From CHW: Bad Dr. Tapers

This collection of posts on the Facebook group “Cymbalta Hurts Worse” is collected at random.  All identifying info is removed.  Know that every one of these posts, and the rest not here, got personal attention from the excellent Mods in the group. 

All of these posts deal with the similar issue of doctors not understanding what is required to get off this drug.  They use techniques, like skipping days and huge drops in dosage that the manufacturer recommends against.  The group’s experience over more than a decade has resulted in the Gradual Taper method.  Only minor edits have been made for clarity and brevity.

Before I found this group, my doc pulled me off C too fast and when I ended up in the ER, reinstated me. Even with reinstatement, the symptoms lasted 6 months (sweating) and one year (high blood pressure) before ending. It’s not just a few weeks of hell.

I currently cant work or drive, trust me it gets a lot worse. Doctors unfortunately do not understand how to safely taper this poison. I almost ended my life and I do not have any prior mental health issues. It was prescribed for pain. The fatigue was so bad I was bedridden for 40 days, the nausea, the blinding headache and light sensitivity, extreme mood swings…. 😥 after I discovered this group and with the help from the moderators I reinstated at a very low dose, I have been improving since April 10th.

I just wanted to say thank you to everyone that ever posted a question in this group, anyone that has offered support to another, the admins for all of their knowledge. I took my very last bead a few days ago and have been filled with nothing but gratitude for being given the tools to successfully come off of this medication as comfortably as possible.
When I started this journey, I was in 60mg and desperately wanted my life back from C. I followed the advice of a psychiatrist that dramatically reduced my dose from 60mg to 40mg, a few weeks later to 30mg, and then another reduction a few weeks later where they told me take 20mg every other day for two weeks. Eventually I was told to just stop taking C all together. I started experiencing debilitating withdrawal symptoms and was running out of hope to ever feel like myself again, until I found this group.
I followed the advice of the admins and started tapering from 20mg February of 2022 and I am finally FREE! I never thought I would see the end of counting beads, I couldn’t imagine getting to this point. Finally after almost three years, I’ve reached the finish line. It is possible!  If you’re struggling to start, if you’re not able to see the light at the end of the tunnel, I’m just here to remind you to keep going! One step at a time. If I can do this, so can you!  Much love to you all and I hope you have a fantastic holiday season. Thank you for everything.

I just visited my Dr and talked about possibly bringing down my C dose. She advised that because I am “very sensative” to side effects of this medication i should try the easier method of lowering. that being, my regular dose, 60mg, one day, then 30 the next. alternating back and forth.
I am in canada and there are only options for 30 or 60. she said opening the capsules would mess with the delayed release mechanism.
I’m just at a loss for what to do  [advice was provided to warn about this bad method, and introduced to a Gradual Taper]

Before I found this group, my doc pulled me off C too fast and when I ended up in the ER, reinstated me. Even with reinstatement, the symptoms lasted 6 months (sweating) and one year (high blood pressure) before ending. It’s not just a few weeks of hell.

[Dr. suggested large drops and alternating doses]  Please don’t do that, that’s what I did two years ago. I started doing it in the summer by Christmas the withdrawals were so bad I wanted outta this world and that when I found this group!! SO HAPPY AND THANKFUL I FOUND THIS GROUP!!

A jump from 60 to 30 is much much too big. I did that jump when I was getting off two years ago and I still carry the consequences. It’s a very bad idea.

Ten years ago, or so, I had just recovered from a very serious neck reconstruction when my doctor said I could stop taking Cym.  My original diagnosis that started the anti dep med cycle was unknown, neck pain, maybe I had MS, maybe I was unhappy. Take 60 mgs of Cym finally found its sweet spot, so it seemed.
But, after 30 plus years of headaches and neck pain miraculously resolved, I felt great! My phys changed 60 mgs daily to 30 mgs daily for one week and then 10 mgs daily for the next week, and voila, I would be drug free.
Within a day, I felt horrible, and the symptoms were getting worse. My phys said to stick with it. I remember how horrible that week was, but I don’t remember the next week. I don’t know how long I was in intensive care, or the hospital. When I left, I was back on 60 mgs of Cym along with a bunch of other meds.  Long term coma and hospital stay, 105 fever, my organs were shutting down, my brain activity was “irregular” and no one could tell me what happened. Why?  My life was ruined. I lost the home I rented, my car, my belongings, even family members and friends who were disappointed that I “may” have attempted S. I was an embarrassment. When I finally got back to work, well let’s just say it was a mess that ended with me taking an early retirement.  
This drug is evil. Drugs like it are changing our brain chemistry.
Ten years later, I am down to 40 mgs. However, I have to take three medications to support my chronic never ending, intractable discontinuation symptoms. I am on disability because I am too sick to work and my neck now is worse than ever. 
Please follow the advice here about reducing Cym safely and slowly. Please don’t start taking it, if you have a choice. Please take your discontinuation symptoms seriously.  This is not something to be played with, and frankly, phys are typically not knowledgeable about discontinuation.
This was hard to write, I feel like an idiot and so many parts of my life will never be the same. But, people need to know. If you’re new to this medication, you need to know. If you are reducing, please do it the right way.

I have been tapering off 30mg. GP has said to take a tablet once every 2 days for 10 days. Then once every 3 days for 10 days, then possibly once every 4 days for 10 days depend how I’m feeling. My specialist said it’s totally out of your system by the third day so you shouldn’t need to take it. 

Well I tried that I am up to 1x every 3 days and the third day is just horrible, the brain zaps are way worse not to mention the rest of my symptoms. This is horrible

I have dropped from 120mg to 60mg with my psychiatrist until I found this group. Since then I started the tapering protocol at 7%. I thought I was doing well but damn today…… the fatigue and agitation and the pain! I’ve had this before with bigger drops but I thought the smaller drops would help. I’m going to 5% now…

So I’ve been on 60MG for about 5 months, and then down to 30 for about 3 weeks. My doctor advised I should do 30mg for a week, then off cold turkey which terrified me. I was very slow to drop off to zero, definitely having full side effects. I find that I’m VERY angry and short tempered, I don’t like the person I am. How long did people find the anger lasting? I am worried this is “the new me” I’ve never been a patient person by nature, but if I was my wife, I’d be hating the person I’ve become. I was on Prstq before, and moved over to Cym. So a total of about 4 years but only 6 months with Cym.
Does anyone else have passive unalive thoughts, like…not to act on it, but imagining how it would be better, ending the craziness of coming off this. I’m legitimately terrified.

I was on pro for a few years ( for depression)I’m not sure when I started I think about 15 years ago then as no better was put on Du. I was initially on 40mg once a day then it was increased to 40mg twice a day. Last month my G.P told me to stop (because I said I was sweating more than I thought was natural ) she told me to go down to 40mg once a day for 2 weeks then stop! I had no idea of any problems with this medication but when I stopped I found out! Brain zaps every few seconds ,nausea leg cramps flu feeling headaches and high B.P. I saw a pharmacist who didn’t know of brain zaps( I didn’t know what they were at this point)she sent me to drs but I could only be seen by a diabetic nurse who also didn’t know anything about brain zaps and decided because my newly discovered high B.P it must be a fuzzy head caused by that (even though I told her it was more than that!) 2 days later I rang out of hours line and the man told me all about brain zaps. Next day saw a different G.P who said “So what do you want to do?” I asked if taking them would affect my long term health and she just said if they help them best go back on them! Start with 40mg once a day and increase to twice a day! I am now day 5 of this dose. I then decided to research the things which led me here!! So I want to taper off. I’d like to know how long should I stay at this dose and when I taper should I start at 2.5% . I’ve ordered scales and capsule holders.

