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Suggest Ways To Manage The Withdrawal Symptoms Of Cymbalta
Posted on
Mon, 7 Nov 2016
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Mon, 7 Nov 2016
Answered on
Mon, 28 Nov 2016
Last reviewed on
Question : Serotonin syndrome
I spent almost a year in horror of withdrawal symptoms trying to get off Cymbalta. I had probably 15-20 symptoms on daily basis. So I tried to bridge to Fluoxetine, as recommended by my Psychiatrist. I added 20 mg of Fluoxetine to 55 mg of Cymbalta, and every 5 days I was decreasing 5 mg Cymbalta. Also I was added Benadryl, Clonazepam to relief withdrawal. And then after a month of overlap period while I was on 20 mg Fluoxetine + 30 mg Cymbalta (plus 1-2 pill Benadryl occasionally and 0.5 Clonazepam) I have jumped from withdrawal state to high serotonin state. I become agitated, subfebril, absolute insomnia, sweating and the main symptoms eyes-ocular clonus (my eyes were moving constantly to the right side), with horrific burning pain of the eyes, eyelid twitches. Doctor said oh, this is side effect from Fluoxetine, stop using it. And I did, what put me immediately after 2 days in severe withdrawal state. Doctor said then to add 1.25 mg Lexapro, I did and then horror happened. Immediately few hours after adding that small dose of Lexapro every withdrawal symptom has stopped and again I have jumped into high serotonin state with same symptoms like few days before. I stopped immediately that 1.25 mg of Lexapro- no relief, I stopped and remaining 30 mg of Cymbalta -no relief, I had to stop and 0.5 mg of Clonazepam because at that moment even that stimulates my eye’s symptoms/receptors somehow. I took me 2 weeks after stop using everything to jump again into withdrawal state. First 2 months I have spent in withdrawal state, but not constantly-I have days with withdrawal symptoms and then days where I would jump again into some high serotonin symptoms. I saw that as-ok, every day my serotonin will go more and more down until I come the point of complete withdrawal state. But no, after 2 months of exchanging up and down symptoms, I jumped again into high serotonin symptoms, and the worst one-eyes. My eyes are hurting, burning to the level of 24 hours of crying and screaming, unable to focus picture, extreme tension of eyeballs-everything I had in serotonin syndrome state. I am unable to eat, sleep, agitated, I am getting hot flashes into my head, I am sometimes subfebril (37.5°). I am on my knees, my every blink is hurtful. I don’t know how many doctors I have called and asked and all the time I am getting the same answer-it is impossible if you didn’t take any drug to go into high serotonin state. I didn’t take anything. Ophthalmologist examination, MR of the brain, and other tests are normal (I have repeated all the tests in last 2 weeks). I don’t have any diseases. My brain literary went into rebound from withdrawal state to up state again .I don’t know how is that possible or how to help myself and get my brain into balance.
Do I need do take Cyproheptadine do relief symptoms because I am afraid my eyes will stayed damaged?
What should I do to improve my current health situation? I’m going through living hell and there is not any kind of drug that I can take and not to worsen my situation!
