Hello, my name is Gayle and I am a drug addict (Cymbalta)

[Gayle]

Greetings, Everyone.

Here is my introduction (as brief as I can make it, I hope):

  *  am brand new to this site and membership here.

  *  have been on anti-depressants almost continuously since 1992. Many different kinds.

  *  have been addicted to Cymbalta for 5 or more years. (My memory is shot. Is that a side-effect?)

  *  was diagnosed years ago with Major Depressive Disorder, Anxiety and PTSD (from childhood abuse).

  *  received some outstanding psychological therapy (EMDR) last year and am doing much better at coping with life's challenges. Kind of like a normal person, I'm thinking.

  *  had three times in the last few years when I went without my drug for a few days (not on purpose), and suffered for it.

  *  would like to begin the withdrawal process from Cymbalta.

  *  tried to withdraw (incorrectly, I have just discovered) from Cymbalta earlier this year. I was at 120mg when I started to taper off by skipping doses. After only 2 months I was off altogether.  I went downhill, felt defeated (believing my symptoms were, sadly, from my psychological issues), gave up and went back on Cymbalta, although at half the dose. I am now taking 60mg per day. I am pretty functional. 

  

After reading some valuable information on this site I think I should find a psychiatrist to help me withdraw safely and without horrendous symptoms. Does anyone know how I can do that (other than calling every psychiatrist in the area)?

 

I am 62 years old, married 42 years, with 2 sons and 4 grandchildren. 

 

I look forward to meeting others who understand what this is all about, and hopefully, at some point, being able to help others here.

 

Take care!

[thisismyname]

Hi, I think this website has a topic about cymbalta

[thisismyname]

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/283-tips-for-tapering-off-cymbalta-duloxetine/

 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Here it is, good luck!!

 

 

If you want my advice, try switching to a different antidepressant that's going to be easier to taper. (non capsule) Cymbalta comes in capsule form so its going to be hard to measure the dose's out correctly.

[btdt]

After five years tapering off the drug your body is use to is best but a very slow and gradual taper is what is needed. 

 

There is a list of doctor on this site 

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/988-recommended-doctors-therapists-or-clinics/

 

I am not sure if they are all good so check with others here or elsewhere some how their names got on the list if I were you I would read all we know about taper so far here

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/forum/14-tapering/

 

start with the pinned articles 

 

If any doctor were to suggest anything much different than you read here I would be thinking he did not know what he was doing or the truth about these drugs it is very common that they don't know... sad but true. 

How long ago did you go back on half dose?

peace

 

Welcome Gayle 

[mammaP]

Hi Gayle, welcome to SA. Thank you for supplying the links TIMN and BTDT.

 

Most doctors don't have a clue about tapering anti depressants safely. They think they do

and if you asked them most would say it is easy to taper within weeks by skipping doses.

This leads to withdrawal symptoms which the doctors say are a return of the depression and 

you end up back on it, often with another drug added. A slow taper means you can get off the

drug safely and maintain quality of life.  We recommend no more than 10% reduction of the

current dose with no less than 4 weeks between cuts.  Cymbalta can be tapered by counting

beads in the capsule.  

 

Some people switch to prozac which is available in a liquid and easier to taper, which is what 

TIMN suggested.  Read the topic on cymbalta carefully so you are well informed before starting

to taper. Thank you for doing a signature, it is helpful to us when we have the info at the bottom

of posts. Could you put in it when you tapered to 60mg?  You were on a very high dose at 120mg!

Depending on how long you have been at 60mg, it might be best to wait a bit longer before starting 

your taper, 

[Gayle]

Thank you all for your replies to my first post. I appreciate you and the information you have shared, as well as the links.

 

I have been reading and searching on this site and am learning much already. So very helpful!  Thank you to whomever started this and to those who have continued to provide this valuable resource. It is very comforting to be learning the truth about all of this.

 

Yes, 120mg is very high. I had started out with 60mg (after going up from a minimal dose about 5 years ago. About two years ago I was trying to cope with severe depression and anxiety from a very difficult loss. It got to where I just didn't want to live at all any longer and I didn't care about taking care of myself (controlling diabetes or getting help for depression). I felt helpless and hopeless. The doctor ("just" a GP who used to be more interested in alternatives to drugs) upped me to 120mg in Dec. of 2012. Last year, I gave in to my husband's urging and got some psychological help.

 

I didn't expect or dare to even hope for a change as I've been trying to deal with my depression/anxiety/PTSD since I was a teenager. Much therapy, many drugs, and only temporary relief. 

 

Fortunately, the therapy was very helpful and things changed dramatically. I had been thinking about going off the Cymbalta, not realizing it was going to be very different from other ADs I'd stopped using over the years. I started by taking 1 capsule (60mg) every other day for a few weeks, then 1 every three days for a few more weeks. Then nothing for a month or so. However, my depression and anxiety grew during this time. It got to where I was asking God to take me home every day. I wasn't planning suicide, but I could see the downward spiral. I did not have other major withdrawal symptoms as I have before when I suddenly stopped taking the Cymbalta for 3-4 days (unplanned).

