdrawal basics, and the way to tell withdrawal vs. original problem, apart.

Glad you found Cymbalta worked well for you.

Hi,
My Rheumatologist has decided to put me on Cymbalta for my fibromyalgia pain. I decided to do some research first and found this site.

I haven't started taking it yet and thanks to everyone on this forum I'm NOT GOING TO!
This is so scary and I will keep you all in my prayers that you will get some relief from all those side effects.

THANKS FOR SAVING ME.

I need HELP!!! I have been on Cymbalta for about 3 weeks now at 30mg and I swear I am gaining weight. My ring is tighter and I just feel swollen. I am going to taper off and go onto Lexapro (which I have been on before but my insurance didnt cover anymore) and I want to know how long I need to be off Cymbalta before starting Lexapro? PLEASE GET BACK TO ME SOON AS I AM GOING TO START TO TAPER OFFF TODAY..........

My mom was on Cymbalta for fibromyalgia and depression. She just got off it after discovering "by process of elimination" that Cymbalta was the med that was causing major problems. She was sleeping all the time, fuzzy-minded, slurred speech. She has twice passed out and been in a coma while on this med, until it got out of her system! After the last episode, she didn't go back on it and is feeling MUCH better. She sounds very lucid now, which is a huge improvement. Please be extremely cautious if your doc prescribes Cymbalta.

Jessica again - I have gone from bad to worse.. The past couple of days have by far been the worse. I am sweating in buckets, not only at night but all throughout the day now. I am so so exhausted, I feel like I could sleep. Just sleep. My body has gone from being achy, to just not being able to move, and I haven't been able to even do normal functioning tasks because it drains all the energy out of me. Last night I was hungry, so I went downstairs to get a granola bar - by the time I got back to the stairs I was so exhausted that I just put the granola bar down on the entertainment center because I was too wiped out to even A) eat it and b) stay up any longer. I'm starting to get really scared because emotionally today I feel pretty much zilch - I'm like a zombie almost. And my brain is in this huge fog. I had to call in to work for tomorrow because I can't seem to manage much of anything, even typing seems to hold nothing. I just see myself typing, if that makes sense. I feel disconnected and just fuzzy. I am going to be admitted on Monday, my doctor doesn't want to admit me before hand because she doesn't want me to lose any of my medicare days (she is not at the hospital on the weekends); Hopefully I get through this weekend alright. I just don't understand what is happening - or why. And I know I am angry and frustrated, but I just don't feel it. I just feel sick. If it's this bad now, I don't even want to know what it's going to be like in the hospital trying to get off this crap. Well thanks for listening to me vent.

thank you for whoeever started this thread. it should save LIVES.

my mom is on so many meds i cant even count and ill bet shes on this one. gonna find out this weekend and shed some light.

I was prescribed Cymbalta almost 2 1/2 years ago during a stint in rehab. I felt better for about 4 months. I can't honestly say this was due to Cymbalta. Could have been due to the fact that i was clean and sober. Since being on Cymbalta, I've attempted suicide once. Before I started taking it, I'd never even seriously considered suicide. I've been to multiple doctors including a psychiatrist who just told me to "keep taking it" when I mentioned the fact that whenever I miss a dose I feel deathly ill. The symptoms some have mentioned experiencing when stopping this medication describe what I feel exactly. Brain zaps, hallucinations, headache, nausea, crying, irritability, you name it. I just found out I'm 6 weeks pregnant, and I decided to stop taking this crap once and for all for the health of my baby. I can seriously barely even type this.. the brain zaps are so frequent and I feel like I don't have control of my mind. After reading that others have experienced what I have, I finally feel like I'm not crazy.. this product is just poison. Even if it HAD helped me with depression, it wouldn't be worth how I'm feeling. Doctors who consider prescribing this should be required to read these posts.. everything said here is legitimate. If I wasn't pregnant and didn't have the support of my family through this, I couldn't do it. I honestly couldn't handle these symptoms. If anyone's thinking about taking this medication, DON'T!!! In a perfect world, this product would have never been on the market. But this just goes to show that drug companies are made up of greedy, money-hungry executives who don't care what kind of life-threatening side-effects their products cause. I'm all for anti-depressants, if they work. Even if Cymbalta works for you, I'm telling you.. if you ever plan to stop taking it, don't start at all! These withdrawal symptoms are unbearable. From what I've read here, I've got a long way to go.

