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  • BDD Moderators: Keif’ Richards

Quitting Cymbalta and withdrawal.... Help

P

PillGates

Greenlighter
Joined
Sep 16, 2014
Messages
39
Hey guys. I've been on lexapro for about 2-3yrs, and then was recently switched to cymbalta for the passed year to see if it would help for pain. It does not help, and I still feel depressed. So I've decided I don't want to take it anymore. Ive slowly been weining down over the passed 3 months and have gotten down to the lowest mg they have. Does anyone have any advice on what to do from here? This is how I did it:

"I Was taking 60 mg. then did 60 ev other day for 4 wks, then down to 40mg ev other day, then 30 mg ev other day, then 20mg ev other, and now I've gotten down to 20mg once every 3 days. 20mg is the lowest they make. Any ideas or help on how to finish quitting besides just jumping off the ship with it? I have felt like crap everyday since i started lowering dose. And I just want to feel normal again!"
 
have you considered / could you take gabapentin or lyrica for a very short period just while the withdrawals are at their worst? it might help
 
I have a prescription for both of those. I did not know that they could help??
I also have 30mg oxycodone that I take daily. I've noticed I've had some weird feelings while taking While quitting cymbalta. Somedays it helps me feel better, some days it makes me feel worse. Some days it makes my head feel worse (zoney/zoned out, light headed, brain zaps, and what I believe to be maybe anxiety/shortness of breath)
 
As far as the Cymbalta goes, if you are down to 20 mg every 3 days you might as well just quit entirely at this point. You will deal with withdrawals (i.e. "brain zaps") for a week or so and then it will be over with. There are other medication options for depression besides SSRIs , ask your doctor about Remeron, Abilify or Wellbutrin.
 
When I quit Cymbalta, I had brain zaps for WEEKS. They only stopped when I started taking Lexapro. I'm still on that, but I want to get off as soon as my wd from opioids is over. My doctor told me the best way to get off antidepressants is to understand that the taper has to be SLOW. Can you cut the 20mg dose in half to get it to 10mg? (I don't remember whether Cymbalta is in capsule or pill form.) If you cut to more than every other day, then you'll feel the withdrawal. Better to cut the dose and take it every other day. Definitely ask your doctor for help. The brain zaps drove me crazy!
 
Yes, they are capsules. I mean i guess I can always open them up and take half the granules....
I also have lexapro sitting around too.
Would it benefit me to jump ship on the cymbalta and perhaps take a small piece of lexapro instead ?
I just don't wanna get in the same boat of then having problems coming off the lexapro...
 
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