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Dazygirl: Trying to stop taking cymbalta


dazygirl

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Was on prozac for years and was switched to cymbalta and have been on that for about 2-3 years. I felt that it was time to taper off of cymbalta as I don't need to take it anymore because my situation is better and I don't even know why I've been on these drugs for so many years except for the fact that the withdrawal syndrome is so bad I feel as though I have had to keep taking it without a choice. Also, I would try to stop taking them and doctors would tell me I will probably have to take it for the rest of my life because they thought my depression was back when I believe it was actually antidepressant withdrawal.  I told my doctor I would like to start tapering from 60mg of cymbalta. He wrote my prescription for 30mg after that and said I shouldn't have a problem with that. At day 8 of 30mg I am feeling extremely anxious, weird, overstimulated and just scared I will lose control of my mind. There is more than that in physical problems. I called my doctor and he said to take 10mg of prozac with the 30 mg. of cymbalta for 3 weeks and then just stop taking the prozac altogether. I don't know what's going to happen, I hope the prozac will relieve the issues somewhat but then what? I'm sure everyone on here knows what I mean by that? 

Edited by Karma
Added member name to introduction

prozac many years

effexor cr a year?

cymbalta 60.mg  2-3 years

cymbalta 30mg. for  9 days. 9th day june 23rd 2013

started fluoxetine 10mg on day 8 of cymbalta 30mg. june 22nd 2013

risperidone 1mg. for 2-3 years

clonazepam 1mg. per day for 2-3 years

alpralozam as needed 1 year

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Hi Dazygirl, I'm sorry that you're going through all of this, it must be very frightening.  It sounds to me like you're definitely suffering from withdrawal from Cymbalta.It sounds like the jump from 60 mgs to 30 mgs of Cymbalta was too fast for you.  Not to worry, this would be too fast for many others as well.  

 

If I were you I would make my way back up to your original dose of 60 mgs and then slowly ween off from there once you begin to feel normal again.  Just to be safe you might try going back up to say, 45 mgs first and see how you react.  To do this you would have to count the pellets in your capsules.  My guess is you'll feel some relief with the higher dosage.  It's possible that since it's only been 8 days that you could go straight back up to 60 mgs without any problems, although it would be safer to try a smaller dose first.  Either way, you'll be better off tapering off the Cymbalta at a much slower rate.  We recommend a drop of 10% (the 10% recalculated with each dose) every two weeks.  And yet even this is too fast for some people.As for the Prozac, some people find it helpful for withdrawal, while others do not.  In your case I think a slower taper would alleviate your symptoms and the Prozac would be unnecessary.  Have you already started taking the Prozac?

3 Years 150 mgs Effexor

2 month taper down to zero

3 terrible weeks at zero

Back up to 75 mgs

2 months at 75

6 or so months back to regular dose of 150 - was able to restabilize fine.

3 month taper back to zero

1 HORRENDOUS week at zero

2 days back up to 37.5

3 days back up to 75

One week at 150 - unable to stabilize.

Back down to 75 mgs

At 75 mgs (half original dose) and suffering withdrawal symptoms since October 2012.

 

"It is a radical cure for all pessimism to become ill, to remain ill for a good while, and then grow well for a still longer period." - Nietzsche

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  • Administrator

Hi Dazygirl

 

Welcome to our community.  I agree with Narcissus that you might want to consider reintating to a higher dose of cymbalta.  You can get stable from there and then manage a slow taper off of it.  Here is our topic on tapering off of Cymbalta: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/283-tapering-off-cymbalta-duloxetine/.

 

Here is our overall topic on tapering: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/300-important-topics-in-the-tapering-forum-and-faq/

 

You may also want to add a little more information to your signature letting us know what your current dose is and when you last made changes.  The signature shows up with every post whether you ask questions, answer questions, or provide an update - the signature is a quick reference about what your med history has been and helps mods and other members provide better guidance.

 

Karma

2007 @ 375 mg Effexor - 11/29/2011 - 43.75 mg Effexor (regular) & .625 mg Xanax

200 mg Gabapentin 2/27/21 - 194.5 mg, 5/28/21 - 183 mg, 8/2/21 - 170 mg, 11/28/21 - 150 mg, 4/19/22 - 122 mg; 8//7/22 - 100 mg; 12/17 - 75mg; 8/17 - 45 mg; 10/16 40 mg
Xanax taper: 3/11/12 - 0.9375 mg, 3/25/12 - 0.875 mg, 4/6/12 - 0.8125 mg, 4/18/12 - 0.75 ; 10/16 40mg;

