Duloxetine withdrawal, help.

[cxs957]

I lowered the dose of duloxetine from 120 to 60 for a couple of weeks then 30 daily followed by 30 every other day. Now completely off it and I've had brain zaps and been vomitting repeatedly. I hate it, I can't keep any food down. What do I do? I've thrown up about 6-7 times today...

[Amanda]

I don't know much about it but it reads as if you have lowered the dose rather quickly? Did your GP supervise you coming off it?

[cxs957 in reply to Amanda]

Vaguely, I explained what I was doing and he said it sounded sensible. I spent a couple of weeks at each dose. Especially the 120 to 60 drop, and then the 60 to 30 I spent 3 weeks ish on each. So I've spent the last couple of months decreasing the dose....

[Amanda]

sometimes people can be more sensitive than others,it may be that you might need a little longer at each stage and/or more stages.I'd talk to your GP again and get them to help you make a proper longer term withdrawal plan .It sounds like your body has been in shock!!! Good luck xx

[cxs957 in reply to Amanda]

So you think I should go back on them? Urgh.. it feels like such a waste to have been ill for the last week....

[Amanda]

I would if it were me.Being sick etc can't be doing you much good and you'll probably feel better sooner.

[Hidden]

Oh dear CXS957, I assume (so please forgive me if I am wrong here) that you have done this yourself and not under GP guidance as it does seem rather quick and you are really suffering from withdrawal symptoms.

I personally would go to A & E (Accident & Emergency) because if you say you're having brain zaps, you can't keep anything down for vomiting, this isn't right and is not at all good for you. Vomiting 6-7 times today is not going to do you any good, you risk dehydration too. All these things will not stand you in good stead with your Fibro either.

At the hospital they will advise you whether you should resume your normal dose or take a smaller dose. We aren't really in a position to advise you fully about this. You need to seek the advice from a medical professional.

If you can't make it to the hospital I would personally either telephone NHS Direct to see what they suggest or phone a duty doctor at your local surgery to come out to check you over and to make sure you're ok, give you necessary meds etc.

When you feel a bit better, you also need to speak to your GP about this too please.

Please let us know how you get on, we are concerned for you and we do care about you. You really need medical advice asap.

I hope you feel better soon. (((hug))) xxx

Libs

[cxs957 in reply to Hidden]

I did do it under gp guidance, we discussed it and he said i understand it so i should be fine, it is impossible to get appointments with him tho, i started to lower the dose in september. The issue is that even when you stop taking 30 as there waa no loser dose available it sends your body inti withdrawal, i tried taking it every other day but it was a short half life so you just go into withdrawal daily. I refuse to start it again, i just am struggling to get through this part and i didnt expect to vomit, its taken me a while to reply as i feel im falling into depression and it upset me that it was assumed i hadnt followed medical advice, no matter how you come off these evil tablets everyone seems to have this awful withdrawal, fibro is hard enough without medicatiom hell...

[VictoriaPlum]

omg no one should take Duloxetine, i thought i was dying when i came off them "controlled"! i webt to a and e as i swore i had a brain tumour or similar as it was so awful! the headaches, vomiting, anxiety was just awful and i really feel for you

Just hold on, keep with it and you will get through it i promise. i did and will never touch them again, not in a million years!

It took a few weeks but it does get better, make sure you have support around you and something to distract you as much as possible!

Poor you i am so feeling this for you right now

Keep strong and i will try to keep online if you need to talk!

I really must use this site more xxx

[Hidden in reply to VictoriaPlum]

victoria why do you say no one should take it?

[Hidden in reply to VictoriaPlum]

We cannot encourage our members to come off their meds without professional guidance. These meds need to be slowly reduced with medical supervision as the side effects can be horrendous.

If anyone is thinking about doing this, please seek the advice of your GP and please don't stop your meds yourself, it will not help you and will make your symptoms worse. You need medical supervision and advice to know how to do this correctly and at the right doses.

[VictoriaPlum]

Because its evil and coming off it i swore i was dying! i did it controlled too! my gp went berserk and said it should be banned! it wasnt him who gave it to me it was my professor specialist in london!

scariest time of my life, and i have been through alot!

