Medical Update: Woken up From my Sleep

I'm not feeling good at all. I just woke up from my sleep, and I can't stop shaking. It's a weird feeling that's hard to explain. I checked my blood sugar and it's normal, as it almost felt like the shaking when you're sugar is dropping too low. Talk about crazy withdrawal symptoms from Cymbalta. I've come off of other medications in the past, but wow, nothing as crazy as this happened before. I pray that I can get relaxed, and be able to fall back asleep. I will update you all later on how I'm feeling. Have a good night and sweet dreams.

Monday Medical Update

As some of you might have noticed, I haven't been posting the last few days. I'm now off my Cymbalta and the withdrawal is what's keeping me from writing like usual. I haven't been feeling myself lately, and I can't wait to start feeling normal again.

Today I had an appointment regarding group therapy once again. I will find out Friday if I start next week. It will be for two days a week, and hopefully this time it will help me more. I've been trying to sleep the withdrawal symptoms away, but have been having trouble with that. I feel like I can't breath normally, pressure in my chest, color changes, hearing sounds that aren't there, light bothers my eyes, terrible headaches, jittery body along with twitching, the occasional brain zap, vivid dreams and nightmares... the list goes on. I'm determined to get off this medication though, as it was too expensive. I was only covered 60%, but was still paying over $100 a month for it.

I will update you all as the week goes on. Hopefully by then I will find some motivation.

How to recognize Cymbalta withdrawal symptoms

Cymbalta, also known as duloxetine, is a medication used to treat symptoms of fibromyalgia, as well as depression and generalized anxiety. Cymbalta boosts both serotonin and nor-epinephrine which makes it effective for severe cases of these illnesses. Withdrawal from Cymbalta can be difficult and uncomfortable. The withdrawal symptoms can be so intense that some people are not able to stop taking the medication entirely. Some common Cymbalta withdrawal symptoms include dizziness, brain zaps, nausea, headaches, nightmares and extreme irritability. Learn how to recognize Cymbalta withdrawal symptoms and make yourself as comfortable as possible.

Long Weekend Medical Update

The last couple days have been quite rough for me, and haven't been online much. You can tell I'm not feeling well, when I haven't been blogging. Normally if I'm feeling anxious, I come online and blog about it. Well, I've been feeling so anxious it's at the point I couldn't even sit at the computer. I'm finding it incredibly hard coming off Cymbalta, it's a real nightmare. The withdrawal symptoms are crazy, and I've been feeling like I'm going to have a panic attack.

Tomorrow I see my psychiatrist, as well as go from 30mg of Cymbalta to 15mg. So tomorrow won't be the greatest day! I'm already feeling like crap going from 60mg to 30mg of Cymbalta. Next week when I'm completely off it, I will be so sick. I have quite a few product reviews to write in the coming days, I haven't forgotten about them. I will update you all tomorrow as to how I'm feeling, and what the doctor says.

I'm in hell

Hey everyone! I'm not feeling that great today, and trying to keep myself busy. Last night was a terrible night for me, the anxiety was uncontrollable. I felt like I was going to have a panic attack, my stomach bothered me, had a terrible headache, and I actually had color changes. The withdrawal from coming off of Cymbalta is incredible, and I'm almost losing my mind. Never in a million years did I think it would be this hard to come off this drug, but I'm literally in hell right now. I've only cut my dose from 60mg to 30mg so far, and next week that gets cut to 15mg. I'm terrified to find out what the next two weeks are going to be like. I'm just ill thinking about it.

My Medical Update

The other day I had an appointment with my new psychiatrist. I was in her office from probably a good half hour, to an hour. We talked over everything that has been going on in my life, nothing too exciting. We came to the conclusion that since my gastric bypass surgery, I've been opening my Cymbalta capsules in order to take the medication. The capsule is too big to swallow, and I'm afraid it could get stuck. Well, the medication hasn't been working like it should, as opening it changes the properties of the medication.

She is switching me over to Prozac, as they offer a liquid form, which would be easier for me to take.  She's starting me off at 10ml, and will slowly increase it as the Cymbalta decreases. I'm a little nervous starting another new drug, but I gotta do what I gotta do. I just want to feel normal again. I've heard so many nightmare stories regarding Prozac. I see her again in two weeks... I will keep you all updated on how I'm doing.

