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Is this duloxetine withdrawal?

Posted , 47 users are following.

Sally271
Sally271

I could really use some advice.

I had been on 60mg of duloxetine for about 4 years. Back in April I decided I would like to slowly reduce. I spoke to my GP who supported my decision to slowly reduce and we agreed that I would manage it myself. A friend had struggled with duloxetine withdrawal but I assumed it was because his depression had returned - I didn't reckon on the hell that is duloxetine withdrawal.

I gradually reduced to 30mg daily. In July I was struggling with brain zaps, extreme fatigue, brain fog and difficulty processing thoughts and information. Oh, and RAGE!! This was gradually getting worse and I decided to ring the GP who advised increasing my dose back to 60mg. I asked if she'd heard of patients having problems withdrawing from duloxetine - she hadn't.

That was over a month ago - after an initial improvement it is now as bad as ever. I have an appointment with GP in a few days but not sure they will even acknowledge that my symptoms are due to duloxetine withdrawal.

Any advice/similar experiences would be appreciated.

5 likes, 80 replies

80 Replies

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  • farah48637
    farah48637 Sally271

    Posted

    Hi sally,

    I had the same experience. I have been on cymbalta 60mg for a year when i decided to reduce my dose to 30mg with the advice of my gp. During a month i was feeling fatigue, nausea, running thoughts, cry spells, and depression. I talked to my gp and he told me to get back to the initial dose. I went back to 60mg for another 3 months. Then reduced it to 30mg. Its the second month taking a pill after the other. The first month was awful. The secon d month is some how better. At the end of june i should stop taking cymbalta.i wish i feel ok.

    I just wana tell u what r u feeling is cymbalta witbdrawal and not a relapse of ur depression.

    And regarding ur gp dont expect him or her to tell u about cymbalta withdrawal sypmtoms they hide such things. As i realized no doctor can help in this issue they just prescribe it.

  • CHICO_MARX
    CHICO_MARX Sally271

    Posted

    Withdrawal always starts with the brain zaps...and, yes, it's tough to get off duloxetine.  My method...  Can't go from 60 to 30 immediately.  Alternate 60 and 30 for a few weeks and then go to 30 every day.  Stay there until you feel stable.  Then alternate 30 and 15 for a few weeks...maybe more.  Then do 15 for a while.  Then a 15 every other day...then every 3rd day, etc. until you're completely off it.  Took me months to do this but it worked for me. Titrating down has to be gradual and it depends on the person.  Every time you go down a step, you have to stabilize there before continuing.  It's a difficult but doable process.  Good luck.
  • JanC1958
    JanC1958 Sally271

    Edited

    Sally, I joined Cymbalta hurts worse on fb, it has helped me as I tapered down too quickly last month, and had extreme anger and irritability....they have a fantastic support group and files explaining everything.  Let me know how you get on...coming of this drug is a nightmare and sadly many doctors aren't aware of the terrible side effects we have to endure..Good luck lovely x

     

    • debbie_66
      debbie_66 JanC1958

      Edited

      Hi Jan, I've been off 120mg since last thursday, my doctor just put me down to 60mg, I feel dreadful, the sweats, flu symptons, dizzyness and brain zaps, and feeling sick, I feel misrable, and cant stop moaning, I am on them for Fybromyagila. I am going to try the FB page. I'm waiting to see if they'll let me join the group xx

       

    • JanC1958
      JanC1958 debbie_66

      Posted

      Oh my god, these doctors don't know what they're doing, because it's only been a short time, Maureen from the group will suggest to go back up to 120mg until you feel well again, then decrease by 2.5mg.... It won't take long for you to be accepted in the group.... I really feel for you xx thankfully I'm feeling much better today xx
    • debbie_66
      debbie_66 JanC1958

      Posted

      Hi Jan. Thank you for the advice. My doctor said if you still have the pain go back to 120mg. She should of said if you can't stand the side affects go back to 120 xxx
  • debbie_66
    debbie_66 Sally271

    Posted

    Hi Sally

    I have Fibromyagia which is why I was prescribed these. I was on 120mg last week and my doctor put me down to 60mg the side effects are dreadful , dizzyness, brain zaps, sweakting, fatigue, my pain is back, brain fog, I so want to get off them as they are horrible, I'd rather be in pain, but I have no idea long this will last , im scared when i go down to the next dose, my doctor is monitoring it. xx

