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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 3 of 3. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by lcp on August 19, 2006, at 10:22:05
I was on cymbalta for roughly 5 months and had 2 distinct issues: 1. I developed Serotonin Syndrome, and 2. I had horrible withdrawal, same symptoms as listed in postings, I had started a taper when i figured out the cymbalta was making me sick but before I knew I had serotonin syndrome.
My dr wants me to try a low dose 20 mg every other day because , before it made me the sickest I have ever been in my life, I actually felt the best I had in a long while ( I have depression and fibromyalgia).
I want to open the capsules and divide each dose into 5mg a day.
My questions are: has anyone went on such a low dose? and how long to you have to take a med before you are at risk for withdrawal?
Posted by SLS on August 19, 2006, at 12:13:13
In reply to restarting cymbalta, posted by lcp on August 19, 2006, at 10:22:05
> I was on cymbalta for roughly 5 months and had 2 distinct issues: 1. I developed Serotonin Syndrome, and 2. I had horrible withdrawal, same symptoms as listed in postings, I had started a taper when i figured out the cymbalta was making me sick but before I knew I had serotonin syndrome.
>
> My dr wants me to try a low dose 20 mg every other day because , before it made me the sickest I have ever been in my life, I actually felt the best I had in a long while ( I have depression and fibromyalgia).
>
> I want to open the capsules and divide each dose into 5mg a day.
>
> My questions are: has anyone went on such a low dose? and how long to you have to take a med before you are at risk for withdrawal?Taking Cymbalta every other day doesn't work for most people because it has such a short half-life. You are better off doing what you had planned, and taking a reduced dose every day. I guess you will need to experiment to find the right dosage. You might consider taking 5mg twice a day.
- Scott
Posted by Holly VanBen on August 31, 2006, at 15:17:55
In reply to Re: restarting cymbalta, posted by SLS on August 19, 2006, at 12:13:13
> > I was on cymbalta for roughly 5 months and had 2 distinct issues: 1. I developed Serotonin Syndrome, and 2. I had horrible withdrawal, same symptoms as listed in postings, I had started a taper when i figured out the cymbalta was making me sick but before I knew I had serotonin syndrome.
> >
> > My dr wants me to try a low dose 20 mg every other day because , before it made me the sickest I have ever been in my life, I actually felt the best I had in a long while ( I have depression and fibromyalgia).
> >
> > I want to open the capsules and divide each dose into 5mg a day.
> >
> > My questions are: has anyone went on such a low dose? and how long to you have to take a med before you are at risk for withdrawal?
>
> Taking Cymbalta every other day doesn't work for most people because it has such a short half-life. You are better off doing what you had planned, and taking a reduced dose every day. I guess you will need to experiment to find the right dosage. You might consider taking 5mg twice a day.
>
>
> - Scott
>I'm sorry but I don't know if taking such a small amount will actually help you in the long run. You may just be stringing out your withdrawals by taking less of a dose then is really helping you. It may just keep you feeling poor until you actually quit and go through withdrawals. I'm in no way saying this is easy and I'm in the middle of withdrawals myself, but I do know I tried tapering my drugs to the point I finally learned I was making it worse for myself and was told to stop and face the music. It IS hard but tapering to that tiny degree was just keeping this awful and yes they did get worse when i stopped but the difference is on day 23 now I am BETTER! Please have courage and stay under the care of a healthcare proffesional through this process. Don't try to do this without an MD of some kind. They are the only ones who can prescribe necassary withdrawal meds as needed and keep in mind not all docs deal with withdrawals or can prescribe meds for them. So get help and let me know how you are doing.
Holly
This is the end of the thread.
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