How to Ease Cymbalta Withdrawal Symptoms
Cymbalta is an antidepressant in a group of drugs called selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SSNRIs). Cymbalta works by affecting chemicals in the brain that may become unbalanced, which can lead to depression. Cymbalta is used to treat major depressive disorder, general anxiety disorder and fibromyalgia, according to drugs.com.
Withdrawal symptoms from Cymbalta vary from person to person, can begin when the medicine is stopped and last from a few days up to three weeks. Withdrawal symptoms can include dizziness, nausea, headaches, tingling or burning sensation, vomiting and irritability.
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Instructions
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Slowly decrease your dosage. Suddenly stopping Cymbalta is not recommended, as unpleasant withdrawal symptoms can occur. It is recommended that you start by decreasing your dosage over several weeks, until you are completely off of Cymbalta, to eliminate withdrawal side effects. If you do experience these symptoms, you should speak to your doctor, but they should only last for a maximum of two weeks.
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Change to another SSNRI medication. Talk to your doctor to find out if depression is coming back. Symptoms of withdrawal can be apparent if you stop taking Cymbalta, but you could also be experiencing signs of depression. Review your history, and remember what symptoms you were first having when you began taking this drug. If you were having complications with Cymbalta and decided to stop taking it, you may just need to be prescribed a different medication, which is common. Many patients try several different SSNRI medications before they find one that works for them.
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Take over-the-counter medication to alleviate symptoms. If you happen to experience withdrawal symptoms, there are OTC medications that you can take to alleviate the unpleasant side effects. If you experience dizziness, try taking Dramamine. For nausea, look to products like Pepto-Bismol or Emetrol. If you are having headaches, try Tylenol or acetaminophen. For more serious withdrawal symptoms such as tingling or burning sensations, vomiting, or irritability, you should consult your physician for advice. Some of these withdrawal symptoms may be signs of the depression returning.
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Tips & Warnings
Slowly decrease your Cymbalta dosage over time.
Contact your doctor immediately if you have serious withdrawal symptoms such as blurred vision, weakness or fainting.
