Hi, I'm Mai

November 3, 2026

Hi i am Mai. When I was 30, I quit 60 mg of duloxetine cold turkey. It did not go well. I experienced such terrible anxiety, the only way I can describe it is that it felt chemical, and my entire body was filled with pure fear. I went back on the medication and stayed on 60 mg for two years, after which I began a hyperbolic taper. I started this process in 2018, reducing the dosage by 2.5 percent of the 386 beads. Over the years, I have proceeded very slowly, as I feel my nervous system became severely frayed following that cold turkey withdrawal. Today, in 2026, I am down to 60 beads. It has taken me 8 years to taper down to this point. I have been on 60 beads for about 6 weeks, and prior to that, I was on 61 beads for roughly a year. Now, as I continue to reduce the dosage, I am starting to experience severe side effects, specifically, a sensation of pressure in my head, palate, and neck. I also experience dizziness and vision disturbances, and my brain struggles to function optimally. Hope to find hope in here💓

Cymbalta — 9 mg — 22 years — actively tapering

4 Replies

⭐

Catina1h ago

Community AnchorEffexor

Hi @Mai, welcome to Taper Community! I'm sorry to hear about your cold turkey. I've felt that horrible chemical anxiety myself before, and it's brutal to say the least. I am also tapering my own drug extremely slowly. It takes some of us many years to be able to get off safely, and that's okay. It can get a bit more challenging the closer you get to zero since the greatest changes in receptor occupancy happen at very low doses. Perhaps you need to wait longer between reductions. Don't let this discourage you. Look at how far you've come so far - that's a lot to be proud of. I'm glad to hear you're tapering Hyperbolically and going slow. If you go to the Tapering Protocols, Symptoms & Self-Care, and I Need Support sections of the forum and click on the Guides tab, you'll find lots of helpful advice and tips. The Resources section also has lots of helpful information. We look forward to supporting you on your tapering and healing journey. Never give up! Catina 💜 https://taper.community/drugs/cymbalta https://taper.community/resources/blog/cymbalta-tapering-guide

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.

anne noni moss1h ago

LighthousePaxil · holding

"Hope to find hope in here💓" — @Mai

You will. Best place around for what we're suffering from.

atypical in presentation of side effects, super sensitive to small doses and general delayed responder. never took a psych med that didn't' make me sick immediately with infections and restless legs. have never been able to tolerate being on them, but have never had support to get off so I've been bouncing back and forth. i don't like capital letters. sorry.

Paxil — 1 mg — 2 yrs — holding until Oct. 7 doc appt.
Seroquel — 50 — planning taper |
trileptal -75 planning taper
prasozin 1 mg planning taper

started my psych med saga in 2001 and wish I never had. I had some difficulties with sleep and anxiety, but NOTHING like what was in store for me after trying every med out there. My last treatment center promised to "get me totally off" in 2022 but it was a lie. They just switched drugs and added more and more in a desperate attempt to help me "stabilize," so they could call me a "success story" once insurance stopped paying. I agree with those who state that this industry needs to change. AND I'm working on not being resentful about my suffering because it doesn't help anyone.

been on an off cocktails since 2001. Most recent mixture, prescribed in 2024: 20 mg Paxil, 150 Trileptal, 50 Seroquel, 2 mg prasozin, (for PTSD/nightmares.)

immediately went to 1 mg prasozin, and after 3 months cut to 10 mg paxil. No felt effects. Then went to 5 about 3 months later, (though I didnt' keep track so I'm rusty.) No felt effects. So, I've roughly been on 5 mg for a year and a half.

Side effects always force to to start tapering RIGHT AWAY.

I didn't start keeping track of my Paxil taper until this year. I went from 3mg to 1 in 10 months, using a liquid Maudsley-ish slow taper. Again, no felt effects until now.

October 2026...sleeping less and feeling more sedated during the day. Having trouble managing my social life without getting over-stimulated. Must set boundaries according to my body and not my heart.

Holding 1 mg paxil until blood work done and evaluated, and to see if build a social life that doesn't make me lose sleep. Sounds silly as I type it, but actually, nothing is "silly" on this ride! Everything is WILD!!!! LOL

Keeping all other meds the same. Sorry so long.

Mai51m ago

Cymbalta · active

Hey Catina ☀️ its just an awefull feeling that chemical anxiety... I will take a look around the site and get to know it☺️ I am so glad I found this community

Cymbalta — 9 mg — 22 years — actively tapering

Mai50m ago

Cymbalta · active

@anne noni moss sounds great 🙏 just what I need

Cymbalta — 9 mg — 22 years — actively tapering

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