Sue G in PA Posted January 11, 2011 Share Posted January 11, 2011 I just stopped taking Cymbalta after a few months on it. I was prescribed another (Pristiq) but it was horrible. This was over the weekend and I haven't talked to my dr. She hasn't returned my calls. :glare: I've been off the med for a couple days now. Each day I feel worse. Dizzy, tired, "loopy" feeling, forgetful (short term memory), can't drive b/c everytime I turn my head I get dizzy and feel faint. I am way irritable...too irritable even for me. I screamed at my 2yo! I never scream at my kids anymore! Will this all stop soon? What can I do to ease the symptoms? I can't be a good parent like this. My ds9, if you read the special needs board, was just hospitalized at a mental health facility. He needs me to be 100% and I'm not! But, I want off the drugs. Wasn't working anymore anyway like I wanted it to. So, does anybody have any experience stopping an anti-depressant? Any advice? Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wendi Posted January 11, 2011 Share Posted January 11, 2011 Is it possible to go back on a lower dose, then taper more slowly? If you're taking tablets, you may be able to cut them in half, in fourths, etc. Antidepressants can be a pain to go off of; hang in there! Keep calling your doctor, and maybe ask the pharmacist in the meantime if you can take half a pill or something. Wendi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cindy in the NH Woods Posted January 11, 2011 Share Posted January 11, 2011 So sorry, Sue! I am not a doctor, but I would take a half dose of the Cymbalta for a few days to a week, then cut down to a quarter dose for several days before stopping the medication. I hope your doctor call back soon. Until then, I would go ahead and take a half dose of the Cymbalta if you have any on hand. :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris in VA Posted January 11, 2011 Share Posted January 11, 2011 I've tapered from Cymbalta--pls take at least half a dose, then try your dr again. He or she will give you a tapering schedule to keep the withdrawal manageable. :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tex-mex Posted January 11, 2011 Share Posted January 11, 2011 I just stopped taking Cymbalta after a few months on it. I was prescribed another (Pristiq) but it was horrible. This was over the weekend and I haven't talked to my dr. She hasn't returned my calls. :glare: I've been off the med for a couple days now. Each day I feel worse. Dizzy, tired, "loopy" feeling, forgetful (short term memory), can't drive b/c everytime I turn my head I get dizzy and feel faint. I am way irritable...too irritable even for me. I screamed at my 2yo! I never scream at my kids anymore! Will this all stop soon? What can I do to ease the symptoms? I can't be a good parent like this. My ds9, if you read the special needs board, was just hospitalized at a mental health facility. He needs me to be 100% and I'm not! But, I want off the drugs. Wasn't working anymore anyway like I wanted it to. So, does anybody have any experience stopping an anti-depressant? Any advice? Thanks. Yes. You are going thru classic withdrawal symptoms. You really need to taper off the drug first before going cold turkey. Please see a doctor as it could be up to 4-6 weeks of withdrawal symptoms and it does get worse. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
*Jessica* Posted January 12, 2011 Share Posted January 12, 2011 I just stopped taking Lexapro due to pregnancy. It was the lowest dosage, but the doctor still had me take half of a pill every day for a week, then 1/2 of a pill every other day for a week. I had about two days after that where I felt off and then I was fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dsmama Posted January 12, 2011 Share Posted January 12, 2011 Yes, yes. Taper. Slowly. Get a pill cutter. Start slowly -- half a pill one day, 3/4 the next, for a few days. Then go to just a half, then rotate half and a quarter dose for a few days. Then just a quarter. Then a quarter every other day. And be prepared. It is painful to come off depression meds. You will feel dizzy, disoriented, etc. You may feel "brain zaps," which only those who have felt them can relate to the term. It gets better, but it is not easy. Asking gently -- is now the best time to go off meds? Is another med a possiblity? (I am on Lexapro, and it is very helpful). Hope your doctor calls back SOON. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hsbaby Posted January 12, 2011 Share Posted January 12, 2011 I agree with the above advice!! Those withdrawal symptoms are horrendous. I hope you have (or are able to get) a prescription soon so you can taper off. Once you take it again it doesn't take too long to feel "normal" again. I think when I did the same thing I went to bed sick and woke up feeling much better after taking the med the night before!:grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gratia271 Posted January 12, 2011 Share Posted January 12, 2011 It is critical that you taper off of this kind of medication. People can have life threatening complications from quitting cold turkey depending on the medication involved. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jen in PA Posted January 12, 2011 Share Posted January 12, 2011 I have no advice, but :grouphug:. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sue G in PA Posted January 12, 2011 Author Share Posted January 12, 2011 So, I've not taken the Cymbalta since Wed. morning. of last week. I went off of that to take the Pristiq as dr. prescribed. Took that for 3 days. It got worse. Then I went off of the Pristiq. I've had nothing since Sat. night. I think I will have to go back on the Cymbalta...have some left...and talk to my dr. about tapering for now. If it were just me I had to take care of I could do the withdrawal cold turkey. But it's not. So I guess I'll have to do gradual. I have to be better. Thanks all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gratia271 Posted January 12, 2011 Share Posted January 12, 2011 :grouphug: Take care of yourself!