How To Discontinue Cymbalta Safely?

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I am age 68, and have had grey curly hair since I was in my twenties. I started taking 30 of Cymbalta less than twomonths ago. My hair is now completely straight, I feel extremely tired all the time, without enough energy to do my housework, or even barely take a shower. I rarely leave my home anymore. All my bloodwork remains normal. I don't know what to do, and am afraid to discontinue the Cymbalta for fear of side effects from stopping it. Help, please.

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1

Hello, Mimi! How are you feeling? I'm sorry about the problems that you're having.

I do not have any information on it changing hair from curly to straight, so I can't speak on that, but the other symptoms you've mentioned can be normal side effects of this medication, as listed by the FDA, you may also experience nausea, weight changes and dry mouth.

As to stopping it, you should consult your doctor, so they can help you set up a proper and safe tapering schedule to prevent the possible withdrawal effects. Alternatively, they should also be able to prescribe another medication that you can try.

What condition are you taking it to treat?

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2

I just wrote a detailed summary of my problems and symptoms and it somehow was lost before it posted. So, I'll try again with a shorter version:) I was first started on antidepressants many, many years ago. The first one that worked was Zoloft, but another prescribed Prozac which I took for several years. Then a little more than two months ago another doctor changed me to Cymbalta. Originally I was started on these meds to help me tolerate pain associated with degenerative arthritis which started in my back. I have also been taking Oxycodone for approximately eight years for the same problem, except the pain now involves my entire body. After about six weeks of 60 mg Cymbalta daily I realized it had taken over my life in a very bad way. I've gained 23 lbs, have nausea with stomach pain, absolutely no energy, rarely leave my home, do nothing daily, do not take care of myself or my home, and after going to bed about 11 p.m., I sleep until at least 10 a.m. every day. Antipressants were also used to help me cope with the loss of our son followed by the death of my husband six years later. I have had four back surgeries for spinal fusions. The arthritis now involves my entire body and extremely painful. My daily Oxycodone is 10-5-5-5-10 mg. This schedule has worked well for about five years until starting Cymbalta. That is when the sleeping so late each day started, along with the other side effects listed already. The other side effect that is really disturbing is if I try to make myself get up earlier, I'm groggy, can hardly walk without stumbling, and generally feel crappy. After the first month I would only take one Cymbalta, but, I didn't feel any better. I want my life back, so please help me, if possible. Thank you so much.

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3

Now I bet you're sorry for asking me to be as detailed as possible in my last message:-) I'm an older woman who only occasionally loves to talk. LOL!

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4

Nope! No regrets, at all! :-) The more details the better in such situations.

Additionally, I also adore my future mother-in-law, who is in her 60's and I talk to her almost every day for most of the day, when my fiancé is at work. I have always gotten along with those older than myself, perhaps because I listen and let you all talk?

Anyway, a slow taper would be best to prevent the worst of the withdrawal effects. From what you've described, it sounds like this one is backfiring in you and causing you to be depressed.

The doctor may have switched you to the Cymbalta, because it's also known to help some people with nerve pain more than the others you mentioned usually do.

But I agree, it doesn't seem like it's the right one for you.

Have you considered consulting your doctor about going back on the Prozac? If it was working well for you, switching back might eliminate the withdrawal concerns.

And the bonus is that it rarely causes weight gain, it's actually more commonly known to cause weight loss.

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5

You are precious! Thank you! Would it be appropriate for me to reply (I would try to keep them brief:) to others just to let them know that someone out here cares? Since I am down to 30 mg/day, would it be safe to maybe start back on Prozac the next after taking my last Cymbalta? Also, could the Cymbalta be the reason I'm having the problems with my Oxycodone? Thank you for taking the time to help me with my concerns. Everyone should know about MedsChat!

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6

Can anyone tell me more of the side effects associated with Cymbalta withdrawal, please. I'm over a week into stopping on my own, and want to make sure the symptoms I'm having are all due to withdrawal, or possibly due to other health problems. One is vertigo. (?) Thank you for any help.

