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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 70 to 94 of 696. Go back in thread:
Posted by johnnyj on January 3, 2006, at 21:42:42
In reply to Re: Cymbalta and Remeron withdrawal, posted by struggle on January 3, 2006, at 20:31:02
see remeron thread below.
Posted by tatt on January 4, 2006, at 8:51:01
In reply to Re: Eye opener, posted by tatt on October 18, 2005, at 8:43:42
well it's been about 3 months since i decided to come off cymbalta. it took me a month and a half to taper down the dosage to nothing, and the month following was ABSOLUTE HELL. i thought i had MS. i have had 2 MRIs (one for my brain, one for my spine), numerous blood tests, doctor visits, etc. i've missed probably a total of 2 weeks of work, have had to take 2 incompletes for courses i'm taking.
if you are coming off cymbalta and feel like you're dying, you're NOT CRAZY. this withdrawl is horrible and i'm only now starting to feel like i'm doing better, little by little.
hang in there. and don't let anyone tell you it's all in your head.
Posted by syntheticsoul on January 4, 2006, at 16:08:08
In reply to Cymbalta withdrawal, posted by Regina on March 3, 2005, at 16:37:18
I thought I would go ahead and share my experience since this is such a helpful thread.
I have been taking 60 mg for about 1 year. With my latest depressive episode gone, I decided that paying for the stuff wasn't necessary.
Well, I am on about day 12, 13, 14...not sure, I have lost count in the middle of this horrible mess.
To start with, I got the nausea, dizziness, and general feeling of yuck. Basically, it's like eating too much cotton candy, sitting in the sun for too long, riding too many spinning rides at the carnival. My body felt like a toxic dump. Sick, sick sick.
After the physical symptoms stopped, almost to the minute, the mental ones started. I felt caged, anxious, and restless. Like I needed to move but had no reason to move. I felt empty and unable to sit for any amount of time, but movement brought no relief. I had bad dreams and anxiety over just about everything.
Finally, I am starting to come out of this but still have some sensory issues. My vision is still off and I am still seeing spots. I will never never never never go back on this drug. I will try anything before giving Cymbalta a shot again.
Posted by elkat on January 6, 2006, at 9:20:25
In reply to Re: Cymbalta and Remeron withdrawal, posted by struggle on January 3, 2006, at 20:31:02
I just quit Remeron a week ago and basically cut my eating in half. I went to the gym two days ago and found I had gained five pounds! It defies the laws of physics.
Posted by Male' on January 6, 2006, at 14:49:31
In reply to Re: Cymbalta and Remeron withdrawal, posted by elkat on January 6, 2006, at 9:20:25
This is a first for me, doing this thread thing that is. I feel so strongly about this horrible experience with my withdrawl thay I believe it important enough to share. Here goes: I tried the cold turkey route with disasterous results, all the symptons mentioned prior but magnified, I think. I then followed my doctor's protocol and did the tapering off bit, 60mg for ten days and then 30mg for seven days , then stopped. The nasty withdrawl symptoms came back wihin two days, just as before. So bad that I am now home from work for the third straight day. I saw my doctor last night and , although I didn't like hearing what he thought I should do, I followed his direction. I am now taking 15mg just to ease the symptons and will attempt to wean myself off this crap over a longer period of time. I now feel mostly nausea, but the intense electrical, tingling-like sensations have subsided to a major degree as well as the sweats and headache. Maybe a 2 from a 10 rating. I still miss my libido, as does my spouse, and just want my life back. Unlike most of what I've read I was being treated for peripheral neuropothy with this "new experimental drug"(me being the guineau pig). Basically for some chronic pain in my lower leg, something surgery only made worse. This stuff worked after 90 mg, (30 and 60 didn't cut it!) but made me feel pseudo-nauseaus, headachey, aggressive,forgetful, and messed up my "sex life", which I quite enjoy, have you! I feel for all the other's here and can't believe a drug so viscious can be allowed on the market. What a country we live in, huh? Makes me so, so angry. I will let you know how I do after some time. Worse comes to worse I have made plans to "crash" in February during my vacation time. Wonderful! THANKS TO ALL OF YOU WHO HAVE TAKEN THE TIME TO SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH THIS GARBAGE OF A DRUG. It meant a lot to me to see I am not alone. Peace....
