Pancho off Cymbalta

[Pancho]

Hi,

 

Im new here Joined today. My name is Pancho, i live in Trinidad. I came off cymbalta at the beginning of December 2012, so thats about 10 0r 11 weeks ago, i was on 60 mgs of cymbalta for exactly one year,i was put on this drug due to anxiety as i was going through a tough time for 2 years prior to that, i have a chronic autoimmune arthritis disease that was very difficult to diagnose, hence the extreme anxiety. Any way just before i went on the cymbalta i tried Prozac, this made me feel horrible and within 2 weeks i lost all sexual abilty,loss of sensaition, inability to get an erection etc, so i came off of it.

 

The doctor tells me about this drug called cymbalta, that has fewer side effects etc etc and its good for pain, so i go on this drug, 30 mgs to start and then up to 60 mgs after a month.. withing 6 weeks the sexual side effects start again, inability to get aroused, loss of sensation, diminished orgasm,start to feel tired and dizzy at times, so i take it at night, then i start to put on weight.. i think in total i put on 10 or 15 lbs, the drug helped keep anxiety away but i did not like how i felt... only way to describe it is numb.. finally i get my diagnosis after 2-3 years, and decide to get off this drug,, well my doc told me nothing about tapering or sisde effects.. so i go to 30 mgs for 3-4 weeks and then stop!

 

3 days after stopping i start getting dizzy, terrible drea vivid dreams, very irritable and depressed,worst of all i lose all sexual function, this is 10-12 weeks that im off and this last week i am getting terrible insomnia... can all of this still be the withdrawal symptoms after almost 3 MONTHS! my doctor does not know, and frankly i dont think she cares.. anybody here can tell me if this is still cymbalta withdrawal after 3 months!! i got my testosterone checked and its 650.. pretty normal, this is really worrying me. I contacted the folks at thje road back and they advised that im still going through withdrawal, that time will fix it but the question is how much time.

 

Thanks in advance!

[Altostrata]

Welcome, Pancho.

 

I am sorry you've had this trouble. Yes, I'm sorry to say withdrawal syndrome and post-SSRI sexual disorder (PSSD) can last much longer than 3 months.

 

There's a slight chance that if you reinstate a small amount of Cymbalta, it may ease your withdrawal symptoms. You can open the capsule and take out some of the beads inside. You might try 10 beads at first to see if it helps. If it does, you can stabilize on the 10 beads and taper slowly from there.

 

See this topic about counting the Cymbalta beads http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/283-tips-for-tapering-off-cymbalta-duloxetine/

[tezza]

Hi Pancho!

 

Welcome to the group! I'm sorry this has happened to you but you have come to the best place for very good advice and lots of support.

 

Everyone here is caring and tries to be helpful.

 

When you get a chance, would you pleas add your history using the instructions in the link below?

 

You may find the Symptoms and Self-care section helpful also.

 

I'm glad you've found us but sorry you needed to.

 

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/893-please-put-your-withdrawal-history-in-your-signature/

[Jemima]

Welcome, Pancho.

 

I'm sorry to say that a too-fast withdrawal can lead to many, many months of withdrawal symptoms. I came off 10 mg. Lexapro in mid-December of 2011 after a three month "taper" and only now am I getting back to normal. The drugs restructure the brain and it is the brain trying to re-normalize after the drug is withdrawn that causes symptoms. I hope you'll take Alto's advice, reinstate a small amount of the Cymbalta and stabilize. Then you can begin reducing the dose very gradually and your brain will have a much easier time of it. That should be a lot more pleasant than just trying to tough it out from here.

 

You'll find lots of solid information and friendly support here.

[Pancho]

Thank you all for your quick responses, i really really appreciate it... i think i will take Altos advise... this really really sucks. My doctor is totally clueless about this. I will kweep u up dated as i try the small amount..

 

Thanks a lot PANCHO.

