Hi, I'm Ale

September 18, 2026

Hi, I’m Ale. Trying to start tapering off of Cymbalta/Duloxetine that I’ve been on for almost two decades! I’ve tried to taper dozens of times and always reached a point of desperation thinking I’m just broken and need to be on this for life! I just want help, support and advice. Cannot afford these tapering clinics.

Cymbalta 60 mg current dose (researching taper w/clinician)
Levothyroxine .137 mcg
Calcitriol .25 mg

8 Replies

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CatinaSep 18

Community AnchorEffexor

Hi @Ale, welcome! Taper Community will always be #1 in my book because it is free for everyone. Yes, these tapering clinics can be extremely expensive! When you get a chance, add a Drug History signature to your profile. It will then appear at the bottom of all your posts. You can do that here: https://taper.community/settings For long-term users like yourself, it's best to taper very slowly. Your brain has been used to this drug for decades, so it's going to take time to adjust to having less of the drug. If you're not familiar with Hyperbolic tapering, you can read about it in the Resources section on the left sidebar of the site. https://taper.community/resources/blog/cymbalta-tapering-guide https://taper.community/thread/d41182b4-060b-4c2e-a1e8-da9e6777d7e5 https://taper.community/thread/57d0fb51-6e6e-4517-9d3d-1dd2f2e3880c https://taper.community/resources/blog/tapering-after-decades-use We look forward to supporting you with your taper! Catina 🩷

Venlafaxine (tapering) - Current dose 16.64 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.

StuartSep 22

LighthouseEffexor · supporting

Welcome @Ale

"Cannot afford these tapering clinics." — @Ale

I think most people will relate. It's a great and much needed service, but considering how long some tapering protocols can take, not many have the luxury to pay for that kind of service...

Historic experience tapering off: Citalopram 20mg | Zyprexa 2.5mg | Effexor 75mg | Valium 20mg

AleSep 22

Cymbalta · supporting

Yes. I found a more reasonable costing one. I’ve been on these for too long so I need professional help. I’ll share how it goes.

Cymbalta 60 mg current dose (researching taper w/clinician)
Levothyroxine .137 mcg
Calcitriol .25 mg

StuartSep 22

LighthouseEffexor · supporting

I'm glad to hear, do you mind sharing? I've only come across outro.com

Historic experience tapering off: Citalopram 20mg | Zyprexa 2.5mg | Effexor 75mg | Valium 20mg

AleSep 23

Cymbalta · supporting

Yes. It is Outro. Our HSA can cover part of it and I’m looking into our insurance coverage. The other one I had found was the “taper clinic” that is $35,000 a year!!

Cymbalta 60 mg current dose (researching taper w/clinician)
Levothyroxine .137 mcg
Calcitriol .25 mg

StuartSep 23

LighthouseEffexor · supporting

"The other one I had found was the “taper clinic”" — @Ale

Ah yes I came across that as I saw the Psychiatrist who runs it does YouTube, and when I looked into it it seemed like it was the "Beverly Hills" of tapering 😅

Historic experience tapering off: Citalopram 20mg | Zyprexa 2.5mg | Effexor 75mg | Valium 20mg

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CatinaSep 23

Community AnchorEffexor

"the "Beverly Hills" of tapering 😅" — @Stuart

HAHA...that's funny! They do have some great people on their team, but I don't know of anyone who can afford that kind of treatment. That's why this community is so valuable. You're getting pretty much the same advice and support for FREE. That's a win-win in my book.

AleSep 25

Cymbalta · supporting

I will begin tapering with a clinician from Outro. I’m very hopeful. I really need the aid and I hope it’s ok to post it on here. I’ve struggled with tapering so many times. I’ve also come to the realization that all these years the medication has done nothing but blunt my emotions, like I’m walking around with clouds all around me that don't allow me to truly live life to the fullest; like seeing things through a thick fog. Duloxi also has made me gain about 50lbs that I can only lose when I’m off of it. However, as many of you know, this comes with the very high price of the horrific withdrawal symptoms! About 2 years ago, of doing my last self-taper, I lost 40lbs but then started to feel awful. I finally relented and just succumbed to the fact that I’d always be 50lbs heavier in need of these meds my whole life. This time of discovering hyperbolic tapering has been like an epiphany. For the first time in 18 years I’m finally seeing a light at the end of the tunnel, that coming off of these meds is possible. Hence, it will be an investment of time and money to end 18 years of a Cymbalta coma!!!

Cymbalta 60 mg current dose (researching taper w/clinician)
Levothyroxine .137 mcg
Calcitriol .25 mg

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