Can someone please define "brain zap"?

were going to print this entire thread out and present to my doctor and to the local newspaper. im sick of this abuse towards society. and thats what it is. an abuse by the FDA, Doctors and the pharm companies.

apparently they (Big Pharma) cant handle it when they spend years & money TRYING to re-create a drug that already exists in a natural form so instead of taking the loss, they bribe our FDA to pass it and then hurt MANY poeple's lives. some ending in suicides or murder of another for what reason? they should be sued out of business just for this drug and Vioxx alone. I almost died from taking vioxx because my doctors were too scared to prescribe me opiates for severe pain relief. vioxx didnt help either but sent me to the ER about 11 times thinking i was having a heart attack. but they never could find out anything and sent me home as a hypoconriac.

what a messed up medical "profession" we have going on in our world.

Something NEEDS to change and this type of abuse to us people needs to stop.

Brain Zap - an electrical discharge 'zap-like' sensation in the your brain.

To accompany the brain zap, there is also the body zap... where you get the same thing occurring in the body.

They are associated primarily with antidepressant withdrawal and antidepressant poop-out.

This stuff is pure poison. I am not a fan of marijuana but after dealing with what I was on, if I was the president I would legalize marijuana because the side effects are so much safer! Yes, pot may shrink your brain after a period of time but long term use of SSRI/anti-depressent drugs will kill you.

My doctor gave me meds like they were candy. First Lexapro, then effexor and lexepro, then just lexepro again and then changed everything to cymbalta only. First week 30mg then second week 60mg then 3rd week I wanted OFF this stuff!

I was tired and miserable. I was so mad at my doctor that he is not looking into more medical research about me that I weened off of cymbalta on my own. I split 1 pills into 3 days. The fourth day I was so dizzy from brain zaps that I had to get back on the medication. I weened slower, I 30mg for over a week then about 1/3 of the pills for three days. I took a little bit for 1 extra day hoping a little more tapering would help but the next day off of this, I was so dizzy I could barely move my head without feeling like i back out for a split second every 10 seconds. That's how I feel today after 4 days off this drug.

I was diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis in my left knee when I was 12. I was prescribed naproxen/aleve for the pain because it was paralyzing painful. My stepmother was the one who took me to the doctors and she ended up moving to Florida with a divorce up her sleeve so I was basicaly on my own cause my dad didn't know what to do. I took aleve/naproxen for 9 years straight. (I'm 21 now, I stoped taking aleve earlier this year in Jan). When I was 17 I developed a venous stasis ulcer in my left leg. Doctors didn't know what it was from.

I had a stroke when I was 20, was paralysed for 3 month, doctors didn't know what it was from but they said the test from MRI showed I've had several strokes in the past. I was able to recall them but I didn't lose my motor skills in my head.

I've told EVERY doctor that I've seen that I took naproxen for 9 years and they have all said that has nothing to do with my leg.

I stoped taking naproxen and my leg closed up. After almost 4 years of extreme pain of an open wound that shows fat tissue and deep swelling, it healed up because I stoped taking aleve. I take tylonel now, it is more costly and I have to take sometimes 4 at one time but it helps.

I said lexepro does not help so my doctor gave me lex and effefor. Effexor made my leg open up again. I stoped the effexor and only took lexapro and my leg closed again. Then I was put on only cymbalta cause lexepro didnt work. I thought in my head why the hell just not make the dosage stronger but I took cymbalta. After first week the meds seemed like magic in a bottle but my leg started to open again. I could not wait for the 60mg but after I took it, explained above, I was a completely different person. Waisted and tired. My leg had opened up to a full blown ulcer, bleeding at first but then the bleeding stoped because there was no blood getting to my leg again and it was nothing but pain and fluid drainage.

Now 4 days off this stuff my leg is slowly healing again. I did not need to take cymbalta for a long time for the long term effects to place, I already had the long term effects in my body and the 9 years of damage done by aleve. I am so sensitive to anything now, cymbalta showed it's long term effects within the first few weeks.

If cymbalta can reopen the wound on my left leg and effect it the same way naproxen did then all of you who are taking antidepressents, I am warning you that in a few years you will have very bad symptoms and possible strokes and heart attacks and your doctor will lie to you and say they don't know what caused it, or they are not lieng, they are just complete idiots!

Now I will never take any kind of medication except tylonel again. I have to have surgury on both of my legs to remove vericose veins and damage at the age of 21.