I spent almost a year in horror of withdrawal symptoms trying to get off Cymbalta. I had probably 15-20 symptoms on daily basis. So I tried to bridge to Fluoxetine, as recommended by my Psychiatrist. I added 20 mg of Fluoxetine to 55 mg of Cymbalta, and every 5 days I was decreasing 5 mg Cymbalta. Also I was added Benadryl, Clonazepam to relief withdrawal. And then after a month of overlap period while I was on 20 mg Fluoxetine + 30 mg Cymbalta (plus 1-2 pill Benadryl occasionally and 0.5 Clonazepam) I have jumped from withdrawal state to high serotonin state. I become agitated, subfebril, absolute insomnia, sweating and the main symptoms eyes-ocular clonus (my eyes were moving constantly to the right side), with horrific burning pain of the eyes, eyelid twitches. Doctor said oh, this is side effect from Fluoxetine, stop using it. And I did, what put me immediately after 2 days in severe withdrawal state. Doctor said then to add 1.25 mg Lexapro, I did and then horror happened. Immediately few hours after adding that small dose of Lexapro every withdrawal symptom has stopped and again I have jumped into high serotonin state with same symptoms like few days before. I stopped immediately that 1.25 mg of Lexapro- no relief, I stopped and remaining 30 mg of Cymbalta -no relief, I had to stop and 0.5 mg of Clonazepam because at that moment even that stimulates my eye’s symptoms/receptors somehow. I took me 2 weeks after stop using everything to jump again into withdrawal state. First 2 months I have spent in withdrawal state, but not constantly-I have days with withdrawal symptoms and then days where I would jump again into some high serotonin symptoms. I saw that as-ok, every day my serotonin will go more and more down until I come the point of complete withdrawal state. But no, after 2 months of exchanging up and down symptoms, I jumped again into high serotonin symptoms, and the worst one-eyes. My eyes are hurting, burning to the level of 24 hours of crying and screaming, unable to focus picture, extreme tension of eyeballs-everything I had in serotonin syndrome state. I am unable to eat, sleep, agitated, I am getting hot flashes into my head, I am sometimes subfebril (37.5°). I am on my knees, my every blink is hurtful. I don’t know how many doctors I have called and asked and all the time I am getting the same answer-it is impossible if you didn’t take any drug to go into high serotonin state. I didn’t take anything. Ophthalmologist examination, MR of the brain, and other tests are normal (I have repeated all the tests in last 2 weeks). I don’t have any diseases. My brain literary went into rebound from withdrawal state to up state again .I don’t know how is that possible or how to help myself and get my brain into balance.
Do I need do take Cyproheptadine do relief symptoms because I am afraid my eyes will stayed damaged?
What should I do to improve my current health situation? I’m going through living hell and there is not any kind of drug that I can take and not to worsen my situation!
Brief Answer:
Cyproheptadine may be used to ease your symptoms.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and thanks for using HCM.
I have read your question and understand your concerns.
Serotonin syndrome and its fluctuations should be treated in hospital being on close medical attention. ( hemodynamics, fever, etc.)
Drugs used to control serotoninergic states include cyproheptadine, chlorpromazine, propranolol, but these drugs are used to ease symptoms and don't alter the time required for resolution of the syndrome.
Benzodiazepines also are used to achieve sedation and reduce muscle rigidity if any.
In my opinion, you can use cyproheptadine in order to ease your symptoms, but confirmation by your Doctor is necessary.
Hope you found the answer helpful.
Let me know if I can assist you further.
Greetings.
Cyproheptadine may be used to ease your symptoms.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and thanks for using HCM.
I have read your question and understand your concerns.
Serotonin syndrome and its fluctuations should be treated in hospital being on close medical attention. ( hemodynamics, fever, etc.)
Drugs used to control serotoninergic states include cyproheptadine, chlorpromazine, propranolol, but these drugs are used to ease symptoms and don't alter the time required for resolution of the syndrome.
Benzodiazepines also are used to achieve sedation and reduce muscle rigidity if any.
In my opinion, you can use cyproheptadine in order to ease your symptoms, but confirmation by your Doctor is necessary.
Hope you found the answer helpful.
Let me know if I can assist you further.
Greetings.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Ok, so fluctuations of serotonin are able to happened even 3 months after medication has been stopped?
Brief Answer:
It is possible in moderate to severe cases.
Detailed Answer:
Welcome back.
Symptoms of serotonin syndrome, or serotonin fluctuations may require several weeks to regress in moderate to severe cases, especially when the culprit are antidepressants.
Hope I helped you.
Kind regards.
It is possible in moderate to severe cases.
Detailed Answer:
Welcome back.
Symptoms of serotonin syndrome, or serotonin fluctuations may require several weeks to regress in moderate to severe cases, especially when the culprit are antidepressants.
Hope I helped you.
Kind regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
Answered by
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