I want off Cymbalta ...

Hi everyone

I’m new here, but not new to fibromyalgia ... I was Dx about 2 years ago. My Rheumy put me on Cymbalta after a trial on Elavil which did nothing. Cymbalta gave me my life back, but after 2 years the side effects are getting worse - mainly the most hideous fatigue causing sleep attacks. You know something is not right when you are falling asleep while STANDING at your standing desk at work. It makes so much sense reading after about how it impacts your REM sleep.
I am no stranger to fatigue. I have psoriatic arthritis as well, so fatigue and I are old friends ... 😘 but this is like nothing else I have experienced. I take nothing for my PSA as I am lucky to have it mildly, and the side effects from the drugs are worse for me than my PSA symptoms.
My Dr told me nothing about Cymbalta when I started on it, if he had I dont know if I would have tried it, but I was in pretty bad shape when I started it. He said most people tolerate it just fine, and it worked very well for them and that was it. So it is only recently, as I started trying to get answers for this crazy drowsiness, that I started looking at the side effects of Cymbalta, and realized what a nasty drug it actually is.
To cut a long story a little shorter, I want off Cymbalta, but I am nervous about how I might be once it is gone. I’m only on 30mg, and have started taking it alternate days. Towards the end of the second day I start getting some withdrawal symptoms (brain zaps and weird tinnitus) but otherwise I am doing ok. Although my husband did mention I was pretty cranky yesterday, so maybe not as well as I think I am.
I’ve read the thread on withdrawing from Cymbalta ... and I’m thinking I will try taking beads out rather than stepping down to every 3rd day.
I’m also going to try Malic acid/magnesium. And find a good massage therapist and yoga group.
Anyway, that is my story. I’d love to hear from others who have managed getting off Cymbalta. And positive stories of life after Cymbalta and how you manage.

I am so glad I found this post.
Honestly, I feel so daft for not putting it together!
When I moved I w a s transfered doctors, the Dr. Here decided Cymbalta would help me. Okay, off we go like a Hurd of trurtles!
Long story short, I have been doing to extremely weird stuff, like falling asleep in mid conversation with one of my kids!!! Often dozing off while sitting up, just absolutely ridiculous.
Vertigo, nausea, rank headaches and gravol have been close friends of mine as of recent. I was on 90mg, I began my journey to become pharma free approx a month ago, I have been taking a dose every other day, as well as decreasing the amount of beads in the capsules.
I am super excited for the days we're nausea isn't a constant, and I can be off all the garbage docs have put me on over the years.

Best of luck, and all the love and good hopes for everyone else who is or has overcome the big pharma nightmare! ❤

Hi, Nikki, and welcome! I see Luvs beat me to the punch! She gave you good things to think about.

We are all so different as to how medications affect us. It’s a trial and error situation. I personally didn’t want to get started on the heavy duty stuff so I stuck with mainly over the counter things and they have all helped. I use ibuprofen with food, Tylenol, vitamin D3, magnesium malate, and a muscle relaxer that has made a significant difference in my pain called Robaxin (methocarbamol). This and exercise like walking and keeping my home clean have helped keep me mobile and enjoying life.

Be sure to read Fibro 101...the first thread in the forum. There are links to good info about fibro and you will learn a lot there.

I’m looking forward to getting to know you better. Don’t hesitate to ask questions because we are here to help you. Hope To hear more from you soon.

Sherrine