Author: Alex Thompson

Stopping Cymbalta: Dealing with Duloxetine Withdrawal Symptoms

The adverse effects might occur due to discontinuation syndrome or during detox for those who are addicted to the drug. The severity of withdrawal from Cymbalta and how long it takes to stop experiencing the symptoms depends on every patient’s characteristics. It is difficult to predict each person’s response to the discontinuation of duloxetine. Therefore, medical supervision is strongly advised to help the patient quit duloxetine without damaging their health along the way. Work with your doctor to develop a tapering schedule that fits your needs. Your doctor may want to switch you to a different antidepressant or provide medical support for your withdrawal symptoms.

1. When patients reach the point that they are considering stopping duloxetine, they should speak to their doctor about their desire.
2. However, not having other options does not mean stopping Cymbalta cold turkey will be without consequences.
3. In terms of tapering methods, there generally is not one single recommended way that applies to all medications and all patients.

Generally speaking, most antidepressants do not need to be tapered if you have only been taking them for 5 days. Cymbalta (duloxetine) is a type of antidepressant drug called an serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI). Most other common antidepressants, like Prozac (fluoxetine) and Paxil (paroxetine), are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).

What helps with Cymbalta withdrawal symptoms?

About 50% of people who recover from one episode of depression will have more depressive episodes in their lifetime. If you have had more than one episode, there is about an 80% chance you will have another. While SSRIs act only on serotonin, SNRIs act on both serotonin and norepinephrine neurotransmitters. As of 2019, over 50 million American adults live with a mental illness, and over 20 percent of American adults experience chronic pain. But eventually I did get on the right mix of pain meds, and I realized my future wasn’t quite as bleak as I had thought. And so, even after that horrible experience of kind-of, accidentally going off Cymbalta last winter, I decided that I really wanted to go off it completely.

This material is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Data sources include Micromedex (updated 3 Mar 2024), Cerner Multum™ (updated 4 Mar 2024), ASHP (updated 10 Mar 2024) and others. In studies, most withdrawal side effects (65%) resolved within 7 days of stopping treatment.

Nearly all patients rated these side effects as mild-to-moderate in severity. Tapering off Cymbalta, or weaning off the drug, is the safe way to stop use. There are correct and incorrect ways to taper, and following the proper taper schedule for the patient is critical to success.

There is one report of a withdrawal seizure and one report of withdrawal symptoms coming and going over a period of ten months. If you do experience side effects during this process, just remember that these symptoms are a temporary response to a change in your brain chemistry. In this article, we’ll discuss more about Cymbalta withdrawal, including some of the common side effects and tips on how to manage during the withdrawal process.

If you gave Cymbalta a good try, but you still don’t feel like yourself, don’t give up. There are other medications, doses, and combinations of medications that you can try. If you don’t think you need medication anymore, that’s great, but don’t neglect your mental health. Although quitting Cymbalta cold turkey is rarely dangerous, it is best to consult your doctor before attempting to do so.

There Is No Universal Timeline

AddictionResource aims to present the most accurate, trustworthy, and up-to-date medical content to our readers. Our team does their best for our readers to help them stay informed about vital healthcare decisions. If they start at a higher dose or have been abusing the drug, a different plan is needed. Additionally, there could be other complicating factors that necessitate altering the schedule.

So maybe my doctor really didn’t know that it could be an issue for me to go off Cymbalta cold turkey and that’s why he never mentioned it. The easiest way to lookup drug information, identify pills, check interactions and set up your own personal medication records. You may also want to talk to a therapist (talk therapy) to help limit anxiety, mood disturbances or other problems when stopping treatment. The FDA does not have any guidelines for how to come off Duloxetine safely.

For some patients, it takes a few weeks to taper off, while others need months. Many patients believe that they can get off the antidepressant on their own. However, stopping any antidepressant has the risk of health complications arising. Additionally, if a user switches medications without medical assistance, there are risks of complications. It also refers to a situation when a patient stops using duloxetine in combination with other drugs such as Cymbalta with Wellbutrin.

It means that Duloxetine withdrawal can start approximately 12 hours after taking the last dose of the drug. Knowing the duloxetine half-life is important, but it doesn’t show the big picture. Frequently, patients will choose to stop duloxetine for a combination of reasons.

Overall, the process of detoxification and withdrawal can take up to several months. A study reports that Cymbalta withdrawal symptoms last for weeks and even months in some patients. It is also noted that as many as 44% of patients taking Duloxetine experience some effects of discontinuation syndrome. Withdrawal symptoms of Duloxetine can include severe deterioration of a person’s mental state, relapse of depression or anxiety, panic attacks, and an increased risk of suicide.

Related support groups

Whether someone wants to stop Cymbalta because they are abusing it or has another reason for quitting, they must do it carefully. Doctor supervision is critical, and for some, it will need to be in a drug rehabilitation facility. If someone is in a position where they feel they have no choice but to go cold turkey, they should contact their doctor to see if there is the help they can offer them to stop using it safely. Knowing that stopping Cymbalta cold turkey is dangerous, it might seem odd that people would consider this method. When people lose their insurance or cannot afford the next month of pills, there is a possibility they will not have another option. After 24 hours since the ingestion, the person might begin experiencing nausea, sweating, agitation, and other symptoms.

Cymbalta Withdrawal Symptoms

Slowly discontinuing treatment may not prevent all withdrawal side effects. Contact your healthcare provider again if you are still experiencing withdrawal symptoms, even with a gradual taper as directed by your doctor. Symptoms typically appear within two to four days of stopping your dose and last for a few weeks. While tapering—slowly decreasing—your dose is a common treatment strategy, some research suggests that even with this strategy, you still may experience some withdrawal symptoms.

The Subsequent Weeks

Pain News Network is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit online news service for information and commentary about chronic pain and pain management. Our mission is to raise awareness, connect and educate pain sufferers, caregivers, healthcare providers and the public about the pain experience. However, not having other options does not mean stopping Cymbalta cold turkey will be without consequences. On the mild end, the user will experience mild Cymbalta withdrawal from quitting cold turkey. On the dangerous end, stopping Cymbalta suddenly can trigger seizures, suicidal thoughts and could even put the patient into a coma.