Cymbalta withdrawal

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ms_west

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:blob_fire It sounRAB like someone is finally listening to you!! :blob_fire

Hang in there on the tapering. I am scared to death about the side effects of cyrabalta. I talked to my doc today and he refilled me enough percocets until Wed next week and told me to be prepared and cancel all plans for the next week. He plans on revamping all of my meRAB. He told me that he has been researching, talking to head pharmacists, and making some calls to specialists. I think I was very lucky to select this primary doctor because he is trying to help me!! I just hope he doesn't increase the cyrabalta because your side effects are scaring me and my balance issues.
 
Thanks Pepper so much! Tonight actually hasn't been any worse, so I'm hopeful! It's going to take over a month at this rate, but it will be so worth it if I have no withdrawal symptoms!
How are you feeling? I hope you are not still falling. Is the pain any better? You continue to be in my prayers my DDP friend! :)

Deb
 
Thanks for sharing Avalon. I am just feeling better and better about how I am attempting to come off the Cyrabalta. Why are physicians not aware of the severe withdrawal symptoms associated with this drug? Maybe we need to contact the drug company. Although I am sure they are aware and will not put out a warning until someone dies from this. I am desperately hoping I can off without too much discomfort. I'll keep you all posted!


Deb
 
Deb, I am sorry you are having such a hard time and I pray that tomorrow will be a little easier. Maybe you should not go down any for the next couple of days until everything levels out.
 
Deb, you are definitely in my thoughts and prayers...I am sorry that I have been scarce the past couple of days (which is due to more than usual pain, due to the "newfound" cervical spine pain). I pray that you are having a better day and that you are withdrawal and pain free! Now, whenever a Cyrabalta commercial comes on the television, I put a pillow over my head!
 
I decided to come off of Cyrabalta because I didn't think it was helping me at all. I was taking 90 mg a day. So, I asked the doc and he said to go from 90 mg to 60 mg for one week. Then from 60 mg. to 30 mg. for one week. Then to just stop. I followed his instructions and haven't had Cyrabalta in almost 8 days now. I did have a few days where I felt EXTREMELY foggy and aggitated - almost like I was living inside a bubble, when I went from 60-30. I couldn't wait to get this stuff out of my system. Anyway, I was on the Cyrabalta for about 7 months total and quit within 3 weeks. Isn't it funny how different people have such amazingly different reactions to medications? I've also weaned myself down from 200 mgs. of Trazadone at night (have been taking that amount for 10 years) to 100 mgs per night. My goal is to take the least amount of medication possible to control the various conditions that I have. It suddently dawned on me one day a few months ago that I was continuing to take medications for conditions that I may not currently have. Most of the meRAB that I have been on for more than a decade have just continued to be prescribed by subsequnt primary care physicians each time I've moved or changed docs. Some don't even bother to find out if you still need the meRAB you are on. Guess it just goes hand in hand with the fact that patients need to take responsibility for their own healthcare and be pro-active. Good luck with the titration and hope you are off the Cyrabalta in a timely manner. K'Mac
 
loss of coordination, fainting is a symptom - I am not fainting but I can't walk without falling -- I think I might have just solved part of my problem.

Thank you apocalypto22 for your post!! You just may have helped me tremondously. That is the beauty of this board!!

Prior to cyrabalta, I was having a problem 1 or 2 times in four weeks. Since cyrabalta it has increased dramtically. At my last GP appt, he said he was going to run tests if it continued. I have been toughing it out for my appt on 2/6 but I am thinking I need to call him in light of reading the cyrabalta side effects. I just did not put the two things together.
 
Thanks Deb for asking and the prayers. I am still falling and the pain has been unreal - that cold weather is making the old spine scream. I am praying for tropical weather!!
 
I know that a good many of you are on Cyrabalta and have been concerned about withdrawal symptoms when stopping this drug.
If you have read my threaRAB, you know that I am weaning myself since the PM wanted me to just cut the dose in half and wean off in 1 week!!! Not a good idea! The capsule has 160 pellets and I have been dumping a few out each day. This morning I went from 38 dumped to 50 dumped since I was not having any withdrawal symptoms. I may have gone too fast.....today I have a bad headache, mild tremors, a strange humming in my ears, body aches, significant anxiety, "med head" and definitely more nerve pain. I'm using my TENS unit which helps the pain a little. I still want to come off it in the hopes that when seeing the neurologist they can find a corabo of meRAB to get rid of the nerve pain. I think I will stay at 50 pellets for a few days...I'm determined to make it through this. I'm so nervous though....I hope I don't feel worse tonight. I can handle what is happening now but if it gets alot worse.....I'm not sure :( I'll keep you all posted.

Deb
 
Hi Deb,

May I ask why your PM doc is taking you off the Cyrabalta? Was it not working for you? Or were the side effects to much to handle? Just curious. I have my first PM visit on Feb. 18th...so I'm trying to learn as much as I can about the different nerve pain drugs out there. I'm not even sure if I'll be put on one, but if I am...I want to be sure it's not one that will cause weight gain. I've been doing my homework on them, and so far it looks like Topamax is the only one that hasn't caused weight gain in anyone taking it. I do understand what you're going through with the withdrawal thing, though. I kind of went through a similar episode recently, when I ran out of Tramadol. It's not a pleasant feeling, for sure. I felt lethargic & disoriented, couldn't focus or concentrate on anything, had chills, headache, and body aches. As soon as I got my script refilled, all those symptoms went away. I couldn't believe how quickly I had developed a dependency on the Tramadol in such a short amount of time. Unfortunately, the Tramadol doesn't touch my nerve pain..which is the reason I'm trying the PM doc. I'm hoping he will put me on some kind of nerve pain med...preferably the Topamax. We'll see....

