My personal symptoms include, but are not limited to: brain electrical volts, hot flashes, cold flashes, extreme sweating, motion sickness, nausea, increased appetite, spontaneous crying and/or laughing, moments of anger, tiredness, fatigue, blurred vision, nightmares, insomnia, agitation, restlessness, vertigo, stumbling, loss of coordination, falls, uncontrolled limb twitching and jerking, tremor, shaking, panic attacks, thoughts of self harm and many more. 

Patients are not informed by their doctors because the doctors weren’t informed by the pharmaceutical reps, who, in turn, were not informed by the drug manufacturer Eli Lilly. Why is Eli Lilly not being held responsible for their silence on the effects of withdrawal from this horrific drug. The side effects and difficulty of stopping are not included in the patient information packet included with the drug. Eli Lilly’s advice to patients is to continue or even increase the dose of Cymbalta if they are experiencing issues. This way the patient continues to pay for the drug that they cannot break away from, and Lilly continues to make millions of dollars from those of us in chronic pain. 

As it posted previously, I was given Cymbalta by my psychiatrist for severe depression and anxiety due to chronic pain. I specifically asked about side effects (as I always do) and was told there weren’t any serious ones. I told him I’d Google (again, as I always do) and was advised against it. For some unknown reason, probably because I was desperate for relief and knew wouldn’t take it if I read about it in advance, I didn’t do my usual research before starting this drug. If only I knew then what I know now! Below are just some of the most common side effects of Cymbalta Discontinuation Syndrome . 

General Body

Dry Mouth – Less moisture in the mouth than is usual. Cymbalta withdrawal

Sweating Increased – A large quantity of perspiration that is medically caused. Cymbalta withdrawal

Allergy – Extreme sensitivity of body tissues triggered by substances in the air, drugs, or foods causing a variety of reactions such as sneezing, itching, asthma, hay fever, skin rashes, nausea and/or vomiting. Cymbalta withdrawal

Asthenia – A physically weak condition. Cymbalta withdrawal

Chest Pains – Severe discomfort in the chest caused by not enough oxygen going to the heart because of narrowing of the blood vessels or spasms. Cymbalta withdrawal

Chills – Appearing pale while cold and shivering; sometimes with a fever. Cymbalta withdrawal

Edema of Extremities – Abnormal swelling of the body’s tissue caused by the collection of fluid.Cymbalta withdrawal

Fall – To suddenly lose your normal standing upright position. Cymbalta withdrawal

Fatigue – Loss of normal strength so as to not be able to do the usual physical and mental activities. Cymbalta withdrawal

Fever – Abnormally high body temperature, the normal being 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit or 37 degrees Centigrade in humans. Fever is a symptom of disease or disorder in the body. The body is affected by feeling hot, chilled, sweaty, weak and exhausted. If the fever goes too high, or lasts too long, death can result. Cymbalta withdrawal

Hot Flashes – Brief, abnormal enlargement of the blood vessels that causes a sudden heat sensation over the entire body. Women in menopause will sometimes experience this. Cymbalta withdrawal

Influenza (Flu)-like Symptoms – Demonstrating irritation of the respiratory tract (organs of breathing) such as a cold, sudden fever, aches and pains, as well as feeling weak and seeking bed rest, which is similar to having the flu. Cymbalta withdrawal

Leg Pain – A hurtful sensation in the legs that is caused by excessive stimulation of the nerve endings in the legs and results in extreme discomfort. Cymbalta withdrawal

Malaise – The somewhat unclear feeling of discomfort you get when you start to feel sick.Cymbalta withdrawal

Pain in Limb – Sudden, sharp, and uncontrolled leg or arm discomfort. Cymbalta withdrawal

Syncope – A short period of light-headedness or unconsciousness (black-out) also known as fainting, caused by lack of oxygen to the brain because of an interruption in blood flow to the brain. Cymbalta withdrawal

