Chez

[Chez]

Hi there

What an awesome site! So wish I had found it 3 months ago. After battling the most awful withdrawal symptoms coming off CymGen (clone of Cymbaltha) I had a panic attack on Sunday that ended up in Casulty. Now I am back on the meds (

Thank you for such an informative site xx

[Jemima]

Welcome to the forum! I'm sorry you had to go through this episode before finding us.

 

Since you went back on a full dose of the meds just this week, it's probably wise to stabilize there before tapering off. There is lots of information on this site for tapering off with minimal discomfort and you'll find most participants to be helpful, gentle, and supportive.

 

Please tell us more about your experience when you feel up to it and add your drug history to your signature: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/893-please-put-your-withdrawal-history-in-your-signature/ (instructions)

[basildev]

Hey Chez,

 

I'm new here too. Sorry to hear you've had such a hard time too.

 

Withdrawal is awful. I'm glad I found this site too.

 

Take care

[strawberry17]

Yes welcome to the forums Chez, sorry you've had a rotten time

Lots of information and support here.

[Altostrata]

Welcome, Chez.

 

Does your medication come in capsules with little beads inside? If so, here are some tips for tapering when you're ready to try again http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/283-tips-for-tapering-off-cymbalta-duloxetine/

 

Please do let your nervous system settle down first.

[moonbow0202]

Chez,

Welcome!

[Chez]

Welcome to the forum! I'm sorry you had to go through this episode before finding us.

 

Since you went back on a full dose of the meds just this week, it's probably wise to stabilize there before tapering off. There is lots of information on this site for tapering off with minimal discomfort and you'll find most participants to be helpful, gentle, and supportive.

 

Please tell us more about your experience when you feel up to it and add your drug history to your signature: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/893-please-put-your-withdrawal-history-in-your-signature/ (instructions)

 

Hi Jemima

 

Thank you so much for the welcome At this stage after 4 months of horrific Cymbalta withdrawal symtoms and the disappointment of having to go back on meds I am at a all time low but thankfully I have now found some support for when I am able to try again...

[Chez]

Hey Chez,

 

I'm new here too. Sorry to hear you've had such a hard time too.

 

Withdrawal is awful. I'm glad I found this site too.

 

Take care

 

Hi basildev

 

Thank you for your welcome, hope you are doing okay...

 

Keep well

[Chez]

Yes welcome to the forums Chez, sorry you've had a rotten time

Lots of information and support here.

 

Hi strawberry17

 

Thank you, so happy to have found this site with all the information and amazing support system...

[Chez]

Welcome, Chez.

 

Does your medication come in capsules with little beads inside? If so, here are some tips for tapering when you're ready to try again http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/283-tips-for-tapering-off-cymbalta-duloxetine/

 

Please do let your nervous system settle down first.

 

Hi Altostrata

 

Thank you for the welcome

 

The CymGen- clone of Cymbalta, medication is in capsule form with little beads inside (went thru 4 months of the most awful withdrawal) but I am now on Leximil 5mg which is a white tablet. I am devastated to be back on the meds but the panic attacks of not being able to breathe then passing out really scared me. Still very anxious

 

Really thankful for finding this site and all you amazing people xx

[Chez]

Chez,

Welcome!

 

 

Hi moonbow0202

 

Thank you

[Altostrata]

Did the Lexamil (escitalopram) eliminate your withdrawal symptoms?

 

When did you add the Urbanol (clobazam)? Are you taking it every day? Did it help?

 

It seems to me taking two benzos might be a lot of benzos....

[Chez]

Did the Lexamil (escitalopram) eliminate your withdrawal symptoms?

 

When did you add the Urbanol (clobazam)? Are you taking it every day? Did it help?

 

It seems to me taking two benzos might be a lot of benzos....

 

Hi Altostrata

 

Neither the Lexamil or Urbanol have eased or eliminated any of my withdrawal symptoms, I am really battling The panic attacks are getting worse and am now taking 2mg of Ativan SL!! Do you have any advice for me? Should I go back on the Cymbalta, I had to stop it because it caused drug induced liver failure? I am beyond desperate at this point! Thank you x

[Nikki]

Hi...

 

There are alot of posts on this site about Cymbalta and the members who have gotten off of it, or who are in the process.

 

Have you been able to settle down and stabilize?

 

Best regards

[peggy]

Hi Chez,

So sorry you are having a rotten time - i would not want to be restarting cymbalta if you had drug induced liver failure - infact, i would be leary about trying another drug.. If the lexamil is not helping, then i would question taking that as well, but you would have to taper off it.

 

At this point, you will probably have to look at managing your symptoms the best you can. have you tried taking fish oil?

 

At the very least, some mindful meditation would be good for your panic attacks.