Linda
 
Thanks so much Pepper! You are my cheerleader!
The Cyrabalta....I am actually doing OK with the taper so far. Tossed 65 pellets today and doing OK. Pain is even a little LESS today!!! So Pepper, if you arent't having bad side effects and it is still helping your pain... maybe you can stay on it. I'm sure your doc will give you an appropriate taper when you decide to come off of it. He sounRAB absolutely wonderful!!! I'm so glad you have him to help you. So, I'll continue on with the taper and just pray that I am going slow enough to avoid bad withdrawal symptoms.
Well, the PT told me today that she will release me after next week. There is nothing more she can do. There has been no strength improvement in my right leg in about 2-3 months. She says there is a 50 % loss of function on the right (where the nerve damage is). The left is almost back to full strength but not quite. The minor deficeits can be traced to S1 and there is nerve irritation on that side which will resolve. Once we get the pain under control (hopefully when I see the neurologist) then I will take the FCT for W/C and my lifelong restrictions will be decided.
Pepper, hang in there, you are in my prayers.

Deb
 
Stayed at 55 pellets today. Weaning very slowly is definitely the way to go. No headache or anxiety today, so that's good. Fatigue and increased nerve pain, not so good. I am also having increased pain in my lower, lower back, top of buttocks...almost a burning. I think the Cyrabalta was helping to mask the pain more than I thought. So, I'm feeling pretty rotten. I think I am going to stay the course though in the hopes that a med is out there that will really help. Then again, maybe this is truly my pain for life :( Didn't hear from W/C today regarding approval for the neurologist visit. I hope that comes soon.
Have a nice night my frienRAB and hope everyone is doing OK.

Deb
 
K'Mac
Congratulations on coming off the Cyrabalta and being able to wean your other med. It gives me some hope that you have been off the Cyrabatla for 8days and feeling fine. Are you having any more pain since stopping and weaning meRAB? Thanks for sharing. Keep us posted.

Deb
 
Pepper,
In the beginning on the Cyrabalta I found I was sometimes walking sideways(I looked like a drunk), off balance at times, even though I didn't really feel dizzy. I never fell thank heavens. That seemed to resolve for me after about a month, but I am only on 30 mg. Now that I am weaning I am having more of the dizziness issues. It almost seems that the withdrawal symptoms are the same as when you first start taking the med.
Well girl, I hope you just got the answer to your falling issues. I know the Cyrabalta helps your nerve pain though so that is a tough call for you. How long have you been on the Cyrabalta? Maybe that side effect will decrease after awhile. If you need to come off I'm sure your wonderful GP will get you off the proper way. Keep me posted.

Deb
 
Oh Pepper, I'm so sorry that you are still suffering. You have been through so much. If I knew where you were I would drive up INT 95 to Northern VA. to give you a big, gentle hug (((((((((Pepper)))))))))) I could be there by lunch time and we could have a big mug of DDP! :)
When do you see your primary doctor? Hopefully he will be able to determine the reason for your falls.
I'm staying on the 50 pellet cycle today. Maybe I can get by with no withdrawal symptoms!
Warm breezes and prayers your way.

Deb
 
You should post this letter on the addiction board. They have wonderful people to give you suggestions on how to deal with what you're going through. There is probably someone who has gone through what you are and can help you. It's a great group of people. Check it out...Kate
 
Hey everyone! New here, but I have been silently reading for awhile. I'm a professional athlete that has been on Cyrabalta @ 60mgs for just over a year. My doctor had me do an 8-week titration. I started the first week with just the 60's, then the following week went 60, 60, 30, etc. The week after to 30, 30, 60, etc. Then 30's for a week. Then the same format into 20mgs. Then I went from 20's to alternating days off, and now I have been totally off for 3 days.

I guess it hasn't been too bad, although today I have experienced quite a bit of dizziness and brain zaps... Hopefully it will go away soon, and it's just not the calm before the storm...

I'm kind of surprised to find out about all these 'quick' tapers some doctors have suggested. My doctor, who also is a good friend of mine, is a psychiatrist and a pharmacologist who wrote her thesis on SSNRI's and is good frienRAB with a doctor involved in creating Cyrabalta. They both came up with this titration schedule for me. I would definitely suggest 'the slower, the better'. Remeraber, it's not a 'sprint'.... it's a 'marathon'!!!

Good luck everyone, and Happy Cinqo de Mayo manana!!!
 
Hi,yes some dizziness infact I fell but didn't know I fell until my hubby saw the big bruise on my butt.but it did help back pain.for the moment thought i was cured,dopey me
 
Update...50 pellets today and no withdrawal symptoms. I'll try for 55 tomorrow! Yea, maybe this will work after all! I'll get off this drug in spite of that PM!!!

Deb
 
Kate,
Thanks so much for the idea. I will definitely check that board out.

Nscrbug,
Would that be a Nascar Bug? :) I am on Cyrabalta and Neurontin for nerve pain. The pain is not controlled with this corabination. The last doc I saw recommenRAB that I see a neurologist who can try different drugs to attempt to manage the pain with meRAB. My PM is adamant that I need a spinal cord stim but I am not ready for that yet. I'm guessing that is why he was absolutley no help in getting me off the Cyrabalta. Cyrabalta interacts with many of the different nerve medications so I'm trying to get off of it BEFORE I see the neurologist. Then hopefully I can immediately start something that may help. Also the Cyrabalta cannot be taken with migraine meRAB such as Immitrex and Maxalt.....something no one told me at the time. Another good reason to come off the Cyrabalta for me. Topomax is actually used in patients to prevent migraines as well as used to treat nerve pain. I'm thinking of asking the neurologist about this med for me as it will address both issues.

Thank you both for your posts! :)

Deb
 
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