Wow! that is just about the worst thing I have heard so far on these boards.

But there are people on the net who have had long term, difficult withdrawal from this drug. There are YouTubes about it even.
Some have lasted 6mos or longer.

Don't feel personally at fault. These new drugs, the "designer drugs" pushed by drug companies on doctors and unsuspecting patients, alter the neurotransmitters in the brain. When removed, there are sometimes severe consequences. Often these are more severe the longer you have taken it, and at higher long term doses.

You were smart to go to the ER. Best to get checked out and have some medical evaluation so you don't have another medical emergency that is unexpected.

If you need a little ironic laugh, even if it is a strange "laugh" watch this YouTube...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3x1OE...eature=related
For some reason it remains apt regarding this drug. (I think the dog is responding to the clarinet in the music...but that is not the total impact the video has !! ) That music is somehow representative of what happens to people on Cymbalta IMO!

I hope you are feeling better now. Once you are weaned off, consider some l-tryptophan daily to help you realign your neurotransmitter, serotonin. The norepi...that is separate, and may respond to another thing, which you may not need. Let some time pass and if you need the other, PM me.
500mg of l-tryptophan at night to start, up to a gram a day. That may really help. Some doctors use it to get off SSRIs.