  • JennaKiah
    JennaKiah Sally271

    Edited

    I stopped taking Cymbalta briefly and the withdrawal was so severe that I ended up on the floor in tears with severe brain zaps, sharp pains through my head, flu-like symptoms, and I couldn't open my eyes from the pain that was behind my eyes. I tried hard to just deal with the symptoms but it was too severe. I even sent my children to stay with my mom so they didn't have to experience how horrible it was for me. My ears were ringing constantly, both of them. I wanted to sleep through it but couldn't sleep even though I felt exhausted. I am back up to 60mg and I have no idea how I will ever get off it. I want to soooo bad!!! The feelings of rage and halucinations were the absolute worst! I was so mean to my husband that he slept on the couch until we both understood why I was in such a rage. I never swear.. during withdrawal I couldn't stop swearing. I honestly thought I was bipolar or going mad. My doctor said taking Prozac is suppose to help curb the withdrawal, it didn't work for me. I wish it did. I have a great physician who listens to me and is always willing to help me do what I feel is right for myself but he has no idea how to get me off Cymbalta. I was put on it by another doctor who I will never go back to. They need to study the medication before giving it to you. I will never take another medication without googling the withdrawal symptoms and the side effects.

    • JanC1958
      JanC1958 JennaKiah

      Posted

      Hi Jenna, what you're experiencing is quite normal side effect of this horrible drug..... I have had much the same, throwing stuff at my partner, screaming and shouting like a banshee..... I found a support group called Cymbalta hurts worse, it advocates slow tapering and gives you all the information and methods how to do this safely..... I suggest anybody wanting to come off Cymbalta safely, join this support group..... I also put my partner in the group too so he could understand that I'm not some crazy bitch but unwell .... Hope this helps xx

  • maryln41844
    maryln41844 Sally271

    Edited

    All I can say it is a very bad drug never got over side effects after taking 4 months and the withdraws have been even worse did not expect anything would happen so just quit and the hell began did not even guess what it was even spent a week in hospital now 5 weeks later still going through hell please please please if you can get away from cymbalta please do but it will not be easy .
  • richard_62841
    richard_62841 Sally271

    Edited

    Hello, I've been reading the comments as I myself am having the most terrible time with my withdrawal. I'd been on 60mg a day (amongst various other medicines) until about 7 days ago. I currently feel I'm honestly losing my mind. Brain zaps, sweats, confusion, severe head pain and other symptoms. I just want to sleep & not wake up at leat until this feeling subsides. I'm crying a lot which I've not really done with feeling numb for so long. I managed better on them than without. My dr stopped me completely & put me immediately on to something else. I feel useless, afraid, distant, irritated. I am at a loss of what to do or even might I might do to combat these. I'm a determined person but I'm also weak in that I will do/take anything. I have about 16 fluoxetine pills and the temptation is always their to take them even though I know that make the situation worse eventually.

    • JanC1958
      JanC1958 richard_62841

      Posted

      Hiya Richard, I would suggest you join the support group called Cymbalta Hurts Worse, it's a closed group, where their total commitment is getting people like us off this horrible drug safely....as it's only 7 days I'm sure you will be advised to re instate to your original dose and then taper off really slowly......I have been taking 50mg twice a a day for over 8 years and last year managed to taper to 40mg twice a day, I had to take it real slow and didn't taper for 6 months as had too much life changes to deal with....I started tapering this year, just 2% of the dose, the group will give you all the advice and support you will need......you can do this, take one day at a time.....??

  • Baylady
    Baylady Sally271

    Posted

    Hi Sally,

    I've been on Duloxetine for about 5 years now at 60 mgs 1xper day.  I take it at night to try to avoid the fatigue factor.  I started getting dizzy as in vertgo, but I suspected it could be the drug I was taking so I tried going off, cold turkey.  Bad idea.  I could not eat, I could not think, I had vision problems, I could barely function.  I went to the Dr. about three days in and my sugar wa very low from not eating.  Basically, I had to go back on it and the dizziness returned.  You need to ween yourself in small increments.  I'm really not sure what the dosage amounts are that you can get, but I think the lowest is 20 mgs.  So start off with 20 mgs first and leave it at that for a long while, and then once you have adjusted to that comfortaly, go down another 20, and so on.  I wish you luck but I think you cut it too much to start.

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