BTW, Don't let a doctor tell you or anyone else tell you that researching medication is wrong to only do what the doctor says!!!

SCREW THE DOCTORS ARE YOU THAT DUMB TO NOT REALISE THEY ARE GETTING PAYED TO KEEP THERE MOUTH SHUT AND IGNORE THE TRUTH!!!!????

ANd think this, were these drugs around 2,000 years ago? Those people survived, so we can survive without all these drugs too!! If you're depressed get off your butt and do something, because these pills are just going to make you sleep and be careless. When you think you are up all day enjoying life, trust me, I'm sure you take a nap atleast once a day, and crash when the medications where off!

I have had too much of my life taken away from me, with stroke, vericose venous stasis ulcers and other medical problems just from aleve and these other pills, I know what I am talking about and I will get my point across to as many people as possible!! Altho I can keep my information bottled up becuase I know good information why tell other people but everyone has the right to know! God gave everyone there own individual purpose in life and I need to let people know you are dieng right under your nose and you dont realise it!!!!

i have email eastsidewonderer@yahoo.com and and myspace.com/mygypsyeyess I will be creating a website soon and I need support and feedback on the message boards!! Thanx!!!

I was on cymbalta for a month or so,and had so many problems with it. Migraine 24hrs a day, confusion,could not concentrate, unable to do anything,ect.Also have been on seroquel for a year and a half.When I called Dr. about problems she (well her office) said to stop taking both meds and didnt need to taper off I did stop the cymbalta but not the seroquel. I have run out before and it really did a number on me. Right now I feel so bad it is difficult to write this, and I feel like I'm losing my mind. Extremely depressed and anxious. I got to call Dr. today.Exhausted, feel about to collapse,zaps,shakey flu like,sleep 11 - 12 hrs aday, awake few hrs. and doze off and on all day.Body aches. I feel so much worse than before the cymbalta. I'm calling my Dr now because I am scared.

I've been on Cymbalta for only a month and I'm miserable. Irritability, can't sleep, itching all over. I'm quitting today and dread the brains zaps. I had them before coming off effexor. I like the guy who said opiates help. I've found pain meds to help with my depression and body aches. Need to find someone who understands depression and not a psychiatrist. I've tried all the SSRI's and none have worked for me in years. Nortryptilyne helped but I was totally numb. I'm so glad I found this site. Thank you everyone!

i thought this was gonna be the miracle drug. when you take it, its great but when you miss it for more than two days...all hell breaks loose. i started shaking, itching all over, so tierd and depressed, i couldnt get out of bed, disoriented, blurred vision, lock jaw, cold sweets and hot sweets,my heart was hurting, diarreah, flu like symtoms, crying for no reason, can't eat, throwing up, dizzy like ive never been before, i feel like im outside my body. i wished id never got on this med. the sideffects of missing it are far worse than the help could be. whats gonna happen when i do want off it cause its not working. its just not right to have to take a med for anxiety....of all the meds there has to be something else with not that many side effects. ive been taking it for 8 months. ive been taking it for major anxiety. it does help the anxiety...but what happens when you dont have the money to get it filled or run out for some reason and dont have any. you start feeling all these bad bad bad side effects. i have called my doctor and am waiting to hear from him. im getting off this posion. it make take 8 more months to get off but im getting off of it. i would not suggest to anyone to even try it for one week or day. this should not even be on the market. i never had suicidal thoughts before i was on it...but i swear i wanted to kill myself this morning or my child. the rage i felt...i didnt even know who i was. it was defently not me. please no one take this med and if your on it....GET OFF somehow. i have no idea how im gonna get off this med. if anyone knows of the best way to do this without the dizzy and nausea please help me. i feel like a herione addict. this has to be how they feel comeing off of those kinda drugs. please help me someone!

Melissa,

The first thing to know is that most people can taper off successfully. That includes those who have been told by their doctors that they have to be on an SSRI/SNRI antidepressant for life; plus those who have had severe withdrawal symptoms.

The second thing is to go out and get yourself a copy of the book on antidepresssant withdrawal - 'The Antidepressant Solution' by Joseph Glenmullen. Then, preferably before you start to withdraw, you read it from cover to cover. This will give you the vital information an individual needs to protect yourself from the more unfortunate withdrawal schedules that have been imposed upon patients (including the infamous 'miss-a-day' schedule). It will also allow you to clearly identify withdrawal symptoms, which are often misdiagnosed.