Tightness of Chest – Mild or sharp discomfort, tightness or pressure in the chest area (anywhere between the throat and belly). The causes can be mild or seriously life-threatening because they include the heart, lungs and surrounding muscles. Cymbalta withdrawal

After meeting and discussing my current situation (worsening depression, anxiety, and panic attacks) with my new psychiatrist (prescription writer) last year, he prescribed Abilify to add to the Prozac, which I had taken successfully for over twenty years. Prozac by itself didn’t seem to be enough to handle my worsening situation. I was having sporadic crying bouts and didn’t want to leave the house. After Googling “Abilify side effects” I made the decision not to try it. Dr. Psych next suggested Elavil, which I had taken in the past. I am not in agreement that I should have to take one antidepressant to bolster the effectiveness of another, but that seems to be the way of the psych world. (And a huge boost for pharmaceutical companies as well!) But that’s a discussion in itself! The Elavil caused side effects that were not pleasant and I had started on the lowest dose. I discontinued the Elavil. Next up was stopping Prozac and starting Cymbalta. I asked about side effects and Dr. Psych said to stop Googling so much. For the very first time, I didn’t do extreme research  on a drug. Most likely because I was feeling so desperate, depressed, hopeless, and was definitely not myself. I was directed to stop the Prozac immediately and start the Cymbalta at 60 mg. for about one month. I didn’t notice any changes. Dr. P. upped dose to 120 mg. Still no noticeable change with pain relief, but the nausea, cramping, body aches, fatigue, and insomnia were worse.
After speaking with my pain management doctor, we agreed that the Cymbalta was not doing anything for my pain levels and I was having pretty bad side effects. Dr. Pain wanted me to stop the Cymbalta after telling me that there are no studies showing that taking more than 60mg. has any more effect than the highest recommended dose of 60 mg. I was, as I stated earlier, taking 120mg per Dr. Psych. I was told to taper off the Cymbalta and given a strict schedule to follow. I am having a horrific time tapering off the Cymbalta. I wish I had read the warnings before starting it. I never would have started. I know my body and my tolerance and what side effects are likely to affect me. I did my research after the fact and now know it is very difficult to taper and dangerous to just stop cold turkey. All kinds of withdrawal side effects. People have been hospitalized to for withdrawal. I feel rotten. New leg and calf pain that wakes me up to where I have to walk around half the night, worsened insomnia, falling asleep without warning, convoluted thought processes, uncontrollable kicking and jerking, etc. I really could have done without this. Only 1-1/2 weeks into 9 week taper. Scared, but determined. I want this drug out of my body. I want to try the Prozac again at a higher dose. As always, please share and donate if able. Every dollar matters. Bless y’all for your caring and support! http://www.youcaring.com/AlwaysKeepFighting

Sorry for the silence, but have been hit once again with life-changing news. In the process of collecting doctor’s notes, diagnosis codes, and blood work results for my Disability Appeal Hearing, my lawyers asked me if I remembered being given a positive diagnosis for rheumatoid arthritis in 2008. I must have been in complete denial at the time, because I honestly had forgotten the doctor and the visit and I never went back. But what would you do if given a diagnosis of a debilitating, degenerative, incurable disease in your early 40’s?! I went on to consult with other doctors where I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia by my rheumatologist and chronic migraine by my neurologist/headache specialist. Now I must deal with a third chronic illness and it’s treatment and finding a medication that works and doesn’t kill me with side effects. Better days ahead?! I’m having doubts right now!

http://www.youcaring.com/AlwaysKeepFighting

Migraine is ranked globally as the 7th most disabling disease among all diseases http://t.co/YbsfsCsHXk #50facts #50years

@MigraineTrust So where’s the money for research & new therapies! In my lifetime, because I can’t go on! #MigraineAwareness #StopTheStigma