Posted by secretme on January 6, 2006, at 15:13:06
In reply to Re: Cymbalta withdrawal, posted by Male' on January 6, 2006, at 14:49:31
In response to Male, I have to add that my psychiatrist has pretty much washed his hands of me because I stopped the Cymbalta. As I have tried unsuccessfully all other SSRIs, Cymbalta was the last resort, before hitting other terrible medications, like Neurontin. He said (paraphrasing), "if you come off Cymbalta, I will have to refer you to another doctor." Actually, I am happy to get the brush-off so I don't have to dump him. In fact, I will not see another psychiatrist because it will simply be an issue of "try THIS drug!" Unfortunately, anti-depressants sometimes have "boomerang" effects for some people in the population, and I am one of them. In some instances, medication only exacerbates the depression, but it seems by the few psychiatrists who have treated me, they cannot accept that. After all, where would they get their patients?
My son takes an SSRI for his OCD, and it seems to work for him. I would not encourage him to do anything to jeopardize the success of the medication for OCD, but I cannot take any for my depression.
Eventually, you will not feel depressed because the side effects of the medication will go away, and you will have a new life. I'm still in the grips of Cymbalta withdrawal, and my oncologist said she will wait one more month for the Cymbalta side effects to go away before she reintroduces the cancer medication. Finally, she listened.
Posted by Male' on January 9, 2006, at 21:01:00
In reply to Re: Cymbalta withdrawal, posted by syntheticsoul on January 4, 2006, at 16:08:08
> I thought I would go ahead and share my experience since this is such a helpful thread.
>
> I have been taking 60 mg for about 1 year. With my latest depressive episode gone, I decided that paying for the stuff wasn't necessary.
>
> Well, I am on about day 12, 13, 14...not sure, I have lost count in the middle of this horrible mess.
>
> To start with, I got the nausea, dizziness, and general feeling of yuck. Basically, it's like eating too much cotton candy, sitting in the sun for too long, riding too many spinning rides at the carnival. My body felt like a toxic dump. Sick, sick sick.
>
> After the physical symptoms stopped, almost to the minute, the mental ones started. I felt caged, anxious, and restless. Like I needed to move but had no reason to move. I felt empty and unable to sit for any amount of time, but movement brought no relief. I had bad dreams and anxiety over just about everything.
>
> Finally, I am starting to come out of this but still have some sensory issues. My vision is still off and I am still seeing spots. I will never never never never go back on this drug. I will try anything before giving Cymbalta a shot again.
>
>
The spots may be due to oncoming migraine(my experience)Good luck there, good luck to us all. This stuff is poison to our systems.
Posted by Meghan J. on January 11, 2006, at 13:16:49
In reply to Cymbalta withdrawal, posted by Regina on March 3, 2005, at 16:37:18
I have never posted on a message board, but I'm so grateful that's it's here, because I feel like I can't trust my doctor anymore. I just don't believe she knows what to do about this. And I have to decide what to do TODAY.
In December I tapered off Zoloft and "ramped up" on Cymbalta over about three weeks. As soon as I was at full dosage, I got VERY depressed, weepy, panicked, totally irrational. So I called my doctor and she said that since it had only been three weeks, I could just stop taking it. Bad mistake, as I found out, but I figured I'd just grit my teeth and get through it.
That was about 8 days ago. I'm not depressed, mostly, but I'm dizzy, nauseous, all the same stuff that's been described. It gets a little better, then it gets worse. Yesterday I had to leave work--I teach school, and I was afraid my kids would think I was drunk. When my doctor called back last night, she said to take 20MG of the Cymbalta to see if that would help. And I did that. I can't tell if it's helping or not because I'm too scared to even try to get out of my chair.
Here's the thing: although nobody's come out and said this, it seems like NO amount of careful tapering off has actually helped anyone avoid the withdrawal symptoms. Several people have said that no matter how careful they were, reaching zero kicked off these awful reactions. So do I take the Cymbalta again tonight or not? I can't afford to be sick like this--I gotta go back to work sometime--but if all it's going to do is postpone the inevitable, I'd rather "get credit" for the misery I've been through so far and stick it out to the end. I don't want to start over.
Thanks for reading.
Posted by LinnieLoo55 on January 11, 2006, at 13:28:07
In reply to Re: Cymbalta withdrawal, posted by Meghan J. on January 11, 2006, at 13:16:49
You need to split the capsules in half. Just put it on peanut butter or applesauce but don't chew. Or you can just wet your finger as I did and put it in your mouth and wash it down with water or juice. After about 5 days of that, split it in thirds for about 4 days, then 1/4 of the capsule for another 4 days, then split that. I think you will be OK if you do this and you will avoid the side effects. It is a horrible drug to come off of and I was so ill, it was I think the worse and I have come off of many medications.