Hi, I took the last dose 24 days ago and I’m still suffering from side effects, I’m going to the doctor today, I’m thinking about taking it again, my maximum dosage was 30mg for 6 years, I reduced 5mg every week for a month until I stopped that was 24 days ago when the dizziness, nausea, headaches and several other symptoms started, should I go back to the 30mg dosage that I always took? Please help me, because I don’t know what to do to get rid of these symptoms, I’ve been basically in bed for 3 weeks.

I need help. I’m having a really difficult time right now. My background- I was put on dul (cym) in March of 2022 for anxiety, my doc started me at 20 and went up to 60 over a month or so. In June of 2023, I started to come off it going from 60-40-30-20 then my doc suggested 20 every other day and I had horrible withdrawal. That’s when I found this group. I held at 20mg from August until about October and felt really good then started to taper removing 5 beads every two weeks. My stupidity for tapering this fast. So around March 29th of this year, I came down with a flu like illness with 102 fever for 5 days straight. I think this caused my nervous system to go out of whack. I was at 50 beads at the time and my anxiety and insomnia went spiraling out of control. Around April 5 or 6 I bumped up to 60 beads because I stupidly thought it was the right thing to do without confirming with the mods here. So it’s been about four weeks on the 60 beads and I’m still struggling with bad anxiety and insomnia. I don’t know what to do.

Hi I need help, I am tapering off the crazy C drug.   I have been on 30 mg and my doctor decided I was going down to 20mg, I’m totally out of 30mg and need to make up my capsules. I have no clue how to fix this situation.  Any help appreciated. 

I was 9 days clean from D per doctors orders (tapered quick). It was unbearable, sounds similar to what you’re going through. I “reinstated” meaning I put myself back on, which I very much did not want to do. As you said, I was hoping to just ride it out. The next day after taking the pill, boom, withdrawal symptoms gone! I’ll follow the taper instructions provided in this group and am sooooo grateful I found it. To get back on this drug, I had to talk to my doctor again… he had so limited information, it was frustrating and quite frankly, scary.

In a nutshell I’ve stopped 5 weeks ago after 9 years. On the recommended taper on the NHS website. I tapered over 6 weeks. Felt great and now am so ill with flu, upset tummy and ulcerated mouth. I don’t know what to do?  Can someone help me to know what dose I should take as a reintroduction to then taper. This is hell.

I went off in the “doctor recommended” way and found this group months later. It was hell. I thought I’d be alright since the first few weeks weren’t too bad, but the delayed withdrawals eventually overwhelmed. Couple years lost to a brain that couldn’t function and a huge emotional and life toll. Absolutely a “had I but known” regret

Hello group, I have been on C 60mg for 10 years, I have made two attempts at getting off this stuff in the past using my doctors directions which failed miserably and was told “you just need the medication” I refuse to believe this and plan to use the method described in this group…

Hi everyone. It’s been exactly 2 weeks today since my last dose. I found this group a few days ago as my symptoms are horrible. I was on C for around 5 years, between 20 and 60 mg. I’d been on 30 for the last 2 years or so. My Dr had me go to 20 mg for 2 weeks and then the every other day which I’m seeing here is NOT what to do… I did every other day for 2 weeks then every 3rd day for 2 weeks…. I have to say I feel like absolute sh!t. I do not feel like myself at all. I have had a TON of anxiety, tingling, numbness, headaches, fatigue, not sleeping through the night, my eyes feel off, I don’t know how else to describe that.. I can see but it’s like I can’t focus my gaze on something like normal. My Dr gave me x@n@x .25mg to use on days I felt I needed it and I’m starting to feel I need it a lot. I was in the hospital last week, I have POTS, and my Dr put me on Lexapro 10mg, as it’s part of a POTS protocol..
WHAT DO I DO??? I can’t go to work feeling like this, and I need to be there. Please help with suggestions!!

I need some encouragement. I’ve been on C for 12 years. I started it shortly after the birth of my second child. Tried tapering with doctor’s instructions before I found this group. Spoiler alert! Didn’t go well. After dropping down to 30mg for 10 days I found this group and reinstated my 60mg dose. I’ve been back on my regular dose for three days and I’m still having withdrawal symptoms. It’s so frustrating. I know this happens. I’m actually scared my brain isn’t going to cooperate and I won’t be able to stop taking it. The reason I wanted to taper in the first place was because I noticed it wasn’t working for me anymore and I am not able to truly connect with my feelings. Kind of a lobotomized feeling. I want to feel things again. If the worst happens and I cannot get off of this what consequences are there? If I have to take this for the rest of my life, do we know of long term problems to look for? TIA

I did the same thing in November of 2023. I have been on 60mg for about 16 years and end of Oct/beginning of Nov. I dropped to 30mg. End of Dec. Is when I started having really bad withdrawal. I decided to only go up to 40mg since it had been 2 months already at the beginning of Jan. I had some good days but quite a few bad days between them. Just this last week have I felt like I’ve stabilized and feeling back to normal. I’ll get the odd small wave of emotion still but for the most part I’m better. I’m glad I stuck it out, I had the same thoughts that maybe I am stuck being on the poison. Those feelings pass, take a few months to stabilize and then start doing it properly. I’m not planning to start dropping for a few weeks yet. I’m making sure I’m completely stable before put my nerves through more. You got this!

I too didn’t really think I would need to taper by counting beads. I wanted to taper slower than the doctor wanted because I had a bad experience years ago when I tapered off of nor.tri.ty.line the way it was recommended. I had withdrawal symptoms of flulike symptoms for 9 months. When I decided to taper from C I thought I could do it in about a year. I went from 60 mg to 20 mg in about 9 months. Then I started having withdrawal, irritability, diarrhea, poor concentration and body aches so I switched gears and started weighing beads and dropping by 5% every 13 days, still trying for a short cut. When I got down to about 40 beads I started having withdrawals again. I then started counting beads and dropping by 2 every 2 weeks. Still had withdrawal and now I drop by one bead every two weeks and my withdrawal symptoms are minimal if at all. I am a retired psychiatric nurse so I knew that you shouldn’t stop an antidepressant cold turkey but I didn’t realize it could take as long as is suggested on this page. But for many it does. But I think part of the hang up of not wanting to believe this is that we are in denial that we are “addicted” . We are not, we are physically dependent which is different. So in other words our physical self is dependent on the medication but we don’t have cravings for it nor would we cross ethical and legal lines to get it. I too have a lot of medical people in my life who don’t have a true understanding of how C works and how it affects you when you stop.

Was on 60 mgs my doctor told me to reduce to 30 mgs for a week then reduce to 30 mgs every 2nd day for a week and then twice a week or so for a week , and stop,  but I’m left with as I said pins needles etc feet and tingling all over body , sore gums teeth jaw should I stay on this reducing regime or go cold turkey,  very concerned about the skin, hands,  feet  mouth side effects,  and scared

I’ve been trying to look for research studies any information online regarding the after-effects (long term) of Dul/Cym (I read that we’re not to say the name of the medication in our posts, hopefully my abbreviation will be understood). My 18-year-old daughter had a horrible-nightmarish-detox weaning off of that medication 5 months ago.  [Ed. suspect the taper was way too fast, based on timeline]

I was with her every step of the way, counting beads and encouraging her that things would get better. Took time off from work (this put us in a very difficult financial situation) in every way possible. These last few months she has been unable to handle any stress at all, Could not concentrate on her online schoolwork at all, she has concocted delusions in her mind that are untrue…. 4 weeks ago left home abruptly with no reasoning to live with her father who had minimal to no involvement with her over the last 3 years. She even yelled at me (when I went over to her dad’s home to check on her) She said “she hated me and wanted to kill me, and wished I was not her mother.” This is completely a 180 turn on my daughter’s behavior, I don’t know WHO she is now. Prior to the medication debacle my daughter was active with horse riding for the last 8 years, happy, very involved in art and very close to me. We used to even do night time bike rides to check out the stars.😊 My daughter was placed on the medication due to an accident (excruciating pain in neck- neck injury/cervical spine injury) that over time w/ tons of physical therapy improved. However, her behavior after weaning off the medication has changed her completely. I am afraid I will never see my daughter, who she was prior, again. Are there any caregivers who saw this personality change in their loved one afterwards??? I am so broken hearted to go from such a close relationship to an almost not existent one.

