I am beginnning to rethink this whole pregnancy idea. Why? Because Cymbalta sucks. After meeting with my doctor, and OBGYN, they both agreed that taking any amount of Cymbalta during pregancy was a huge risk, on a babys part. It is too risky.
The Plan: I was taking 60mg of Cymbalta daily,for almost a year. My doctor told me to take 30mg for 2 weeks, then at the end of the two weeks, stop completely. My last day of Cymbalta, was last Friday. I first couple days weren't too bad, but I am now on day 5, and it is nearly unbearable at times.
Cymbalta is an SNRI (SNRI (serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors)—A class of medications that affect the activity of serotonin and norepinephrine.)
I was given Cymbalta, after many attempts, and fails, with other antidepressents, the SSRI (SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor)—A class of antidepressants that affect the activity of serotonin.)
Nothing worked, nothing helped....on top of depression, I had severe migraines (4-5 a week) and physical pain (aches in my muscles) that I could not get rid of. I was at a loss, and my doctor's office didn't know what to do with me, so they referred my to someone who specializes in treating depression, and that could help manage medications. After seeing this other MD, and trying various other alternative treatments, I ended up with Cymbalta in my hands.
My husband and I want to have a child together. My goal, to get off the Cymbalta. However, it is proving to be much harder than I ever thought it would be. The withdrawl symptoms, as explained to my by my doctor, shouldn't be bad at all. Maybe the occasional headache, some nausea, but you'll get by. I now believe my doctor, has no real idea what the withdrawl symptoms are like at all. I have been doing a lot of my own research, and have found thousands of forums, with people going through this same living hell, as I am. I am having problems finding people that are trying to get pregnant, and coming off Cymbalta. There is also little to no information on women that have taken Cymbalta during pregnancy. I am guessing because it is so dangerous to take in pregnancy.
The withdrawl symptoms: Brain zaps, dizziness with sudden movements, slight movements, sometimes no movement at all, it just comes on. My emotions (all of them) are extremly heightened. My entire body hurts. Not to be gross, but I did start my period, and even using (or trying to use) tampons is painful. I have been having nightmares, waking up in cold sweats. I get hot flashes. My headaches are so intense. I can feel my brain beating inside my skull. The light makes the headaches worse. My teeth hurt. My hair hurts. Its like all my nerve ending are on high alert, and feel everything. Normally I have ringing in my ears, but of course, it is much louder. At times, if sounds as if I have cymbals crashing inside my head. I am really agitated. Working is hard...I feel sick, my throat hurts, I just hate this so much. My feelings are so on the surface, and I hate that. We had a meeting at work, and I had the worst panic attack ever. I felt like the entire room could hear my thoughts, and I just wanted to run out of there and go cry in the bathroom. Its hard to stay positive, when I feel so crappy. (And crappy is putting it mildly.)
I hear (read) that this whole process is long....
Long, is not reassuring.
In prepration for this "wean" I went to the supplement store and got some supplements to help ease the pain and mood. I can't imagine that it could possibly be much worse than it is.
The other hope that my doctors have is...."We think that once you get pregnant, your hormones will change, thus creating a more stable you, perhaps you will never need any antidepressent ever again."
I am gonna end this for now, but I will keep you updated. My hope, if nothing else, is that my post/journal entries, will help someone else in my situation.
I want you to know that (if you are in this situation) you are not alone, everything you are going through right now, in the withdrawl process is real. I hope the best for you all.....
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