Posted by secretme on January 11, 2006, at 13:41:25
In reply to Re: Cymbalta withdrawal, posted by LinnieLoo55 on January 11, 2006, at 13:28:07
It's day 17 for me, and I am still experiencing side effects. My oncologist has decided to wait until mid-February before she starts me on medication for my breast cancer because the Cymbalta withdrawal has been causing me so many problems. Unfortunately, Arimidex or Aromasin have similar side effects to the Cymbalta, but I want to keep the cancer from returning. Psychiatrists make money by prescribing drugs; have you ever seen the drug reps sitting in their waiting rooms? I am taking a Benadryl tablet everyday until I feel better. Right now, I am 75% improved; don't give up and don't give in.
Posted by davcuts on January 11, 2006, at 13:45:36
In reply to Re: Cymbalta withdrawal, posted by Meghan J. on January 11, 2006, at 13:16:49
Hi,My psychiatrist tried to wean me off of Cymbalta for two months, and it was hell. It didn't seem to help at all that I kept going to a lower dosage. I decided to take matters into my hands, and just stop taking it. For a week it was utter torment, but finally the withdrawal side effects went away. I didn't work for that week, and I don't feel I could have, because I felt so sick. Taking a week off from work may not be an option for you. If so you can keep lowering the dosage, but that never worked for me.
Take care,
David
> I have never posted on a message board, but I'm so grateful that's it's here, because I feel like I can't trust my doctor anymore. I just don't believe she knows what to do about this. And I have to decide what to do TODAY.
>
> In December I tapered off Zoloft and "ramped up" on Cymbalta over about three weeks. As soon as I was at full dosage, I got VERY depressed, weepy, panicked, totally irrational. So I called my doctor and she said that since it had only been three weeks, I could just stop taking it. Bad mistake, as I found out, but I figured I'd just grit my teeth and get through it.
>
> That was about 8 days ago. I'm not depressed, mostly, but I'm dizzy, nauseous, all the same stuff that's been described. It gets a little better, then it gets worse. Yesterday I had to leave work--I teach school, and I was afraid my kids would think I was drunk. When my doctor called back last night, she said to take 20MG of the Cymbalta to see if that would help. And I did that. I can't tell if it's helping or not because I'm too scared to even try to get out of my chair.
>
> Here's the thing: although nobody's come out and said this, it seems like NO amount of careful tapering off has actually helped anyone avoid the withdrawal symptoms. Several people have said that no matter how careful they were, reaching zero kicked off these awful reactions. So do I take the Cymbalta again tonight or not? I can't afford to be sick like this--I gotta go back to work sometime--but if all it's going to do is postpone the inevitable, I'd rather "get credit" for the misery I've been through so far and stick it out to the end. I don't want to start over.
>
> Thanks for reading.
Posted by Meghan J. on January 11, 2006, at 13:54:04
In reply to Re: Cymbalta withdrawal, posted by LinnieLoo55 on January 11, 2006, at 13:28:07
So is that what worked for you, finally? 'Cause it sounds like you had a pretty bad time nonetheless. Is this what you did?
> You need to split the capsules in half. Just put it on peanut butter or applesauce but don't chew. Or you can just wet your finger as I did and put it in your mouth and wash it down with water or juice. After about 5 days of that, split it in thirds for about 4 days, then 1/4 of the capsule for another 4 days, then split that. I think you will be OK if you do this and you will avoid the side effects. It is a horrible drug to come off of and I was so ill, it was I think the worse and I have come off of many medications.
Posted by LinnieLoo55 on January 11, 2006, at 15:44:20
In reply to Re: Cymbalta withdrawal » LinnieLoo55, posted by Meghan J. on January 11, 2006, at 13:54:04
> So is that what worked for you, finally? 'Cause it sounds like you had a pretty bad time nonetheless. Is this what you did?
>
> > You need to split the capsules in half. Just put it on peanut butter or applesauce but don't chew. Or you can just wet your finger as I did and put it in your mouth and wash it down with water or juice. After about 5 days of that, split it in thirds for about 4 days, then 1/4 of the capsule for another 4 days, then split that. I think you will be OK if you do this and you will avoid the side effects. It is a horrible drug to come off of and I was so ill, it was I think the worse and I have come off of many medications.