@ Mom's Tonight

I'm at mom's place tonight, as I start my group therapy tomorrow. I'm not feeling good tonight... feel a panic attack coming on. I haven't felt like this for a while, and I'm not too sure why it appeared out of the blue. I am nervous about tomorrow, but excited at the same time. I think what's bothering me mostly is waiting for my test results from the doctor. September 27th can't come soon enough... but at the same time I almost don't want the results because I'm terrified.

I got to talk about it today to my psychiatrist, and told her how I've been feeling. She's raising my Cymbalta from 60mg to 90mg, so it will be a rough next few days. The good thing is that I'll be seeing her in the group therapy, so I can discuss with everyone how I'm feeling.

Bloated Like Good Year Blimp!

Lately even though I haven't been eating crap... with last night as an exception... I had to polish off the remaining of a bag of chips... I couldn't help it, they were calling to me! Grrr to my boyfriend for craving chips and not finishing the bag.

Anyway, back to what I was going to say... I've been eating fairly healthier and I haven't dropped any weight. In fact, I actually bloated up like a friggin blimp. I am so bloated right now it isn't funny. I feel like my skin is going to explode and fat is going to take over the earth. No... not really... but my feet and face are quite swollen.

Does anyone know if Cymbalta causes swelling or weight gain? I thought coming off of Effexor it would have been easier to drop a few pounds... man was I wrong.

Since starting Cymbalta I also have terrible migraines... no matter what I do there always seems to be an ache... and the dry mouth is horrible... I have nasty pastiness in my mouth that no glass of water can get rid of. Oh, and for the worst part of the new med... every so often I get a shock/tingle in my body. It is the scariest shit I've ever experienced... happened three times yesterday... it has to be the new med, since that never happened before.

Anyone else experience some crazy shit while on these meds?

Cymbalta

DULOXETINE - ORAL
Pronunciation: (dull-OX-eh-teen)
Brand Name(s): Cymbalta

Duloxetine is used to treat major depression and anxiety. In addition, duloxetine is used to relieve nerve pain (peripheral neuropathy) in people with diabetes. It is also used to treat pain caused by a condition called fibromyalgia that affects the muscles, tendons, ligaments, and supporting tissues.

This medication is a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) that works by helping to restore the balance of certain natural substances in the brain (neurotransmitters). Duloxetine may improve your mood, sleep, appetite, and energy level, and decrease nervousness. It can also decrease pain caused by nerve damage.

Cymbalta Oral Side Effects

Nausea, dry mouth, constipation, loss of appetite, tiredness, drowsiness, dizziness, increased sweating, blurred vision, or yawning may occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen, tell your doctor promptly.

Remember that your doctor has prescribed this medication because he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects.

Tell your doctor immediately if any of these unlikely but serious side effects occur: fainting, unusual or severe mental/mood changes (e.g., nervousness, unusual high energy/excitement, rare thoughts of suicide), shakiness (tremor), decreased interest in sex, changes in sexual ability, difficulty urinating, change in the amount of urine, weight loss.

Tell your doctor immediately if any of these rare but very serious side effects occur: stomach pain, bloody/black/tarry stools, vomit that looks like coffee grounds, easy bruising/bleeding, muscle weakness/cramps, yellowing eyes/skin, dark urine, seizures, unusual tiredness, fast/irregular/pounding heartbeat.

This medication may rarely cause a very serious condition called serotonin syndrome. The risk increases when this medication is used with certain other drugs such as "triptans" used to treat migraine headaches (e.g., sumatriptan, eletriptan), certain antidepressants including SSRIs (e.g., citalopram, paroxetine) and other SNRIs (e.g., venlafaxine), lithium, tramadol, tryptophan, or a certain drug to treat obesity (sibutramine). See also Drug Interactions section. Before taking this drug, tell your doctor if you take any of these medications. Serotonin syndrome may be more likely when you start or increase the dose of any of these medications. Seek immediate medical attention if you develop some of the following symptoms: hallucinations, restlessness, loss of coordination, fast heartbeat, severe dizziness, unexplained fever, severe nausea/vomiting/diarrhea, twitchy muscles.

A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare. However, seek immediate medical attention if you notice any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including: rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, trouble breathing.

Cymbalta Oral Interactions

The effects of some drugs can change if you take other drugs or herbal products at the same time. This can increase your risk for serious side effects or may cause your medications not to work correctly. These drug interactions are possible, but do not always occur. Your doctor or pharmacist can often prevent or manage interactions by changing how you use your medications or by close monitoring.

