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A MyFibroTeam Member asked a question 💭
Detroit, MI

It will be 2 years in July that I've been taking Cymbalta. It didn't help with anything except my anxiety but now it's not helping anymore. I've read some horror stories about quitting Cymbalta, I know you have to be weaned off. Does anyone know how to wean off of Cymbalta?

March 20, 2016 (edited)
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Answer Summary

Members shared their experiences weaning off Cymbalta after it stopped helping their fibromyalgia or caused intolerable side effects like... Read more

Members shared their experiences weaning off Cymbalta after it stopped helping their fibromyalgia or caused intolerable side effects like memory loss, clumsiness, emotional instability, and sexual dysfunction. Several members described gradual tapering strategies, including reducing dosage from 60mg to 40mg to 20mg over several weeks, taking doses every other day, or spreading the process over a month or more, with common withdrawal symptoms including brain zaps, balance issues, sleeplessness, and anxiety. A recurring theme was the importance of going slowly to minimize withdrawal effects and the relief many felt afterward in distinguishing true fibromyalgia symptoms from medication side effects, though most emphasized consulting a doctor or pharmacist before making changes.

A MyFibroTeam Member

I weaned myself off by decreasing the dosage and number of times per day I was taking the med very gradually. It took about four weeks for me to stop entirely, but I was already on a lower dose than most people. It took months for the side effects to clear my system. Though the Cymbalta seem to help my fibro pain initially, I was experiencing episodes where I would blank out and would not remember periods of time, I had foggy brain more than usual, forgetfulness, very emotional, and I was very uncoordinated i.e. prone to falls and dropping things. I reached a point where I wasn't sure the med was helping anymore and the RA doc wanted to increase the dosage. But, I felt the side effects had become intolerable. The major withdrawal symptoms for me were sleeplessness (even with taking a sleep med), anxiety, and a bit more pain than was my usual.

March 21, 2016
A MyFibroTeam Member

Good luck! I belive you'll feel better

March 22, 2016
A MyFibroTeam Member

That's exactly why I stopped this med too. Since it was the first med I tried for fibro, I was not familiar with the side effects. But a few months after stopping completely (very slowly), I was able to tell the difference between my pain and fatigue from fibro versus all of the other symptoms which turned out to be side effects from the med i.e. memory loss, clumsiness, feeling extremely emotional all the time, etc.

March 22, 2016
A MyFibroTeam Member

I weaned off successfully, have been free of Cymbalta for over a month now. I feel much better. It took several weeks to stop feeling the withdrawal symptoms

March 21, 2016
A MyFibroTeam Member

Yes I came off it in Jan. 2016. I did not have Ins. coverage in Jan. so I went every other day taking Cymbalta till I had none and I came off Morphine had a few days of withdraws and now Glad I did. As a male Cymbalta effected me sexually.

March 21, 2016

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