>
> Yes, this is how I wean off of all drugs. I have learned that the way the doctors tell you doesn't work for most people. I have been through so many withdrawals it isn't funny.
Posted by Ska_rlet_B on January 16, 2006, at 21:40:49
In reply to Re: Cymbalta withdrawal, posted by LinnieLoo55 on January 11, 2006, at 13:28:07
Gosh, I was starting to feel completley alone.
I have been taking Cymbalta for about a year now for chronic headaches. It seemed to work right away. My original prescribing Dr. told me tha this was the best medication with ABSOLUTLY NO S/E. and I thought she was right for the longest time, and I could find virtually nothing on the internet about the new wonder drug.
But every month I struggled to come up with the money to pay for my script, because I had immediate withdrawls if I even missed my dose by an hour. Anyways, this last week I just couldn't get the money..and I was 2 days past my last dose, and was going crazy already. I called my Dr. and told her I just wanted to stop. She prescribed me some xanax because I was hyper-ventalating and having anxiety attacks. That was 8 days ago...and everyday I just seem to get worse. If I move to fast, its almost like I am moving in slow motion and and my heart feels weird, not like a normal heart beat, but an extremley fast TICK>TICK>TICK> sounds weird I know. :)
I cant stop crying, I feel so empty..alone.. and hopeless. I am very angry all the time, mad at everyone, and I cant explain to anyone why I am wigging out on them. I am a very good multi-tasker, and I can barely do one single thing.
If I cant find something I have an anxity attack (which until a week ago I have never had one before) My kidneys feel like they are going to explode, they hurt so bad I cant move sometimes. I feel like I am dying. Everyday is just worse. Is it ever going to get better?????http://www.prozactruth.com/cymbalta.htm
The side effects on this websit..after reading them I realized that over this past year..I have had probably 75% of them....I thought I was just generally unhealthy!
GOOD LUCK TO ALL!!!! Have a sun-shine-happy-day
Posted by ang123 on January 17, 2006, at 7:29:52
In reply to Re: Cymbalta withdrawal » LinnieLoo55, posted by Ska_rlet_B on January 16, 2006, at 21:40:49
I have tried to get off several times but have never succeeded. I only can take the side effects for so long. Once I had to stop cold turkey because I couldn't get the script filled and that is when I had my first panic attack. Right now I am taking my meds but I am always looking for a way to get off of it
> Gosh, I was starting to feel completley alone.
> I have been taking Cymbalta for about a year now for chronic headaches. It seemed to work right away. My original prescribing Dr. told me tha this was the best medication with ABSOLUTLY NO S/E. and I thought she was right for the longest time, and I could find virtually nothing on the internet about the new wonder drug.
> But every month I struggled to come up with the money to pay for my script, because I had immediate withdrawls if I even missed my dose by an hour. Anyways, this last week I just couldn't get the money..and I was 2 days past my last dose, and was going crazy already. I called my Dr. and told her I just wanted to stop. She prescribed me some xanax because I was hyper-ventalating and having anxiety attacks. That was 8 days ago...and everyday I just seem to get worse. If I move to fast, its almost like I am moving in slow motion and and my heart feels weird, not like a normal heart beat, but an extremley fast TICK>TICK>TICK> sounds weird I know. :)
> I cant stop crying, I feel so empty..alone.. and hopeless. I am very angry all the time, mad at everyone, and I cant explain to anyone why I am wigging out on them. I am a very good multi-tasker, and I can barely do one single thing.
> If I cant find something I have an anxity attack (which until a week ago I have never had one before) My kidneys feel like they are going to explode, they hurt so bad I cant move sometimes. I feel like I am dying. Everyday is just worse. Is it ever going to get better?????
>
> http://www.prozactruth.com/cymbalta.htm
>
> The side effects on this websit..after reading them I realized that over this past year..I have had probably 75% of them....I thought I was just generally unhealthy!
> GOOD LUCK TO ALL!!!! Have a sun-shine-happy-day
Posted by paddlergal on January 18, 2006, at 18:59:40
In reply to Re: Cymbalta withdrawal, posted by ang123 on January 17, 2006, at 7:29:52
I've been off Cymbalta for 9 days now, with all the symptoms everyone has described. It's horrible. My doc gave it to me about 10 months ago for joint pain, which it helped, but the insomnia and vivid dreams were getting worse, so I took myself off without consulting my MD.