[Pancho]

Hi,

 

Just wanted to say that i did as alto suggested and broke the capsule and took ten beads, its my first night doing this so ill see how it goes as time goes by, i also spoke to a doctor about my post SNRI sexual dysfunction and he categorically said its not the cymbalta its something else, wow .

 

Thanks

[johnson]

Hi Pancho,

 

I have been off 5htp for 3 months and I am still suffering from sexual side effects. To be clear I have trouble getting an erection hard enough for intercourse.

I saw my doctor I did blood tests, testosterone and everything is fine. I don't even get the "morning wood anymore". I am hoping that with time

things will get better. Feel free to PM me anytime. Altostrata has been helpful to me thankfully.

[Pancho]

Hi Alto,

Thanks for your response, ok so i will continue with the 10 beads for several weeks, i find that im very jumpy, irritable, if i hear loud sudden noises it makes me very jumpy... i also find that i have a constant level of very slight veritgo.. its just a sense of unstability ...

 

Just wondering about the sexual part, im sorry to be this graphic.. i have loss of sensation, libido, and if i do orgasm its very muted,no pleasure ,i know there are no gurantees,, but is this a gradual thing... i find i have made absolutely no improvement since it started three months ago...

 

thanks again, my best regards.

[Altostrata]

Pancho, be patient. I know 3 months seems like a long time, but you're only at the beginning of healing.

[Pancho]

Hi Alto, Things have seemed to improve in the sexual department, i have been taking the 10 balls of cymbalta now for almost 3 weeks now,i find that i have some improvement in terms of sexual ability, sry to be graphic, erections are better, more sensation etc however, the actual orgasm is still muted to some extent... its definitely better, not what it should be but better... so just continue with the 10 ball of cymbalta for now?? please let me know your thoughts, this has certainly encouraged me. best regards,

pancho.

[Altostrata]

That's a good sign. Yes, if I were you, I'd stay on the 10 beads for a couple of months, at least, before starting to reduce. Give your nervous system a chance to recover.

[Pancho]

Hi,

Sorry to bother you again, I posted last that things were improving, well it really is about the same, I went to a urologist who agreed that cymbalta can cause this, he said its time, but recommended I take 1 cialis per week as he said to regain some confidence. I have been taking it and I think that's what made me things were getting better. I still have reduced libido,sensation and feeling. This is going into month 5, I know what you have said, but I would have thought it would slowly come back. This has me very down. I'm taking the 10 beads of cymbalta this is my second month, I guess I just need some reassurance, thanks a lot again.

[Altostrata]

How are your other symptoms since you've been taking 10 beads of Cymbalta?

 

Pancho, please put your concerns about sexual performance aside for the time being. It may take quite a while for you to recover from the effects of Cymbalta. While you're taking it, it may be interfering with your sexual response.

 

When you go off it gradually, it may take month for your sexual response to slowly recover. As I've said repeatedly, recovery is slow. Think in terms of 6-month intervals.

[Pancho]

I've been feeling pretty good actually, I'm not as irritable, memory loss is much better I think, also I developed very bad tmj when I came off, this is continuing but a bit less, overall I think I am better, I sometimes find that out of the blue I can get very anxious, but this happens less and less.

I had very bad spells where I had serious memory problems, hard to believe its all part of it, but it is, so other than the sexual part I'm better, so I will try to put that part aside for now, it's just devastating to think its permanent, I know that's its not, just anxiety I guess. Thank you and sorry for the direct message. Much thanks for your help.

[Altostrata]

This is good, it indicates the 10 beads of Cymbalta are helping.

 

No, this isn't permanent. In a couple of months, you might try going off Cymbalta very slowly, one bead at a time, maybe even one bead a month.

 

In the meantime, enjoy feeling better. Nurture your body and spirit: Eat good fresh food; cut down on sugar, caffeine, alcohol, smoking; get regular, gentle exercise and good sleep. Teach yourself to be patient and stop worrying.

[Pancho]

Ok thank you Alto, I can definitely say some things are better, just not the sex dept. will be patient, I see that you had the same problem and it went away, that's encouraging. Thank you again

[Altostrata]

Let us be grateful partial reinstatement has decreased the severe withdrawal symptoms.

