I have been weaning myself off Cymbalta 60 mg. I refilled the last 30 day dose on January 24th 2011. Since then I have taken the pills every other day or every other two days and I have 12 of the 30 pills left. I quit cold turkey now for an entire week. Last time I took the pill was last Sunday Feb 27th 2011. My symptoms consist of fatigue, constant hunger, thirst, anxiety, uncontrollable crying, unstable emotions (hot & cold, up & down), paranoid thoughts, insecurity, bloat, diarrhea.. at one point was unable to walk long distances or move too quickly because I feel dizzy and faint. I am terrified that this will last any longer than it already has. Today I felt better but I still feel light headed and can't move too fast. I also am unable to think clearly or very fast. I am scared and so far I haven't heard of anyone quitting this drug cold turkey. Any words of advise or encouragement would be welcomed. Thanks
I quit Cymbalta 60 mg cold turkey Feb 27th 2011. Am I over the worst of withdrawl?
Question posted by Chelly2011 on 7 March 2011
Last updated on 12 April 2022
20 Answers
so My doctor put me on cymbalta 60 mg after my other ptsd drug just wasn’t enough instantly made me severely sick vomiting, had a migraine I missed work I should have known then this was only the beginning to my nightmare. Dr recommended take it at night so second day took it at night and all night same things vomiting and severe migraine so he lowered my dose to 30mg and although the headaches were dull and he had to raise my migraine medicine “Topamax” to an even higher dose it was helping 4 day into the 30 mg I got a bloody nose I was like wth. Next day same thing this continued for 2 weeks then this symptom stopped.
Then the weight gain and no sleep started so we went to the 60 mg dose so now I was getting now sleep basically feeling like crap all day long while trying to function and put on a fake smile and then come home and look at a scale that kept going higher and higher and higher for no fricken reason so long story short after months of this bs and wondering why I was taking a pill that was supposed to aid in my “happiness” was not helping me in anyway I quit taking it only because NO ONE ever fricken told me I could not. I missed a whole week of work. Flu like symptoms started immediately . Severe night sweats to the point my bed is soaked. Nightmares however I sleep thru the night. If I do wake up to go to the bathroom I don’t remember how to walk . Severe pins and needles pricks in my hands and face and feet. Tunnel vision and hearing in and out . Ringing of the ears the tunneling is almost the worst part that’s when everyone says I go pale. Loss of appetite . Severe diarrhea and vomiting and when your not throwing up you have severe nausea. I wish someone would have told me about the withdrawal symptoms before hand because I would have told them to stick this drug right up their ass. For those of you still on it get off of it over 5000 lawsuits tell you it’s a bad drug I’m in my second week of withdrawal and honestly I’m terrified
This sounds like I'm pretty screwed. I was started on Cymbalta 60mg and started blowing through that with suicidal thoughts so my dose was pushed to 120mg which stopped the thoughts but now what? If getting off of a 30mg dose is impossible how do I even get down to that dosage?
I have been taking this cymbalta for 5-10 years now for pain relief n antidepressant but am so sick of feelings/ mxd emotions/confusion/ etc etc that I want my life back n really want to come off this horrific drug. But I'm scared as three years ago I attempted suiside.. any advice n recommendation s please. I know if I ask gp he will advise I stay on drug etc . Is it a matter of the slower I reduce the 60 mg I'm taking the easier the withdrawal symptoms will be???
I am a registered nurse and I was taking Cymbalta for chronic pain. I went to a chiropractor and feel much better so I decided to quit the 60 mg. cold turkey. I knew better, but thought for sure I could do it. The withdrawal has been the worst thing I have ever experienced. I have been off of it for 6 days now and it is as bad as the 3rd day. I called the pharmacist today and he said that Cymbalta is one of the worst drugs to withdraw from and that it may take as long as 3 months. He suggested I come get my 60 mg. capsules which was waiting to be picked up, and pull the capsule apart and take only 1/2 of the beads today and tomorrow, approximately 30 mg., and call my Dr. first thing Monday and see how to proceed. I did it because I am so sick. I also started omega-3 fish oil which is supposed to help in some way. I absolutely want to be off of this medication if it affects me this way when I stop it. I have never been so sick.