To help your doctor and pharmacist give you the best care, be sure to tell your doctor and pharmacist about all the products you use (including prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and herbal products) before starting treatment with this product. While using this product, do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any other medicines you are using without your doctor's approval.

Certain medications taken with this product could result in serious (rarely fatal) drug interactions. Avoid taking MAO inhibitors (e.g., furazolidone, isocarboxazid, linezolid, moclobemide, phenelzine, procarbazine, rasagiline, selegiline, tranylcypromine) with duloxetine for 2 weeks before treatment, during treatment, and at least 5 days after your last dose of duloxetine. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Some products that may interact with this drug include: drugs that can cause bleeding/bruising (e.g., aspirin, antiplatelet drugs such as clopidogrel, NSAIDs such as ibuprofen, "blood thinners" such as heparin/warfarin), drugs to treat high blood pressure (e.g., clonidine, guanethidine), drugs removed from your body by certain liver enzymes (e.g., cimetidine, antipsychotics such as perphenazine, antiarrhythmics such as propafenone/flecainide/quinidine, certain quinolone antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin, antidepressants such as desipramine/fluoxetine/imipramine/paroxetine), fluvoxamine, sibutramine, thioridazine, "water pills" (diuretics such as furosemide).

Aspirin can increase the risk of bleeding when used with this medication (see above). If your doctor has directed you to take low-dose aspirin for heart attack or stroke prevention (usually at dosages of 81-325 milligrams a day), you should continue taking it unless your doctor instructs you otherwise. Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor.

Also tell your doctor if you take any other drugs that increase serotonin, such as buspirone, dextromethorphan, lithium, meperidine, propoxyphene, phentermine, SSRIs, other SNRIs, tryptophan, St. John's wort, drugs used to treat migraines such as "triptans" and dihydroergotamine, street drugs such as MDMA/"ecstasy," amphetamine. (See also Side Effects section.)

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you also take drugs that cause drowsiness, such as certain antihistamines (e.g., diphenhydramine), anti-seizure drugs (e.g., carbamazepine), medicine for sleep or anxiety (e.g., lorazepam, zolpidem), muscle relaxants, narcotic pain relievers (e.g., codeine), psychiatric medicines (e.g., chlorpromazine, quetiapine, nortriptyline, trazodone).

Check the labels on all your medicines (e.g., cough-and-cold products) because they may contain ingredients that cause drowsiness. Dextromethorphan is a commonly used cough medication and may interact with duloxetine. Ask your pharmacist about using those products safely.

Cimetidine is a nonprescription drug that is commonly used to treat extra stomach acid. Because it may cause undesirable interactions when used with duloxetine, ask your pharmacist about other products to treat stomach acid.

Do not consider this as medical advice. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified healthcare provider because of something you have read on A Spicy Boy, A Cat, & My Fat Ass. You should always speak with your doctor before you start, stop, or change any prescribed part of your care plan or treatment. A Spicy Boy, A Cat, & My Fat Ass understands that reading individual, real-life experiences can be a helpful resource but it is never a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment from a qualified health care provider.

Right now I'm in fuckin hell. Sorry for those who don't appreciate swearing... but the way I feel right now I've earned the right to swear. I started my new pill Cymbalta this morning... and already I'm sick. I took it around 5am since I wanted to try to get some ZZzzz... well I woke up around 9:30am and vomited on the bedroom floor. I feel like shit... my stomach feels like it's on fire... feel so nauseous. I popped a couple Tums, but I think Pepto will become my new friend over the next few days. Anyone else ever tried Cymbalta? I think I will do some research on it now and post some info. I'll bug you crazy Bitches later! Ah... tryin to cheer myself up but doesn't work!

Dazed and Confused

I'm trying my hardest to stay awake, but there is no point at the moment. Switching medications is not fun. I went from 225mg of Effexor XR to 150mg... and then next week I'm supposed to drop the doze to 75mg, and then the following week 37.5mg. By then I should feel like major crap. He also increased my Seroquel from 50mg to 100mg. So far in writing this post I have dazed out more then a dosen times

The new medication that I will be starting in a few weeks time is Cymbalta. I'm not really looking forward to any of it... I just can't wait to be normal again. I guess until then I should just enjoy sleeping!