[Chez]

Hi...

 

There are alot of posts on this site about Cymbalta and the members who have gotten off of it, or who are in the process.

 

Have you been able to settle down and stabilize?

 

Best regards

 

Hi Nikki

 

I will definitely look at the posts on Cymbalta but my liver failure started when on went on the Cymbalta clone called CymGen. Over the last 6 months I sleep 2 hours a night (if you can call it sleep); have got restless leg syndrome; nightmares; reliving my dad and brothers death, reliving me being attacked in my home by five armed men; panic attacks where I can't breathe and more I have lost my business and am currently unemployed. Sorry for all the doom and gloom....

 

Couldn't settle down or stabilize so I am now on Ativan, Lexamil and Urbanol - all which I find do nothing but make me more anxious. I wish I had found this site 6 months ago.

 

Thank you xx

[Chez]

Hi Chez,

So sorry you are having a rotten time - i would not want to be restarting cymbalta if you had drug induced liver failure - infact, i would be leary about trying another drug.. If the lexamil is not helping, then i would question taking that as well, but you would have to taper off it.

 

At this point, you will probably have to look at managing your symptoms the best you can. have you tried taking fish oil?

 

At the very least, some mindful meditation would be good for your panic attacks.

 

Hi Peggy

 

Thank you for caring, I am taking Omega 3 supplements and also tried the natural 5-htp before I went on Lexamil. Does anyone know if you can take 5-htp and Lexamil together?

 

I cannot concentrate on anything for long- no longer read books or enjoy my tv programs, nighttime is the worst. Being afraid and the utter fear I feel is the worst symptom.

 

Sorry for being such a misery....xx

[Altostrata]

No apologies necessary! We've all suffered from difficulties with these drugs.

 

Those definitely sound like severe withdrawal symptoms, from the cold-turkey off Cymbalta.

 

If Cymbalta caused liver damage -- no, definitely do NOT take Cymbalta.

 

That is an unusual (but very dangerous) adverse reaction. Were you taking other drugs at the same time? It sounds like there must have been a drug-drug conflict.

 

If Lexamil is not helping, if I were you I'd taper off it. Lexamil itself can cause anxiety and panic attacks. So can 5-HTP. Please don't stimulate your nervous system any more.

 

How long have you been taking Lexamil? Here's a topic about tapering off escilatopram: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/406-tips-for-tapering-off-lexapro-escitalopram/

[Altostrata]

About our dear friend Cymbalta, from official FDA information at http://www.drugs.com/pro/cymbalta.html

 

Hepatotoxicity

 

There have been reports of hepatic failure, sometimes fatal, in patients treated with Cymbalta. These cases have presented as hepatitis with abdominal pain, hepatomegaly, and elevation of transaminase levels to more than twenty times the upper limit of normal with or without jaundice, reflecting a mixed or hepatocellular pattern of liver injury. Cymbalta should be discontinued in patients who develop jaundice or other evidence of clinically significant liver dysfunction and should not be resumed unless another cause can be established.

 

Cases of cholestatic jaundice with minimal elevation of transaminase levels have also been reported. Other postmarketing reports indicate that elevated transaminases, bilirubin, and alkaline phosphatase have occurred in patients with chronic liver disease or cirrhosis.

 

Cymbalta increased the risk of elevation of serum transaminase levels in development program clinical trials. Liver transaminase elevations resulted in the discontinuation of 0.3% (92/34,756) of Cymbalta-treated patients. In most patients, the median time to detection of the transaminase elevation was about two months. In placebo-controlled trials in any indication, for patients with normal and abnormal baseline ALT values, elevation of ALT >3 times the upper limit of normal occurred in 1.25% (144/11,496) of Cymbalta-treated patients compared to 0.45% (39/8716) of placebo-treated patients. In placebo-controlled studies using a fixed dose design, there was evidence of a dose response relationship for ALT and AST elevation of >3 times the upper limit of normal and >5 times the upper limit of normal, respectively.

 

Because it is possible that duloxetine and alcohol may interact to cause liver injury or that duloxetine may aggravate pre-existing liver disease, Cymbalta should not be prescribed to patients with substantial alcohol use or evidence of chronic liver disease.

[Chez]

About our dear friend Cymbalta, from official FDA information at http://www.drugs.com/pro/cymbalta.html

 

Hepatotoxicity

 

There have been reports of hepatic failure, sometimes fatal, in patients treated with Cymbalta. These cases have presented as hepatitis with abdominal pain, hepatomegaly, and elevation of transaminase levels to more than twenty times the upper limit of normal with or without jaundice, reflecting a mixed or hepatocellular pattern of liver injury. Cymbalta should be discontinued in patients who develop jaundice or other evidence of clinically significant liver dysfunction and should not be resumed unless another cause can be established.