I started taking 60 mg of c. It has worked amazing. The only thing I didn’t like was if I missed a dose. This made me realize I don’t want to be on something that has such a hard pull on me even if it works… I am not certain of my tapering but I believe I started with 50 then 40 and have been on 30 mg for two months now. Everything was going fine but the last two weeks I have felt like a psycho path. I go from raging with anger to crying in two minutes. I feel like this rage is so scary for me. I’m not sure if it’s hormones, the tapering, etc.  Any advice or thoughts appreciated.

It’s been two weeks since I posted my withdrawal story.  It’s been a long difficult two weeks. I miscounted the weeks on my initial post that my withdrawal symptoms were at 6 weeks.  This week is my 12th week of hell…! All of the things I was doing to cope are failing me now.
February 18th – Today, May 2nd.  This has been the timeframe of the hardest part. I had mild symptoms beginning February 1st….only to progressively get worse.  The day I found this group my first post was April 19th.  I am PAST a typical reinstate time frame.  I took c Y m from January 8th – March 4th.
Last 3 capsules I did open and make 12 doses. I took 57 doses in total…from the 45 capsules I was prescribed by my doctor for tapering.  I talked with my husband last Sunday about possibly reinstating so I can taper slowly and properly.
I’m sooo scared..! I don’t know where to begin.
I have NO c.y.m at all.  I will have to get back to a doctor and tell her I want to start back. I’m scared she will resist me if I explain a “slow taper method”.
▪️ How will I know if the capsules I get prescribed will have the beads. ..?
The last prescription I had did.
▪️ What mg would I reinstate back too…?
Thanks for your help.

Hi coming from 120mg I weaned down to 90 and then down to 60 and have been on 60mg for months now I’ve been in the group for awhile and I know how to safely taper and I know it wasn’t the right way to do it but I tried to go down to 30 twice now the first time I ended up in the hospital because I got terrible anxiety and felt constantly uncomfortable. This second time I was 3 days in and had little to no side effects except on day 3 horrible terrible anxiety I don’t know if it’s even called anxiety. I went back up to 60 and I’m back on day 2 of 60 and still feel off but I’m hoping it will pass.

Needing validation/guidance… I had been on C 60mg since about 2014 for anxiety, mainly. Only wanted to get off because I don’t know what my baseline is since I’ve been on it so long. I knew about brain zaps and that they happen to me when I try to get off but I didn’t know how seriously debilitating withdrawal could be. My psych NP suggested cross tapering with Fluox but I didn’t for a variety of (dumb) reasons. I tapered down by going to 30 and then slowly reducing beads over a period of about a month, from April to the end of May, which I now realize was imprecise (I wasn’t counting exact numbers of beads until the end) and reckless. My psych NP didn’t really give me exact instructions. I’ve been off completely for maybe three weeks to a month now. In that time I started (and then stopped) Qelb/vilox for my ADHD which gave me terrible insomnia.

The physical state I am in now is really scaring me. I thought it was just the sleep deprivation from the Qelb combined with getting sick after starting my job, but now I’m wondering if me feeling “sick” and depleted and generally terrible has been largely due to C withdrawal. My body hurts and aches and my skin feels sensitive in a bizarre way, it feels like there is a 25 pound weight on my chest, my eyes feel dry, I am getting headaches, and my stomach is very sensitive, plus digestive symptoms. I just overall feel really bad in a different way than I’ve ever felt before, like something is just wrong with my body and I am like, rotting from the inside.

Hello. I need to tell my story, I was prescribed Cymb last year in February, 60mg, i took it 7 weeks and got very bad neurological symptoms, my doctor ct me in 2 weeks, after that the TERROR begun….and VERY scary morning symptoms, i feel odd flush and pressure in my brain, see very weird imaginations, cartoons, odd visual stuff, electric lightballs etc. im not sleep but not awake, that continues until i get up, its been a year now and that happens EVERY MORNING!!! that med also gave me dysautonomia, small fiber neuropathy, vasculitis etc. and my adrenergic and anti-muscarin bloodtests not normal, that means i have autoimmune inflammation. then they prescribed me benzoz cause i couldn’t do nothing with the terror, now im tapering those. this is so wrong… i got also serotonin syndrome symptoms.is there anyone who have experienced something like me?

Saw my doctor today, and told him about my experience with the medically recommended taper from Dul, which was absolutely brutal and far worse than coming off of any other drug I have ever been on, and there are a lot!! He ultimately told me that I may only have the choice of staying on it forever to avoid the withdrawal symptoms. I have now had two doctors try to get me to go on the every other day, every three days, every four days method. Thank Goodness for this group. Wow. I do need some help. Before finding this group, I listened to my doctors at the attempt to taper the Dul. Since January, I have discontinued Lam, Busp, and attempted the Dul. Lam and Busp have been completed for about six weeks. Those weren’t that bad at all gradual reduction. I have been on 60 mg Dul for about 14 months. About 8 weeks ago, I went to 30 mg Dul for about three weeks, then to 20 mg for about two weeks. The really severe problems started (tinnitus, sensory issues, rage, crying, confusion, brain felt like it was screaming) after I discontinued completely the 20 mg dose as directed by my doctor. I spent about 16 days without any Dul in my body before I could not take it anymore and reinstated at the 20 mg. I’ve been on the 20 mg dose after reinstatement for 11 days. Most of my serious withdrawal symptoms have resolved, but I’m very fatigued, and every other day the tinnitus hits, although not as loud and accompanied by very slight sensory issues (sensitivity to noise, inability to focus). Do I wait this out? It’s strange because the tinnitus is every other day…I’m not beginning any kind of slow Dul taper until I have three really great weeks, maybe longer. This has been agonizing and very detrimental to my sobriety, health and well-being. I’ve read through a lot of information here, but my inability to focus has prevented me from processing a lot. Any suggestions are very welcome.

Went from 30 to 20 per dr and went through total hell.

Last month, I realized C made me gain weight and I was tired of being miserably hot all the time. I asked my doctor to switch me from C to “Auve!ity.” I have been tapering down in 20mg increments every week. After 4 weeks, I’m currently at 40mg of C and I want to unalive. I haven’t felt this bad since before I started Esket, which helped my $u!c!dal ideation disappear. Has anyone else experienced this while tapering? My guess is my psychiatrist had me go too fast. I kind of hope it is the C because at least then I wouldn’t be a totally lost cause. I’m in talk therapy weekly and don’t know what else to do. I just want these terrible thoughts to go away.
I talked to my psychiatrist yesterday and because I want to unalive, we are leaving the C alone for now so I can get through school. I got some “glyco” to help with the sweating. Has anyone tried “glyco” to help with the sweats?

Hi everyone, just joined this group, hoping for some advice. I’ve been a list of different ssris/snris over the past 10 years. I’m 30 and I’ve managed to get from 60mg cym down to 5mg (over the space of 3-4 months) every other day. Now I’m starting to get blurred vision, vomiting/nausea and headaches at the back of my head. Has anyone had these symptoms? If so what would be your advice for me? Cheers

I tried the every other day method of withdrawal, as advised by my PCP. The brain zaps and other symptoms were unbearable. Fortunately, I found this group and followed a safe taper.