I feel so dizzy even with the slightest movement of my head. I went to pick up my prescription, almost hit a car and was totally surprised when I came out of the pharmacy as to how I had park. I am going to do exactly what the doctor says to come off of it because I'm afraid of what will happen if I don't. The pharmacist said it can take some people as much as 4 months to totally wean from it. :)
What you are going through is not that unusual for stopping cymbalta. I would suggest searching cymbaltawithdrawal online to find a support group.
I have been off cymbalta for 73 days now and understand how you feel. It is easier to come off 15 mg rather than 60mg.
The first 2 weeks off are the worst for side effects and after that things improve. The omega3 does help and drink lots and lots of water. A good B vitamin complex also helps. It is tough but for most people all the side effects go away in about 4 to 6 weeks, but those first 18 days can be rough.
Take care of yourself.
Thank you so much for your support. I feel like it's never going to end.
I know that feeling. It seems neverending but it will end and you will feel so much better without it.
I have been using cymbals for more than 5 years now, 30 mg. I have developed an uncontrollable shake in my right hand that was so embarrassing. My wife told me she had read this was a side effect of the drug. I started taking it years ago to help with minor depression and anxiety. If I failed to take for a couple days, I would have these electrical pulses in my head. I knew this drug would be hard to quit, just could not stand the thought of it having that type of control over me. A week ago I stopped taking it, after I noticed I had forgotten it for three days. So that puts me at about 10 days now. Severe flu like symptoms and could barely straighten my back out when standing up first week. Now just mostly jolts and shocks in my head. Diarrhea started today. Be glad when this goes away.
You are through the worst of it but it can take 4 to 12 weeks for all the symptoms to go away. Omega 3 1000mg 3 times a day helps with the jolts and zaps in the head. I have been off 37 days now and feeling pretty good.
All the best to you
I need to update that omega 3 as a nurse who has been through this too says to take 2000mg of omega 3 twice a day for the best help for those zaps.
This is amazing that we are taking a medication that can do this to our bodies when we try to stop. I cannot wait to come off of this medication. I did go to the pharmacy and open the capsule and split them like the pharmacist told me too, now I wish I would have just continued on til it was over, but I couldn't work last night because of how bad the withdrawal is. I will up my omega 3 too and see what happens. You can bet I will be on the phone first thing with my doc tomorrow to see how to get off of this junk.
Don't be surprised if the doctor is surprised that you are having difficulties. Eli Lilly has not be very forthcoming with proper information to doctors regarding the difficulties some people have getting off this med which is why I recommend a support group strictly for cymbalta.
My doctor still believes that my side effect could not possibly been from stopping the drug, but if he would just read the updated prescribing information he would see that it has been changed.
That is the discontinuing information that was changed - (Aug 2012)
Where do I find a support group at? Is there anyway we can let this company know what we are going through?
I use cymbaltawithdrawal dot com, but if you search cymbalta withdrawals there are a few good ones.
Take care
I feel your pain, I to quit feb 17th cold turkey... wow I told my wife how i am feeling and she looked it up online.sorry you are going through this. On the otherhand glad to know that i am not losing my mind, i am having the same symtoms. I called my doc and she said come in and get some 30mg to take everyother day for week then we will try skipping two days... I really hope it works, i was so scattered and moody i lost my job due to these side effects. I had been taking cymbalta for over a year... i hope you see your doc, you to deserve relief..I hope all gets better real soon keep posted please..
I'm a world trade center survivor, I been on cymbalta since them, I tried several time to quit, but is not easy to me, I'm on 30mg now, today I'm willing to start, what some of you said, take one every other day, I really wants to quit. Now I feel I'm not alone...
