Tacoma16 Posted April 15, 2017 Share Posted April 15, 2017 25yr old male on 120mg of cymbalta to treat depression, I was tired of insomnia,feeling numb and many other side effects and decided to stop. Live in a rural area and access to mental healthcare without being admitted is minimal without booking weeks in advance. Decided to try to taper myself and went to 60mg 1 week ago and withdrawal symptoms were severe so next day I Decided that I would treat this as I did a cigarette addiction and quit cold turkey to have severe withdrawal for a short time compared to less severe withdrawal for a longer period. I have bad flu like symptoms, terrible brain zaps worse than after weeks of mdma abuse when I was a teenager. Dizziness is bad and so is ringing in ears. It's been a week and symptom.s have gotten worse and not better, very hard to do my job (auto mechanic) and to look after my 3 children. How much longer could I expect these symptoms to last? I'm in a much worse state now than I ever was depressed and much worse than any other withdrawal I have been through. Wish I was better informed September 2016-Escitalopram 10mg October 2016- Escitalopram 20mg November 2016- Escitalopram 30mg December 2016- off Escitalopram onto 30mg cymbalta got mild brain zaps for 2 weeks January 2017- cymbalta 60mg February 2017 cymbalta 120mg, dose was put up due to back pain April 08 2017 took last dose of cymbalta Link to comment
ShakeyJerr Posted April 15, 2017 Share Posted April 15, 2017 Hi Tacoma. I'm a newbie here like you. I'm sure a moderator will be by soon to guve you sime durection. But I just wanted to say hello, and to let you know you are not in this alone. This is a good community to get support from. SJ Main thread: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/14472-shakeyjerr-say-hello/ History: Prozac & Lithium from 1999 to 2003. Ended up back on after 4 months because taking a beta-blocker caused immediate depression (just 2 doses - turned out I didn't even need it; I had no other withdrawal symptoms - I might have ended up med and withdrawal-free otherwise ). - Switched to Effexor (75mg 3/day) and Seroquel (50mg 3/day) in 2010. - Did a self-taper during 2016. - Developed Discontinuation Syndrome 02/17. Supplements: Magnesium-Glycinate 400mg split into 4 100mg doses throughout the day. Vitamin C 500mg - once per day. Fish Oil 1360 mg (950 mg Active Omega-3) - twice per day. I'm not a doctor. I use the internet, experience, and trial & error. Seek medical advice if necessary. Link to comment
Alice1 Posted April 16, 2017 Share Posted April 16, 2017 hey T16. Listen to me carefully .. If it's only been a week you're going to want to get back on and taper super slowly. BEFORE YOU GET BACK ON let the mods guide you on what to do. They'll be here shortly. December 2014 - Lexapro 20 mg August 2016 Med free (6 week taper) December 22 2021 added Abilify 5mg / Ativan .5mg / Depakote ER 1000mg Discontinued Abilify 5mg on 12-30-21---accidental dose on 1-13-22 (looks like Ativan) Ativan PRN/Discontinued 1-14-22 Only drug is Depakote ER 1000mg ( looking to taper slow and safe for once ) 3/24/22 Depakote 625mg Propranolol 20-40mg PRN Link to comment
Tacoma16 Posted April 16, 2017 Author Share Posted April 16, 2017 Thabks for the replys, will there be longer lasting withdrawal effects without tapering? If I can fight through it without a taper that would be ideal for me, I've put enough of this poison into me and I would rather not continue to take any of it. September 2016-Escitalopram 10mg October 2016- Escitalopram 20mg November 2016- Escitalopram 30mg December 2016- off Escitalopram onto 30mg cymbalta got mild brain zaps for 2 weeks January 2017- cymbalta 60mg February 2017 cymbalta 120mg, dose was put up due to back pain April 08 2017 took last dose of cymbalta Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus ChessieCat Posted April 16, 2017 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted April 16, 2017 Hi Tacoma and welcome to SA, Thank you for completing your drug signature. Have you taken any other psychiatric drugs prior to September 2016? If yes, please include these in your signature. I can understand your reluctance about going back on the drug, and many members here feel the same way. However, the only known way to relieve withdrawal symptoms is to take the same drug, stabilise and then taper. _________________ My own experience might help you to understand what these drugs can cause: I attempted to drop my Pristiq dose by 50% - I went from 100mg to 50mg. I got an upset stomach for about 3 days which I thought was a stomach bug. I now know it was caused by withdrawal. I had a very foggy head for 2 1/2 weeks and when I researched AD withdrawal I found SA. By 3 weeks at the lower dose I couldn't type. I am a professional typist so genuinely not being able to type alerted me to the fact that something was wrong. When I joined SA it had been suggested that I updose. After not being able to type I took additional Pristiq and within 4 