You said "started shaking, itching all over, so tierd and depressed, i couldnt get out of bed, disoriented, blurred vision, lock jaw, cold sweets and hot sweets,my heart was hurting, diarreah, flu like symtoms, crying for no reason, can't eat, throwing up, dizzy like ive never been before, i feel like im outside my body"...

Okay, everything on that list is also a withdrawal symptom - that includes the itching and the disassociation and the cardiac effects and the muscle spasms (jaw) - and the timing fits with the usual onset of Cymbalta withdrawal at Day 2-3. Cold turkey is absolutely not recommended.

There may not be a way to completely avoid the dizziness and the nausea (these are classic withdrawal symptoms), but you may be able to reduce the level of discomfort substantially by adopting a gentle approach.

Above all? Read. Get armed with some solid facts, and that may help you approach the situation with a measure of confidence, and reduced apprehension.

How do I stop getting updates in my email?

I've only been taking Cymbalta for three days and then last night I felt that I shouldn't take another one until I did some research on this drug. I went on-line and found this site. Guess what, I will NOT be taking another Cymbalta. It helped to relieve some of the pain associated with my Fibromyalgia symtoms and I really did feel better after taking just two doses. But I am so afraid to stay on this drug after reading what so many others have to say about it. I noticed on the second day that I was sweating profusely but didn't know that sweating was one of the side effects. I don't want to be one of the many people that have experienced some heck of a side effects. I won't be taking another Cymbalta! I am grateful that I found these testimonials and am going to spread the word to others about this drug so that no one else will have to go through what so many people are experiencing. Thank you.

I'm on 90 mg/day (new dose, up from 60 mg). Started the new dose 1-2 weeks ago.

I feel worse now than ever...apathetic and indifferent. I have very few emotions and no interest in anything (but that's a depression symptom).

I just don't feel as if it's helping me and am looking to hopefully get off of it soon, but who knows what my pyschiatrist will suggest...:(

I take 120mgs. of Cymbalta and my doctor told me to take it at bedtime!(I've been on it for about eight months) No wonder I've not been able to sleep-my mind keeps racing. I took some Soma and that finally knocked me out. But in the past three days, I ran out of the Cymbalta and last night experienced weird effects: nausea (I threw up) my vision was going in and out where I thought I couldn't read a normal font and had to enlarge it. I had a real feeling of unrealness; as if I had forgotten where I was. It got quite severe and finally I just took a cab (I don't drive) and the pharmacist refilled it immediately. I also felt like I didn't give a damn what anyone thought of me, a feeling of loathing myself. Oh, and the sweats! I thought I was having hot flashes during the day because I'm soaked when I do the lightest activity- might be a combination of both. I have epilepsy and am bipolar and take Lamictal, Klonopin and Soma. I never had a withdrawal reaction from an antidepressant before so I wasn't in a hurry to refill it. Then it got so bad on Monday night I called my pharmacist and he told me I was definitely experiencing withdrawl. I'm not so sure about this drug now. Does anyone else feel self hatred, or any of the other symptoms I feel on Cymbalta? I don't feel physically different. I still have back aches. Anyway I've been on them all, and the last one was Effexor. I really thought Cymbalta would be the answer finally, but now I'm not so sure. Thanks.P.S. I hardly feel like eating at ALL but I'm at my highest weight ever, 200lbs-and I am 5'9". I just feel like isolating myself in my apartment, and pass up chances to go places with my friends. I'm also 45 and going through early menopause due to emergency hysterectomy in 2001. Last night was the WORST, diarrhea, a feeling of a seizure coming on, this feeling like I wasn't sitting at my normal place at the computer, but in my hallway (?) when I called my pharmacist he told me I was definitely going through withdrawl and to come in right away. Lilly also used to make Xanax and that was bliss until I abruptly stopped it and suffered horrible seizures. I have an addiction to benzos now. I don't know what I would do if I didn't have my Klonopin. This makes me so angry. I feel like suing Eli Lilly for my symptoms..the commercials are just SO soothing and it seems like the perfect antidepressant. They marketed it VERY well. The only antidepressant I ever had any luck with was Prozac in 1991 and I was at 20.mgs but soon up to the highest dosage of 80mgs when it wasn't working anymore. But when it did, it was the BEST. I actually felt human.