I too, quit CYMBALTA cold turkey and these withdraws are forever making me feel as if I'm going to fall down, dizziness, when I turn my head, its as though I can hear "puffs" of air.I feel like Im walking sideways , my own legs wont support me and my doctor gave me this medication for pain... but yet, after about 30 days the meds no longer work for pain. I'm also having these "jerks" all over and sleeping is near to impossible. Electric shock, and alot of confusion... glad when this stuff is completely over...
I call these "brain zaps" and I can hear them, too. It is awful and makes me feel completely idiotic. It is really difficult to make a complete thought.
I have figured out two ways to explain this feeling:
1. It is similar to when you drive over a steep in the car, and you get that feeling like your tummy has gone up into your head.
2. I liken it to when your foot falls asleep, but instead of your foot getting the pins and needles as you wake up, your brain receives them.
To the second point, I kind of wonder if that is what is happening. I was put on Cymbalta for nerve pain (fibromyalgia and bad back)/nerve damage (from a severely pinched sciatic nerve). I've learned that it helps the pain by basically changing the way certain neurotransmitters fire in your brain. I'm wondering if Cymbalta basically makes certain nerves "fall asleep" and the snaps or zaps are just your nerves/neurotransmitters basically "waking up"? That makes sense to me. Though I am, admittedly, experiencing brain zaps as I type this, so who knows?! LOL
Whatever is happening to our poorly brains is brutal!
I have been on Cymbalta 60 mg for about 2 and half months. I had been on Zoloft before Cymbalta. I have had 2 back surgeries and my therapist thought the Cymbalta would help with my pain and depression. Once it was in my system, I hated it! All I wanted to do is sleep. I couldn't keep things straight in my head and constant confusion. Plus, it didn't help with my pain. So against being told not to go off cold turkey, I did. The first few days were fine until my hormone pills were not in stock. That's when some of the withdrawal sysmptoms kick in. Dizziness, constant crying for no or any reason, stronger confusion.I thought I was losing my mind. It's been almost 2 weeks without Cymbalta. I'm starting to feel better. I know everyone is different, but I would NOT tell anyone to get on that roller coaster! Good luck to anyone fighting with Cymbalta!
Holy cow! This is the worst drug on the market. I pray this reaches SOMEONE out there actually considering taking this pill.
First, I had two surgeries and my child was diagnosed with autism in a one year span. Anyone would go batty. I got panic attacks. Being intelligent - I went to a "psychologist" that just proceeded to put me on three pills - Xanax, Remeron and Zoloft. Not once did he ask me WHY, WHERE, WHAT - just gave me drugs Being not intelligent I just accepted his stupidity with a prescription pad!
Thank goodness I have TONS of hair - I started losing it by the handful after 3 months on Zoloft. So, he switched me to Cymbalta 60mg.
After 3 months of drugs, I had it. I don't need them, I am over the stress.
I am not suicidal nor have any psychosis diagnosis so PLEASE keep this in mind as you read this. Panic attacks and a tiny bit of depression. That's it.
Learn from me - take Xanax and Remeron. That's all you need for panic attacks!
I quit cold turkey off Cymbalta. The first week I thought I had a serious case of strep roat or the flu - couldn't hardly drive nor function to raise this same Autistic child! That sucks as a mom! Got on antibiotics and still felt like crap!
Now on my second week - brain zap central! I know my blood pressure is through the roof. I feel it beating in my chest, jittery, feet and hands feel tingly. But I am seeing the light finally. Everyday gets easier. I know why my body is doing this. But it doesn't make it any less scary.
PLEASE PLEASE read on this drug or ANY drug your dr prescribes. Learn from my mistake. I will NEVER take an SSRI again!
I stopped 60mg of cymbalta yesterday. I got on it about a year n a half ago after my best friend of ten years was killed. I am feeling better now n feel like I shouldn't be on them anymore but this numbness n dizziness is very weird! My husband thinks I'm crazy cud I told him having withdrawals so I am glad I have people that understand! Its good to know I will hopefully I will feel better soon!
i am on this drug and I AM GETTING SWOLLEN LEGS AND BODY WITH WATER, ALSO HEADACHES i AM ON 60 MG CAN i JUST STOP, I AM NOT TAKING THEM ANYMORE COULD THIS BE DANGEROUS
So how are you feeling now? I was on 90 mgs.. reduced it by 30 every week. yesterday i quit from 30 mgs. I feel ROTTEN. all the symptoms you have... dizzy. faint. fatigue.hot and cold. sweating. shaking. nausea. everytime i move my head i get this weird electrical shock feeling. my face and arms keep getting tingly! This drug is awful. I am so mad that doctors would even give Cymbalta to patients. This is by far the most addictive drug I have ever been on.