I copy/pasted all the messages, and will give them to my doc tomorrow. I think he gave me this in good faith, and didn't know about the side effects.
But here's my main question: do all these cold turkey symptoms go away?
So far nobody has come out and said that I'll be back to normal. I'm not depressive, just getting old and creaky, and wanted to be able to be more active and get back to canoeing and sailing.
Are these awful symptoms going to going away, or stick with me for the rest of my life?
Thanks to all who shared their experiences.
Paddlergal
Posted by secretme on January 18, 2006, at 19:16:00
In reply to Re: Cymbalta withdrawal, posted by paddlergal on January 18, 2006, at 18:59:40
I have been thinking the same thing about getting back to normal, whatever that is. If there is any research about permanent changes in the brain, or brain damage, I'm sure the pharmaceutical company has it neatly tucked away somewhere. I've been thinking that I have Alzheimer's because my short term memory seems to have vanished. I ran my own business and was very successful. Now, six months after selling it, and one month after coming off Cymbalta, I can't remember the names of many of my clients or basic medical insurance terms, which were second nature to me. If this medication has a chemical affect on the brain, wouldn't it follow that it can make permanent changes that are adverse to a person's functioning? Maybe there needs to be a class action lawsuit by those of us who have come off this medication and still don't feel "right". I'd like to start looking for work and getting back to my former life, but I just don't feel competent enough to do it now. Is there anyone out there who has been off this medication for, say, a year and still doesn't feel right?
Posted by LinnieLoo55 on January 19, 2006, at 6:36:08
In reply to Re: Cymbalta withdrawal, posted by paddlergal on January 18, 2006, at 18:59:40
You will go back to normal except that of course you will get your joint pain back. I can't believe that you did it cold turkey. Cymbalta is a dirty drug in my opinion. The worse I've ever gone off of. I went off of it because it gave me very bad anxiety in the mornings but I'm finding that all the drugs that I take have this effect on me. Anxiety is just here to stay, it has never gone away unless I take medications for it.
> I've been off Cymbalta for 9 days now, with all the symptoms everyone has described. It's horrible. My doc gave it to me about 10 months ago for joint pain, which it helped, but the insomnia and vivid dreams were getting worse, so I took myself off without consulting my MD.
>
> I copy/pasted all the messages, and will give them to my doc tomorrow. I think he gave me this in good faith, and didn't know about the side effects.
>
> But here's my main question: do all these cold turkey symptoms go away?
>
> So far nobody has come out and said that I'll be back to normal. I'm not depressive, just getting old and creaky, and wanted to be able to be more active and get back to canoeing and sailing.
>
> Are these awful symptoms going to going away, or stick with me for the rest of my life?
>
> Thanks to all who shared their experiences.
>
> Paddlergal
>
>
Posted by LinnieLoo55 on January 29, 2006, at 15:43:40
In reply to Re: Cymbalta withdrawal » paddlergal, posted by secretme on January 18, 2006, at 19:16:00
> I have been thinking the same thing about getting back to normal, whatever that is. If there is any research about permanent changes in the brain, or brain damage, I'm sure the pharmaceutical company has it neatly tucked away somewhere. I've been thinking that I have Alzheimer's because my short term memory seems to have vanished. I ran my own business and was very successful. Now, six months after selling it, and one month after coming off Cymbalta, I can't remember the names of many of my clients or basic medical insurance terms, which were second nature to me. If this medication has a chemical affect on the brain, wouldn't it follow that it can make permanent changes that are adverse to a person's functioning? Maybe there needs to be a class action lawsuit by those of us who have come off this medication and still don't feel "right". I'd like to start looking for work and getting back to my former life, but I just don't feel competent enough to do it now. Is there anyone out there who has been off this medication for, say, a year and still doesn't feel right?
I think all of the antidepressants cause some kind of brain damage. I've taken so many medications I wouldn't even know what ones caused my problems. I have trouble with memory also. Sometimes I go totally blank. Sometimes I will watch a episode of something on TV and not remember a thing about it. I just know it was the worse withdrawal I ever went through. I was throwing up and couldn't walk right. All my doctor said was that I was upset with him. He's not that powerful to make me throw up.
