What are the symptoms of Cymbalta withdrawal?

Hello @stomprud

I am sorry to hear about your withdrawal symptoms. You don't mention that you are following a withdrawal schedule that your doctor gave you. It is very important to check with your doctor (or pharmacist) to see the best schedule to follow when you are withdrawing from any anti-depressant meds. As Cymbalta does help deal with pain I can certainly understand the body pain that you are dealing with.

I would encourage you to call your doctor, report your symptoms, and find out how to best deal with this withdrawal.

Here's what I did, and it worked, no problems. I asked my Psychiatrist M.D. if I could, after many years on Cymbalta, change to Lexapro, as I felt that I had "burned out" on Cymbalta, i.e., it was no longer working very well. She agreed to let me switch, I've read good things about Lexapro, and what she did was to - I was taking 60mg a day of Cymbalta, the M.D. Psychiatrist gave me a 5-day supply of 30 mg. Cymbalta, down from the 60 mg, and simultaneously started me on the Lexapro starting dosage of 10mg, and I had, gratefully, no problem transitioning off the Cymbalta and onto the Lexapro, BUT, I want to add that 1) I did this under an expert doctor's supervision and 2) I take other medications that may have made transitioning off the Cymbalta and onto the Lexapro in 5 days that may have made the transition easier and painless, namely, I also take 1.25 mg clonazepam (I hate clonazepam and would never ever advise someone to take a benzo as THAT withdrawal is horrible!! (I went - under a doctor's careful supervision!!!! from 4 mg. daily to now 1.25 mg and soon will be off, again, under my doctor's careful supervision) off clonazepam/Klonopin and I take Buspirone (I like that medication better but want to get off it asap, too, as I'm finding that walking 30 mins. every day and other exercises like yoga stretching takes away my anxiety disorder largely and "positive thinking." Thinking only positive thoughts and avoiding stressful-to-me thoughts and people (reducing social media!!!) and giving myself permission to pursue as hobbies activities I love and volunteer work which is amazing.

I'm glad that you have certain exercises and volunteer work that are helpful to you along with the meds. Sounds like a good plan! I appreciate you sharing that information, @stressedmesseddepressed

You're very welcome. yes. walking every day like it's a religion!, a good B complex vitamin (Solgar V75), omegabrite.com (amazing! Recommended to me, omegabrite.com capsules, by a top psychopharmacologist who told me he takes it- it's amazing), and enjoyable-to-you volunteer work, 8 - 10 hours a month. And I read some religious wisdom every day and it's centering to me, like reading the Bible.

I am under doctor supervision and following a withdrawal schedule.

I am under a doctors supervision. Thank you for your response.

You're very welcome.

Hi, @stressedmesseddepressed - It's great to hear from you. I'm glad to hear your transition from duloxetine (Cymbalta) to escitalopram (Lexapro) went well. Your caveats with how it worked for you also seem wise with the unique variables in your case.

I agree with @hopeful33250 that it's great you have found some other activities that are also contributing positively to your mental health, like your walking and yoga, avoiding certain stressors and positive thinking. I have found, too, that my thinking is critical: I have realized at times before when I was quite down that I was hurting myself with my repetitive negative thoughts about myself or some situation.

What hobbies and volunteer work are you pursuing?

@stomprud
Have you mentioned to you doctor the symptoms you are having? Perhaps he/she can re-work the withdrawal schedule so that you can feel a little more comfortable? It is worth a phone call to see if a slight change might help you.

Thanks, right, and, of course, you want to be very easy on yourself when a critical voice (usually an old parental voice or something) inevitably pops up, and, you kind of have to tell yourself, "I don't believe that harsh inner critic voice anymore and now choose to think something positive about myself instead.")

I have a framed quote people seem to like -- "Be gentle with yourself, you're doing the best you can."