So I’ve been off CT for 5 days now after a taper recommended from my dr. I was on 120 for about a year and I slowly went from 60 to 30 to now 0 and I have been feeling fine mentally and my mood is great but the physical symptoms are really started to get to me. The biggest thing for me is the dizziness/off balance feeling that is CONSTANT. No matter what I do. It’s almost worse if I lay down and try to relax. I feel like I can’t see clearly. Almost like there’s a haze over everything. When I move my head it feels like I could fall over. I am going out of town this weekend and I’m wondering if I should bring a few 30s along just in case. Maybe I tapered too quickly? Does anyone have a recommendation on what I should do to help these symptoms?

Please listen to what everyone is saying because it’s true. If I had found this group before my fast taper, I would be off it by now. This drug needs a slow taper. I wish that I could go back in time, because I was sick from getting off this way too fast. I had to reinstate after I had been off it for a while. Just to remain functional. Not I have to taper off it once I’m done tapering a benzo. I just wish that I had found this group so much earlier.

Before I found this group, I had been tapering off per my psych’s instructions. I went down from 60mg/day to 20mg in just 3 months, since he said I was doing fine. I felt fine. But after he told me to do 20mg every other day, like… I freaked out. 

I went back to 20mg daily and have been doing so the last 2 months. But I feel like this delayed tidal wave of withdrawal hitting me now. The worst part for me is how I go from 0 – 100 enrage mode in 2 seconds, I have just like flipped out and felt like I’m not in control of myself so many times. Last time I was in a huge awful fight with my girlfriend, my brain told me to hit her!! (I did not hit her but my body felt ready to do it, so disturbing). Like wtf? Any sense of injustice feels blown way out of proportion emotionally, even stupid things like not being given a napkin at a restaurant. I stopped hanging out with people because I feel like I’m a monster. I can’t drink alcohol anymore because it intensifies this monster so much. 

I really want to wean off this drug because I feel like a slave. 

Omg thank you for approving me. I started taking Cymbalta for Fibromyalgia 4-5 years ago and am now coming off it. I was on 120mg once a day (in the morning). I have been asking to come off ALL my meds for a long time and FINALLY one of my Dr’s helped me and gave me a 6 week taper off it and the  2 weeks free before I then have to tackle Lyrica. 

The withdrawal symptoms I’m having coming off this is horrific & to make it worse the Dr that prescribed it to me has made me feel like I’m crazy and none of these feeling real. My pain level is skyrocketing (ranging between 7-9 out of 10 (not normal for me)), my hot flashes last over an hour, nauseous, tremors… I can’t do this &  none of my Dr’s seem to care. 

I’m so glad this group exists if only to make me feel like I’m not crazy & alone.

Hi!! I started tapering off of Duxo since July the 15th. My dose was 60mg for 1 year (or 2? I think one) (reason for taking were depression and anxiety) and the doctor told me to take 30mg for one week, before stopping entirely. I wanted to try to go without, I never planned to stay on it long in my case. Knowing a little about Duxi, I thought it would be sufficient to increase the 30mg duration to 2 weeks. 

And now, reading about many experiences, I realize it would’ve been better to taper off even more slowly. I had strong side effects for 1.5 weeks when I could barely leave the bed or sit up, but now I am mainly left with feeling horrible and unable to focus. The issue is now, that I have an important final medical exam in 2 weeks (which is already less than comfortably enough time), but I am fighting with myself and the pressure so much. I feel quite down and I don’t have a lot of time to get myself together.

I was tapered off C around October 2022, and I was tapered off WAY too quickly, but by the time I had discovered this group it was too late to reinstate my dose. Since I was tapered off of C I have literally been a shell of myself; I’m apathetic, crying a lot, I have insane rage – like punching walls and windows (which I have never done and is not like me at all – and like instant rage reactions to everything and anything), depression, not sleeping, no joy, brain fog, I started to strongly dislike things that I used to like (even people), and many other awful mental health symptoms. I’ve been like this since October when I was taken off of C. Is this still all from C and a quick taper? Will this go away? What can I do to “fix” this. I’m literally at a loss. This isn’t a quality of life, I’m simply coasting and just moving second to second. Any advice is welcome!

As I mentioned in my previous post, I was started on 60mg c for anxiety and depression. After 3 months, I requested a drop. She sent me straight to 30! I was on 30 for 11 months. After receiving a celiac diagnosis and maintaining a gf diet, I felt stable enough to come off the c. My psychiatrist told me to do a pill every other day x 1 week then every two days x 1 week then stop. I did that and by day 2 of being completely off I had severe withdrawals. I called, she put me on 20mg told me to take it one week then follow the same protocol as mentioned above. I never felt stable so I continued on the 20mg for a month before I came across this group, and thank God I did!! I listened to the advice of the moderators and went back to 30mg on Sunday. It’s been 4 days and I’m starting to feel more level headed. I’m still having pretty bad GI issues though. I plan on staying here awhile to prepare for the proper taper outlined in this group. I‘M extremely thankful to have the support from this group to help me navigate through the trenches of being on this medication!

Please let friends/family know what you are doing. I got hit hard & from all directions at about 2 weeks out when I tried to drop from 60-40. I am 3 years into my taper with a year + left but I have stayed mostly ok. I think I would have needed to be committed if I had kept on.

Mind you I was on it for pain so my thoughts becoming SO unstable was not a return of depression/anxiety.

I started tapering in January, 2023 starting at 150mg.  Got down to 15 mg in July, 2023 and Dr said stop as 15 mg does nothing. Dumb me listened.  Wasn’t going too bad but my moods were bad, really angry.  Dr put me on a SNRR medication in August, 2023 … told me it was new but found out later this was not the case. Stopped taking them 10 days later.  I am feeling so nauseous, depressed. Cannot sleep so Dr put me on Melatonin around the same time.  Have been on for a month, realised too long so stopped and now feeling worse than before.  I have had enough … I am so emotional, my pain from fibro has returned and I don’t know what to do

I had left Big Ugly because I was scared of her. I should’ve been tapering the whole time. That’s when my husband got orders and quicker then I knew it we were packed and moving. My doc would not prescribe me C to cover me until I could establish new care 🥺 I ran out the day we left. New patient appts were 2 months out. Summer is a busy time I was told. The taper choice was STOLEN. 6 years later I have so many problems from it 😔 you can let me know if you want a list. What sudden stop showed me was that Taper really is safer our bodies are amazing at what they can heal even while being on the thing hurting it. I got off 12 that way and each check up was 1% better. Proper nutrition, supplements, movement help. I was trying to hide the pain with these meds instead of embracing it.I was given these challenges because I CAN carry their sometimes unbearable weight. I wake up each morning grateful for pain because it means I am given one more day with my family. I give my illnesses no power over my mind. It’s not easy but you are all powerful people. I believe in all of you ❤️ PAWS sucks don’t do it — feeling grateful.

Hello all. I tapered off Cymbalta 60mg (too quickly) over the course of one year. My last does was November 2022. In February I got smashed with post acute withdrawals.  Over the past 7 months my most problematic symptom, which is driving me crazy, and has ruined my life, has been  specific OCD thoughts. Every time someone speaks, I count each time that a person speaks (eg. Person A speaks – 1, person B speaks – 2, person A speaks again – 3). I do this for in-person, radio, YouTube etc. The emotions associated with it are horrific. It has ruined every conversation.

I have never had mental health issues in the past, and I do understand the mechanics of the mind very well. Even mental health professionals told me that I don’t need more appointments, because I understand how it works. I’m even doing all the right things. 

