I've been taking Cymbalta 60 mg for a little over 5 years. I truly believe that all of the health problems I've had since have been the result of this horrible drug. I have been tapering off and am now down from 60 mg to less than 20 mg. The only way to go down from 20 is to open the capsules and remove beads. It has been a nasty process. I've had bad flu-like symptoms with and without fever, nausea, stomach pain, joint pain, insomnia. My brain basically doesn't function at all!! Which was actually one of the symptoms that got worse and worse from taking the Cymbalta to begin with. I felt as though I could function on it, yet it was very hard to concentrate, no motivation, no true feelings or real emotions, basically it got to the point where I was completely unproductive doing anything, even work horribly suffered. This drug definitely did me more bad than good. The only thing it really helped with was the pain I had associated with disk degeneration in my neck. Since I've been on Cymbalta I've developed multiple health problems including ulcers, gastritis, Barrett's Esophagus and hypothyroidism, multiple allergies (environmental and food), not to mention the wait gain and the fact that I could sleep 24/7. Actually, I think Doctors need to screen people (especially women) for thyroid problems before just writing a prescription for these meds. It is ridiculous! My doctor is nothing more than a drug pusher. He doesn't even know what some of the best natural things are for depression or anxiety like GABA or 5-HTP. He even prescribed medicine to me that had major interactions with one another? Since I have been tapering down the things that have helped are: GABA (in powder form you can add it to any beverage), fish oils (omega 3 - better to have about 3 times the EPA than DHA), stay hydrated!!!! Not only water but something with electrolytes and antioxidants (I love Sobe Lifewater), drink lots of it with B vitamins. Biotens nerve stimulator is a big help if you experience neck or back pain, also helps with headaches. My doctor put me on 40 mg (down from 60 which wasn't that bad) for 14 days, then down to 20 mg for 14 days, then nothing. Instead I have been taking beads out of the 20 mg capsules as its the 20 mg to nothing that scares me the most. Has anyone gone from 20 to nothing after tapering down? I'm now down to taking 50 beads out of the 20 mg capsules. Just wondering what to expect if I start taking 20 more out per day until they are gone. Starting to run low and I will never pay another penny for this poison! I'm expecting to see a class action lawsuit against Eli Lilly anytime and I am all for it. Thanks for letting me vent. Any advice would be great!
swilliamson, good luck with your weaning, I tried and failed. I was on 60mg, and then went down to 40 for a few weeks, then 30 for a few weeks and then down to the 20s. I bought a vitamin that had a capsule that I could empty and fill with 1/2 a 20, basically making two 10s out of it, I think I even went to four 5s for a bit, all in all I weaned down for about 6 months.
I didn't feel really bad until almost the end of the wean. I got the flu like symptoms, light bothered my eyes and I was always queasy, but the worst part was the pain in my knees, neck and hips! I was 100% miserable and had to go back on. Within a week all my symptoms and pain disappeared! I too wish I had never started this drug and it will be a long time before I try to stop it again.
Please keep us up to date on how you are doing.
If you search posts about a year and a half ago, you might find one that I wrote while going through my wean.
The following user gives a hug of support to SanyBelle: bookerman (09-30-2012)
After reading the previous two posts I wonder if my doctor was wise putting me on this drug. I was on 60 mg capsules a day but found it totally changed me. I began having nightmares, and worse talking in my sleep (really weird stuff). My wife and friends noticed a marked change in me, I became withdrawn and wanted nothing to do with family or friends.
Originally my doc put me on it for relief of pain and slight depression. It seems to work for that. Finally I could't take the side effects and requested my doc to reduce the dosage so now I'm on 30 Mgs. I've been on it a year now, we shall see what happens going forward.
Bookerman
The following user gives a hug of support to bookerman: SanyBelle (09-30-2012)
After reading the previous two posts I wonder if my doctor was wise putting me on this drug. I was on 60 mg capsules a day but found it totally changed me. I began having nightmares, and worse talking in my sleep (really weird stuff). My wife and friends noticed a marked change in me, I became withdrawn and wanted nothing to do with family or friends.
Originally my doc put me on it for relief of pain and slight depression. It seems to work for that. Finally I could't take the side effects and requested my doc to reduce the dosage so now I'm on 30 Mgs. I've been on it a year now, we shall see what happens going forward.
Bookerman
bookerman, my sister takes 30 mg for pain and it works well for her. I don't know if she takes it everyday or as needed. Probably everyday since anti-depressants need time to work in your system, but maybe the pain relieving properties work immediately? I will ask her the next time I talk to her.
SanyBelle, Wow....it's really disheartening to know you got down do far and had to go back. I'm not going to get discouraged because I know every "body" is different. I've actually read posts from people that have had virtually no side effects. I'm going to keep going and praying that I can keep it up. Thank you do much for the information.
The following user gives a hug of support to swilliamson006: SanyBelle (09-30-2012)
I'll keep you updated. You weren't a wimp! I'm just determined not to give the drug company the satisfaction of knowing they will get another dime from me. If it works don't fix it. I just worry about the time you will want to go off of it again. Don't worry, by then I hope to have enough information so that it will not be so hard for you!!!!
The Following User Says Thank You to swilliamson006 For This Useful Post: SanyBelle (09-30-2012)
Life after Cymbalta???? 
Re: Life after Cymbalta???? 
haha)!
