Trying To Get Off Of Cymbalta

Wow! I had NO idea what I was in for with this medication. If anything is too good to be true... it usually is!
I started this medication back in September for fibromyalgia symptoms. It was like a miracle. The day after I took it, I woke up almost pain-free and without the "fibro-fog" I had had for the past 10 years.
Well, to make a long story short, I joined a gym recently, and began thinking more of the holistic approach to pain management. The side effects of Cymbalta, although I have never experienced any of them except the difficulty sleeping, scared me (especially the liver damage). I had already decided to stop Cymbalta,when my lovely insurance company decided it didn't want to cover it anymore and I would have to pay $200 a month if I wanted to continue it. Well, to me, this seemed like a sign that now was the time to do this. That was a couple of weeks ago.
Now, I'm no stranger to these type of medications. I knew I had to taper off... not stop cold turkey. So, I took my last 60mg, then took the 30mg for a week, and when I fell asleep one night without taking it, I decided that this was the time. That was 3 days ago. NEVER IN MY WILDEST DREAMS DID I HAVE ANY CLUE THAT I WOULD LITERALLY BE GOING THRU WITHDRAWAL! My doctor never warned me what it would be like to stop this medication. I am dizzy, occasionally nauseous. I'm hot, then cold, then hot, then cold... I've experienced these "brain-zaps" that folks talk about. I'm angry and tired... stupid little things set me off. I wish I had a punching bag at home. Everything feels surreal. When I turn my head, my head is there, but it takes a second for my brain to catch up. My dreams at night are crazy... very vivid.
I have been trying to go to the gym, which seems to help a little. And I've been trying to drink a lot of water, hoping to flush this crap out of my system faster.
But, I have to tell you, after reading a bunch of notes from forums, I'm scared! Some of these folks trying to get off of this medication are months out and STILL experiencing side-effects.
Is anyone else out there on the same page as me? Maybe a little farther along with their detox? I really want to know how long I can expect to have these symptoms... and when I will start to feel "normal" and "inside my body" again.

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The worst of the effects usually stop at about 6 to 8 weeks, after you've stopped taking it.

I stopped Zoloft cold turkey, after having taken it for a number of years for OCD and that's approximately how long the most annoying side effects lasted.

If they are safe for you to take, you may find some relief from using some herbal products, at least temporarily, such as SAMe or Valerian Root.

As you may be able to tell from those suggestions, I also support the natural approach, when it's safe and possible to treat some conditions. While it's claimed that some of them can be as dangerous as prescription medications, I've found that it's rare to see studies that support such claims and, if used carefully and properly, many people experience great benefits.

Thus, I think if you are careful and keep up the exercise as well, you'll most likely find your symptoms of withdrawal easing up faster than someone who is leading a sedentary lifestyle.

How are you feeling today?

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