I was an emotional trainwreck. I could not function. Doctor put me on Lexipro and it worked but the side effects were horrible. Cymbalta has cured me, saved my marriage, allowed me to function again. It has given me hope

YES Please stop the Emails

For the last 1 1/2 yrs. I have been being treated for panic disorder and depression.I stopped cymbalta cold turkey 5 days ago.I just came back to work on Monday.I can't focus on anything I need to get done.I'm so dizzy I feel drunk.I'm fighting staying awake every day no matter how much sleep I get at night.I crossed the center line 4 or 5 times yesterday on my way to work.I wish I would of never started the drug but nothing else I've tried has seemed to work other than temp. relief from xanex.

I have been on this for 3 days for chronic pain, not long I know. While it has helped give me energy back and reduce the pain a bit, the 1st day I threw up in the morning, but no other side effects other than occasional dizziness and nausea-every night so far I've woken up really early. Yesterday I got a few red spots in my eyes, something I've never had before(like blood vessels that burst in the whites of the eyes)Near the largest red spot, the white area of my eye actually looks a little off white, maybe a little cream/yellow color. From what I read it may have something to do with Cymbalta? Did anyone else have this happen too?

I was on Zoloft and Paxil for awhile but ended up going off of both due to side effects (weight gain on Zoloft and brain zaps on Paxil. Weaning off Paxil was HELL. I said I would never take an anti depressent again). But, here I am - crying at work, feeling unhappy all the time, being miserable... I talked to my dr. and she recommended Cymbalta.

I've only been on it for 3 days but already I have awful symptoms: extreme nausea that's causing me to not want to eat anything, not even my favorite foods. i have not eaten anything in 3 days (literally... i ate 2 baby carrots b/f i felt like i was going to vomit), so tired but unable to sleep - i wake up so early in the morning (woke right up at 5:30am today & yesterday, don't usually awake until 7am and that's a struggle!). I am going to go off I'm just not sure if I need to wean after only being on it for 3 days????

I have been taking Cymbalta for about 2 months to treat PTSD/major depression. Originally, I started taking Lexapro but after 6 weeks of complete misery my Dr. prescribed Cymbalta (gradually introduced- 20mg Lexapro and 30 mg Cymbalta each day for 3 weeks then only 60mg Cymbalta.) Psychologically, I feel 100 times better! No more suicidal thoughts, no dark cloud over me, no rage, no crying or feelings of hopelessness or worthlessness. That alone is worth my side effects.
The first week I took strictly Cymbalta I slept 18-20 hours a day, my hair started to fall out, I was always sweaty, diarrhea, had constant dry mouth, very vivid dreams, a kind of "floaty" feeling and ZERO appetite.
Now, I sleep 8-10 hours a day plus an afternoon nap (vivid dreams included). My appetite has returned. I still have dry mouth, and sweat quite a bit. My eyes burn(whatever the reason, when my eyes water-they sting/burn) and my vision seems kinda cloudy at times. I've also noticed a type of "delay/hesitation" to urinate. I have my libido back, more energy, and feel more like the old me. After reading so much I'm very nervous for when the time comes to wean off of this. But, I'll deal with that when it comes. For now, I'm just thankful that I've finally found something that works for me and my shrink visits have gone from twice a week to once a month.

I have been taking Cymbalta for about 2 months to treat PTSD/major depression. Originally, I started taking Lexapro but after 6 weeks of complete misery my Dr. prescribed Cymbalta (gradually introduced- 20mg Lexapro and 30 mg Cymbalta each day for 3 weeks then only 60mg Cymbalta.) Psychologically, I feel 100 times better! No more suicidal thoughts, no dark cloud over me, no rage, no crying or feelings of hopelessness or worthlessness. That alone is worth my side effects.
The first week I took strictly Cymbalta I slept 18-20 hours a day, my hair started to fall out, I was always sweaty, diarrhea, had constant dry mouth, very vivid dreams, a kind of "floaty" feeling and ZERO appetite.
Now, I sleep 8-10 hours a day plus an afternoon nap (vivid dreams included). My appetite has returned. I still have dry mouth, and sweat quite a bit. My eyes burn(whatever the reason, when my eyes water-they sting/burn) and my vision seems kinda cloudy at times. I've also noticed a type of "delay/hesitation" to urinate. I have my libido back, more energy, and feel more like the old me. After reading so much I'm very nervous for when the time comes to wean off of this. But, I'll deal with that when it comes. For now, I'm just thankful that I've finally found something that works for me and my shrink visits have gone from twice a week to once a month.

A woman here died from taking Cymbalta with a blood thinner, she bled out.

