Connect
Taking Cymbalta while weaning off Effexor
Hi friends,
I am wondering how effective Cymbalta is for anxiety (I mean severe anxiety). I am currently weaning off of Effexor (the worst drug to exist) and am currently in a mental crisis. Random panic attacks, missing school due to extreme panic, somatic symptoms which include diarrhea and nausea everytime I have a panic attack, and extreme mood swings. To preface this, I tried to quit Effexor cold turkey (BIG MISTAKE). I almost landed myself in a hospital for the withdrawals I experienced. I was on 75mg of Effexor for my anxiety and then nothing. After having a horrible 48 hours, I relapsed on the medication and am now on 50mg. I feel like I am in survival mode and today my psychiatrist started me on a baby dose of Cymbalta (20mg). It has been 2 weeks of me on 50mg of Effexor and I hate what has happened to me. I switched from SSRIs (which I took for 5 years) to SNRIs due to the constant constipation that I had. My panic attacks on SSRIs were flushing responses to the chronic constipation that I had. I was convinced that I either had Crohn's or Ulcerative Colitis but 4 colonscopies later and my GI tract is as healthy as can be, so I have chalked it up to SSRIs causing slower gut motility. I am 22 years old and have agoraphobia due to the panic that I am experiencing. I am so afraid that it will happen again that I just do not leave my house. I am hoping that I will see some improvement on the Cymbalta.
Like
Helpful
HugInterested in more discussions like this? Go to the Depression & Anxiety Support Group.
Connect
I have been researching more into Wellbutrin. I may talk to my psychiatrist about possibly adding that to the mix after I get off Effexor and go up on Cymbalta. And yes I have the most amazing support system, but it is hard when no one else is on medication like I am. I really love this discussion group and hearing from like-minded people who have struggled with anxiety and depression.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionI tapered from 75 to 37.5 last summer, no withdrawals until I had been on 37.5 for 2 weeks (this was 8 weeks after starting the taper). I went back to 75 and eventually increased to 150mg. This was not good but I gave it 3 months. I cut back to 112.5 for 10 days, 75 for 10 days, 37.5 for 10 days and then stopped. I started 30 cymbalta right away, two weeks later I started 60 mg. So far no side effects. I hope this is the answer. I didn't know they can stop working and would have stayed on effexor forever. I felt great on it until I got covid.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionYou have my support as obviously that of so many others. You're not alone and my best hope is this knowledge brings you comfort.
Wellbutrin is what my dr.wants to put me on with my Zoloft of 150. Does anyone out there take this combo
I m going to start tapering my dose to 25mg from 37.5 I am very scared. I was only on37.5 of effexor for 3 weeks I am really scared. i am worried about brain zaps
I read to many bad things about effexor. and i blame myself for even starting it. It was helping, but I rather do something with less effects when I need to come off it or no longer need it
I took effexor for 7 months. I was very dizzy. Dr. Would not believe it was effexor. I quit seeing him. It was definitely effexor. I started CBD and THC.but stopped taking them abruptly. I ended up
With extreme panic attacks. I will not abruptly end any drug in the future. Some people can take weed effexor. I can not. I hope you have better results. It is hard to keep positive, but I have gotten better.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionYou have my support, too. Last month I posted a question asking if there were ways of medicating when Effexor stops working. So many people have suffered in getting off of it; however, there was no consensus, but I so appreciated the support I received here from others. Anyway, after a slow Effexor dose reduction down to zero, my Dr. had me seamlessly start Trintellix. It did little to dispel the darkness, but it did do away with Effexor withdrawal symptoms. Eventually I stopped taking it and went 10 days without anything. Not great but tolerable. The Dr. then prescribed Cymbalta, and today is the first day on it. I react very quickly to these meds, and I find Cymbalta is not doing much, but I will give it more time. One wants so much to have a life that flows free of darkness, anxiety, and debilitation. And to be free of anti-depressants.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 Reaction@graciepeanut521, @cleo12152
I’m venting I dislike this platform it’s so hard to reply to someone it’s so old school and it just annoys me…I forget what I’m talking about and seems so u important now. lol. Yeah I get easily frustrated…and angry with the withdrawal from the Effexor. Or could be something else. The dry mouth, excessive sweating, weight gain and low low libido…is just absolutely terrible! Does anyone else have this? Omgawd if i knew this before hand I would never taken it. It’s like a persons worst nightmare if ur trying to date someone oi!!! I hear another lawsuit. Geez. Am I the only one with these side effects?
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionA life without suffering, who could imagine! My side effects on Effexor were too harsh to wean off by itself, so my doctor prescribed Cymbalta while weaning me off Effexor. I have taken 50mg of Effexor and 20mg of Cymbalta for the last 3 weeks and just went down to 25mg Effexor and I’m handling it well as of now. The two medications should not be taken together, my side effects were horrendous so I’m glad to have some relief. Hang in there, I have heard it takes up to 8 weeks on Cymbalta to notice any benefits.