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nakia Posted January 12, 2011 Share Posted January 12, 2011 I had the same withdrawals when I came off Zoloft several years ago. It was horrible. I'm sorry you are dealing with it. I want to caution you about starting the Cymbalta back though. If there was a pretty good reason you switched, it might not be a good idea to go back on. Be careful. I took Pristiq for 6 weeks and had HORRIFIC side effects. My family doctor prescribed it. When I started seeing a psychiatrist, she told me she had never, and would never, prescribe it. :tongue_smilie: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sue G in PA Posted January 12, 2011 Author Share Posted January 12, 2011 I've been on Cymbalta for months. It was working fine with no major side effects. I just noticed that it wasn't as effective anymore...not really helping increase my mood. I figured why take something that wasn't even working, right? But, these withdrawal symptoms are horrific! I did take a pill tonight and am hoping to feel "normal" tomorrow. I'll call my psych then and figure out a wean sched. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plain jane Posted January 12, 2011 Share Posted January 12, 2011 No advice, Sue, but lots of :grouphug:. I'm so sorry you have so much on your plate right now. I wish I lived close enough so I could help you out some. :grouphug: You and your family will be in my prayers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stephanie Posted January 12, 2011 Share Posted January 12, 2011 Sue, taper it very slowly. Take half for a week or so...you should never abruptly stop antidepressants because of the possible fatal side effects. Then you half that until you are down to nothing. You are in withdrawal from it. You will feel the tapering even if your doing it right, but it won't be so extreme for your body. I'm going to pray for your body to adapt better to this. Antidepressants can be life savers, but they are hard to come off sometimes. :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacy in NJ Posted January 12, 2011 Share Posted January 12, 2011 Really. Please. :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goldberry Posted January 12, 2011 Share Posted January 12, 2011 (edited) Please make a plan with your doctor. I personally had such horrible withdrawel (although they technically call it "discontinuation syndrome") from Effexor, that I finally resigned myself that I will be on it the rest of my life. This was after three different doctors and different plans. The longest I made it was 3 months, and it was getting worse not better as time went on. Honestly it was the worst thing I ever went through. (Kind of a bummer though, no prescription coverage and Effexor is $175 per month in the US. :ack2:) It's not something to mess around with. Don't stop them without a plan from your doctor. ETA, temporarily, take some Benadryl. For some reason, I read that it helps, and it helped me a bit as well. Edited January 12, 2011 by coloradoperkins Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancer67 Posted January 12, 2011 Share Posted January 12, 2011 I weaned off of Effexor XR one time and it was terrible. I gobbled down dramamine's to help with the dizziness. And the brain zaps were terrible. Unfortunately, I tried another drug and it didn't work out, so I went back on the Effexor. You cannot stop these drugs. Like everyone said, you have to wean slowly. Sometimes it can take up to a few months to do this. :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MangoMama Posted January 12, 2011 Share Posted January 12, 2011 OMG! It's hard for me to believe anyone would try to quit anti-depressants cold turkey! :grouphug: :grouphug: That scares me senseless! More :grouphug: for you. Weaning is always the best way. Withdrawals are the worst. I hope your doctor returns your calls... how unprofessional! :( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mommy22alyns Posted January 12, 2011 Share Posted January 12, 2011 :grouphug: I'm sorry. I know how awful it is, and Cymbalta was really bad for me. I can only echo how important tapering off is and wish you luck. :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
texasmama Posted January 12, 2011 Share Posted January 12, 2011 (edited) Haven't read the other replies...(caveat: I am not a medical doctor. I'm a therapist.) Did you stop abruptly or wean off gradually? Regardless, you can have the side effects that you describe for up to a month, but they should get better a bit at a time and go away altogether. ETA: Read the other replies. Good advice about weaning gradually. Edited January 12, 2011 by texasmama Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nd293 Posted January 12, 2011 Share Posted January 12, 2011 I understand it's really important to taper off slowly. I was once on Effexor for 6 months, and the Dr tapered off like this: Wk 1: 2 tablets per day Wk 2: 1.5 tablets and 2 tablets on alternating days Wk 3: 1.5 tablets per day Wk 4: 1 tablet and 1.5 tablets on alternating days Wk 5: 1 tablet per day Wk 6: 0.5 tablet and 1 tablet on alternating days Wk 7: 0.5 tablets per day Wk 8: 0.5 tablets on alternating days This worked incredibly well - I never had a single withdrawal symptom. I did have to switch from a slow release capsule type to a different form of the same meds that I could cut in half. Hang in there... Nikki Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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