Cymbalta Withdrawal Mood Swings

I’m a 72 year old who has been on 60mg Cymbalta plus 300-2400 mg gabapentin as needed for 4 years for neuropathic pain. The combination has been effective in lowering the baseline of my pain.

During this time, however, I have gained a great deal of weight. Recently I’ve had aching and sometimes sharp pain near my liver. This is very concerning for me.

I have also experienced blunted emotions during my entire time on these meds. Prior to starting this combo, I never experienced any mood disorder problems. Now that my neuropathic pain is under much better control, I decided to get myself off of the Cymbalta.

I have been completely off these meds for 2 weeks+. My blunted emotions have been replaced by increased tearfulness, mood swings, increased irritation and mild outbursts of anger. This is all very new to me and quite unexpected. Since these mood reactions are so new to me, I can only assume they are related to drug withdrawal.

This is absolutely not normal for me and I am distressed about it. As caregiver for my 97 year old mother who has dementia with lethologica, we both benefit when I maintain a good sense of humor and patience. Neither has been present lately although I do my best to shield her from my negativity.

This is the pits! Despite weight gain & the possibility of more liver damage, I’m wondering whether I should go back on these meds or whether I should give it time, hoping these withdrawal symptoms subside.

My mother and my grandmother believe/ed that taking fewer or, better yet, no Rx pills was best. I’m beginning to believe them.

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Cymbalta contains the active ingredient Duloxetine, it is an antidepressant that is also used to treat certain types of nerve pain, Gabapentin is an anticonvulstant that is also used to treat nerve pain, and both of them can cause mood related side effects while taking them, and when stopping them, according to FDA reports.

Ref: Medline Plus Gabapentin, and Cymbalta.

Other issues that may occur as withdrawal effects may include nausea, insomnia, and rebound pain.

Did you taper off of them? Stopping abruptly can create a risk of seizures.

Are you on any other medications?

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