Originally Posted by PamelaJune

Cymbalta withdrawal took me by complete surprise. My Doctor told me to take a week off work as I had to stop the drug completely and have it totally out of my system before she could commence me on a new drug.

Work was chaotic we were facing the GFC crisis. I was responsible for developing the selection criteria for redundancies (including my own), researching job roles and compiling statistics from company personnel files of employees who met the criteria. I worried for everyone jobs, I felt I had to be sure not one individual was incorrectly treated. I cried almost non stop, walked around with a hot wheat pack on my head and my hand to my forehead. I felt sick and was an emotional wreck, everyone witnessed my every weakened moments and those in a position to be able to help all they did was talk about me behind my back rather than offer assistance.

It was one of the worst weeks of my life, BUT, I do know, that it was worth it, the following week one of the oldest gentleman workers came in to see me two days after being made redundant and bought me a bottle of champagne. He said to me, I know what you did for me. You see, his was one of the jobs that could be done without. I heard from other gloating cost saving senior mgt he was upset over where the company was headed under the new regional GM and he intended to resign. I caught him on the staircase going to the meeting and I said to him, Jim, follow my lead. He worked 7 hours a week doing the garden beds. As was my responsibility I lead the conversation. I launched in immediately stating I had heard the rumour he was going to resign but that he had changed his mind and intended to stay. Jim nodded, I went on and said unfortunately the job he fulfilled could be handled by the maintenance team and the role was no longer required, as such he qualified for severance pay and redundancy. Jim was 72 had a heart of gold and a true gentleman who had given many years service to the company, week in and out, never missing a week and the garden beds were immaculate. He didn't have a pot to P155 in, he and his wife lived in a caravan and life was tough. If he resigned as the finance director and RGM gleefully stated to me, he would get nothing, just his accrued holiday pay. They treated him with such disrespect and the way they behaved over the redundancies atrocious. so, I made sure he was treated well, by the time I was finished he got accrued holiday pay, 4 weeks severance pay, an additional week for every years service as he was over 45 plus the redundancy package. Jim got over $15k. Not bad for working 7 hours a week and intending to resign. Now I know only to well many would frown on me for what I did saying I didn't do right by the company. But, I don't care, on this occasion I did what was right for a human being. He deserved that payment, without that job and at his age, no one else would employ him and allow him to work those hours at the pace he did. I have no regrets.

It was the knowing I wanted to do right by everyone that got me through that week. I considered daily ending my life I was in the darkest and deepest of holes and felt never ending pain and nausea. It passed though, and two weeks later in the new drug I was able to look back. I feel for you, I know how hard the withdrawal is from that drug as I did it cold turkey with nothing offered to make it easier. It truly was work that got me through. I am intrigued to read about your osteopenia, I too didn't have it, but after cymbalta I developed it. I have never even considered it contributed.

I'm praying for you that by today things are easing a little for you and there is a drug replacement ready for you to take as soon as you are able. So sorry about the lengthy diatribe and waffle. It will get better I promise you. This all happened to me in 2008 and here we are now in 2014, I can look back and acknowledge it was tough and one day so will you. We are all amazingly strong people on here, daily facing extraordinary battles. You can get through this and come out the other side with a smile, even if it is a wry one.

Originally Posted by AussieDebbie

If you need to scream, come here and scream at us. Over and over again if you wish.

Originally Posted by AussieDebbie

Still in my thoughts hopeful. Really hope you are catching some breaks, getting some sleep.

Mr Smith. Every time I read your signature I think of the "I'm your Pain" song from Alice Cooper. And I wonder how halarious it would be to hear his rendition now, the examples of pain would be quite different I'm sure.

Originally Posted by en bloc

I understand wanting to address the osteoporosis and the best way is to go to the source. But since you take more then one thing that can be the problem, and the cymbalta is so hard to get off of, have you considered just treating the osteoporosis?

If you still take steroids and even increase to every week vs once a month, then your osteoporosis numbers may not improve when you get off the Cymbalta...and may even get worse with the increase in steroids.

There are several options to treat osteoporosis...in the bisphosphonate class. I have had osteoporosis (from steroid use) from years. I cannot take oral bisphosphonates due to gastroparesis, but I get IV Reclast...just once a year and my numbers have greatly improved even though I must take IV steroids before each IVIG infusion. Just a thought.

Originally Posted by Kitt

Just because your Mom is 82 and doesn't have it does not mean anything. She could develop it later on or not. Men also can have osteo. There are many, many things that can come into play for developing it. Steroids is just one thing. Here is just one site:

http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info...porosis_ff.asp

Originally Posted by joecarver

hopefull, hang on it will get better, I went through hell ,when I weaned myself off Lyrica. Sometimes things work, sometimes they don't, but we all keep trying. When I asked my rhum. about benfotiamine and lipolic acid, he said try it wont huirt you, its worth trying/