Tapering off of Cymbalta or similar drug

My pdoc has me tapering off of Cymbalta because we figured I have Bipolar II and the cymbalta was giving me some nasty "tip over" hypomanic symptoms. As luck would have it, I got the flu and maybe shingles the first week of tapering so I'm not sure which symptoms were which. Has anyone else tapered off cymbalta or effexor---and what results did you have if you did.

Hi there Lizabeth,

I was on Cymbalta when I was first diagnosed with Bipolar II. My Pdoc needed to get me off of it because I had reported a history of hypomanic symptoms while on antidepressants (although, until we talked them through, I didn't put two and two together).

My withdrawal was not pleasant. I hope that you are not as sensitive I as I am to certain kinds of medications. My Pdoc tapered me off very slowly, two weeks at each new level. But each jump down, cause severe anxiety for me for about three days. I was dinging off the walls and felt like mess. I ended up taking a medical leave from work to make the transition from Cymbalta to Tegretol (a mood stabilizer).

Here's the good news - it was worth it. I began to sleep better, my mood improved, and we were well on the way to managing my bipolar d/o once I finally threw the bottle of cymbalta away. It is a wonderful medication for people with whom it works. It is miserable when it used in a population it was not intended for.

I wish you well.. and I hope that your transition is a peaceful one.

Jules

Hi Jules, thanks for your answer. So far, as near as I can tell the transistion if messing up my sleep and making me grouchy but otherwise not too bad. Fortunately I'm a housewife at the moment so I am not stuck with an ironclad schedule--otherwise I would have to take leave becasue of the not sleep.

My other symptoms, skin and nerves burning, cramping and overall body pain turned out to be the flu--and the jumping out of my skin is getting better as the cymbalta is coming down--as of yesterday I am down to 30mg/day. I see my pdoc on Thursday. Thanks for your answer.

when I stoped my cymbalt I didnt wanted to take any meds, i was now diagnosed with ciclothima ( after 6 yearsof tretment and failure with sereval anti depressents) , cymbaltha worked for like 9 months and sudenly I started to feel depressed again, the tappering off was very hard, I ad migranes, sensitivy to ligh, brain zaps and flu symtomes and it took me like a month to feel kind of normal again, of course it was because I didnt start on anything which I regret now. I had no ideia at the time I had ciclothimia. Jules, how does tegretol works for you? did you gain any weight on it? I'm taking topamax and lexapro but tompamax makes me stupid and I cannot only take lexapro cause it makes me manic

Cristy,

Welcome to the forum. It sounds like you have been through a lot. I hope that your and your Pdoc are satisfied with your diagnosis now.

Topamax is prescribed to me in order to "balance" out the weight gain effects of Seroquel. Most people gain weight on Seroquel. I have had weight loss surgery and gaining weight would be a very bad idea. So, my Pdoc suggested Topamax as a medication to help keep my weight down. Topamax has MANY side effects. One of them is an anorectic side effect. So far, it seems to be working on that end. I have only gained about 5 or 6 pounds after 2 years of taking Seroquel. Most people gain10 or more pounds per year.

As for Topamax making you stupid.... yep, that's a problem. I am not able to take the amount that I would really like to take for optimum weight control because of the cognitive side effects. I forget names, lose words, stop in the middle of sentences, and mess up with my typing when I am on higher doses. It is extremely frustrating.... especially forgetting names. I'm talking about names of people that I've known for YEARS. I also do public speaking for a living. Sometimes I will be trying to make a point and just forget a word... right there in front of everyone.. and its not even a hard word. For that reason, I had to back off on my dose. I could not tolerate that side effect.

The other two side effects that went away were stomach upset and drowsiness. Those stopped after a couple of weeks. Topamax is a harsh medication. It is not for the faint of heart. Nor is it a quick fix.

Anyway, that's my experience. I hope this helps.

As for Tegretol.... it saved my life. I take Tegretol XR for mood. I have not gained weight on it. I don't know what I would do without it.

Be well,
Jules

I just start tappering off effexor today and has a smilar effect to cymbalta, Imy doctor started me again on lexapro which has been good in the past for me for depression besides the hypomanic behavior but it was a good and productive one i feel the happiest in my whole life my I was never able to sleep then i started to get sleep deprivied well anyway. what do u take for depression adn what type of bipolar are u? I think I'm more than just ciclothimic, my depression is bad but I never atemped suicide or thouggh of doing it, I have mix moods now and agressive behavior most of the time and i dont feel like doing anything. My simptons worsten way more since I had a baby that is now 9 months, I was diagnosed with ciclothima 2 months ago, but i have been batheling depression for many years. Topamax has helped but hasnt been enough and I'm affariad to higher the dose i work with sales and english is not my first language and I only take 50 mg a day I aleady noticed myvocabulary getting very poor. I'm thinking of maybe adding something else, I dont sleep very well and my simptoms get very bad when I have PMS also. thanks for all you info

and Jules thansk again for your answers! I'm still not stalized as you can see, so I'm obssed with the sites and learning about the diasease more and more, its kinda a weird I spend all day on the net searching for things, thanks a lot!

I too was on Cymbalta prior to being diagnosed with bipolar. While taking Cymbalta for depression my wife started noticing the nasty side of me. I would slam the brakes on while driving the main roads of Pickering, challanged anyone who dare to fight me and went bonkers when my wife said I could not purchase a Samsung Blue ray player from Zellers.
On March 13, I stopped Cymbalta and went on their website. It clearly states anti-depressants may cause unwanted side effects in people who suffered from bipolar. I was in shock! I made an appointment with my family doctor. I stated doctor, this is what happen while on Cymbalta. The doctors chin hit the office floor because I was being treated for ADHD, anxiety and depression. I now know why I was so messed up as all these medications cause or caused me horrible side effects. 1 week later I am on 600 mg of lithium with a blood test nest Tuesday for blood levels. I feel better but not totally in control.I can function without dexedrine for my add and my performance at work is seventy percent better.
Can anyone tell me what dosage I might be priscribed? I am 6'2 and 227 lbs.
I still have a nasty temper as of yesturday that has sent the mercury to the boiling point.