[cxs957 in reply to VictoriaPlum]

Completely agree, i am not even sure they helped, i would have benefitted from long term physio, but they refuse to give me it as i am young and healthy, bs, by hey ho...

[deelightful]

I have been prescribe this medication for my rheumatologist, I have been taking this now for 3 months. I have just come off oxycontin and I thought that was bad enough. The worst 8 weeks of my life. Now I read Duloxetine will be just as bad. Why are be prescribed such drugs? We tend to trust the professionals don't we, perhaps too much.

your friend

[cxs957 in reply to deelightful]

Yes i am finding that i have trust issues now with medical staff as since i was 11, now 21, i dont feel that a single medical healthcare professional has tried to help me, it is always passing the buck, i am glad i have a supportive family. Noone should be in pain constantly, we are all brave, but we are treated as if we are making it up, i wish i was, i wish it didnt hurt to type this message, or to lie with my boyfriend, or to sit in lectures, sorry rwmble,..

[pinot]

Hi hunn, I went through the same horrific symtoms brain zaps anxiety I thought I was losing my mind gp told me I would be fine justto stop the meds as I had only been on them a couple of months..omg no one should take these meds I had to take diazepam for more than a month to help me cope. Please go back to ur gp if u can if not accident n emergency. It took me a few months to feel normal again I will never touch any of these meds again I was so traumatised by this ordeal. Healing thots sweetie. Don't try to cope alone. Bug gentle hugs.xx

[cxs957 in reply to pinot]

I am going to try and book in with the gp tomorrow, they were meant to ring me back from tuesday, ridiculous.... I am trying to cope alone, thankfully my housemates have been so understanding, i had uni work due last week, i hopr, y uni understans, i feeel like im under a black cloud, i have never considered myself depressed but atm i feel like it

[josieowl]

i have just started on these. i take them every other day as i am sensitive to drugs and want to start them slowly to check what affect they have on me first. cant take any other pain meds apart from paracetamol and ibrufen. came of fuluxatine to go on these. wondering now weather i should continue or just put up with the pain ect?

[cxs957 in reply to josieowl]

You may find that every other day results in withdrawal on a daily basis, speak to your gp x

[Hidden]

We cannot encourage our members to come off their meds without professional guidance. These meds need to be slowly reduced with medical supervision as the side effects can be horrendous.

If anyone is thinking about doing this, please seek the advice of your GP and please don't stop your meds yourself, it will not help you and will make your symptoms worse. You need medical supervision and advice to know how to do this correctly and at the right doses.

[Hidden]

CSX957 - just popping on here to check that you are ok. How are you managing?!

Did you visit A & E as advised earlier this weekend or call NHS Direct?

Please contact your GP asap about this to seek professional advice and if you are still feeling as bad you can still go to the hospital, phone NHS Direct for their advice etc.

Please let us know how you are, we are worried about you.

(((hug))) xxx

Libs

[VictoriaPlum]

i remember now i too had diazapam to get methrough withdrawal!

please do seek the help, its so scarey i really do feel for you !

I too amreally sensitive to all drugs and tried everything and although onbutrans morphine patches now, they are gentler and tes will get withdrawal again when i come off them, but my answer is, why would i ever need to stop them as they really help

i am so sorry i scared you all, i feel so bad, but feel very strongly about duloxetine because of my experience

big hugs again and apologies xxx

[adapting]

hi cxf, how are you doing???

xx

[cxs957 in reply to adapting]

Meh.. Staying in bed hiding and reading mostly.... Not been sick for a bit woo but insomnia is in full force, i want to go stay with my parents but i no longee have a bed at theirs

[rosiedoodle]

I've just started to come off duloxetine on Monday. I have been on 60mg a day for two years. I missed my dose yesterday and today I've had a muzzy head and woke with a head ache. I did feel a bit nauseous this morning. I'm now worried about how I will react if this is after missing one dose. I was never told by my GP the problems associated with withdrawal otherwise I would of put up with my fibro symptoms.