[atisketatasket]

I was on 30mg Cymbalta from early September 2016. Early this month, told psychiatrist I wanted off meds and we started with Cymbalta - went from 30 to 20 mg to start. For about a week had anxiety and insomnia, then it cleared up. Next step was after two weeks, stop. Sunday was my last dose. Withdrawal symptoms - first hyperhidrosis and then dizziness - started Monday, dizziness especially bad today.

Any guesses as to how long this could last? I see no point in going back on it for relief because it's out of my system now and taking it again would just prolong the process.

[Skeezyks]

I was on the maximum recommended dosage, first of Cymbalta & later it's generic equivalent, for... oh... a year or two (memory fails me.) I decided to go off of it when I changed health insurers & the out-of-pocket cost skyrocketed!

I had taken myself off of other antidepressants in the past without any input from the prescribing mental health professional. However, when I decided to go off of the Cymbalta, I decided to consult my pdoc. He recommended a schedule that took me from the maximum recommended dosage down to zero over the course of 2 weeks. I thought this was very fast. However since that was his recommendation, I decided to go with it & I didn't have any particular problems.

[mllelystigre]

I was up to a 60 mg dose for almost a year and made the mistake of going off cold-turkey. The withdrawal I experienced (insomnia, headaches, "brain zaps," flu-like symptoms) were so horrible that my prescriber put me on Prozac for a few days (it helped). I think after a month I started to feel "normal" again. Really wish that prescriber had warned me about the severity of withdrawal from this drug. Good luck - it will get better!

[CF17]

Originally Posted by atisketatasket

I was on 30mg Cymbalta from early September 2016. Early this month, told psychiatrist I wanted off meds and we started with Cymbalta - went from 30 to 20 mg to start. For about a week had anxiety and insomnia, then it cleared up. Next step was after two weeks, stop. Sunday was my last dose. Withdrawal symptoms - first hyperhidrosis and then dizziness - started Monday, dizziness especially bad today.

Any guesses as to how long this could last? I see no point in going back on it for relief because it's out of my system now and taking it again would just prolong the process.

I'm really impressed on how you guys could handle Cymbalta. I'm really tough when it comes to medications, but that one I couldn't handle it at all. It made me so sick, I couldn't move out of the bed and had a 24/7 sickening nausea. However, when I was taking other antidepressants, I got off it by reducing the dosage, like what you are doing right now. The withdrawal symptoms will DEFINITELY go away, but please keep the therapy sessions and/ or other treatments. Also, physical activity helps tremendously. I hope you feel better soon!

Regards, CF

[annielovesbacon]

hey ATAT! I know this is an old post, I rarely come on this forum but came because I also am coming off cymbalta. Do you mind me asking how long your withdrawal side effects lasted? I have been taking 60mg for nearly a year and have wanted to come off it for a long time. I have experienced the horrible "brain zaps" and anxiety and headaches, etc. in the past from quitting cold turkey during manic episodes... I wonder if I will be able to avoid this if I take it slow or if it is inevitable?

[Guiness187055]

They last a while. You are better tapering just split the beads up.