Maxbeta Kicking Cymbalta 60mg

[Maxbeta]

Hi, I'm a 39-year-old male. Was on Cymbalta for just over a month. Started on 30mg (which helped lift my mood a little), then was put on 60mg. I had the usual symptoms: headache, dry mouth, tired, manic, insomnia, no appetite. As soon as I was on 60mg my sex drive disappeared. No sexual thoughts or desire, not turned on by visual stimulation, no erections and unable to relieve myself for two weeks. That was a deal-breaker for me.

 

Then I recently met a lovely lady. I want to be with her completely and match her level of passion, but the drugs have neutralized all sexual desire and function. I flushed the rest of the Cymbalta out of frustration to try and get my mojo back as soon as possible. There's no way a full relationship is possible with a penis that does not work.

 

It's been two weeks since I stopped taking Cymbalta. For the first week I had terrible vertigo and didn't feel like myself at all. I masturbated with great difficulty (and no hardness) by the end of week two because I needed to know something was still working. Sometimes at night I get semi-erections, but nothing much to speak of. This second week I still have no real sexual desire or thoughts, and even pornography is just a bunch of pictures. When I'm with my lady friend intimately, I cannot get aroused and I'm just very aware of nothing happening down there. All I can do is apologize and give the (true) excuse of the drugs affecting my ability, this isn't me normally.

 

I'm concerned the Cymbalta has done permanent damage to my sexual function and that in itself is very depressing; that I'll never be a whole man again. I don't know if I just need to give the withdrawal more time. But by then I think I will have lost my new relationship.

 

I hate these drugs.

[mammaP]

Hi Maxbeta, welcome to SA. I'm sorry I can't advise you as I have no knowledge 

of sexual dysfunction and withdrawal but someone will be along who can help very soon

You are in the right place 

[cymbaltawithdrawal5600]

Hi Maxbeta,

 

I am pretty sure you need not worry about your functioning being damaged, what you describe is a known side effect of these sorts of drugs. It may take awhile but your activities will resume in good time. You are relatively young and that is on your side. Hang in there!

[mammaP]

Hi Maxbeta, I found a topic that discusses post SSRI sexual disfunction.  Hope you 

can find the right info there. 

 

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/52-post-ssri-sexual-dysfunction-pssd/

[Altostrata]

Welcome, Maxbeta.

 

It can take quite a while to recover fully from the effects of psychiatric drugs and coming off them.

 

The good news is that the nervous system does eventually heal.

 

Do you have any symptoms other than PSSD? How is your sleep?

[Maxbeta]

Thank you all for the welcome

 

This is the start of week three with no Cymbalta. I think my sleep is getting slightly better. I had a lot of trouble going to sleep while on this AD, and when I did I would wake many many times during the night. And those dreams!

 

The vertigo isn't as bad as the first two weeks. There are still days when I feel dizzy and unwell. My moods are a little unstable. I feel disconnected from the world around me a lot of the time. These effects may subside I imagine.

 

If I really concentrate I can become aroused visually, but my equipment is still lacking the strength it had before. I can orgasm, though the feeling is muted and not very satisfying. It feels like it'll be a slow road to get that part of me back fully again.

 

It's all the more frustrating because I have a new partner who is very passionate and I am disappointing in that area each time for now. It appears I'm not aroused by her. I've just had to use other ways during intimate moments...

 

I'm kind of angry for myself for taking the drug "treatment" again. After the first couple of ADs I took several years ago I should have known better. I will admit my mood lifted and I had more energy (except in one department), but the side effects were awful to live with. A counsellor I'm seeing suggests I continue the AD for another six months. Choose between having a relationship and depression recovery/ feeling slightly better. For me, I choose to have the depression without the drug. A relationship is healing and healthier at the moment.

[Altostrata]

If your symptoms get worse, you may wish to take a few beads of Cymbalta and taper off more gradually.

[Maxbeta]

Do you think it's been too long though, the third week, to take a few beads? I have no idea about this stuff. Today I was quite light-headed when I ventured outdoors. Almost drifiting along like a dream. The world not seeming real. If someone I know says Hello I'll suddenly snap back.

 

Today was another zero sexual function day. Not even anything during the night in the early hours, or the morning. I was with my passionate new friend and nothing much happened on my side. My response is just about non-existent. It's very difficult to keep building up to something that never happens. It just lays there like a useless instrument. And that makes me feel worse.

 

Like you say, maybe I should take a small amount to taper off instead of this cold withdrawal. Could be a good idea right about now.

[Petunia]

Reinstatement is best done immediately upon appearance of withdrawal symptoms. The more time that passes, the less likely it is to work.

 

Have a look at our topic about reinstatement:

 

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/3079-about-reinstating-and-stabilizing-to-stop-withdrawal-symptoms/

 

 

[Maxbeta]

Is it worth it considering the relatively short time I was on Cymbalta (approx. 6–7 weeks; 2 weeks on 60mg)?

[mammaP]

I stopped my taper too soon at just 5 beads and hit withdrawal. I reinstated after 4 weeks 

and it lessened withdrawal within a couple of days. It doesn't have to be much, just a few

beads might make a difference.  If you can do it, I think it would be best to try and keep from

trying to function sexually for now. I know you want to get the feelings back for your partner's

sake as well as your own, but if she is worth your love she will understand and wait. 

 

Function will come back, but for now try to concentrate on courting her, loving affection and 

attention is much more valuable than sex, that will come later when you body is healing. 

 

Just my humble opinion as a woman! 

[Maxbeta]

Thank you I would like to concentrate more on getting passed the drug withdrawal stage first... I'm actually the one trying to slow things down a bit because of that. I guess she wants to know I'm capable in that other area, if you know what I mean. But at the moment it's just not possible. I have to just keep using my B-material until things improve.

 

I'm tempted to fill another prescription and try a few beads for a week or so.

[Altostrata]

Unfortunately, anyone taking any of these drugs for more than a month (and sometimes less that that) risks withdrawal syndrome.

 

Taking 5 beads might help, then stabilize for a month or more; decrease by 1 bead a month.

 

Try not to focus on sexual functioning. A lot of people get very anxious about that and it makes things worse.

[Maxbeta]

I think I'll just stay off Cymbalta for good for now and ride out the withdrawal. I just don't want to take it again.

 

Part of me is missing at the moment, so it's difficult not to keep thinking about that; but I understand what you're saying

[Maxbeta]

Starting my fourth week off Cymbalta. Vertigo effects have lessened, I'm sleeping better. Libido is still gone, though biologically I appear to be OK (nocturnal and REM activity arousal seem unaffected now). I'm feeling a bit anxious again.

 

Just wish I'd never tried this poison.

[Petunia]

Thanks for the update Maxbeta,

It sounds like you are slowly getting better, there has been some improvement, and that's promising.  I'm sure that eventually 'everything' will get back to normal.

 

We all wish we had never swallowed down our little poison pills, some of us have been getting poisoned for years, rather than weeks.

 

Please keep us updated, and let us know how you are doing.

 

Petu.

[Maxbeta]

Thank you, Petu I definitely won't try any other AD drugs in the future.

[Maxbeta]

Just had a chat to a crisis team member yesterday, and I went through all my history, etc. (did not feel like doing that again...). They asked if I would consider going on another AD since Cymbalta wasn't effective.

 

Think I want to go on another drug after this last one? Geez

[Maxbeta]

Several health care professionals I've spoken to about the drug and side-effects all say the same thing: But did you feel better on the AD?

 

Well, yes, my mood was lifted. I felt terrible physically. And when I lost my ability as a man I felt even worse than being depressed. So actually, No.