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-   -   I think I have a good idea about going off Cymbalta (https://www.neurotalk.org/bipolar-disorder/39208-idea-cymbalta.html)

Nikko 02-16-2008 12:14 PM

I think I have a good idea about going off Cymbalta
 
:hug:I think I am going to go off Cymbalta 60 mg.:rolleyes:

I pray I don't go into the bad depression, and crying and in bed forever.:confused:

Yet, I figure the Lamictal with keep me stable, the klonapin will help with anxiety and the Trazadone is also a AD but used for sleep.:)

Maybe then I can see by process of elmination that the Cymbalta AD is the reason for my decrease in sexual desire.;)

That's my plan. :)

I am not going to tell my p-doc, since I don't have to see her until April.:rolleyes:

Nikko:grouphug:

Nikko

moose53 02-16-2008 12:55 PM

You have to go off Cymbalta VERY-VERY-VERY slowly or you'll get horrible withdrawal symptoms that can last for MONTHS.

I've written about this before: http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/sh...ighlight=taper

Cymbalta and Effexor are chemically the same drug. Some people who taper actually have to open the pills and take a few granules out during the taper process.

I've gone into horrendous withdrawals after just 7 days of not being able to get my Effexor XR prescription refilled. DO NOT COLD-TURKEY CYMBALTA!!

I'm telling you, Nikko, you'd give up ever having sex again to not have to go through what that withdrawal feels like :eek:

Love and hugs.

Barb :hug:

ginnybean32 02-16-2008 04:21 PM

Expect bad withdrawl
 
I too went off Cymbalta and it nearly killed me. Ohhhh it was terrible. Expect bad diahreea if you do it cold turkey. Cymbalta did not effect my sex drive. Usually its the mood stabalizer that effects your sex drive. Good luck but be careful

bizi 02-16-2008 06:13 PM

I jsut read that welbutrin has the least sexual side effects of antidepressants.
I read that the way to taper off meds is to have small reductions in dose over weeks at a time.
say like 5-10% every 2-3 weeks.
You would need for your doctor to write scripts for your lower doses of cymbalta.
What do your therapist/counselors say about your desire to do this?
or is this something you are jsut thinking about?
bizi jsut worried about you.

I remember tapering off klonipin...I really did not have any side effects.
There are some folks who don't have side effects when they taper off slowly.
I think that you are right...the lamictal has anti depressant qualities....so maybe that would be enough protection for you.
It is worth a try... with your pdocs blessing!
bizi

Mari 02-16-2008 06:50 PM

go off it slowly
 
Dear Nikko,
I second and third what others have said about a slow taper.
Here is what Crazy meds suggests:

http://crazymeds.us/cymbaltaDosage.html

http://crazymeds.us/discontinue.htm

Quote:

How to Stop Taking Cymbalta:

Your doctor should be recommending that you reduce your dosage of Cymbalta by 20mg a day every five days if you need to discontinue Cymbalta, if not more slowly than that. For more information, please see the page on how to safely stop taking these crazy meds. You shouldn't be tapering off Cymbalta any faster than that unless it's an emergency.

-->>So if you're at 60mg a day you take 40mg a day for five days, then 20mg a day for the next five days and you're done. You should be able to get 20mg samples from your doctor if all you have are 30mg or 60mg capsules. If you are at 60mg and have a bunch of 30mg capsules and have the time to discontinue more slowly, go down 60mg to 40mg to 30mg to 20mg.

The other suggestion is to talk to your pdoc about taking a few days of Prozac. You can switch from Cymbalta to Prozac and then stop the Prozac. Prozac is much easier to go off of.

Definitely check with your pharmacist and your pdoc.
Good luck. I hope you feel better after this. http://www.thesmilies.com/smilies/expressive/huge.gif

Mari

mymorgy 02-16-2008 07:30 PM

cymbalta is also good for GAD generalized anxiety disorder. I only take half the dosage you take. I wonder if that is why I am constantly fighting depression. Did you check to see if cymbalta lowers your libido?
Bobby

Nikko 02-16-2008 07:40 PM

Oh crap......I don't have any Cymbalta left, and they won't refill them for another week or more.

See, my mom takes Cymbalta and has to pay for it. So, when she runs out, I let her take mine, because I get mine free through Cope. We are both on the exact same dosage 60mg.

Now I don't have the money to have her's refilled until Wednesday. I will call for her to get some until I get my SSDI on Wed.

I'm so confused.

Hugs all.............Nikko

need to go back and re-read these posts....

moose53 02-16-2008 11:00 PM

Doesn't your Mom get a monthly Social Security check?? She should have Medicare Part D drug coverage and also maybe something from Medicaid for help with the drugs. Most women don't get a Social Security check that's large enough to disqualify for some sort of Medicaid assistance. She might not be eligible for total assistance, but, she might be eligible for something -- especially, help with the drugs.

Get yourself some pills ASAP. By Wednesday, you're gonna be suffering.

BIG HUGS (and love).

Barb

bizi 02-16-2008 11:08 PM

To do the taper you can ask your pdoc to call in 20mg pills, 90 pills for one month with instructions to take 3 a day. That way you can then taper and still have enough if you need to go back up. does that make sense...
bizi

Nikko 02-16-2008 11:32 PM

She won't want me to go off them, unless they are replaced with something else, which I don't want to start something new.

I don't have one for tonight. I will be ok. I can't really get in touch with my p-doc, unless I call her private cell.

I have to figure something out.

Nikko:grouphug:


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