[Pancho]

Hi alto. Recently I have been have terrible bouts of insomnia, terrible, not everyday but sometimes out of the blue I cannot sleep at all for a couple of nights. I usually am fast asleep at 10 pm and knock out in 5 minutes. A month ago this started out of the blue. I am tossing until 3 or 4 am cannot sleep at all. This went away and now 3 weeks later its back, I notice that it tends to happen after I exercise, if this makes sense. I exercise 4 to 5 days per week, swim or cycle, can this be the cymbalta? Remember I'm still taking about 10 beads per night going on to the second month, what do you think?

[Fizz]

You are not alone on the insomnia Pancho, mine is terrible, average 3 hours or less, if that's any comfort! Keep going! Xxxx

[Pancho]

Thanks Fizz... its driving me nuts. this is pretty new to me.. its likew the 3rd or 4th time in last 6 weeks this has happened. it has not been every day. How long have you been off your meds?? just curious! im sorry u have this problem, its not pleasant.

 

Cheers.

[omlett]

Hi Pancho,

 

I see you're dealing cymbalta too and having insomnia....I have been off more than a month and i have trouble with sleeping..extremely annoying..i slept maybe 3 hours yesterday.

 

Hope it gets better for us.

 

- O

[Meimeiquest]

Hi Pancho,

 

When do you exercise? I've heard exercising late in the day can lead to insomnia because it increases your cortisol level. I think there is more info in the symptoms section...insomnia stalks us all.

[Altostrata]

Did this pattern start before or after you reinstated Cymbalta? Has it gotten worse or better since you reinstated?

[Pancho]

Hi alto I never had insomnia before, I think it started after I reinstated, before when I was now coming off my problem was getting up very early, like 4 am, now this is problems going to sleep. Yesterday I did not exercise yet had terrible insomnia. I would have to guess this is all after reinstating, cause its all been in the last 5-6 weeks, I've reinstated almost 8 weeks ago.

Thanks again.

[Altostrata]

Hard to tell what's going on. Sometimes a change of season causes sleep disruption in sensitized people. Did you have to change your clock for spring hours?

 

You might want to try reducing by a bead. Maybe it's a little too much Cymbalta.

[Pancho]

I have insomnia again tonight I am exhausted. I think it's the reinstatement again, itbhas to be. I think I will cut back , didn't think such small amounts do this. No we don't change the time here in trinidad, and no seasons either, I'm in the tropics. I agree I will cut back.when I was totally off I never had this. Thanks

[Pancho]

Sexual Side Effects of Antidepressant Medications: An Informed Consent Accountability Gap

Audrey S. Bahrick Æ Mark M. Harris

 

Hi I have not been on the site for a while. Found this article written by a professor at a us university. I recently went to a new doctor and explained what was happening, he did admit to some dysfunction but I think they think all pile on these sites are unique. Lol they are in denial. My situation continues, my erections are a lot better, I have some libido again, but sensation and orgasm still muted. I'm encouraged though because my erections are a lot better. Alto I came off the cymbalta, I find since coming off the ten beads, sensation is diminished, but the rest is better.

[Karma]

Hi Pancho

 

This sounds like progress.  Thanks for posting the article title, do you have a link to it?  I believe others would be interested in it.  We have a section for "in the media" where you could also post this article.  http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/forum/15-in-the-media/

 

Karma

[Pancho]

Hi, have not been on this for a while, I feel much better in terms of anxiety, It seems i was having trouble sleeping because of anxiety that's what I was told anyway by doctors. I actually was checked by a neurologist in houston as some small foci were found on an mri brain scan, so I had to have it checked out, I still havevsecual dysfunction, I am not getting morning erections but I can get an erection and maintain it, it's strange, sometimes erections are almost normal pre cymbalta and other times it not. Also have not recovered full sensation and orgasms are still muted. This is ms infe delcember 2012 so that's 7 or 8 months, I've taken altos advice and tried to stop focusing own it. But it's worrying, has anyone there experienced this for somlongband recovered? Guess I just need some reassurance, alto I know you told me to be patient. I came off of the ten beads of cymbalta stupidly as I found in retrospect. That it was helping, I developed so much anxiety thinking about it. Alto if you read this I'm feeling a lot better not as jumpy as before its just tHe sexual dysfunction. Thanks appreciate any comments.