It’s sad that this group came so late into my life because I’ve lost so much but finally I understand how meds have ruined the bigger part of my life and made me feel worse. What this group is teaching me is the reason I’m still feeling horrible. I never understood how withdrawals could last so long and do so much harm to our bodies. Everyday I learn something new in this group and I finally don’t feels so alone, lost and confused. I finally don’t feel so “crazy” anymore. Thank you all for educating me

What can I do to feel better? I’ve been off this poison since June I followed my drs advice on tapering which I know I shouldn’t have and I was fine I thought until this week something happened.. I have terrible dissociation, my body feels weird numb, my brain can’t function properly even typing this is a struggle please help!

My usual doctor is on maternity leave. Went to see a different doctor today and my heart rate was high because I have a lot of anxiety in medical settings due to past trauma. She started asking if I want to bridge from Cym to z0l0 ft. I said no absolutely not you can’t do that without risking protracted withdrawals. She kept pushing for me to come off Cym and go on something else. This is a primary care physician. She doesn’t even specialize in psychiatry. I had to repeat to her several times that I’m not interested in taking any medications after my nightmare experience with Cym and I’ll end up in the hospital if I stop taking it. I just want to continue my slow taper and be done with pharma. And she STILL referred me to a psychiatrist. I ignored her referral and made an appt with a talk therapist. I swear doctors just want to sell medications and they have no idea what they are doing. This country is so backwards. Sorry I had to rant. So frustrating.

Hi I need HELP or at least some hope.. I stopped taking C 3 months ago I took for a year I was on 60 mg, for a few months then , 40mg then 20 mg, dr didn’t help me taper as I should’ve I opened capsules and eye balled take some out as he suggested did for 2 months so 20 mg to 0 very fast! I didn’t have withdrawals till 2 weeks ago!

Its been HELL to say the least started with insomnia, dissociation, dpr, chest pain, vertigo/dizziness, intrusive thoughts, cognitive failure I can’t concentrate, I can’t work properly! I feel out of my body all day!headaches everyday the list goes on! I don’t feel like myself!  I have trouble being myself if that makes any sense! I am taking some supplements advised here but I am very anxious and severely depressed basically all Cym numbed is coming back with a vengeance and some more! 

Please let me know if I’m forever disabled or what I can do! 

I’ve been advised here by kind monitors to reinstate but would that even help me? Any success stories of a similar situation as mine? Should I just continue suffering?  I don’t wish how I feel to my worst enemy! I feel I’m gonna lose my mind or worse!  please help me

I am so grateful for this group! I truly found it at just the right time. Do yourself a favor and tapper properly by following the guidelines provided by this group!!

I’d been on 60mg of C for 10 years and decided it was time to get this crazy stuff out of my system. I went to my Dr. and was told to alternate days, finishing in a little over a month. I went through 4 weeks of extreme symptoms- vivid nightmares, horrible dizziness and brain zaps, unbearable nausea, tremors, very emotional, this list goes on. I drew the line when I started feeling numbness and tingling on my face and head. My doctor referred me to a neurologist and said it was nothing to do with getting off of C. I had enough and did my own research, and I’m so blessed to have found this group. I’ve been bead counting and following these guidelines for about 2 weeks now and I am feeling so much better!

Thank you moderators for all that you do to help us all in this group. It is a shame that our doctors are not educated properly.

So I posted yesterday about the fact that I was on 60 mg of c.  Reduced to 20 for a week and now nothing.  My brain zaps are unbearable. I called dr today and he told me that  discontinuing c would not be causing these symptoms.  I told him all it takes is a google search to realize how very wrong he is.  He told me he will call in another week of the 20.  He made me feel crazier than I already do.  I’m literally in tears right now.

Hi everyone, I’m new to the group. I have been on 60mg of cymbalta for about a year and a half, and have attempted to wean off of it 3 times now. I believe that this drug sent me into a deep spiral of “wishing to cease to exist” and disassociation about a month ago. I spent weeks severely depersonalized to the point where I started having paranoia about nothing on the internet being real. The world started to look like a video game, legitimately. I have begun to have problems with my liver and many other health issues as well. This is now my third attempt at weaning, which I made the choice to do in 20mg increments despite my psychiatrist advising I go from 60mg to 30mg to 0 in 4 weeks. I told her this wouldn’t work for me as I’ve tried that before and suffered, but she told me I should be okay. I didn’t listen to her advice and instead went from 60mg to 40mg to 30mg to 20mg since i still had some 20mg pills around. Every decrease caused slight insomnia and caused me to spend a day or so having crying spells. However, 2 days ago I attempted to move from 20mg to 0mg (while also taking other new prescribed medications) and it was genuinely unbearable immediately. I got a migraine, brain zaps, vertigo, and intense insomnia. I woke up the following morning and had intense thoughts of ending it, despite getting a lot better over the last month. It got so bad that my family and I started to become concerned that I would become a danger to myself, and this was after ONLY ONE DAY of missing 20mg. I decided to just take it again yesterday because I couldn’t take the withdrawal anymore. I have an appointment with my psychiatrist in an hour and I don’t even know what to do, because I think if I’d followed her advice I would not be here today. I feel hopeless, and angry at the other psychiatrist I had for ever putting me on this medication. When I came to my original psychiatrist with my concerns about duloxetine, her suggestion was to RAISE MY DOSE because she knew that the withdrawal would be too hard for me. She made me feel guilty about it, telling me she wished that I could “just tolerate it” and even FORGOT that I HAD tried to raise my dose of duloxetine last June, and it resulted in a similar episode to the one I had yesterday but paired with extreme nausea and anxiety. I decided to stop seeing her and see someone else, which lead me to the psychiatrist I’m seeing today.

I’m at the point where my mental health has caused me to lose my job and the ability to care for myself. I blamed it on myself so heavily until I came across this group and started reading more about Cymbalta. I feel angry, hopeless, confused, and massively disassociated. I’ve never spent so much time trying to figure out what’s real and what isn’t. My life is falling apart and I’m being failed by the healthcare system over and over again. I’ve been chemically dependent on anti depressants since I was 14 years old, and no one ever warned me what could happen to me. My body and my mind hurt so bad and I’m just at a total loss. I am going into my appointment today with a confrontational attitude because I legitimately believe that I would’ve lost my life had I listened to my new psychiatrist’s weaning instructions. If you read all this, thank you, and advice is welcomed. However, I really do not want any opinions about my decision to continue with pharmaceutical drugs as treatment for my mental illness. That is a personal choice that works for me right now.

Anyways long story short, I’m suffering. I feel disabled and dependent on other drugs to get me through how shitty duloxetine makes me feel. Why do I have to be the one finding out all this information? Why couldn’t these doctors VALIDATE my withdrawal syndrome, instead of gaslighting me and guilt tripping me? I’m desperate for a way out of this medication and I have been dreading quitting it for over a year because I knew this would happen. It’s worse than I ever thought it could be though. I feel my life may actually be at risk if I continue to try and stop this medication.

It’s been since April I quit C CT to try and have a baby after my miscarriage. I have been having awful crying spells especially before my period.  The anxiety is somewhat better except for right before ovulation. I haven’t done a good job of preparing Christmas for my kids. I haven’t been able to conceive. Would you consider trying another antidepressant in my case? I lost my 4 year old daughter in a drowning accident June 2021. I am in counseling. My feelings are very raw. I am tired of fighting. I just want to feel better.

