My Cymbalta story by lundeliz

[lundeliz]

Sorry Omlett, I reread your post and see you have been tapering for two years. I tried

 

tapering Cymbalta for over two years, too, but didn't make it as far as you have.

 

Alto, thank you for the good wishes.

[flower]

Good luck on the 1mg drop...I will be watching as I think of doing the same. The tinnitus stops me. I might have to do .5mgs though since I'm a big baby..lol

[omlett]

Hi Lundeliz,

 

Yesterday was my lowest point - I was crying to my 12 years old son - but I stick to the 5 beads. I can't imagine how those 5 bloody beads can causing such a havoc. I already tapered off of benzo four years ago and got AD to "help" with WD symptoms. Apparently it was a bad idea, but I was so desperate to get some sleep and put on some weight.

Well I did more than I wanted:(

 

After two years I realized Cymbalta don't do me any good and on the top of that give me side effects so I asked my P doc to taper me off. He gave me a super fast taper schedule (two weeks). I got all those nasty WD symptoms like brain zaps, panic, anxiety, diarrhea and so on. All in all i went back on Cymbalta and stabilized then I started my own taper and still doing it. Today actually I'm very well..working and in good mood.

 

My BP is a long story since my WD in tend to spike and when it does i get really anxious.

 

That's it for now. Hope you well today.

[Altostrata]

omlett, please start a topic in this Introductions topic for yourself, we'll be happy to support you, too.

[lundeliz]

Glad you are having a better day, Omlett. I am having a not so good day. I so wish I knew if I should

 

go back up, go down, or stay put. I really want to do this right, but I can't figure out what right is.

 

I will stick this out, too. I guess with my up, down, and all around I will eventually get there. The

 

blood pressure really worries me though. Mine has gotten very scary high. How fast are you tapering now?

 

Take it easy. I hope the rest of the way goes well for you.

[omlett]

Hi Lundeliz,

 

I'm sure we get there:)

 

As alto advised me I'm starting a topic and not stealing yours, but I will visit yours.

 

- O

[omlett]

I stay on 5 beads for a while, no rush. I visited my doc in the morning, a week ago I had 24 hours blood pressure monitor fitted, and the result was fine. O don't even need medication.

Lundeliz taper off of meds can really mess up with BP. Hope yours stabilizes soon.

 

Have a good day

 

- O

[lundeliz]

Hi all. I could really use some advice. I'm doing fairly well. Having some anxiety and stomach problems, but it's

 

all mostly bearable. Also having some pretty down days. I'm feeling like I have made such a mess of getting off

 

these meds. It has been almost 9 months since I switched from Cymbalta to Celexa. Cymbalta had become almost impossible

 

to taper any further. But I have been in a fog ever since the switch. Could it be effects from quitting Cymbalta, or

 

is it that Celexa just doesn't agree with me? I've never felt stable on the Celexa. Should I hold for a very long time

 

to see if I stabilize, or not prolong staying on the Celexa any longer than necessary? What would give me the better chance

 

of getting my life back, because right now I'm feeling like that's not going to happen. I realize nobody knows for sure

 

but I would appreciate just any comments. Thanks.

[Altostrata]

Some people find Celexa makes them drowsy.

 

How about reducing by a very small amount, maybe .5mg, and see how you feel?

[lundeliz]

Hi Alto, I did make a small decrease in dosage. I couldn't notice any change in symptoms.

 

My stomach seems to be getting worse. It's not really pain, it's burning and gnawing and

 

feeling tied in knots. The nausea is not so bad right now. I'm feeling anxious and agitated

 

all of the time. I'm trying to resist the temptation to taper faster. Since my symptoms never

 

stabilize I guess I will continue to make small decreases in dosage every few weeks, and hope

 

for the best. Is that a good plan? Do you think I held long enough after making the huge

 

drop? I honestly can see no pattern to my symptoms. Except after the big drop, I had some

 

improvement in some symptoms. Thanks for being here.

[Altostrata]

I'd do a .5mg decrease every 2 weeks. I suspect you've had an allergic reaction to Celexa.

[lundeliz]

Thank you so much, Alto. That is my thinking too. But it's so nice to get your opinion.

 

That's what I will do. But just because I'm having reaction to Celexa, I will still have

 

withdrawal also, isn't that right? I feel very relieved to at least have a plan. Thank you

 

so much for always being here.

[flower]

Good Luck Liz...I'll be keeping up with you..

[lundeliz]

Thank you, Flower. We've gotta be cheerleaders for each other. You'll

 

be right behind me with your taper. Here we go.

[Altostrata]

Having an adverse reaction to the drug and having to taper to avoid withdrawal is a difficult balancing act.

 

See how you do with 2-week decreases.

[flower]

You are right Liz. We can do this.

[lundeliz]

Is there any way whatsoever to distinguish between withdrawal symptoms and side effects? I am feeling

 

so very sick. I am on 9mg citalopram(I dropped .5mg almost 2 weeks ago.) I have a horrible headache,

 

my legs are killing me, my vision is very blurry. My whole body feels tensed up. I'm having the face flushing

 

again, no sweating, just hot. My bp is up tonight. I'm so scared to do anything for fear of making things worse.