Posted by secretme on January 30, 2006, at 11:46:59
In reply to Re: Cymbalta withdrawal, posted by LinnieLoo55 on January 29, 2006, at 15:43:40
I recently sent a very carefully worded letter to my psychiatrist explaining how I have been feeling and included copies of some of the postings on this web site. (He could see them himself, but I know he wouldn't bother.) I have learned about myself from reading the comments of others who were suffering from the side effects of Cymbalta withdrawal. My doctor chose to ignore the letter and has not responded or even called me. I certainly encouraged him to contact me. When I was going through my worst episodes during the holidays and contacted him, he allowed me about three minutes of telephone time, then said he was running late for a Christmas party. During the four + years I have been seeing this man, I may have called his office about three times asking to speak with him about problems I was experiencing.
I would like to know if there are psychiatrists who can understand that some people cannot take anti-depressants and perhaps work with them on alternative measures. It appears to me that if there is not a pill to solve the issue, the majority of psychiatrists want nothing to do with you. I don't know of any other specialist not willing to listen to the patient and consider alternative methods of relief. I am beginning to think that internists can handle this type of prescription writing as well as psychiatrists. The profession needs a dramatic overhaul.
Posted by LinnieLoo55 on January 30, 2006, at 12:33:26
In reply to Re: Cymbalta withdrawal, posted by secretme on January 30, 2006, at 11:46:59
> I recently sent a very carefully worded letter to my psychiatrist explaining how I have been feeling and included copies of some of the postings on this web site. (He could see them himself, but I know he wouldn't bother.) I have learned about myself from reading the comments of others who were suffering from the side effects of Cymbalta withdrawal. My doctor chose to ignore the letter and has not responded or even called me. I certainly encouraged him to contact me. When I was going through my worst episodes during the holidays and contacted him, he allowed me about three minutes of telephone time, then said he was running late for a Christmas party. During the four + years I have been seeing this man, I may have called his office about three times asking to speak with him about problems I was experiencing.
>
> I would like to know if there are psychiatrists who can understand that some people cannot take anti-depressants and perhaps work with them on alternative measures. It appears to me that if there is not a pill to solve the issue, the majority of psychiatrists want nothing to do with you. I don't know of any other specialist not willing to listen to the patient and consider alternative methods of relief. I am beginning to think that internists can handle this type of prescription writing as well as psychiatrists. The profession needs a dramatic overhaul.Hi, I had the same problems with my psychiatrist except that he did call me when ever I left a message. He treated me for 3 years for depression, anxiety, and cutting. One day he said I needed to see a specialist because I was always having problems with the medications and I guess he got tired. I felt so abandoned by him after I shared so much of my life with him. He also was doing my therapy. I got to the point that I just wanted to go in for medication management when I was doing OK but he insisted I keep coming in. I had nothing to say so I would just sit there and just get angry so it wasn't helping me. You can get medications from your regular doctor, mine does this but I found a new new pdoc and she has changed some of my medications and put me back on one that my doctor took away because it was banded in Canada and I live in the USA. I also have ADD and was taking adderall. Now this new doctor won't call my insurance company to get aproval for twice a day dosing of 20mg. So I have to take only 30mg a day so I wait until the afternoon to take it. I just go back to bed in the morning. I would look for a therapist for yourself and maybe have a pdoc on the side. It's wrong of him not to call you and talk about your problems with the medication. I would get rid of him and shop around until you can find someone that will listen to you. I went to 3 other doctors before I settled for this one. I don't care much for her and she brushes off allot of things I try to tell her. She doesn't do therapy with me so she doesn't want to engage with me. Good therapists are hard to find also. I just got rid of the one I had. I was going through a crisis and she never called my doctor after I had signed a paper giving her permission to call. A week went by and I asked her if she called and she said it was on her list of things to do. Then asked me what my doctors name was after I had signed a paper the week before with my doctors name on it. I know how frustrated you are, I feel the same way. I am takeing 30mg of Lexapro, 100mg of Seroquel and klonopin when needed. I seem to be doing better, but I crash hard from the Adderall, it's suppose to last all day but it only last about 4 hours.
So shop around and see if you can find someone new that will listen to you or find a specialist like my doctor suggested I do. I said the hell with him because he just gave up on me and I'm not that messed up that I need a specialist. I agree with you that the profession needs a overhaul. Do you have insurance? See who is on their list for doctors. I'm paying almost full price for my medications now because my husband changed our insurance coverage. We now have a $4,000. deductible. I can find the medications cheaper on the internet but I don't know if my insurance company will apply that to the deductible.
