[Msinewick]

I have been suffering from depression and anxiety for about 7 years now. I had been started on cymbalta 30mg about 6 years ago. Since then I had been increased to 120mg (two 60mg tabs every morning).
I had yet another huge breakdown about 3 weeks ago and was put into a community crisis stabilization unit. The psychiatrist there made a plan to state weeening me off the cymbakta because I have been on in it way too long nd there were no long term improvements on a certain dose. She put me down to 90mg of the cymbalta and started me on 50mg of zoloft. The first drop was okay. Then last week I was instructed to drop to 60mg. Things were going fine until about 4 days into it. I woke up feeling completely out of it. Its very hard to explain... but since then I have felt spacey, shakey, nauseous, and cloudy. I feel out of touch with reality and feel as though I'm having a difficult time realizing what's going on around me. I feel like I am roaming around not fully aware of what's going on. Its hard to hold a conversation with anyone. And sometimes I feel like I don't know what I am talking about or even remember conversations with people.
I do not have a psychiattist following my drop because the counseling office I am at is taking forever to get me in with one. So the only person following me is my PCP. Which is not very calming considering she admits managing psych medd is out of her expertise.
I have bouts of alot of anxiety, depression, and being frightened about everything.
I assume this is all withdrawel from the cymbalta. Its scaring the crap out of me.
Has anyone else experienced this?

[razzle51]

call a drug hotline maybe they can help or call the er ... tell them how crucial this is....

[Morgan Herritage]

I know where you're coming from and many medications have terrible come-downs. Different types of meds produce different effects on the body when stopped or cut down. It also depends on the person of course.

If you are still on the path of stopping, you're doing great with a taper. Maybe you are going about it too fast. But i praise you for tapering, as it will make the detox much more doable. Only your doctor can help you when it comes to dosage and whatnot. But you will most likely feel nasty no matter how you go about this. But the slow taper will make it easier.

Yore doing great and I hope things get easier. Dink plenty of fluids, vitamins and food.

Take care and best wishes.

[Namethatflame]

Your not alone when it comes to fear about going off cymbalta. My Dr. left the area so I got the bright idea I would wean myself off of cymbalta. One of the main reasons was weight gain. I was losing my insurance also. Personally it took me over a month and I'm sure my methods were not found in any medical book. I had to wean myself off in the smallest amount or I became very ill, I had what they call "head waves", yawning, need to stretch all my muscles, inability to eat or sleep, rebound anxiety and numerous other horrid things. We are all, of course, different, with different meds and problems so no two people problem feel the same. I was lucky to find a site for cymbalta withdrawl and found my symptoms were not that unusual. But I would advise going with a Dr to wean off. When I did finally get back with a Dr he said many of my symptoms sounded like serotnin withdrawl which can be very dangerous!! If something really doesn't seem right call your Dr. or call your local ER and talk with a nurse there. Better safe than, well you know.

[Spiney95]

The psychiatrist authorized the med change. Somebody was billed for it under a chemo therapy coding. The person who authorized the med change needs to deal with the resulting reaction NOW. I went through this BS years ago when I was being treated at a community mental health clinic. Getting in to see the doc beyond your quarterly med. check was difficult at best. I had a bad reaction to a med change which he authorized but I couldn't get in to see anyone with MD behind his/her name until I had a friend who is an attorney call the office, explain my problem and gave them 24 hrs. to work me in to see someone with a license to treat the problem or he was calling in every over sight agency they were under. I was worked in that day.

Your therapist can't do a thing even if he/she is a licensed clinical social worker or a psychologist. They are not licensed to write meds or change meds. All they can do is contact the psychiatrist and that person authorizes the medication. The doctor who authorized it is in your chart.