I know exactly how you feel. By now you are probably better... But I was on 90 mgs of Cymbalta. I found out it was too much for me.. I had weird yelling outbursts, crying, tingling in my face and arms whenever I would move. I would sleep A LOT! It was HORRIBLE. I went to a different doctor and he told me to get off of it asap. So the next day I reduced my dose to 60 mgs. A week later... I went down to 30mgs. I felt MUCH better. Yesterday I quit cold turkey and now the withdrawal symptoms have kicked in! It feels like it will NEVER end. hot and cold. sweating, dizzy. shaking. fainting.headaches. entire body hurts. nausea. I cant think at all. i have slurred speech. i pretty much feel like im insane. I cant move my head at all without getting vertigo and my face getting all tingly. This drug shouldn't even be available. I have been on numerous antidepressants and Cymbalta is by far the most addictive. Please tell me that you are better! lol I don't know how much more of this I can take.
Hi there Chelly2011. Seeing the date of your question, a bit late, but better late than never. I suppose by this time, I imagine that you are no longer on cymbalta perhaps another, new medication. I stopped cymbalta, was taking 60mg up to just this past November. And only went back on it, last week tuesday, April 6th 2011. Stopping it, cold turkey, was not a major ordeal, so to speak. Mind you, most medications throughout my life, have barley had serious, what I call serious side effects. My anxiety level is almost always very high. Drs, have almost always said at one time or another, that given my make-up, biological that is, the centreal nervous system acts as a sort of ... enemy to say, a particular drug. Not always of course, the hypnotics always seem to do thier job. Started to sleep better, only because cymbalta cuts into my sleep pattern. I am an insomniac and it never, that way did much good. Mind you, my anxiety levels were down, and that was a good thing, for sure.
I wonder how long you were on your 60mg? A few years or less? Just curious, because as you know, that can play a role. Regardless, I hope that you are well, doing great and feeling a whole lot better.
I have been on 60mg of Cymbalta for about 9 months. I feel like I have my life back in order and am a much stronger person. When my doctor started my on it, I was fine for about a month. Then it was really effecting my sex life. So she started me taking Cymbalta and Welbutren together. I have taken these everyday for 8 months. My sex life is pretty non exsisting now. I have had it and took my last pills on Saturday, April 9, 2011. Today is the first day I am feeling side effects. Diarrhea, dizziness and if this makes sense, Shiver Like feeling in my head. I am not sure what to expect next. I have a great support system in my husband. Did anyone else have issue with sex while taking Cymbalta and have quit taking it cold turkey like me?
Can you please share more on your experience. I am on day 5 of he'll and have been off for a week. I only took it about 3-4 months so am hoping these symptoms go away soon. I'd really like to hear more of what you went through! Please help! Thanks!
sex was better for me and is, but i forget to take sometimes for 2 days and i feel so sick, dizzy sweating, hot and stomach pain and chest pain, I dread when I do come off of it, it has helped me alot along with clazapam at bed time, because I was getting restless leg syndrom with insomnia.
hi tkkherman,
I am curious, How are you feeling these days, since Cymbalta? I too, experienced Horrific withdrawal symptoms from this drug? My sex life was and is limited, I practically lost the urge to become intimate with my spouse, Thank God, he has been so supportive with this whole ordeal, I quit this drug last ear 2017 and to this present day, I still feel not so good ! I am curious about how long these feelings lasts? And if you are feeling better since you quit?
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- Cymbalta uses and safety info
- Cymbalta prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Cymbalta (detailed)
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