I need to send out a huge thanks to my social media friends and followers! You have been my support system throughout this horrific time in my life and I love you all! One of the worst side effects of chronic illness is the loss of friends. For whatever reason, be it cancelling on them one too many times, or their own inability to deal with illness, they seem to just disappear from your life. Some are long-term, even “best” friends, some, former work friends, some even family. They have their own reasons, but that doesn’t make it hurt any less. The hardest part is when there’s no explanation. No goodbyes. No “I’m sorry, I just can’t.” They just disappear. Like it’s nothing. I have always thought of myself as a good friend. I’ve tried my best to always be there to laugh, cry, comfort, support, or just give an ear or a shoulder. I sometimes wonder if it’s my fault. I know I’m not who I used to be, but pain changes people. Especially chronic pain. I’m not sure I’d want to be around me now, but I like to think I would stay. Thankfully, my social media network support groups, chat rooms, and friends have stayed. Some because they are going through something similar to me, others because of our common interests. Regardless, they are here and always happy to listen, give advice, comfort, support, and everything I need right now. Really that’s all anyone could wish for and I have it! I am so thankful! And again, I love you all and will always be there for you!

I used to love the sunshine. I lived for a sunny day. Looking up at a cloudless blue sky. I loved how it felt on my face. A bad mood would turn good. A drive wouldn’t seem so far. A chore wouldn’t be a chore, so much as a reason to go outside. A trip to the beach. Laying around the pool. On a lounge chair on the patio. It felt like instant energy. I never imagined the sun would become my enemy. A reason to hide under dark glasses and hats. A reason to stay inside and close the blinds. No more beach, pool, patio, drives with the sunroof open. Wishing for the clouds to block my precious sun so I could get on with my day. Yet another treasure lost. Another win for my demons.

If any of y’all have dealt with anxiety, you’ll understand. If not, it’s extremely difficult to explain. I experienced panic attacks as a child, and being so young, doctors didn’t diagnose or treat like they do now. Things were different then. Doctors told my parents that I was “acting out”, looking “for attention”, having “a tantrum”. Truth be told, I was terrified of something I couldn’t even describe. I’d get this horrific fear that I was going to die, shortness of breath, chest pain, sweat, shake, cry, tremble, close my eyes tight, and scream. My parents were terrified and felt helpless, unable to do anything to calm my fears. As an adult, I can’t even begin to imagine how they felt. The scariest part was being asked “what is scaring you?!“ and not being able to express my fears because I didn’t know. I was treated inpatient in the hospital for depression and generalized anxiety disorder. The treatment then was heavy sedation so outbursts were kept to a minimum, and the psych techs on hand wouldn’t have much to do. If an attack fought its’ way through the medication, isolation was the punishment. Whether you’ve experienced a panic attack or not, common sense should tell you that isolation alone in a locked room is not the best choice for an already terrified child. I survived, and as I got into my teens, the medications improved. I was given anti-anxiety meds for the panic and meds for stabilizing my chemical imbalance to help with the depression. I went into therapy with a wonderfully kind and empathetic psychiatrist. He explained that I was experiencing “anticipatory anxiety.” That is, expecting something horrible to happen with no actual basis for the fear. I learned how to do breathing exercises to calm myself. And how to talk myself down until meds kicked in. My world changed! I felt in control of my emotions and fears. I knew when to take what I needed to curtail the panic. I’m not saying that the attacks have stopped, or will ever completely stop, they probably won’t as I’m prone to them in times of stress, change, pain, outside influences, and life in general. But I feel much better equipped to fight my demons with my learned battle tools!

In the U.S., more than 37 million people suffer from migraines. Some migraine studies estimate that 13 percent of adults in the U.S. population have migraines, and 2-3 million migraine suffers are chronic.

Almost 5 million in the U.S. experience at least one migraine attack per month, while more than 11 million people blame migraines for causing moderate to severe disability.