hours my foggy head was clearing and I was able to type. I had a benchmark so I know that it was not placebo. After stabilising for a couple of months on 75mg I started tapering as per SA's recommendations. I found that once my dose got lower the side effects lessened and I started to feel more like my old self. I have since been tapering successfully with only very mild withdrawal symptoms. I am now down to 26mg!!! _________________ SA recommends a taper of no more than 10% of the previous dose followed by a hold of about 4 weeks which allows the brain to adapt to not getting as much of the drug. I will give you some links to check out: Why taper by 10% of my dosage? About reinstating and stabilizing to reduce withdrawal symptomsDr Joseph Glenmullen's WD Symptoms Checklist dr-david-healy-on-prolonged-antidepressant-withdrawal-syndrome-2009 These helped me to understand SA's recommendations: Brain Remodelling Video: Healing From Antidepressants - Patterns of Recovery You might also find these topics helpful: How do you talk to a doctor about tapering and withdrawal? What should I expect from my doctor about withdrawal symptoms? This is your own Intro topic where you can ask questions and journal your progress. If you click "Follow" top right you will be notified when someone responds. * NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA * MISSION ACCOMPLISHED: (6 year taper) 0mg Pristiq on 13th November 2021 ADs since ~1992: 25+ years - 1 unknown, Prozac (muscle weakness), Zoloft; citalopram (pooped out) CTed (very sick for 2.5 wks a few months after); Pristiq: 50mg 2012, 100mg beg 2013 (Serotonin Toxicity) Tapering from Oct 2015 - 13 Nov 2021 LAST DOSE 0.0025mg Post 0 updates start here My tapering program My Intro (goes to tapering graph) VIDEO: Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome and its Management Link to comment
Alice1 Posted April 16, 2017 Share Posted April 16, 2017 Everybody is different but yes. Cold turkey is terrible. I tapered over 6 weeks and I'm almost 8 months off and I'm pretty bad. I have to force myself to do everything . I chose to endure it though. I used to be a highly functional person. Now I'm barely functional. Doing what I can to promote healing which I have no doubt I'm healing it just doesn't feel like it yet. If you have support from your family (most importantly financial) then that's a very very good thing ,but if you're on your own and taking care of your children on your own then you need to carefully think this through. You were on the drugs for a short period but you went up and down a lot with a cold switch. PLEASE LISTEN CLOSELY TO WHAT THE MODS HAVE TO SAY !!! This is NOT like cigarettes. December 2014 - Lexapro 20 mg August 2016 Med free (6 week taper) December 22 2021 added Abilify 5mg / Ativan .5mg / Depakote ER 1000mg Discontinued Abilify 5mg on 12-30-21---accidental dose on 1-13-22 (looks like Ativan) Ativan PRN/Discontinued 1-14-22 Only drug is Depakote ER 1000mg ( looking to taper slow and safe for once ) 3/24/22 Depakote 625mg Propranolol 20-40mg PRN Link to comment
Tacoma16 Posted April 19, 2017 Author Share Posted April 19, 2017 Well the past 2 days have been much better, still tired and have brain zaps but not as often, other symptoms have decreased 60-70% and I mentally haven't felt this well in a long time September 2016-Escitalopram 10mg October 2016- Escitalopram 20mg November 2016- Escitalopram 30mg December 2016- off Escitalopram onto 30mg cymbalta got mild brain zaps for 2 weeks January 2017- cymbalta 60mg February 2017 cymbalta 120mg, dose was put up due to back pain April 08 2017 took last dose of cymbalta Link to comment
Alice1 Posted April 19, 2017 Share Posted April 19, 2017 Maybe you'll get lucky and only have short mild symptoms. That would be so so awesome. Take care. December 2014 - Lexapro 20 mg August 2016 Med free (6 week taper) December 22 2021 added Abilify 5mg / Ativan .5mg / Depakote ER 1000mg Discontinued Abilify 5mg on 12-30-21---accidental dose on 1-13-22 (looks like Ativan) Ativan PRN/Discontinued 1-14-22 Only drug is Depakote ER 1000mg ( looking to taper slow and safe for once ) 3/24/22 Depakote 625mg Propranolol 20-40mg PRN Link to comment
ShakeyJerr Posted April 19, 2017 Share Posted April 19, 2017 That's awesome, Tacoma16! Maybe like Alice said, you'll have short mild symptoms. Keep us updated. Main thread: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/14472-shakeyjerr-say-hello/ History: Prozac & Lithium from 1999 to 2003. Ended up back on after 4 months because taking a beta-blocker caused immediate depression (just 2 doses - turned out I didn't even need it; I had no other withdrawal symptoms - I might have ended up med and withdrawal-free otherwise ). - Switched to Effexor (75mg 3/day) and Seroquel (50mg 3/day) in 2010. - Did a self-taper during 2016. - Developed Discontinuation Syndrome 02/17. Supplements: Magnesium-Glycinate 400mg split into 4 100mg doses throughout the day. Vitamin C 500mg - once per day. Fish Oil 1360 mg (950 mg Active Omega-3) - twice per day. I'm not a doctor. I use the internet, experience, and trial & error. Seek medical advice if necessary. Link to comment