 

Could 9mg of citalopram actually make someone this sick if you are sensitive to it or allergic? I feel so scared.

[Skyler]

Is there any way whatsoever to distinguish between withdrawal symptoms and side effects? I am feeling so very sick. I am on 9mg citalopram(I dropped .5mg almost 2 weeks ago.) I have a horrible headache, my legs are killing me, my vision is very blurry. My whole body feels tensed up. I'm having the face flushing again, no sweating, just hot. My bp is up tonight. I'm so scared to do anything for fear of making things worse.

 

Could 9mg of citalopram actually make someone this sick if you are sensitive to it or allergic? I feel so scared.

Hi Lunde.. I think everything you list can be withdrawal. I'm so sorry you are being hit by all this.. it sounds absolutely awful. The main AD contingent in the states will be along shortly, and they will know more but what you detail above fits the WD profile. I hope you managed to get some sleep after you posted your message.

 

Skyler

[Altostrata]

Did the symptoms get better, worse, or the same since you decreased, lundeliz?

[lundeliz]

Thank you for the support, Skyler. I appreciate it. I looked at my journal, Alto. The only difference after the drop

 

that I can see is I had some minor diarrhea after the drop. Since Monday, 10 days after the .5mg drop, I have had a really

 

bad headache and leg ache, facial flushing and extreme fatigue. I know I will get through it. I just feel desperate sometimes,

 

trying to figure it out. I appreciate your support very much.

[Skyler]

Thank you for the support, Skyler. I appreciate it. I looked at my journal, Alto. The only difference after the drop

 

that I can see is I had some minor diarrhea after the drop. Since Monday, 10 days after the .5mg drop, I have had a really

 

bad headache and leg ache, facial flushing and extreme fatigue. I know I will get through it. I just feel desperate sometimes,

 

trying to figure it out. I appreciate your support very much.

You are most welcome Lunde.. I've been following your posts for some time, and in all honestly, don't know I'd be doing as well as you are in the circumstances. All things considered, you have been most patient. Headaches and facial flushing, symptoms that are in your head are very difficult to put aside. Not think about.. and what have we when there is so much hurt but to try to make sense of the whole painful conundrum. Wish I could help more, but I will keep watching for word from you. All the best.. very good thoughts your way.

 

I'm sure Alto will have more feedback when she comes back on.

[Altostrata]

It seems you felt better after the drop from 24mg to 10mg December 7.

 

My guess is that decreasing is the way to go.

[lundeliz]

Thank you both. I will carry on!

[Altostrata]

Since it seems you might become sensitized 10 days after a drop, I'd figure on decreasing every 9 days.

[lundeliz]

It does seem that way, Alto. Do you think I can get away with tapering

 

that often? I guess there's only one way to find out, right? Thank you

 

so much for your guidance. I would be totally lost.

[Altostrata]

If you feel better after a reduction, it's an indication you're going in the right direction.

[lundeliz]

Hi. Just giving a little update. Still struggling to figure out what I need to do all the time. Reduce or hold?

 

I'm at 7.5mg now. Having really bad headaches, blurry vision, very weak and tired. But little by little I'm chipping

 

away at the Celexa and trying to keep my eye on the prize, being Celexa free.

[Altostrata]

Good to hear from you, L. How are the rashes, diarrhea, etc.? How long have you been at 7.5mg?

[lundeliz]

Hi Alto, I've dropped to 7.5mg on April 2. No more rashes, and diarrhea has gotten

 

better in just the last few days. Anxiety has been better, too, just hits me

 

occasionally. Well, seeing it on paper, it sounds like I'm feeling better.

 

So maybe I really am better and just can't realize it yet!

[Altostrata]

Thank goodness! Sounds like decreases are the way to go. You'll pull through this.

[lundeliz]

Thank you for saying that. I still really need to hear it.

[Jemima]

Hi Alto, I've dropped to 7.5mg on April 2. No more rashes, and diarrhea has gotten

 

better in just the last few days. Anxiety has been better, too, just hits me

 

occasionally. Well, seeing it on paper, it sounds like I'm feeling better.

 

So maybe I really am better and just can't realize it yet!

 

Many times it's difficult to see our own progress. It just seems so horridly slow from the inside looking out. I found that my intro thread, used like a journal, has been very helpful in seeing how far I've come.

 

There are no magical, overnight cures, but you do definitely seem to be getting better. Hang in there, girl. These awful drugs can be overcome in time.

[lundeliz]

Thank you, Jemima! I appreciate the words of encouragement very much!

[lundeliz]

I have a question about dosing. Because my headaches have gotten very bad, I was wondering

 

about splitting the dose. When I reinstated Cymbalta, I had very bad headaches. I started splitting

 

my dose, taking it twice daily and it helped a lot. It seems a little silly I know to split 7.5mg

 

into two doses, but if it might help I would like to try. My blood pressure is also high again and I'm

 

feeling out of breath. Is there any reason why I should not try splitting the dose? I would appreciate

 

any input or opinions. Thanks!

[Altostrata]

Sure, split it if you think it would help. It's such a small dose, it might be hitting your system hard when you take it, raising your blood pressure, and then leaving your body quickly, causing other symptoms.

[lundeliz]

Thank you Alto, it's worth a try I think.