Ugh.. I'm so agitated in writing this post. #1 because it's probably a withdrawal symptom and #2 why can't there be more understanding with this disease! I'd like to know which centers in America are doing research and making progress. But anywho, back to the meds. I recently fought for Ketamine Oral doses & it was granted. It has had wonderful effects. But after feeling mostly good with the ketamine, I decide I want to be on less medication. So the Pharm D in the PM office sat down with me and upped the Lyrica to 75mg am/150mg pm, cancelled the cymbalta(low dose of 30), & kept tramadol & Ketamine. He also added an old antidepressant nortriptyln (10mg) just for pain. Well that rocked my world. Physically my crps symptoms are the same but the extreme vertigo, dizziness, agitation, irritability cranked up to the highest level I've experienced. I can't move my head without feeling like my eyes may just roll out of the sockets. I'm also soooo tired with the vertigo I almost crashed my car on the way to work this week. Naturally I have let the Pharm D know but he says it can't be the cymbalta Bc it should be out of my system by now (6 days) and he thinks it could be the Ketamine or the nortriptyln. I say it's still the cymbalta withdrawal but I've been advised to take no ketamine for 48 hrs to see if symptoms go away. I then add it back to see if they incase. I'm so worried about getting off Ketamine Bc it has helped so much. If my symptoms increase it could cause a really bad flare.
Has anyone had experience with cymbalta withdrawal? I've read horrible things but I've been told, oh no that only happens to 1% and it should be out of system by now.
How about the oral Ketamine? I take 45mgs 3x day. The only lasting side effects I have had is being out of it & hard to communicate for about 20 mins and then I am absolutely fine.
I literally feel like I am back living in the Caribbean on a sailboat during a choppy rough crossing. Although at least if that were the case the vertigo could be worth it.

Hi Inspiretoday,

Sorry you are feeling crummy. Hard to know if it is addition or subtraction of meds. Cymbalta withdrawal may take longer than the time to get it out of your system. Just because the drug is out doesn't mean your chemistry has re-balanced itself.

On nortriptyline, I take it and had to decrease from the 25mg I started on originally because of severe dizziness which I complained of affecting my driving. That is the only med I take. I am sure I would have more side effects at my lower dose if I took other meds as well.

Thankfully it is the weekend! Sometimes side effects such as you're having improve over the first few days. Can you kick back for the next couple days and see how you do? If you dont have improvement definitely call your doctor. Gotta stay safe...

Hope you feel better soon. I am sending hugs,

Dear Inspiretoday
I feel so terribly sorry you are suffering these symptoms.

Several months ago I could not get authorization for my Cymbalta refill.
I take 60 mg in am & 60 mg in pm.
I made the necessary calls and trusted this would be resolved before I ran out. Silly me!
It did not, and I had to go from 120mg per day to 0 in 6 days.

What I remember the most from the following two weeks that I had to wait was that even the slightest movement of my head caused extreme dizziness, nausea, constant stuttering, crying, etc. Then the tiniest movement of my eyeballs caused the thousands of construction workers in what was left of my brain to hammer away at full volume.
After this horrific experience I realized this is one scary drug.

Cymbalta does help with my emotional issues regarding loss of self thank you CRPS, and somewhat with the burning and pain.

I wish you well, Inspiretoday.

Hi Inspiretoday,

I take Tramadol and oral Ketamine together to great effect, but they do both have soporific side effects.

Try asking your Dr if you can dose the Ketamine at 30mg 4x a day for a period.

You will become accustomed to the feelings, they do not go completely. I would not advise driving when affected.

Dave.

When I stopped Cymbalta I suffered for over six weeks. It was WAY worse than going of methadone which I used for pain. I felt like my brain was mush and was constantly being zapped with electricity. I dreaded having to move my eyes at all. It was truly a horrific experience.

I swore I would never take Cymbalta again, but of course 7 years later I'm on it again. My PCP said there are meds that could be used to ease the withdrawal this time when I chose to stop it.

Good luck to you and feel better soon.

Hi Inspire, I'm so sorry that you are experiencing these side effects.

I hope you will be feeling better soon in adjusting to your medications .



I will keep you in my prayers.....

Thanks Dave! I will ask about taking the ketamine more frequently! Sounds like a good plan to me.

So after a week of feeling pretty bad, the vertigo stopped. Thank goodness it wasn't the Ketamine! However because of being told to go off Ketamine for 2 days my pain came back full force.

Cymbalta is an evil drug. I don't think I would ever take it again. I also stopped the Nortriptaline. My pain levels are increased but I can't take a drug that makes me feel so terrible.

I just wish sometimes we didn't have to choose between horrible pain and horrible side effects.

Thanks everyone for their support!