Can someone please help me or give me some advice, I am struggling so much 🥹 I have been on duloxetine since July last year when I was in the Phsyc ward to try and help my chronic pain and depression. I feel it’s made me worse then I was before that. I have been on 60mg for a while and weaned down to 30mg every for the last 3 weeks. The last 4 days I have stopped the duloxetine advised by my Phsyc and started on lexapro, I can’t tell if it’s withdrawal symptoms or side effects or the new meds or having covid but I have been so unwell, I can’t stop crying and so emotional and worst mental state I have ever been in. If anyone has any advice or recommendations, I would do anything to take this pain away 😞
[Ed. Big drops like that are horrendous, and trying to :bridge” to Lexapro is a failed strategy that we have seen over and over.]

Guys I’m scared. 

I recently shared a post here about when my GP cut my dosage from 120mg to 60mg. Horrific withdrawals both physical and mental. The worst was the horrible, morbid, disgusting intrusive thoughts I was getting. This is stopping me from starting my taper journey. I’m currently back on 120mg and I know I be tapering this poison for years. I feel so defeated and I haven’t even started 

in 2022 I got a reaaally bad flu that knocked me out for a few days, and I must have forgotten my medication during this time because I could barely open my eyes, and when I recovered and began taking the 90mgs again I felt SUPER HIGH. So I decided that I would just go back to 60mgs, felt the headaches etc. After a few more months of feeling much better I decided to reduce to 30mgs and was on this dose for another 6 months when I forgot to take for 2 days. Ended up in ED because I told my husband with complete non-chalance that I knew that I needed to end myself, and that it was the only thing that made sense. They asked about medication, realised I forgot. They reinstated the 30mgs and of course I felt completely normal/sane again. Medically Spellbound is a term I learned the other day. I thought that I must NEED this stuff. After that I was all over the place and feeling like crap all the time. The dose was again upped to 60mgs and life went back to normal. Except I decided one day that I no longer wanted to be with my husband and attempted to move out and find a rental. I applied for at least 30 properties and didn’t get accepted to any, and somehow came to my senses that was a bad idea. Luckily for us!
Finally with the help of my GP and psychologist I was referred to a different Psychiatrist who officially diagnosed me with ADHD and now I am prescribed stimulants C0nc-erT@ 36mgs and Psych suggested I reduce the Cym. because really the proper medicine for me is the stimulants. She suggested every other day 30/60mg – which I didnt follow because I knew this was going to be a bad move and then I found this group.
I tried reducing using bead counting method 10% for 3 days and had full-blown withdrawls. My birthday party was coming up and I was convinced this would be my last.ever.birthday(!!!!) I knew this wasnt good. Went back to 60mg and next refill requested brand name LILLY 60mgs instead of generic so I can taper consistantly and I felt HIGH again. Is the generic less potent than the brand name? I stabilised for a month on the Brand name and are now starting a taper of 2.5% because I know I need to go suuuper slow. So far I am not feeling the painful physically withdrawl symptoms but I am irritable and can rage over small things.

I entered into protracted withdrawal 11 months ago (after tapering too quickly – 1 year). Within a few weeks I was put back on 20mg (at the suggestion of the group). This period of time was hellish.

11 months on and despite much improvement, my mind is still really bad (I’ve always had great mental health before this). Head feels tight, OCD counting thoughts so stuck, it is so depressing. 

Is it normal to still be suffering like this at 11 months?  I persevere every day, but I feel like my life is ruined forever. I feel trapped!  This is a nightmare.

I just wanted to share, I only took this drug for 11 days and have been off since Friday December 11, 2023. I had one day at 60 (decreased immediately due to eye floaters, stiff muscles, heart palps, dizziness, sweating, feeling of euphoria), next day at 30mg. Then I stated research in this group when I noticed eye floaters appear in left eye and also read about the side effects etc. scared me so then the rest of the 9 days I was opening them (uneducated about bead counting) and just pouring half out. I stopped at around 1/2 beads of a 30mg capsule at exactly 11 days (never made it to the 2 week mark). After stopping, I have had anxiety, deep despair, fatigue, and just not feeling like myself at all. It gave me a brief taste of what it feels like to be calm, anxiety free etc, but I STILL have the eye floater that came about in the first few days. I am now taking a low dose 5mg of another much safer SSRI, healing my gut, methylated vitamins, gluten free and keto diet, taking zeolite drops etc, have biopsy on thyroid (that’s why I started meds in first place anxiety and depression caused by hypothyroidism). I am a very healthy organic eating person and ended up with side effects from 11 day of low dose use. I’m mad that this med did this to me and also gave me false hope. I am grateful that is the only damage I am leaving with, but I am posting this to help educate others. Do your research! Don’t take this blindly. I am a professional photographer and have needed my eyes to be as sharp as they can and have always thought to myself, “It’s so nice I don’t need glasses and can see well” in the past. I have always known myself to have great eyesight. I have 3 little children and I am mad that I now have eye issues on top of my thyroid and I know for a fact it was cause by the reaction from this med. Just sharing in case it can help someone else.

My wife (34f) was on C (30mg) from early July to late November. She suffered physical side effects & decided to come off. Her psychiatrist had her taper from 30mg to 20mg over some weeks, and then every other day for a week or so. She seemed fine initially for the weeks that followed, but that drastically changed over the past 2ish. I’ve never seen her so angry & agitated. Everything triggers her, people, traffic, situations that wouldnt normally affect her this way. 

She’s having meltdowns left & right mixed with the worst depression I’ve ever seen. Crying all the time, panic attacks that never seem to end. She met with her psychiatrist to discuss what’s happening and she prescribed her K-pin 2xday to stop the panic attacks. 

My wife doesn’t necessarily want to believe that this could be a result from coming off C since she was on it such a short time, she thinks she should have better control over her own emotions. I can’t think of it being anything other than this, again it’s the worst I’ve ever witnessed her. She mentions going to the hospital but is hesitant for obvious reasons. I’m really grateful this group exists, I will be reading through the posts & hopefully we can figure something out.

Hello. I took this medication for several years and due to increasing side effects and my ex pushing me to get off it I decided to discontinue end of 2022.i talked to my psychiatrist about the sire effects and he told me to taper over. 4 months (120mg dose). He told me I wouldn’t have withdrawal but may feel funny. Ha. I took my last dose end of March 2023 and the withdrawals those 4 months and a few months after were horrendous. My Dr wanted to bridge me to another med but I decided against it. So here I am almost a year out and I swear I’m still having withdrawals. Is that possible? It’s not every day but I have symptoms that are similar and I have days like today where I even feel like I’m having brain zaps again. I’m not on any antidepressants at the moment. I’m on lyr for fibromyalgia that’s it. I am prone to headache and migraines anyways but the migraine today is brutal. And tinnitus. What feels like minor brain zaps. Shakiness. Dizziness. I know I’ve been super irritable lately too. Is this still withdrawal?

Hi.  I just joined.  I’ve been on this horrible med for about 8 years.  I had no idea it was making me sicker than what I already was.  I was on Proz first, the switched to this because I started having neuropathy, pain, and other issues and the “C” was supposed to help.  (Also migraines).  

I have been on a couple other meds which I believe have contributed to this mess.  I have one more to go off of that also has bad effects.   

So, FF to about a 18 months ago.  They also had me on another med, with similar side effects as I’m dx’d with fibromyalgia, and another “unknown disease”.  The pain this was supposed to help is worse, not better.  Three months ago I decided to go off all meds.  I had been on 90 mg, but went down to 60 mg  4 years ago.  She told me to take 30 mg for “a couple weeks”, then go off.  I knew this was crazy and asked if that was long enough.  She said I could do every other day for a couple weeks.  

I did 30 mg for 2 months.  My insomnia has much worse, depression/mood swings have been horrible, and nausea is bad.  TBH, I’ve had awful insomnia since starting “C”, but now it’s just terrible.  