Tacoma16 Posted April 27, 2017 Author Share Posted April 27, 2017 Only symptoms left after 2 weeks are brain zaps right before bed and I am still very tired in the morning. I've been taking a multivitamin and fish oil to try and help get things back to normal September 2016-Escitalopram 10mg October 2016- Escitalopram 20mg November 2016- Escitalopram 30mg December 2016- off Escitalopram onto 30mg cymbalta got mild brain zaps for 2 weeks January 2017- cymbalta 60mg February 2017 cymbalta 120mg, dose was put up due to back pain April 08 2017 took last dose of cymbalta Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus Petunia Posted April 27, 2017 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted April 27, 2017 I'm glad to hear you are feeling better Tacoma, hopefully, you will be lucky and this will be the end of it. Some people do get better quickly, especially after short term use. I wouldn't call 7 months short term, but its better than 7 years. Please stay in touch and let us know how you are doing. If symptoms get worse again, please let us know, this pattern of feeling better then feeling worse is quite common with antidepressant withdrawal recovery. I've got my fingers crossed that you are over the worst of it now I'm not a doctor. My comments are not medical advise. These are my opinions based on my own experience and what I've learned. Please discuss your situation with a medical practitioner who has knowledge of tapering and withdrawal...if you are lucky enough to find one. My Introduction Thread Full Drug and Withdrawal History Brief Summary Several SSRIs for 13 years starting 1997 (for mild to moderate partly situational anxiety) Xanax PRN ~ Various other drugs over the years for side effects 2 month 'taper' off Lexapro 2010 Short acute withdrawal, followed by 2 -3 months of improvement then delayed protracted withdrawal DX ADHD followed by several years of stimulants and other drugs trying to manage increasing symptoms Failed reinstatement of Lexapro and trial of Prozac (became suicidal) May 2013 Found SA, learned about withdrawal, stopped taking drugs...healing begins. Protracted withdrawal, with a very sensitized nervous system, slowly recovering as time passes Supplements which have helped: Vitamin C, Magnesium, Taurine Bad reactions: Many supplements but mostly fish oil and Vitamin D June 2016 - Started daily juicing, mostly vegetables and lots of greens. Aug 2016 - Oct 2016 Best window ever, felt almost completely recovered Oct 2016 -Symptoms returned - bad days and less bad days. April 2018 - No windows, but significant improvement, it feels like permanent full recovery is close. VIDEO: Where did the chemical imbalance theory come from? VIDEO: How are psychiatric diagnoses made? VIDEO: Why do psychiatric drugs have withdrawal syndromes? VIDEO: Can psychiatric drugs cause long-lasting negative effects? VIDEO: Dr. Claire Weekes Link to comment
Tacoma16 Posted May 7, 2017 Author Share Posted May 7, 2017 Feeling much better now, Slight dizziness and brain zaps on occasion but not often also short temper but with a little patience I can get over it. I couldn't imagine someone who had never come off drugs before stopping these meds and getting through it without tapering and a lot of help. I feel better now than I did before I started taking the meds and definitely better than I did I was on them. I have been taking omega 3 supplements and multivitamins to try and help my body heal. September 2016-Escitalopram 10mg October 2016- Escitalopram 20mg November 2016- Escitalopram 30mg December 2016- off Escitalopram onto 30mg cymbalta got mild brain zaps for 2 weeks January 2017- cymbalta 60mg February 2017 cymbalta 120mg, dose was put up due to back pain April 08 2017 took last dose of cymbalta Link to comment
Sherlockitty Posted June 2, 2017 Share Posted June 2, 2017 would love an update on how you are doing!!! such a trooper... i could not have done it CT. Trying to get my life back from Cymbalta and Mirena. Start: 90mg Cymbalta, Mirena IN <-------may 27th, 2017 Goal 1: 60mg cymbalta for two weeks and Mirena OUT! <----DONE! Mirena removed june 14th Goal 2: Cymbalta 30mg for 2wks Goal 3: taper down by 10% until off completely. wanna be free by fall! Link to comment
Tacoma16 Posted June 28, 2017 Author Share Posted June 28, 2017 Feeling back to normal now and have been for a while. Some depression has returned but is most likely due to life stresses that will hopefully get better in time. Thanks for the support September 2016-Escitalopram 10mg October 2016- Escitalopram 20mg November 2016- Escitalopram 30mg December 2016- off Escitalopram onto 30mg cymbalta got mild brain zaps for 2 weeks January 2017- cymbalta 60mg February 2017 cymbalta 120mg, dose was put up due to back pain April 08 2017 took last dose of cymbalta Link to comment
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