Good Luck
Linda
Posted by secretme on January 30, 2006, at 13:12:56
In reply to Re: Cymbalta withdrawal, posted by LinnieLoo55 on January 30, 2006, at 12:33:26
Thanks for your insights on psychiatrists/therapists. A lot depends on where you live. Many areas of the country are backward, and it is hard to get a psychiatrist or therapist to take new patients. In my area, you have to find a doctor willing to take new patients, and there is no room to find one who may be "right" for me. I'm just concentrating on my breast cancer medication and leaving the other stuff out of my regimen right now. I felt like a toxic dump site until Cymbalta started to lose its grip on me.
Last year, I sold my business (employee benefits), so I am fairly up-to-date on medical insurance. So much depends on where the employer is located, whether the benefits plan is self-insured or fully insured, etc. There are medical plans without drug cards, but that means they are bare bones. Through my husband's employer we have a drug card with the following copays: $20 (generic) $40 (preferred brand) and $80 (nonpreferred brand)for a 30-day supply. So far, we haven't hit the $80 tier on our family's medications. Large employers (without a conscience) that are self-insured can remove drug cards, not pay for certain procedures, add high deductibles, etc. National healthcare is a necessity in this country, but it will take strength of leadership to get on that road. I can't imagine a $4,000 deductible, but then, our plan has a $1 million lifetime maximum benefit, which is not a lot these days.
Re your other points: my son has OCD and ADD. He was on Adderall, then Concerta,(8-hour duration) and when the Concerta wore off, he was so angry and argumentative, it was impossible to tolerate him. He is a college senior in good standing and began 60 mg. Strattera after stopping the Concerta. Strattera is not an "upper," or controlled substance, so the psychiatrist (same one that treated me!) said the Strattera probably wouldn't work as well for the ADD. My son seems to be doing fine and had no problem moving to the Strattera, even though he doesn't get the jump start every day as when he took the Concerta. On the positive side, he does not seem to have the anger and outbursts he had while on Concerta. He also takes 100 mg. of Zoloft every day, along with the Strattera.
I hope he will speak up if he has problems with the medication. He doesn't want to discuss any of this with me. When he graduates college, he does not intend to live in the area where we live now, so hopefully he will find a doctor in the northeast who will pick up on the treatment and make any necessary adjustments.
Good luck to all of us.
Posted by LinnieLoo55 on January 30, 2006, at 13:39:26
In reply to Re: Cymbalta withdrawal, posted by secretme on January 30, 2006, at 13:12:56
> Thanks for your insights on psychiatrists/therapists. A lot depends on where you live. Many areas of the country are backward, and it is hard to get a psychiatrist or therapist to take new patients. In my area, you have to find a doctor willing to take new patients, and there is no room to find one who may be "right" for me. I'm just concentrating on my breast cancer medication and leaving the other stuff out of my regimen right now. I felt like a toxic dump site until Cymbalta started to lose its grip on me.
>
> Last year, I sold my business (employee benefits), so I am fairly up-to-date on medical insurance. So much depends on where the employer is located, whether the benefits plan is self-insured or fully insured, etc. There are medical plans without drug cards, but that means they are bare bones. Through my husband's employer we have a drug card with the following copays: $20 (generic) $40 (preferred brand) and $80 (nonpreferred brand)for a 30-day supply. So far, we haven't hit the $80 tier on our family's medications. Large employers (without a conscience) that are self-insured can remove drug cards, not pay for certain procedures, add high deductibles, etc. National healthcare is a necessity in this country, but it will take strength of leadership to get on that road. I can't imagine a $4,000 deductible, but then, our plan has a $1 million lifetime maximum benefit, which is not a lot these days.
>
> Re your other points: my son has OCD and ADD. He was on Adderall, then Concerta,(8-hour duration) and when the Concerta wore off, he was so angry and argumentative, it was impossible to tolerate him. He is a college senior in good standing and began 60 mg. Strattera after stopping the Concerta. Strattera is not an "upper," or controlled substance, so the psychiatrist (same one that treated me!) said the Strattera probably wouldn't work as well for the ADD. My son seems to be doing fine and had no problem moving to the Strattera, even though he doesn't get the jump start every day as when he took the Concerta. On the positive side, he does not seem to have the anger and outbursts he had while on Concerta. He also takes 100 mg. of Zoloft every day, along with the Strattera.
>
> I hope he will speak up if he has problems with the medication. He doesn't want to discuss any of this with me. When he graduates college, he does not intend to live in the area where we live now, so hopefully he will find a doctor in the northeast who will pick up on the treatment and make any necessary adjustments.
