Bridged from Cymbalta to Latuda - Looking for other patient and expert experiences

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Seroquel (Quetiapine)Support Tapering

August 25, 2026

Hello taper community, it's been awhile since I've posted. This resource has been the best for assisting individuals with their taper. I had a recent episode, due to a too-fast taper from my Cymbalta, that landed me in the mental hospital. This resulted in the psychiatrist bridging me from Cymbalta to Latuda (Lurasidone). I am really hoping to find people who may have had a similar experience, or at the very least are currently taking Latuda, as I don't see many resources available for this specific medication/drug. I know that this drug is in the class "atypical antipsychotics", so even if anyone here is taking a drug in that specific class, learning more about your taper would be of great assistance to me. Being placed on this drug was the last thing that I wanted, but now that it has happened, I am going to search for the right people who might be able to help me better understand how to come off this drug. I want to live a drug free life more than anything; I was put on Cymbalta at the age of 21, and I'm currently 27 now being put on a new drug. The difference this time, is that I am not in favor of medication. I have learned from Cymbalta, but only enough to help me with my Cymbalta taper. Tapering off an antipsychotic seems to be a whole different story, and I just hope that I am safe taking it for short term use at this time. If anyone can help, offer any advice or support, share their experiences, point me to professional resources, it would mean so much to me. Thank you to everyone in the community.

Cymbalta — 5.2mg — 6 years — actively tapering | without clinician

5 Replies

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CatinaAug 25

Community AnchorEffexor

Hi Dominic, I'm really sorry about what happened. You're not alone in experiencing this. I've been to the psych ward twice and both times were due to tapering psych drugs too fast. It's not your fault. When we go into that setting, they will always look to add or change drugs. Just keep that in mind. How long have you been on the Latuda? https://taper.community/drugs/latuda

Venlafaxine (tapering) - Current dose 17.28 mg
Trazodone - 50 mg
Synthroid - 25 mcg

“Your brain and body know how to heal. Trust the process and keep going.”

Please Note: I am not a healthcare professional. Any advice given is based on personal experience and that of others in the lay withdrawal community.

DominicAug 25

NavigatorCymbalta · active

@Catina thank you for the speedy reply. I’ve been on Latuda for about 4 days now. It is curious to me because I stabilized the same day I started taking it. Part of me wonders if I could just stop taking it and stay stable, though that is definitely against my parents and doctor’s recommendation. And yes, as soon as I got to the psych ward, I felt very defeated. There was no option except to comply, as they did not let me hold my Cymbalta dose (even though I brought the capsules with the correct bead count). It helps so much to know that you have had a similar experience.

Cymbalta — 5.2mg — 6 years — actively tapering | without clinician

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BasedStaffAug 26

Community AnchorEffexor

@Cymbalta @Latuda

Creator of Taper Community, here to help you.

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CatinaAug 26

Community AnchorEffexor

"It is curious to me because I stabilized the same day I started taking it. Part of me wonders if I could just stop taking it and stay stable, though that is definitely against my parents and doctor’s recommendation" — @Dominic

That's interesting. I understand why you would wonder about this, but I'm not sure that suddenly stopping it would be a good idea at the moment. Evidently, Latuda doesn't reach steady-state concentrations until about 7 days. The other option would be to switch back to the Cymbalta since that's what your brain has been used to, and then continuing your taper as before. Either way, the goal is to reach some sort of stability so then you can taper very slowly to get off. I personally have learned to keep myself out of the hospital if at all possible. Let us know your thoughts about what you think is best. We're all rooting for you!

Polly's FarmAug 26

Trusted VoiceTrintellix · researching

Hi Dominic, I'm tapering an atypical antipsychotic (risperidone). I have also been in psychiatric hospitals against my wishes and started on drugs I didn't want. How are you feeling now? How fast were you tapering the Cymbalta before? My taper off risperidone has been very slow because I was on 2mg for about two and a half years before I started reducing. Most common withdrawal symptoms have been nausea, headaches and stomach upset. Fatigue and reduced appetite less often. Following most reductions these symptoms lasted a week or ten days and were never all day or unbearable. If you stay on Latuda maybe that information will help. Good luck deciding what to do.

Trintellix — 15mg — 4 years, 9 months — researching taper | Risperdal — 0.25mg — 4 years, 9 months — actively tapering | Depakine — 1000mg — 12 years — supporting others | with clinician

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