My pharmacist takes Cymbalta due to hand and foot pain and it's helped her a lot where other meds haven't touched it.

I just know I couldn't take it and am so glad to be able to put this experience behind me. Saying a prayer for all of you still having problems.

I have been taking Cymbalta for 6 months. I have never taken any other type of anti-depressant prior to taking Cymbalta. I had a major life changing event that caused major depression. I was unable to function at all. I could not eat, sleep, take a bath, have a conversation, etc. I took Cymbalta 60 mg. for three months and then my physician reduced the dosage to 30 mg. and I have been taking it for 2 and 1/2 months. The only side effects that I had were in the beginning. I had some dry mouth and tremors. These stopped about a week after taking the medication. I had no ill-effects when dropping the dosage to 30 mg. I feel just fine and my major depression is no longer. I will be discontinuing this drug completely at the end of this month. It was a life-saver for me. I never believed that depression was a "real thing" until it happened to me. Cymbalta literally saved my life.

Cymbalta is a medication from hell and drs do not believe you. Since I started with cymbalta in Feb 2007 my live has never be the same, I have weaned myself very slowly and today is the fifth day without any cymbalta. I feel like a witch, I can't sleep, I feel like shouting and screaming.Headaches! Sweating. It feels as if my brain is on a rollercoaster, I hate everybody, I am so irritated by really stupid stuff. It feels as if I am losing control. I E-mailed Eli Lilly, they want all kinds of info, like who described it to me etc. It sounds as if they dont want to take responsibility for there baby from hell, and what we are going through and the hurt our family experience. Let people be warned!!!!!

Taper off slow.
detox
check out www.theroadback.org

DON'T TAKE THIS DRUG IF YOU DON'T WANT TO TAKE IT FOREVER! i think if I could afford it I would just take it instead of trying not too....
I stopped taking 60mg of Cymbalta about 4 days ago and have been on a voluntarily "family" suicide hold. I have NEVER been suicidal. Depressed yes, but never Suicidal. I have been having horrid side effects from withdrawal. Vivid nightmares having to do with murder, dead people and killing myself. The shakes, crying, feeling like I can't focus - my eyes aren't right. I have a constant headache and am in a fog. I either want to cry or I want to yell at people or punch walls, cut myself something to make the pain in my head stop...It is killing me but luckily I have family that understands drugs and mental health and are keeping an eye on me. I started taking 5mg of Lexipro two days ago and also sinus meds for the head fog.

Aag,

Make sure the sinus medicines you are taking do NOT contain dextromethorphan - look down the ingredients label.

Dextromethorphan and SSRIs taken together put you at risk of serotonin syndrome.

I've only been taking it for 6 days, but now I'm so frightened - I never intended to take it forever and now I hear how horrific it is to leave it. Should I try to quit now? I'm so tired all the time... I think I must've slept about 12 hours last night and I'm struggling to stay awake at work.

I began taking cymbalta 5 months ago and I could cry from happiness now (instead of from depression). I have been off and on a million other drugs for over 10 years, didn't want to go back on any more at all, but my amazing dr suggested I give this a shot after I discussed my fears and she closely monitored me in the beginning. I had a few side effects at first - very sleepy the first week or two and some dry mouth, but the sleepiness went away before the first month was over and the dry mouth a bit later. This drug is a literal lifesaver for me. Combined with weekly talk therapy I am like a whole new person - the happy stable person i NEVER though i could ever be. i imagine that most people who are driven to post on here are the ones who had bad experiences anyway, so these negative posts probably don't represent the majority of cymbalta users. I'd say give it a shot if you feel like nothing else can help.

I meant to update you guys on what happened with me. I posted on June 12 about all the problems I've had with cymbalta, and the thoughts of suicide.

That same day, the thoughts got worse, by 12 noon, I rushed to the doctor. When I got there, I was shaking terribly, I felt like I was having a nervous breakdown. The other doctor in the same office put me in a room, gave me klonipin and Lamictal, a mood stabilizer. I calmed down after about 1/2 hour. I asked why it still affected me this way, she told me it was basically like a dam (cymbalta)in my brain holding back all the chemicals, along with the wellbutrin. When I went off them, it released small amounts of the chemicals, but not enough because of the other anti-depressant. Sorta like a hole in the dam. After my brains chemicals realized it wasn't getting anymore cymbalta and that it had to let go of the overflow of chemicals, the damn burst.