 

Cases of cholestatic jaundice with minimal elevation of transaminase levels have also been reported. Other postmarketing reports indicate that elevated transaminases, bilirubin, and alkaline phosphatase have occurred in patients with chronic liver disease or cirrhosis.

 

Cymbalta increased the risk of elevation of serum transaminase levels in development program clinical trials. Liver transaminase elevations resulted in the discontinuation of 0.3% (92/34,756) of Cymbalta-treated patients. In most patients, the median time to detection of the transaminase elevation was about two months. In placebo-controlled trials in any indication, for patients with normal and abnormal baseline ALT values, elevation of ALT >3 times the upper limit of normal occurred in 1.25% (144/11,496) of Cymbalta-treated patients compared to 0.45% (39/8716) of placebo-treated patients. In placebo-controlled studies using a fixed dose design, there was evidence of a dose response relationship for ALT and AST elevation of >3 times the upper limit of normal and >5 times the upper limit of normal, respectively.

 

Because it is possible that duloxetine and alcohol may interact to cause liver injury or that duloxetine may aggravate pre-existing liver disease, Cymbalta should not be prescribed to patients with substantial alcohol use or evidence of chronic liver disease.

Hi Alto

 

Whilst taking Cymbalta and CymGen I very rarely had any alcohol and the Psychiatrist and doctor were aware of my history of yellow jaundice. That is why I have no faith in any doctors!!!

 

I was looking at one your posts where you mentioned that there was no generic for Cymbalta, here is South Africa there is one called CymGen by Eli Lilly (S.A) - my liver enzymes were off the chart on CymGen..

 

Thank you so much for this info.

 

Enjoy your weekend x

[Chez]

No apologies necessary! We've all suffered from difficulties with these drugs.

 

Those definitely sound like severe withdrawal symptoms, from the cold-turkey off Cymbalta.

 

If Cymbalta caused liver damage -- no, definitely do NOT take Cymbalta.

 

That is an unusual (but very dangerous) adverse reaction. Were you taking other drugs at the same time? It sounds like there must have been a drug-drug conflict.

 

If Lexamil is not helping, if I were you I'd taper off it. Lexamil itself can cause anxiety and panic attacks. So can 5-HTP. Please don't stimulate your nervous system any more.

 

How long have you been taking Lexamil? Here's a topic about tapering off escilatopram: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/406-tips-for-tapering-off-lexapro-escitalopram/

 

Hi Alto

 

I was taking bromazapam and stilnox with the Cymbalta 60mg/CymGen 60.

 

I have been on Lexamil 10mg for 8 days, taking half a tablet for 8 days then 1 tablet once a day and when really anxious I am supposed to take 1-2 capsules when necessary twice a day of Urbanol 5mg. The Urbanol make my restless leg syndrome really worse. Taking Ativan SL 2 x 1mg helps tho.

 

Any ideas where to from here as I am going to see the Psychiatrist on the 14 Nov?

 

Thanks for all the help xx

[xDebbiejo]

Hi chez

 

Welcome to the site, I'm not experienced to advise but as you've found, alto and others are.

 

So sorry to hear you're having a rough time and do hope you find some relief soon

 

Debbie x

[Altostrata]

Hi Alto

 

I was taking bromazapam and stilnox with the Cymbalta 60mg/CymGen 60.

 

I have been on Lexamil 10mg for 8 days, taking half a tablet for 8 days then 1 tablet once a day and when really anxious I am supposed to take 1-2 capsules when necessary twice a day of Urbanol 5mg. The Urbanol make my restless leg syndrome really worse. Taking Ativan SL 2 x 1mg helps tho.

 

Any ideas where to from here as I am going to see the Psychiatrist on the 14 Nov?

 

Thanks for all the help xx

 

As the FDA information above indicates, apparently there were some reports of spontaneous liver damage with Cymbalta. You were one of the winners of this unlucky lottery.

 

If your doctor prescribed duloxetine for you knowing of your compromised liver function, you have the basis of a serious complaint against your doctor. The warnings on duloxetine are clear.

 

If the Urbanol makes your symptoms worse, you might go off it. How long have you been taking it? Do you take the same amount every day?

 

How has Lexamil affected your symptoms? If you've been on it only 8 days and a full tablet for only a couple of days, if I were you I might go down to half a tablet now in preparation for tapering off altogether.

 

Don't expect your doctor or psychiatrist to know anything about what you're going through, especially if this is the same ignoramus who put you on Cymbalta to begin with.

[jr1985]

So sorry for what you've been through, Chez. Psychiatry has a lot to answer for! You're in the right place, everyone is very supportive here.