Cymbalta Ruined my Life: This medication... - My MSAA Community

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Cymbalta Ruined my Life

SqueeLewis profile image
13 Replies

This medication was prescribed for nerve pain. Started out slow so didn’t notice too many side effects. Then they bumped it up to 120. That’s when constant fatigue, irritability, un controllable anxiety. When I finally realized I needed to get off this med turns out you have to ween off of it. That’s when it got insane. You go through withdrawal symptoms. I felt like I had no control of my emotions, my actions, unable to calm myself. I thought it would be done after the last pill. Turns out you can have withdrawal symptoms for up to 6 weeks. My marriage is in the pits from this. I’m normally not an angry person. But this made me into a monster. Now I’m stuck here trying to pick up the pieces.

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SqueeLewis profile image
SqueeLewis
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13 Replies
Allen5280 profile image
Allen5280

I'm sorry this has happened to you. I far to well, know what damage medications xan leave a person with.

Helpmeup profile image
Helpmeup

I know exactly what you are going through. About four months ago, I posted about my horrible experience trying to taper off Lyrica. My doctor gave it to me for nerve pain, and within two weeks, I was screaming at everyone, including my poor puppy! I was beyond angry and could not control it. It was so scary. I called my doctor and got a low dose to taper off of this nightmare drug. It took me a month or two to really feel like myself again. I was really angry that my doctor never mentioned that extreme anger and anxiety were common side effects. Hang in there. Have a little patience (I know it's hard). It will get better and you will get back to "normal".

CatsandCars profile image
CatsandCars in reply to Helpmeup

I took Lyrica and quit because it was hard to function. I was so tired and spaced out - and then when I tried to stop taking it I had flu like symptoms and feelings of impending doom. Thankfully it didn't make me angry so I went off it very slowly. Nobody told me it was hard to get off of, either.

CatsandCars profile image
CatsandCars in reply to Helpmeup

You know when you get mad at your pets, there's a real problem!

SqueeLewis profile image
SqueeLewis in reply to Helpmeup

Man before Cymbalta was Lyrica for me. That one too gave me uncontrollable anger and anxiety. Feel like doctors should give you more warnings on side effects and monitor you closely weekly for the first month.

kmiroslateee profile image
kmiroslateee in reply to Helpmeup

Natural Antidepressant - tonzes.com/restilen.htm I began taking these a few days ago and my mood has improved drastically. The first day I took 2 pills and by the following day, I felt much better. I now take 1 per day and I haven't cried once in the past few days since taking them. I pray they will continue to work. This time, my sleep hasn't been affected by the pills. I am able to sleep a good 8 hours without drowsiness.

Curlygoats profile image
Curlygoats

I am so sorry, I have a friend who is going through the same thing. It will get better

Onslow729 profile image
Onslow729

So are these the same medication as

Gabapentin or the later nerve pain drug’s Pregabalin ?

If they are try to stay off them.

Look up on google exactly what these drugs actually do !

They can at the higher dose completely ruin your life and those around you.

CatsandCars profile image
CatsandCars in reply to Onslow729

Pregabalin is Lyrica, sort of a cousin of gabapentin. Cymbalta is an antidepressant often prescribed for pain.

CatsandCars profile image
CatsandCars

I am so sorry you are going through this nightmare. Having MS is hard enough without all the darned drugs and their potentially terrible side effects. I have not taken Cymbalta, but I do have anger issues and anxiety. It can be so hard to feel like you're going crazy, and you can't escape from these overwhelming emotions that aren't you. I hope you are able to return to being yourself soon. 🙏

Elizt3 profile image
Elizt3

I took cymbalta about 12+ years ago as I searched for a med to help with nerve pain. It did nothing and I took six+ weeks to wean off of it. I felt very strange as I weaned off. Took a few more weeks to feel normal again. After five + different meds, gabapentin is the only one that helped (some).

Sue_1955 profile image
Sue_1955

I'm so sorry to hear this about your use of cymbalta. My daughter who is 47, just sent me a text saying her dr is bumping up her dosage. I was against her taking this drug because of what I know about it, but she has such nerve damage and pain from having back surgery 2 yrs ago she said this is the only thing that really helps So now I'm really worried after ready what you went thru. I pray you're doing better and that you have fixed your marriage due to what happened being on this drug!

Sue_1955

Humbrd profile image
Humbrd

I didn't know that about that medication. I'm so sorry that you're going through that. I hope everything goes back to so-called normal soon.

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