She said I NEVER should have been on Cymbalta, as I said before, I have a very sensitive system. So here it is June 18, and I am feeling tons better, I still have some of the effects, and she says they may continue for a bit more, but, never again will I take a medicine before I do research on it. Oh, also, I forgot to mention that with all the dizziness I had, it never occured to me that a fall I had taken, while I was on cymbalta was because of it. I ended up having a 3rd degree right ankle sprain. I am 6 weeks post falling and still have pain, on crutches and have to wear a brace.

Had I done research, I would have known not to take this. Be your own advocate, don't just go on a medicine because a doctor says this is the "wonder" drug. I will be tapering off the mood stablizers this week as well as the klonipin 3 times a day.

I would rather live with the pain then to take anything other than tylenol.

Good luck to all of you in your cymbalta struggles.

I used to take Cymbalta about a year ago for severe depression - I LOVED IT - I was so happy and didn't have any random outbursts.. When I first started taking the med. I felt a little sick to my stomach but I just chewed gum and drank a ton of water. When I stopped taking cymbalta - I felt fine. I do have to admit that I did start smoking for some reason but I didn't have any of the symptoms that are described in the rest of this - I recently started taking the med again - and I feel like i'm back to my normal self - No more rainy clouds over my head - I LOVE THIS STUFF!!

CRAP! After reading account after account of horror stories here, I want to get off this stuff. NOW! I've been on 60 mg from the start which was 44 days ago. No side-effects at all. I'm leaning toward cold turkey as I've read here that no matter what, the withdrawl is the same. Since I've only been on it for a month and a half, I'm hoping for a better experience getting off than what I've read about here. Please comment on this. PLEASE!

Started at 60 mg on May 7th, 44 days ago. No side effects until the 44th day: vivid dreams and night sweats. Googled out of curiosity and read the stories here. Got scared! Today would have been my 45th dose. I didn't take it. I'm going to try to go off cold turkey and I'll write everyday, if I can.

I followed some of your posts and found it really helpful that those of you going off this drug checked in every day for the rest of us to know what to expect. Special thanks to Michelle, I hope you okay. Last we heard you were on day 12.

Since I had no unpleasant side effects from this drug (I'm only stopping because of what I read here) and I've been on it for a relatively short time compared to some of the posters here, I am hoping my withdrawal will be easier. I'll keep you posted. I usually take my dose between 7:00-8:30AM, so I'm only two hours late as of this writing. I'm pretty scared. Love, Terrie...

Ok, I have read horror story after horror story and poor Terrie is scared to death. I have been on 120 mg for over a year and this is the greatest pill that I have ever taken. I was diagnosed severely depressed several years ago and have tried every drug on the market with no relief until I was introduced to Cymbalta. So, Terrie, I would really recommend checking with your physician before just stopping because of what you read on here because as we all know, its much more fun to tell your bad opinions than it is to tell your good opinions and someone who isn't having problems with cymbalta probably wouldn't find this website. The only reason I was looking was because I do sweat a lot and I was just curious as to if that was common on this drug, but I will certainly not stop taking it because I sweat...

I was petrified when I read the horror stories writen here.My father started cymbalta 60 mg today for the first time. He was diagnosed with prostate cancer a year ago and his doctor prescribed cymbalta for pain and numbness recently caused by it. He does not have history of depression. However the doctor said that it would help with the numbness. I am grateful that i checked this site today because tomorrow i've decided to ask the doctor to take my dad off cymbalta.

Wow. I linked here by accident, seeing what new SSRIs were on the market. I've been taking 120mg of Cymbalta for about nine months. I'm wanting something different because it's no longer working for my OCD.

Before Cymbalta, I took Lexapro, and before that I took Luvox. Coming off the Luvox was really nasty and I hate to repeat that experience. However, looks like I'll be coming down from the Cymbalta this week! Wish me luck. /sigh

I am down to 10 mg from 60 mg and the tapering is definitely the way to go. You still have some minor withdrawal (Headaches and shakes) but my doctor handed me 7 pills and said skip a day and be done in 2 weeks. by day 2 I was flipping so hopefully in 2-3 weeks I will be off it. I have enough pills I will be taking for a lifetime (colitis) I really didn't want another. And the flatline I became was just too much for me.

Today is my second day without a dose. Roughly 50 hours without the 60mg I had been taking for about 44 days w/no unpleasant side effects.

I'm ever so slightly dizzy but I feel good so far.
Love, Terrie...