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7

Replying to others is completely appropriate and greatly appreciated.

I can tell them the facts, but it's not the same as getting support from someone that's actually taken it.

The withdrawal side effects from these types of medications usually including nausea, dizziness (vertigo), fever/chills, diarrhea and rebound depression and/or pain, with body aches.

Is there anything else I can help with?

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8

Well, I've got all those covered!:) I intend to resume my leftover Prozac in a few days, and visit my doctor after the snowy weather clears. Thank you for helping me.

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9

You're very welcome! I hope it all clears up, soon! Please keep me updated!

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10

Hello! Just wanted to mention something regarding Cymbalta that may or may not be relevant to Mimi's problems but I think it's worth considering. My daughter was placed on Cymbalta because she went to the ER with excruciating abdominal pain and her pancreatitis was misdiagnosed by an ER Physicians Assistant as anxiety! (I know--unbelievable!) As a result, she was sent to a Nurse Practitioner therapist (to deal with her non-existent anxiety!) who put her on an overdose level of Cymbalta and she developed something called serotonin syndrome. This was done even though her pancreatitis had by then been correctly diagnosed when it flared up again two weeks later. When her own doctor found out what had been done to her, she took her off the Cymbalta (cold turkey) and told her to tell the NP she needed Xanax to help her deal with the effects of quitting the Cymbalta. The NP refused, told my daughter she was drug seeking (even though she was only following her doctor's orders). That was eight years ago. The Cymbalta did so much damage to her that she was diagnosed with PTSD and developed many other problems as well. Cymbalta turned my independent adult daughter into someone who is barely able to cope with life and lives with severe anxiety and panic attacks. My daughter, by the way, deals with all the resulting depression, anxiety, etc. without any pharmaceutical help since she isn't able to tolerate any of the meds used to treat these problems. She's tried different meds and the result is grand mal seizures, petit mal seizures, rage, serotonin syndrome, etc. Therapy helps her cope somewhat but Cymbalta has ruined her life. Read about serotonin syndrome--you'll want to get off Cymbalta as fast as you can! My heart goes out to you and I hope you're able to decrease your dose and quit taking this stuff ASAP. The psychological symptoms are in addition to all the side effects Verwon has mentioned. I agree with her; if the Prozac helped, take it again.

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11

Thank you, Mae Anne, for your message. I sincerely hope that your daughter will soon somehow be able to overcome the terrible effects of this mind and body damaging drug. I will keep her as well as you, in my prayers. I truly think this so-called antidepressant should be banded from being able to be prescribed. I took it for a little over three months before deciding on my own to stop taking it. I'm doing this with no help from doctors or drugs. It is one of the hardest things I have ever done, but I knew beyond any doubt that I had to do this now before getting anymore of it into my system. Never have I stopped taking any prescribed drug without first consulting my doctor first, but, I knew he would prescribe another drug and that frightened me too much to chance it. I had also been prescribed Buspirone (sp?) at the same time which I stopped first. After stopping Cymbalta a little over a week ago, I restarted Prozac 20 mg yesterday, and will increase with another 20 mg in a couple of weeks, which is what I was taking previously. I'm thankful that I had kept what I had left over from before. I am having a hard time coping with the effects, but, I hopefully, in time, I will feel better. I'm usually not one to suggest this, but, I do believe that in your daughter's case these people should be sued. It certainly will not help her health, but it may cause these supposed medical professionals to not rush to decide that patients need mental/emotional meds before doing necessary diagnostics to make sure they are right. Again, thank you for replying to my post. God bless you both!

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12

How much longer will withdrawal from Cymbalta continue? Or, maybe that's not what is causing the vertigo, etc? I'm starting to get worried. Our area is still having weather causing dangerous driving conditions, at least for me, and I can't visit my doctor.

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