Experiences - Report On Quitting Duloxetine/Cymbalta (60mg/day) Cold Turkey

[mouthwater]

SWIM was on sertraline/Zoloft for approx. 5 months. SWIM stopped using sertraline and began using duloxetine/Cymbalta instead, for approx. 5 months. SWIM's dose was 60 mg daily, in the evening.

Deciding s/he wasn't going to continue taking the drug, s/he stopped taking his/her daily dose approx. 6 days ago (cold turkey/abruptly). For the phirst phew days, SWIM had little, if any, noticeable side-effects (at best, a "brain zap" in the evening). However, over the last 4 days, the brain zaps have become more frequent. Today they have been most pronounced (which is what ultimately led for SWIM to write this post).

For reference, "brain zaps" feel like elektrikal shocks, or jolts, that seem to originate from the brain. They last one second, but leave SWIM disoriented for upwards of 5 minutes. S/he usually notices ringing in the ears and, when feeling zaps with closed eyes, has witnessed at least once a bright, white flash in his/her vision, instead of the usual dark-coloured backdrop with various light blobs and patterns that one "sees" with eyes closed.

SWIM smoked some dope (marihuana) on two of these six days, and can't determine if it had any effect on the zaps. They've become more frequent, occurring anywhere from once every few hours to 3-5 times within an hour (such as when resting).

Also, SWIM has noticed irritability over the last few days during occasions that aren't particularly irritating. S/he has had difficulty remaining in a neutral to positive standing with close friends, but has had no problem avoiding irritability when around casual acquaintances. S/he has taken his/her irritability out on inanimate objects with little value: throwing a Sharpie at a wall, smashing his/her ol' plastic Cymbalta prescription bottle on the ground, and tipping over a durable, cheap chair on carpet.

S/he can't stop him/herself from doing these things, but suppresses these emotions until opportunities to physically express them in a safe and relatively harmless manner appears. S/he sometimes feels in a slump, moody and depressed when alone.

SWIM will update this thread if s/he remembers, likely if any symptoms become more pronounced or when they cease.

Thus far, irritability, brain zaps, tinnitus (ear-ringing), and mild post-brain zap vertigo (disorientation) have been experienced. They are manageable, but very uncomfortable and hopefully will end soon.

Reputation Comments on this post:

Nice report sir, keep us updated. :)