Chuluzoomom: Cymbalta for Pain

[chuluzoomom]

I have been on 30mg of Cymbalta for about 4 months. It has been prescribed for chronic pain no depression or anxiety. It is NOT helping and I want to get off of it. I don't want to pay for another presciption  and have about a 40 day supply left. Can I ween myslef off by skipping days until i am out of days? or do I have to lower the dosage? I would not be able to count out the little beeds in the capsule.

[Jemima]

This post has been moved from the Tapering section.

 

In order to avoid going into withdrawal, it's necessary to gradually decrease your dose rather than alternate days with the medication.  Alternating days is the worst possible way to get off of an antidepressant.

 

Here is our topic on getting off of Cymbalta:

 

Tips for Tapering Cymbalta

 

Why are you not able to count out the beads? 

 

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

[Rhiannon]

If this is your first and only time taking an AD, your chance of getting off and being able to stay off is good as long as you taper slowly. 

 

Unfortunately the typical course with ADs, no matter what condition they were originally prescribed for, is that people end up having what their doctors will call a "relapse" of depression as a result of quitting too fast. Then the docs put them back on that drug or on a new one and often that is the beginning of many years or a lifetime of dependence on psych meds. 

 

This is because the drug changes your brain chemistry and your brain tries to adapt to that and sort of remodels itself, and then when you remove the drug the brain has adapted to having it there and kind of crashes without it. That's why it's best to taper slowly and allow your brain to gradually readjust to its "factory settings" (as Alto calls it).

 

Cymbalta has the reputation for being one that's tricky to get off of quickly. But if you taper it you can do just fine and avoid future problems.

 

Also, I have to say, those Cymbalta for pain commercials always make me grind my teeth. Studies don't show it working very well at all for pain, just barely better than placebo, and it's such a dangerous, serious drug.  There are better options.