Day 12 of Cymbalta Discontinuation

Somehow, my brain became heavier than my skull.

That's the only way I can explain why, when I turn my head, I can hear my brain moving to catch up with its container. Depending on the time of day, and the mood of Cymbalta discontinuation gods, I can also hear my eyes move, and feel the most delightful zaps of electricity in my head. Oh yeah, it also sounds like I have insects in my ears.

Seriously, I'm down with the whole concept of side effects, but this is ridiculous. THERE SHOULD NOT BE BUGS IN MY EARS! DAMMM YOU ELI LILY! Also, there is 6 inches of snow on my driveway that I did not approve of. DAMMM YOU MOTHER NATURE!

The titration schedule recommended to me was 10% every 3 days. Today is the third day of a 40% reduction, which means tomorrow is my first day at 50%. Overall, it hasn't been as bad as the Internet said it would be, although the weird brain stuff is annoying. Thankfully, Mrs. F27 has been taking apart all of my 60mg capsules, and removing the appropriate amount of Cymbalta beads. Interesting trivia: did you know that each 60 mg Cymbalta capsule has about 580 tiny little beads? Evidently, they're enterically coated, so you can't just dissolve them in water to do your titration, you actually have to count the stooopid beads. Tomorrow, the long-suffering Mrs. F27 will be counting out 290 beads to remove from each of three capsules. I'm shocked that her eyes haven't fallen out of her head yet.

But at least she doesn't have to hear her eyes moving.

Anyone wanna shovel my sidewalk? I'll give you 20 bucks, and a lifetime's supply of surplus Cymbalta beads.

F27, I'm sorry that you are struggling with withdrawal symptoms but what a blessing that Mrs. F27 is willing to separate those beads. That task would drive me crazier than I already am! lol Also, good to see you have a sense of humor about it. It helps!

Thanks @gettingby - I have to admit that it sucks being in my head right now, but I'm titrating slowly enough that I can still work and live my life. I'm switching over to Zoloft. The idea behind the switch is that it should be less disruptive to my sleep.

And you and @KelliInCali are sooooooo right. I have the best spouse in the world.

Thanks HT, I'm with you - it's quite unpleasant. Thankfully everything feels okay, as long as I don't move. So yeah, being a sloth is working out to my advantage!

sorry you are dealing with this crap. I can empathize.

Peace
Trina

F27

Try drink hot water with lemon slice in it! Honest

NO sugars. Sleep as much as possible.

I think this will help a lot.

Peace and strength
Trina

breathe, it will be soon

Here's an update for all those who may read this years from now in an effort to normalize your own AD discontinuation.

It's day something or other since I stopped Cymbalta completely (10ish?). I'm not sure what day actually, cuz me and math aren't getting along right now (see previous sentence). The noise in my skull is getting marginally better, although it's every bit as loud and annoying. Thankfully, the noise only crescendos every 5 or 10 minutes, instead of relentlessly. I'm still bouncing off walls (literally) and am dizzy AF. Life is okay as long as I don't move.

Emotionally I'm crabby but okay. As much as I want to start my replacement AD (Zoloft), I'm going to wait until the SFX from the Cymbalta discontinuation fade into the backgroud. I really want to be able to evaluate the Zoloft on its own merits so I can make a reasonable decision about if it's for me. At this point, I fear the Cymbalta discontinuation SFX would colour the Zoloft start-up SFX, and I could be in the same situation 6 months from now, with a brain that sounds like a box full of rusty tools, and not know why.

Oh yeah, the nausea is a real treat too.

And I may have ordered a new phone because Siri and I now officially hate each other. That's reasonable behavior, right?

Holy crap, that sounds as almost as bad as my oxycodone withdrawal, which was hell on earth. But I stopped 60mg Cymbalta cold turkey without any issues at all. Brains are strange.

(Somewhat ironically, I'm back on the Cymbalta again for lack of anything else to try. But at 30mg this time and sticking with that for now.)

Here's hoping that the worse is over and it slowly gets better from here on in. PS: Try ginger beer for the nausea.

What new phone did you order? <_<

May the medication gods take pity on you soon.

I have had a bad few days--ran out of my pain med and have been waiting for it to come mail order. It is not withdrawal but am unable to keep a position very long due to the pain. Not sleeping well, not thinking clearly. I have been taking OTC painkillers, but it only a matter of time before that zaps the colon.

*sigh*

since we are talking about pain and yuckiness now, I have to add my back has been aching all day. Damp cold weather goes right through a person. Suppose to have a freezing rain mess tomorrow morning, I hope it changes.

Hugs to all...

Karen...

Thanks Jamie, Healing thoughts to you too.

Hugs, Karen...

My my,

Are you sure you can't start the new med sooner? You have been going through the withdrawal symptoms for a bit now. I couldn't stand more than a couple of days myself. It is torture.

I hope that you feel better real soon.

Hugs, Karen...

So glad you are feeling better F27. It is nice to know there is life after AD's. That the symptoms do go away.

I hope you have an awesome rest of the day...

Back pain easing up some but this damp weather does not help.

Hugs, Karen...