ABOUT MIGRAINE SUFFERERS

Migraines occur most often in:

Women (18 percent of women compared to 6 percent of men)
People between the ages of 35 and 55
Lowest income groups
Caucasian people

More Migraine Statistics:

91 percent miss work or can’t function normally during migraine attack
More than 70 percent have a family history of migraine
70 percent of those in a Canadian study said migraines caused problems in their relationships
70 percent of all migraine sufferers are women
69 percent have consulted a physician at some time seeking treatment for migraine pain
63 percent have one or more migraine attacks monthly
59 percent missed family or social events
53 percent have severe disability requiring reducing activities or bed rest
51 percent said migraines cut in half their work or school productivity
Almost half of all migraine sufferers are have not been diagnosed
49 percent said they had to restrict activities for at least one day during a migraine episode
49 percent restricted their activities at least one day during migraine attacks
47 percent of people who have symptoms that meet the guidelines to be diagnosed with migraines thought they had a tension headache, sinus headache or another type of headache
31 percent missed at least one day of work or school in past three months
25 percent have one or more migraines a week
24 percent have gone to the emergency room because the migraine pain was so severe
6 percent saw a doctor at a hospital for a migraine in the past three months
The most common migraine symptoms reported by migraine sufferers are:

Throbbing, pulsating pain — 85 percent
Light sensitivity — 80 percent
Sound sensitivity — 76 percent
Nausea — 73 percent
Pain on one side — 59 percent
Vision changes, blurred vision — 44 percent
Aura — 36 percent
Vomiting — 29 percent
(Note: these figures are from the American Migraine Study II of almost 4,000 migraine sufferers in 1999.)

Economic Impact of Migraine:

Because migraines strike during the most productive, working years for sufferers, the pain takes a financial toll. The World Health Organization’s disability rating for migraine, ranks migraine as the 19th most common reason for disability. Migraine sufferers use twice the amount of prescription drugs and visit doctors and emergency rooms twice as often as those who don’t have the disorder.

One study estimates the loss of productivity in the U.S. to be between $5.6 billion to $17.2 billion per year because of missed work. The average migraine sufferer misses two days of work per year. Some who suffer from persistent migraines work during a migraine attack, which they say lowers productivity. It is estimated that migraines are the reason for 36 million days of bed rest, plus 21.5 million days of restricted activity.

Migraine sufferers also spend much more on their health care than those who don’t suffer from the disorder. Migraine sufferers use 2.5 times the amount of prescription drugs and have six times as many diagnostic tests and services. The average monthly healthcare costs for migraine sufferers is $145, while those who don’t suffer from migraines pay an average of $89 per month.

We’re in pain. We go to the doctor. He/she prescribes medicine. We go to the pharmacy and get the medicine. We go home and take the medicine. We feel better. Right?! Or we develop a rash, nausea, worsening headache, dizziness, drowsiness, blurred vision, vertigo, diarrhea, breathing problems, wheezing, jaw pain, flushing, itching, vomiting, etc. Wait a minute! I’m supposed to feel better,  not worse. What’s in this stuff anyway?! How many of us actually read the accompanying insert about the drug?! I am one of those people who tend to over analyze. I Google, WebMd, NIH, Drugs.com, every drug I’m given. Mostly because I’ve taken so many, and feel a responsibility to myself to know what I’m putting into my body. It is scary to read the possible side effects of any medication, but to also remember that your doctor feels that the benefit of the medication outweighs the risk for your particular condition. As most side effects are only experienced by a low percentage of patients, and will go away as soon as med is stopped, you as the patient must make an educated decision. I admit that there are some meds that I flat out refused to take, and my doctor knows me well enough to trust me to know my choices are for my own well-being. Luckily, there are many options out there. It’s a hit or miss type situation with migraines to find something that works and has bearable side effects. Do your due diligence, trust your gut and what your body tells you. Do your best to use the same pharmacy for all of your meds. Develop a trusting, open relationship with your pharmacist. They can become your best resource for information. This will also greatly lower the risk of a drug interaction. It’s a game of chance for sure. Best of luck!