1/16 0.6875 mg; at some point 0.625 mg
Effexor taper: 1/29/12 - 40.625 mg, 4/29/12 - 39.875 mg, 5/11/12 - Switched to liquid Effexor, 5/25/12 - 38 mg, 7/6/12 - 35 mg, 8/17/12 - 32 mg, 9/14/12 - 30 mg, 10/19/12 - 28 mg, 11/9/12 - 26 mg, 11/30/12 - 24 mg, 01/14/13 - 22 mg. 02/25/13 - 20.8 mg, 03/18/13 - 19.2 mg, 4/15/13 - 17.6 mg, 8/10/13 - 16.4 mg, 9/7/13 - 15.2 mg, 10/19/13 - 14 mg, 1/15/14 - 13.2 mg, 3/1/2014 - 12.6 mg, 5/4/14 - 12 mg, 8/1/14 - 11.4 mg, 8/29/14 - 10.8 mg; 10/14/14 - 10.2 mg; 12/15/14 - 10 mg, 1/11/15 - 9.5 mg, 2/8/15 - 9 mg, 3/21/15 - 8.5 mg, 5/1/15 - 8 mg, 6/9/15 - 7.5 mg, 7/8/15 - 7 mg, 8/22/15 - 6.5 mg, 10/4/15 - 6 mg; 1/1/16 - 5.6 mg; 2/6/16 - 5.2 mg; 4/9 - 4.8 mg; 7/7 4.5 mg; 10/7 4.25 mg; 11/4 4.0 mg; 11/25 3.8 mg; 4/24 3.6 mg; 5/27 3.4 mg; 7/8 3.2 mg ... 10/18 2.8 mg; 1/18 2.6 mg; 4/7 2.4 mg; 5/26 2.15mg; 8/18 1.85 mg; 10/7 1.7 mg; 12/1 1.45 mg; 3/2 1.2 mg; 5/4 0.90 mg; 6/1 0.80 mg; 6/22 0.65 mg; 08/03 0.50 mg, 08/10 0.45 mg, 10/05 0.325 mg, 11/23 0.2 mg, 12/14 0.15 mg, 12/21 0.125 mg, 02/28 0.03125 mg, 2/15 0.015625 mg, 2/29/20 0.00 mg - OFF Effexor


I am not a medical professional - this is not medical advice. My suggestions are based on personal experience, reading, observation and anecdotal information posted by other sufferers

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  • Moderator Emeritus

I would avoid going back on Prozac.  Because you were on it for a long time and then off for several years, it's possible that you're sensitized to it and might have an adverse reaction.  Updosing the Cymbalta, as Narcissus and Karma said, is likely your best bet.  Be sure to give the updose a full four to five days to work.

 

We generally recommend tapering off at no more than 10% of the present dose.  You'll find more detail about that here:

 

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1024-why-taper-by-10-of-my-dosage/

 

Welcome to the forum, Dazygirl.  You'll find lots of solid information and friendly support here.

Psychotropic drug history: Pristiq 50 mg. (mid-September 2010 through February 2011), Remeron (mid-September 2010 through January 2011), Lexapro 10 mg. (mid-February 2011 through mid-December 2011), Lorazepam (Ativan) 1 mg. as needed mid-September 2010 through early March 2012

"Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity." -Hanlon's Razor


Introduction: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1588-introducing-jemima/

 

Success Story: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/6263-success-jemima-survives-lexapro-and-dr-dickhead-too/

Please note that I am not a medical professional and my advice is based on personal experience, reading, and anecdotal information posted by other sufferers.

 

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Thank you for all the helpful ideas! I did start taking the prozac 10 mg. yesterday afternoon before I read these replies and it's weird because I have some relief from the withdrawal. I can tell it is from the prozac also because of the way i feel calmer. Seems weird that it would help that fast. I wish I might have tried to go back up on my dose and started over like you said though because I sense this is going to be trouble being on both prozac and cymbalta and then suddenly stopping the prozac after 3 weeks like the doctor said. Plus now I don't know which is a tapering symptom or a prozac side effect. Like this feeling of my whole head feels like there are cotton balls stuffed tightly in it and my brain. Also everything seems so unreal and weird looking and sounding. I am so glad I found this sight and so many helpful people. I will keep on this track for now and when I decide to taper off the 30mg. cymbalta I will count out the little balls of the medicine as you suggested. Also the articles about this subject are very helpful. I didn't realize that it was such a dangerous thing to taper and wish I could be a better advocate for myself with doctors. I'm sure lots of us feel that way!

prozac many years

effexor cr a year?

cymbalta 60.mg  2-3 years

cymbalta 30mg. for  9 days. 9th day june 23rd 2013

started fluoxetine 10mg on day 8 of cymbalta 30mg. june 22nd 2013

risperidone 1mg. for 2-3 years

clonazepam 1mg. per day for 2-3 years

alpralozam as needed 1 year

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  • Administrator

I think the doctor probably meant to overlap the Cymbalta and Prozac for a few weeks, then stop the Cymbalta?

 

Then I would stay on the Prozac for a month or so and taper off that, see http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/759-tips-for-tapering-off-prozac-fluoxetine/

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

All postings © copyrighted.

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Thank you, I will check into that. It makes more sense then what I said. 

prozac many years

effexor cr a year?

cymbalta 60.mg  2-3 years

cymbalta 30mg. for  9 days. 9th day june 23rd 2013

started fluoxetine 10mg on day 8 of cymbalta 30mg. june 22nd 2013

risperidone 1mg. for 2-3 years

clonazepam 1mg. per day for 2-3 years

alpralozam as needed 1 year

Link to comment
  • Administrator

If I were you, I wouldn't suddenly stop the Cymbalta, even with the Prozac overlap. I'd go off at maybe 25% per week, by counting the beads in the capsule.

 

"Bridging" with Prozac can be tricky. Many doctors report success with it. I hope it works well for you.

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

All postings © copyrighted.

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Thank you. After reading on this site I definitely will not just drop the Cymbalta. I will do the 10 percent taper-and keep reading!

prozac many years

effexor cr a year?

cymbalta 60.mg  2-3 years

cymbalta 30mg. for  9 days. 9th day june 23rd 2013

started fluoxetine 10mg on day 8 of cymbalta 30mg. june 22nd 2013

risperidone 1mg. for 2-3 years

clonazepam 1mg. per day for 2-3 years

alpralozam as needed 1 year

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