>
> Good luck to all of us.I'm so sorry that your having to deal with breast cancer. My sister in law both sisters have it and now she has some kind of tumor growing in her uterus. I have been lucky so far, and cancer doesn't run in my family.
Is your son angry with you? You said he won't talk to you about these things. I tried the stattera and only took it for about 3 days. It made me feel so awful and dizzy and so tired. I have been on concerta and ritalin also. I just need the twice a day dosing of adderall. I'm going to ask my pdoc to call next time I see her. I did so much better on the twice a day dosing then I'm doing now. Plus the seroquel is interfering with the adderall so it's not working as well plus I have anxiety when I wake up and have to take klonopin. You know I got sober over 10 years ago and I thought my life would improve but it only got worse. The alcohol masked everything that was wrong with me.
My husband had a choice as to what insurance plan to pick, so he did this one. I feel quilty because I take 6 medications a month. I also take zocor and thythoid. The only good thing about the plan is after the $4,000. deductible is met, everything is at no cost including medications. So maybe in the end we will be saving money.
Take care of yourself
Linda
>
>
Posted by Mark23 on January 31, 2006, at 17:43:54
In reply to Re: Cymbalta withdrawal, posted by Dr. Vijoy on October 30, 2005, at 18:57:47
Hello, I'm glad all this info was out there! I was really wondering what was going on. I was only up to 40mg for 4 months, spent another month at 20mg and then 5, 20mg caps every other day. I believed the technical information that indicated that you had to take them whole. For some reason they don't want it to be released in the stomach, hence the high (relatively) pH requirement before the capsule dissolves. By breaking open capsules to get lower dosages I guess many of you have disproved the necessity for it to make it past the stomach before dissolving. While on Cymbalta I used 200mg or more caffeine to help both the tiredness and headaches.
Anyway, day 3 after the last pill the shocks (cataplexic attacks) began. After a couple more days I realized it was tied to eye movement (more by side to side than up and down). Knowing a little more will help me through what sounds like will be a few weeks. Hopefully closing your eyes or just staring straight ahead (without moving your head) helps someone else.
I know that light therapy has been around for a long time but didn't seem to help me, but now I've really upped the dose. I have a bank of 4, 4' fluorescent bulbs on the ceiling above my bed connected to a timer so it goes on the same time everyday. I stare at them for an hour. I drew some marks on them so I have something to focus on before moving my gaze to another mark. I started this a month ago, and It sure helps me. I might be in the minority, but setting up a couple shop lights would be worth an experiment for others.
Posted by LinnieLoo55 on February 1, 2006, at 13:06:36
In reply to Re: Cymbalta withdrawal, posted by Mark23 on January 31, 2006, at 17:43:54
>Hello, I'm glad all this info was out there! I was really wondering what was going on. I was only up to 40mg for 4 months, spent another month at 20mg and then 5, 20mg caps every other day. I believed the technical information that indicated that you had to take them whole. For some reason they don't want it to be released in the stomach, hence the high (relatively) pH requirement before the capsule dissolves. By breaking open capsules to get lower dosages I guess many of you have disproved the necessity for it to make it past the stomach before dissolving. While on Cymbalta I used 200mg or more caffeine to help both the tiredness and headaches.
>
> Anyway, day 3 after the last pill the shocks (cataplexic attacks) began. After a couple more days I realized it was tied to eye movement (more by side to side than up and down). Knowing a little more will help me through what sounds like will be a few weeks. Hopefully closing your eyes or just staring straight ahead (without moving your head) helps someone else.
>
> I know that light therapy has been around for a long time but didn't seem to help me, but now I've really upped the dose. I have a bank of 4, 4' fluorescent bulbs on the ceiling above my bed connected to a timer so it goes on the same time everyday. I stare at them for an hour. I drew some marks on them so I have something to focus on before moving my gaze to another mark. I started this a month ago, and It sure helps me. I might be in the minority, but setting up a couple shop lights would be worth an experiment for others.I have heard of light therapy and it was even suggested by my doctor. I will read more about this. Are you off of the cymbalta now? Are you taking anything for your depression. I'm taking 30mg of lexapro right now. Plus seroquel 100mg and klonopin twice a day. I also take adderall 30mg or I would sleep all day. I have ADD and it does give me some focus and keeps me awake although I always go back to bed in the morning because of the after effects of the seroquel. The seroquel has helped allot with my depression and mood swings.
Thanks for the post
>
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