Jackson03: New to this forum.

[Jackson03]

Hello all, I was on a benzodiazepine for one year and then was diagnosed as having depression. I was put on Prozac, and when that didn't work; put on cipralex. That was 15 years ago. We moved in 2008, and another doctor put me on Cymbalta for fibro pain. She now says it was for depression, even after I told her that I wasn't feeling depressed. I have withdrawn from the benzo, and am off now for 4 months. I want to come off of the Cymbalta next, however I am still very sick from the benzo withdrawal. I am hoping to learn all I can about coming off of Cymbalta and cipralex. Thank you everyone.

Edited December 10, 2016 by Shep
added tags

[Shep]

Hi, Jackson.

 

Welcome to Surviving Antidepressants (SA). 

 

Let me start you off with a few links about antidepressants and withdrawal:

 

What is withdrawal syndrome? 
 
The Windows and Waves Pattern of Stabilization

 

Why taper by 10% of my dosage?

 

 

This is information specific to Cymbalta and cipralex:

 

Tips for tapering off Cymbalta (duloxetine)

 

Tips for tapering off Lexapro (escitalopram)
(Aka Cipralex, Seroplex, Lexamil, Lexam)

 

And information on deciding which drug to taper first:

 

Taking multiple psych drugs? Which drug to taper first?

 

I also am a survivor of long-term benzo use (among many other drugs), so I do understand wanting to wait until your benzo symptoms resolve. That is really the best way to go.

 

Hopefully, as you recover from your benzo use, you'll have time to study and read and coming off of antidepressants.

 

Please list your drug history in a signature. Please also list your most recent benzo history, as this is relevant, too. Here's how to create a signature:

 

Please put your withdrawal history in signature

 

This is your thread to list your symptoms and to ask plenty of questions. I'm glad you found us for information and support. 

 

 

[hopeful7]

Hi Jackson

 

Just wanted to say hello and best of luck with your coming-off-meds journey.

 

hopeful

[Rockingchaircat]

Best of wishes. The best thing right now is to stabilize off of the Benzos. And don't rush it.  Taking the time to be careful is the best option.

[JanCarol]

Hey Jackson - 

 

If I were you, I would wait until the benzo withdrawals settle down before jumping into an antidepressant taper.

 

When we get the dates of your changes in your signature, we can better suggest a course for you.  We will need doses, wherever possible, and the dates those doses were changed.  (month and year is fine)  Mostly, we are concerned about the past year, to see what changes are still rattling around in your system.

 

4 months off the benzo - if it were me, I'd wait another 2 months, to get a resolution.  It also matters how you came off the benzo - if it was a slow taper, you should heal better.  If it was a fast taper or a cold turkey, it may take a lot longer for your system to settle down.

 

Think of it as a hillside.  A slow taper gently rolls you down a hillside, and you can control it.  But a fast taper is like coming off a tall mountain, and the consequences take longer to heal from.  During a slow taper, you are healing the whole time.  A fast taper causes you to have to do all of your healing at once, at the bottom of the hill.

 

This time of waiting for your benzo withdrawal to settle, is a perfect opportunity to learn how to taper safely, and plan your approach!

 

Before You Begin Taper - What you Should Know

 

Preparing to Taper

 

Please put your current drugs into: Drugs.com Drug Interaction checker  and see how wrong your doctor has been.  Normally, this will tell us things about where to start your taper, but they are both pretty equal.  I think it depends on how long you've been on each, and at what doses.

 

Let us know how we can help, and please help us with that signature.

 

I hope you see the sun today.