Posted by SLS on April 24, 2006, at 9:24:42
In reply to Re: Cymbalta withdrawal, posted by Mark23 on April 24, 2006, at 8:36:32
> You've seen the various suggestions. I'm in the cold turkey camp. For a few days driving wasn't a good idea. After about 6 weeks I could go a day without a symptom. After 3 months I could go a week without a symptom.
That is unacceptable in my opinion. There has to be a better way.
After being on Effexor 300mg for a year, I was able to discontinue it using a flexible dosing strategy within two weeks and without significant withdrawal symptoms. Once I discontinued the drug entirely, I experienced mild symptoms that lasted for a few days.
I wish I knew for sure whether or not my neurobiology represents the norm. I don't. I am not sure that a flexible dosing strategy will be effective for everyone. But for those who have tried it here on Psycho-Babble, they have reported success.
In the past, I have experienced intense withdrawal symptoms from discontinuing Effexor, Paxil, and Ativan. It is not as if I am immune to withdrawal reactions.
For what it is worth, I think there might be a relationship between abrupt discontinuation (cold turkey) and the persistence of a withdrawal syndrome. People who go cold turkey seem to complain of withdrawal symptoms lasting for weeks and months while people who taper gradually do not. If this is true, then going cold turkey is the absolute worst thing one can do to themselves.
- Scott
poster:SLS
thread:466069
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/wdrawl/20060412/msgs/636447.html