 

A close friend suggested that my depression/anxiety could be from withdrawal, but I ignored that as I was feeling so bad. I reluctantly accepted that I was doomed to be depressed and anxious without Cymbalta in my life. I started using again, but only 60mg/day instead of 120mg/day. I'm not sure when I started back up. Probably 3 months ago. I still have some depression and anxiety, but it's not as bad as it was when I was off altogether. I'm coping much better this year than I would have prior to my EMDR therapy, so I am hopeful I will be able to function without Cymbalta.

 

MammaP, do you think I need more than 3 months at this level before reducing by 10%?  I am not asking for medical advice, just your opinion based on what you have learned through your own experience and the experiences of so many people here.

 

Lately, I've been thinking about what my friend said and a few days ago, I talked with her about it again. There began the search for answers and I'm sure she was/is right; I was suffering from withdrawal. 

 

Based on what I've read so far, I may not experience bad reactions to tapering until I get much lower on my intake. Not looking forward to that, but I really want to get off this horrible drug. I have another health issue (genetic) that puts my liver at great risk and I also know Cymbalta is bad for my liver, too.

 

I do have another question: do most people here (at Surviving Antidepressants) do the tapering on their own?  I know it will be very difficult to find a doctor locally who can/will help with this issue.

 

Thank you, again, my new friends.  :c)

[btdt]

From what I have seen here and other sites like this most people do the tapering on their own some are lucky to find doctors who can help most doctors on the list are in the US.

[Gayle]

Thank you, btdt. That gives me some hope for handling it on my own.

[btdt]

Thank you, btdt. That gives me some hope for handling it on my own.

your welcome

[Rhiannon]

Welcome, Gayle.

 

Given the history you've described so clearly (thank you) I think it might be good to take about another month before starting to taper, and spend that time preparing, figuring out how you want to go about it, learning to make a liquid if that's what you do (I'm not very familiar with Cymbalta tapering), looking at the Prozac bridging option, just basically sorting through it all. There's a lot to learn. 

 

Then when you do begin to taper, start with a 10% cut, and keep a daily log of cuts and symptoms, ranking your symptoms on a scale of 1 to 5 or something like that.

 

I'd also recommend, since you've only just begun to learn about withdrawal and you have a decades long history on psych meds (like so many of us here) that you and your husband read Anatomy of an Epidemic by Robert Whitaker.

 

Given your long history on meds and your age, you'll do best if you start now to accept that it's going to take a couple of years to do this slowly and safely enough that you can get off and stay off.

 

Also, an aside: I too have found EMDR very helpful for PTSD and trauma work related to childhood abuse issues. The meds have been worthless, never helped at all except for maybe right at first, but in the end I think (now that I'm down to low doses) they actually block the healing process.

[Pokeshaw]

HI Gayle,

 

I am not one of the moderators  but i just wanted to say hi and welcome.

 

i am a 56 yrs old woman. up until i tried to stop the medication, i had a pretty normal, creative, healthy life. i had been on the Lexapro for 7-8 yrs- started it to treat postmenopausal anxiety/depression. i attempted to get off the medication due to side effects.

i came here after i tapered too fast off the SSRI lexapro and got so very, very sick.

 

i just wanted to let you know that i read and researched and talked to various doctors to try to find out what happened to me. and previous to the advice here i had tried several treatment options, none of which helped. it wasnt until i got here and began to pay attention to the advice they offered that i started to find some help and healing. i am doing a very slow taper at this point since my nervous system got so disregulated and am so grateful to be getting my life back.

 

so - all that to say, you will get good guidance here. the moderators have walked many folks thru this process.  just keep posting any questions or queries you have and you will get good help.

 

Best,

 

Pokeshaw in Bklyn

[Altostrata]

Welcome, Gayle.

 

If I were you, I'd stay at the same dose of Cymbalta for another month, as Rhi suggested. You want your nervous system to be good and stable before you sneak in any changes again.

 

Then, I would reduce by counting beads out of the Cymbalta capsule. Try a 10% reduction at first, you might be fine with it.

 

You cannot make a liquid from Cymbalta (or Effexor XR, or Pristiq). If you find you cannot taper directly from Cymbalta, the Prozac switch might be an option, but it has its own pitfalls, so best to save that just in case. Most people can taper Cymbalta.

[Gayle]

Rhi, thank you for the welcome, the suggestions for withdrawal, recommending the book (I found it at a nearby library and requested it!), sharing your experience with EMDR, and your encouragement. I appreciate it all.

[Gayle]

Pokeshaw, thank you for posting.and sharing your experience and encouragement. I am so grateful I found you all before I went through what you have gone through. What a nightmare!  I feel peace about having the information and support I will need to get through this long, long trial ahead. 

[Gayle]

Altostrata, thank you for your input. Your experience and suggestions are so helpful. It is a good plan and I will take your advice.

 

I am so grateful that I was led to this place of hope and healing and sanity.

 

I am at peace; that peace before the storm.  But, I know I will not be alone when the storm hits. 

[geoff22000]

Hi Gayle!

 

Welcome to SA! I have just started my withdrawl programme from 60mg Cymbalta down to 30mg initially. Good luck with yours!  I am cutting down only 5% per month (by weighing the beads) and then reviewing any side effects, quality of life etc......... I have tried many times to get off AD's without success until I found this site. I am really hopeful that a very slow taper is the best idea. let us know how you get on? best wishes Geoff