I finally went to EOD about 3 – 4 weeks ago and went off completely about 7-10 days ago.  For about a week after I went off completely I thought I was dying.  I’m a bit better, but only because I’m sleeping from total exhaustion at times, and taking another med when I don’t sleep for 3 – 4 days. Even when I do sleep it’s only about 4 hours.  I’m also having more anxiety issues and my emotions are off the chart.   The cognitive problems it has caused are no better and maybe they’ll never be.  😥.  I wish we could sue these people for what they do to us.  

I can’t go back on it just to taper off again.  It’s too terrifying.  Does anyone have any suggestions for sleep?  I’ve read the sleep ideas file, and honestly I’ve tried most and even use a couple of them.  I fell asleep for about 5 minutes while talking to my grandson on the phone yesterday, but then couldn’t get to sleep last night.

I’m new here. Starting taking cymbalta around July of last year. I was in a car accident and ended up having two neck surgeries. I had so much anxiety and Dr took me off Lexapro and put me on Cymbalta. Since, I have put on weight and hate myself. I talked to Dr about getting off (I’m on 30 mg) and she told me being I’m on lowest dose to take one every other day for two weeks and then stop. I’ve been trying to do that for about a week now but every day I don’t take it I have bad headaches and the brain zaps (which I never knew about till now) are the worst. I already have vertigo so this sucks. Now I’m reading I have to count these beads and I’m already defeated. I hate feeling like this.

So I went to my rheumatologist this am. I mentioned to her about the route to take if I wanted to get off the DX to see what she said. Her reply was she would drop me from the 40 I’m on to 20 every other day for 3 weeks then done. Said there would be no after effects. I just wanted to roll my eyes.

I went of C very quickly- one day then skip then 1 day for 10 days and then stopped.  I had the worst withdrawal ever. I went on because “was not feeling like myself”, now when I stopped I had panic attacks and anxiety and dizziness ect ect   This is after 4 years of use @30mg daily.

The last day I took the meds was 10 Dec 2023. [~3 months ago]  It got better after 3 weeks and then all the withdrawal came back. Now, Tuesday the 6 of Feb 2024, my doctor put me back on the 30mg (I went to a few doctors and physiologists, all saying the same.)  The side effects these last 3 days were horrible.  

Should I stop taking the meds, or what can I do?

I have to move to the UK in 4 weeks, and with my withdrawal anxiety I wouldn’t have been able to cope. But I’m not sure this is the right decision.

Please help

Please, I need help!   I can’t stabilize myself after reintegration. 

2020/09 to 2023/02 – 60mg

2023/03 to 2023/05 – 30mg, then 0mg

I started taking 30mg again on 2023/06/20, just over three weeks.

2023/08 – 60mg. Lots of side effects.

2023/09 – 30mg, the same dose until today, just over five months.

I’m not getting any better, lots of tiredness, muscle tension, anguish. Blurred vision gets better and worse. After taking this dose for months, shouldn’t I have more stability? Has reintegration not worked? Could I be in prolonged withdrawal? Is there still a chance of stabilizing at this dose? Should I try increasing it a little? I have WD symptoms every day. I need a little hope! I don’t see any improvement! Thank you for reading. Any help is very welcome!

Hi. I feel very strange and fear a crisis again. I’m having intense scary dreams, anxiety and depression, strong, fear thoughts , heart pounding and sweaty when I wake. Feels like my mind is losing it. Last time I got real bad and not on a med I ended up in the hospital and on this drug. I’ve been on a consistent dose of d u l,via counting, this last month since missing one dose. I’m so scared and confused. I can barely function. Thoughts?   [too fast a taper]

Wow, I had no idea it was Cymb that is likely causing the heart palpitations! I’ve been having heart palpitations for the last 30 days that I’ve NEVER had before. I had to go to the hospital because I was so worried. I’m 30 years old, 30 pounds overweight, and started Cymb for anxiety & depression years ago. Its caused incomparable more harm than any good. 

I was looking at all possible sources/causes of the palpitations!  Cleaning chemicals in my house!  Asbestos or fiberglass in my apartment, nitrile gloves possibly too. 

To be specific about the heart palpitations, my heart is spasming & skipping a complete beat or two, and i can feel the loss of blood flow travel up my neck & to my brain and the slight numbness. But I also feel a tightness in my brain too. Sometimes it will happen once a day, sometimes wont happen for a week. And sometimes it will occur for six hours straight. Its unpredictable. I will pay more attention to my Cymb beads dosage though now.

I’ve been weaning off for a year & a half now, & been taking Cymb for about 4 years now. And never had heart palpitations until now. So I never thought Cymb would all of a sudden cause it now! I’ve also weaned off prematurely before & never had this heart issue whatsoever.  A long time ago I was at 15 or 30 mg at the max, I cant remember exactly. Now I’m at around 2 beads of a 30 mg capsule, that has 105 beads in it total.

When I go up to 10 beads I get horrible headaches that dont go away & simultaneous severe nausea, which causes me to be completely bedridden, this for me has always been a tell tale sign of overdosing/too much, I immediately lower my dose then.  I’m at around 2 beads now. 

When my dose is too low I get eye lagging, eye & body zaps, severe brainfog/lowered IQ, and restless leg syndrome.

I weaned off paxil and had a few of those symptoms. But paxil is only serotonin. I bet its the norepinephrine that makes cymb so difficult & painful, and is causing all these problems for me, such as horrible facial itching & hives for years, and lately heart palpitations.

People talk about serotonin syndrome, but what about norepinephrine imbalance?

Hi everyone 😊 I am new here and am just beginning my journey off dul*. I found this page after stumbling across the website because I was looking for guidance on how to taper because my doctor told me to go from 60 to 30 then go 30 every second day after 2 weeks. I don’t need to tell you that that didn’t go so well. 

I was on 60mg for a couple of years, and have dropped to 30mg in the last week (then to second daily on advice from my gp, and back to daily after withdrawal symptoms and reading about the short half life of this medication). 

Now that I know I should not have dropped so quickly thanks to this group, my question is: do I go back up to 60mg and then begin the taper the correct way? Or should I continue at 30mg and then begin to taper further from there? 

Question… 

Sorry if seems stupid one but read something in group and makes me wonder..

I’m on 120mg per day , 60 x 2 ..  1 in the morning and 1 at night…

Recently doctor said I could stop taking the morning one if I wanted too or found no benefit so can stretch out the meds I have  – as currently getting Dux is hard to get from chemist due to *some shortage * ..  so i had to order my meds from somewhere else (( last month I went 5 days without them for same reason ))

On doing this I have no energy, extra pain , horrid headaches and a funny tummy – lights are bothering me too…

Is this because of the meds ? As doctor keeps telling me * you must of picked up a bug but, as a shut in that rarely leaves the house I can honestly say, this is not possible…

Female (middle aged) – history of depression and anxiety. 

I was prescribed C 60mg 2 years or so ago for major depression.  I got down to half that without any withdrawal symptoms. Last year I tried to taper down – I was off and on the 30 mg for most 2023. So now I have been completely off C for about 5 weeks – latest dose was 30mg.  I have been absolutely fine until yesterday – when i just metaphorically fell on the floor… 

I don’t know if it is delayed withdrawals or a reaction to my life circumstances (which are too complex to go into here )but I get ridiculously emotionally flooded multiple times a day – my body explodes with a flight or fight response to what are quite normal requests from my partner, and simple questions even.  Maybe many of them are objectively annoying – but many times the demands are pretty benign and still set me off! My partner and I can be talking and some small thing can trigger set of a physiological reactions involving heat surging up through my toes to the top of my head, instant pressure headache, shakes, a tightness in my throat, nausea and throbbing head as though I’m being fully attacked. I know I am not – but my body feels I am. 