[Altostrata]

It's a very good sign you're seeing gradual improvement. It can take a long time for recovery. Don't worry, be glad you're getting better.

 

Please do let us know how you're doing as time goes on!

[johnson]

Pancho,

 

It's good to hear from you. My situation is similar to yours in that at times I feel like my erections are back to normal then at times my erections are no good. It's exciting and depressing in that I feel happy that I am able to get proper erections only to find out the next time my erections are no good again and then I get really depressed about it. Hopefully things will get better. For me lately i've been thinking about sex non stop. I haven't been like this in a long time. I don't know if it's a good thing or a bad thing. I also had a dream last night where I was having sex with a girl that I don't know and my penis went soft during intercourse! talk about nightmare. But anyways I'm glad your erections are finally coming back. Lets hope your sensations come back to the fullest as well. Hopefully the erections return back to normal but I guess we have to be really really patient still. It's tough but I think we've both made some progress so that's all we can ask for right now. And just keep hanging in there.

[Pancho]

Hi Johnson,

 

Yes its weird, I wish I had continued what alto suggested by adding back ten beads at a time, I think that was working, should have stuck to it, I keep hoping to see morning erections, sometimes (hardly) I get one but its when I wake up and have to pee... anyway any Moring erection is what i'm looking for, I definitely am no where I used to be, libido is down, sensation, and orgasm intensity is half... but ill wait and see, the fact that im able to sometimes get a perfect erection gives me hope, this is very strange, its really amazing that people who make these drugs get away with these thing. keep good man, try not to think of it, BTW I have those dreams too.. you're not alone..

[johnson]

I get morning erections but they are semi-hard. But at least they are there again. I'm glad your able to get an erection.

Just imagine 7-8 months ago when you were getting no erections at all how that was. Same for me. At that time

things were so bad I never thought I'd get my erections back. We should be happy about this at least!

But i'll be even more happy when and hopefully things return back to normal completely!

[Pancho]

Hello Alto,Sorry to bother you again, I have been doing so much better, I have been off cymbalta for almost 10 months, about 3 months ago I made the mistake to go to another doctor as I was very anxious about the sexual side effects continuing, I also have an arthritic condition called axial spondyloarthropy, so it's hard to deal with both. This new doc suggested Wellbutrin, stupidly I said ok as he said it would enhance libido, well it did do that but it made my anxiety worse so I came off after a couple of weeks. He told me to try valdoxan ascibwasnt sleeping, could not fall asleep till wee hours of the morning.So i went on it ,however, after 6 weeks it elevated my liver enzymes and gave me nausea so I came off. This is almost 5 weeks I'm totally clean, it's the best I've felt for a long time, I have no more anxiety and am sleeping and doing very well, 2, weeks ago I tried to see how I would perform sexually and to my surprise erections were a lot better and orgasms were better too like 75% of what it used to be, I'm still not getting morning erections, but I felt good as I was finally improving after 9 months, alas, this week, things have gone backwards, orgasms are very very weak, almost non existent. No morning erections and low libido. I'm taking zantac for acid reflux for 2 weeks now, what I would like to ask is this normal in the scheme of things, improving and then losing gains again? Is it the zantac ? My arthritis doc gives me occasional valium for neck spasms, I'm very confused and down, as I thought I had finally passed this hurdle, now I find myself feeling despondent again, any insight would really be appreciated. Thank you in advance . pancho again.

 

Hi if anyone can help

[Altostrata]

Zantac could be upsetting your system, see http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/4361-tips-for-tapering-off-stomach-acid-blockers-esomeprazole-lansoprazole-omeprazole/