Yes everything you describe sounds like what I experienced when I stopped cymbalta and I'm so very sorry for you to have to experience this. I can only offer you hope. I hope you will trust in yourself to know it will get better, it is a chemical withdrawal and you can do this. You bravely tackle so much already and you inspire many readers here on NT. You are stronger than you feel, these feelings will pass. Do try and speak with your Doctor or even your pharmacist for an OTC if you haven't yet for something to help you through this difficult time. As hard as it feels, and as unlikely it may seem, it will pass I promise you. But you shouldn't do this alone. Do keep talking to us on NT, we are all here to support you and we understand what you are experiencing.

I am seeing a few mentions on Google about using Ambien in very small doses, for daytime pain relief. 2.5mg was mentioned.

This is below the threshold for sleep induction for most people.

I don't know how useful this would be, but when people are in terrible pain, it might be an option for a while, until the stressor lessens. (in this case the adjustment to Cymbalta withdrawal).

I can't say thanks you enough my friends. It does my heart good to know that all of you are here for me. Although I wish none of you had to go through this journey, it is a blessing to have people who literally understand my pain.

Just a few answers to some of your post. Enbloc I did go back to 60 mgs. one day and 30 the other for a while. Now I am back to 30 everyday for my second week. I'm really scared to go to 30 every other day so I'm not sure when I'm going to do this.

I actually have a GP appt today so Dr. Smith and Mrs. D I will ask about the L-tryptophan and low dose ambien. I am not sleeping much so both may help.

To all of you, I did let the tears come and although I have been exhausted it felt better to let it out. As I read all of your caring and encouraging answers I cried. I seriously don't know what I would do without all of you to talk to.

I said to God this morning if this is a test, I think it has been long enough. It's harder than any test I have ever taken. Then I thought of all of you and counted my blessings.

Thank you!!

I hope to be back in my normal of mind ASAP. I need a tissue again! Haha!!!

Curious to know how you are doing?

I hate to say not good. Trying to hang in there. Don't want to come on and complain too much. I don't want to bring others down.

My rheumo put me on Wellbutrin yesterday. I am now down to 20mgs of cymbalta. I am getting there. So I know this will be over. I read it could take a month or two after being off the cymbalta to feel completely normal.

The nurse in my rheumo's office told me she is on cymbalta and tried once to get off. She ended going right back on. She couldn't take the withdrawal from it.

I have decided I do not trust pharm companies. They do not have our best interest in mind. It is all about their bottom line. Like the nurse in my rheumo's office, no antidepressants should be put out there that makes patients become addicted to it.

We'll I better get off my soap box. Thanks for asking cat. It means a lot.

Hopeful,

Would you not agree that us people who frequent this forum are some of the strongest, most resilient, most understanding friends you will ever have in life?

We are super tough! You, me, all of us here, we are amazing!

Anyway, my point is, what on earth possessed you to think you're bringing us down by complaining? Stop thinking like that right now!

Of course knowing you are suffering is no fun for us. Hearing about it makes us sad. But, that is our job, and I think we do it pretty well. One day it will be your job to help one of us through the living hell you are in right now. And it will make you sad too. But you would rather hear that person complain hourly, than wonder if they are ok.

So complain away. Don't worry about us. It's all about you right now. Our job is to support and listen. Your job is to lean on us without holding back.

I understand why you don't want to bring others down. But remember, this thread is all about your journey through hell. Along the way you are even educating others on what to expect if they chose this path. This thread exists for you to get it all out. If we didn't want to be brought down or to feel sad we can simply avoid this thread. Nobody is forcing me to read it. I do because I care and genuinely want to know how you are doing.

This is a mater free zone. Complain away!

Hope this didn't come off too much like a lecture. Sometimes to get a point across I can get a tad pushy.

One day this will end. That day we will all rejoice and I know I'll be shearing tears. No doubt we all will. Until that day, we pray to give you strength.

Warm hugs.

Wellbutrin works on the dopamine system. Some people find this very useful for pain...so give it chance. Some of our posters here use it with success.

I do hope the Wellbutrin works for you. Hopefully it is not addictive like the cymbalta. That is horrible to have to endure symptoms from a medication that is supposed to help-as if you need any more complications right?!!

And please do vent away. That is a great purpose of this forum especially since it is hard to do do with those around us who do not have these issues. They just do not understand in the same way.

Hang in there. I am rooting for you!

Hopeful, I am thinking and praying for you. I must confess I do not understand all the drug situations, though I fear I soon will. Do all of these drugs have this affect? The reason you are getting off it, is it because it stopped working? Listening to your story about getting off this drug is making me fear starting any drug at all, it sounds worse than the pain of the PN itself.

I am so sorry you are going through this, as if PN is not bad enough but to have to fight the drugs this way when they were supposed to help you is awful.

Consider this the "safe zone" and you are free to say all the things you would never want to say out loud. I tell myself it doesn't count if I don't say it out loud. No judgement from anyone here, only compassion and prayers.

Hopeful, as somebody who doesn't have it as bad as you I can truly empathize. Some days I struggle to hold it together. I get so depressed and anxious on my bad days and I've truly thought about ending all the pain and suffering.

Then I see what you and others have fought through and it gives me strength. Hang in there. You have so many people rooting for you.