My partner and I work together (a creative business – music based) and I always feel I am in over my head and also overwhelmed.  I mostly (but not exclusively) get triggered when interactions are work based.  

I cry sveral times a day, I snap, I get the wrong end of the stick and feel attacked.  I was just truly horrible yesterday – I was basically a screaming mad woman acting like a toddler having a meltdown (I am middle – to late age).  The flooding can happen mid conversation and I see red even before I know why.  I try and ask for time outs to calm down – I do, but then the same flooding happens again repeatedly. I wonder – could this be a symptom of C withdrawal?  Is it drawn out menopause? – last paid was well over a decade ago. Is my unstructured life playing havoc with my sense of security (I’ve recently been diagnosed with ADHD?). Or am I actually just a cranky irritable person who can’t control her emotions? 

I feel like I might have to go back on C 30mg and taper slowly – but I can’t face it – I feel like an utter failure.   

Apologies for the ramble – my brain feels utterly scrambled and tired.  

A quick recap, I was on 60mg dul for years, in October I had dropped to half and didn’t have any side effects until December when they got really bad. At that time I didn’t know about this group and tapering. I am working at reinstating at about 45mg since end of December. I thought it was getting better and my racing heart had gone away, last night I woke up 5 times with it racing which is more then I’ve had before. Which now, being exhausted, has made me feel more anxious again. Is there something I can do to calm the racing heart so it doesn’t happen so much? Anything to prevent it? Anyone else experience a racing heart get worse after trying to stabilize?

I went to my doctor last week about my fatique issues. And I thought when I mentioned I was slowly tapering off of C which was through a different doctor that she wouldn’t make a big deal about it but I got basically laughed at when I said I was weighing tapering. I only told her how because she asked me. She laughed and said she hadn’t heard of that slowly tapering method and said nothing positive to it. And wanted me to drop 60 to 30. I said no because of the withdrawal concerns. She had me convinced though that I could do 60 to 50 and so on slowly that way. So I was thinking at first, maybe doctor knows best, tried it and I’m not even a week out and I feel like crap. Well worse than crap, but I don’t cuss so you know what I mean! 

So if anyone needs reminded when you think you should mention the slow taper method, maybe best not too. Some might ( my main prescribing doctor seems more understanding) but I still didn’t say anything to her. Many of your doctors won’t support you in doing a slow taper method and it’s often best not to say anything as you need to keep getting C so you can slowly taper correctly according to this group. It’s a wake up call to follow this group. I didn’t even get my fatigue solved but I know I’m going to keep weighing and tapering slowly as originally planned!

I wish I found this group months ago. I followed my doctor’s tapering plan and wished I went slower. I was on 120 then went to 90 for a month, then 60 for a month, then 30 for a month then nothing. I am one week with nothing and this weeks has been pure hell. Felt like I had the flu times ten. Couldn’t function at work. Brain zaps, dizzy. I couldn’t eat, and my moods have been unbearable. I am finally starting to feel better. I just have some dizzy spells and the brain zaps…also feel like I am over caffinated. I let my doctor have it. She suggested if I felt awful, she would prescribe me a lower dose I would take one every other day. I rejected that plan because I am scared to take it again. She suggested going on 10 to 20 mg of Prozac to help. What do you think? I was on C for 4 years.

I told my Dr that C is not working for me and the side effects are way worse than expected and this is her response:

“I am sorry the C is not helping. Decrease to 1 cap daily x 7 days then 1 cap every other day x 7 days then stop” 

I’m so glad I found this group.  [Cymbalta Hurts Worse on Facebook]

I am a retired physician who stopped practice just after cymbalta was released.  The information the pharmaceutical reps give physicians is generally on starting side effects, not on discontinuation.  I was prescribed cymbalta 10 years ago for neuropathic pain associated with a sensory neuropathy.  That, along with lyrica, eased the severity of the pain.  I was able to wean off of lyrica but have been unsuccessful 5 times in weaning cymbalta. Prior to taking the medicine, I was happy and handled stresses without difficulty. The side effects of taking the medicine are horrible, as everyone seems to say.  My personality is flat, without joy, and basically an introvert.  The sweating is an anxiety type of cold sweat that peaks 8 hours after I take the pill.  The most minimal of activities with exertion is perceived as anxiety and I am covered in cold sweat.  I have had a heart attack and a mild stroke so this reaction  is very bad for my vascular system.  I will wean as you have suggested.  Worst medicine I have ever prescribed or taken.   Big pharma is not the least bit interested in these problems.   Its all about the money!!

Question re Tapering off 60mg C. Last month dropped to 30. No apparent impact. Last week (as instructed by psych doc): went cold turkey. This week: chaos! 

Nausea/headaches/diarrhea plus insomnia/vivid dreams—literally feels like the flu/negative covid test. More recent: emotional volatility. 

Doc (who never mentioned 20mg option) suggests adding 10mg pr. (I’m still on 300 mg Wellb) 

Would you do it? I’m undecided. Which symptoms will it help? TIA!

So, I’ve been thinking of cutting down for so long!  Always afraid to start.  I have been on 60 mg of Cy%^lta for 8 yrs. ?? Approx.  Had an older bottle of 30 mg.  My 60 mg bottle was almost done so after the last pill I starting taking the 30 mg.  Now I’ve tried that before and wow I felt horrible with the brain zaps etc. (tried many yrs ago). This time, not as bad as it was yrs ago.  I’ve now been on 30 mg prob a month.  I did get brain zaps /dizziness but nothing that it stopped me in my tracks.   I know I’ve read that the lower you go the worse it may get.  I plan on staying at 30 for a while … maybe 5-6 months?  we will see.

I told my Dr that C is not working for me and the side effects are way worse than expected and this is her response:    “I am sorry the C is not helping. Decrease to 1 cap daily x 7 days then 1 cap every other day x 7 days then stop” 

I’m so glad I found this group.

 My dr prescribed a quick 2 week taper & it was one of the worst experiences of my life. I had to spend 6 months stabilizing before I could start the taper method suggested here.

Hey Guys I’m new here thank you for excepting me. 

My dr has put me on 30mg of C from 60mg.  I’m on day 10 I was doing ok then I have woken up absolutely confused sad angry crying a lot and feeling suicidal is this normal? I’ve been through alot in the last couple years now 16 months sober and come off Effexor in that time. Nearly killed me but this feels really intense maybe because I can’t mask the pain with alcohol well I can but choose to never do that again. Any advice would be great thanks guys. 

Hello All! Thanks for having this group I didn’t know this many people were also going thru this. I have been off Du (Cym generic) for almost 14 months. It was been hell. I was on 60 mgs for chronic pain. I cut down to 30 mgs for a period of time then 15 mgs and then off as directed by my doctor and since then my anxiety has been off the charts to panic levels at times. Does this ever go away?

My primary care doctor required me to come in and go over meds and do a well check up. When I told her I have been tapering off C for almost 2 years she physically hysterically laughed out loud. She was like OMG why???? I said what do you mean…bc of the withdrawal’s obviously. She said that was ridiculous, it takes only 2 weeks to quit. When she asked me how long I thought it would take to be completely done and I said it could easily be another year. She smirked and then wrote something in my chart.  At this point I lost all confidence in her. PS Her solution to my panic attacks (Xnax) and depression was a laundry list of different meds Pro, Well, Eff, Zol…I left-no prescription in hand. 

My new younger doctor laughed at me for tapering so slowly to avoid side effects and told me how badly he’d suffered from coming off an antidepressant. He then asked me if I wanted to bridge to a new antidepressant! Then he laughed when I told no thank you and told me I had medical PTSD! He gave me a new prescription for dul and I continued my taper and refused any meds that would negatively interact with dul. He just shakes head and continues to try to give me new drugs whenever I visit. SMH