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Tapering: Cymbalta

completed

1 posts

PA

Hi, I'm Whytt

September 25, 2026··
Hey I'm Whytt, I have been on duloxetine for 5yrs. I did a horrible taper as I found out my body was literally going into pharmacodynamic drug intolerance after upping the dosage to 50mg. I could no longer tolerate the medication. Going from helping my chronic pain to causing hospitalizations, neuropathy, RLS, akathisia. I have adhd and became intolerant to ADHD meds or any antidepressants they put me on. I had to figure this out myself. I did a 2 week taper from 50mg to 20, and than a one week taper from 20to 0. I do NOT recommend. I went to the hospital my first time getting to 0. They put me on prozac and I'm currently doing TMS. I had a gene sight nasal swab done and I highly recommend using one if you're going to keep taking psych meds. It literally saved my life, this drug was building up in my system to a point it was becoming neurotoxic because I couldn't clear it. I feel f insane rn still waiting for my body to re-calibrate. I have psych conditions and haven't been without an antidepressant in 5 years. No clue what to expect but these withdrawals are almost as brutal as clonidine. Hell I have withdrawn from cocaine, alcohol, clonidine. Clonidine was by far the worst but this is a close second. Any advice I appreciate.

Cymbalta — 0 — 5 years — completed taper

1 Reply

Catina
⭐
Catina1h ago
Community AnchorEffexor
Hi @Whytt, welcome! Sorry to hear about your difficult road with Duloxetine. Psychiatric drugs come with risks and can have side effects and withdrawal effects. The greatest healer is going to be time and patience. Here are some things that you'll want to be cautious with since your nervous system is in such a highly sensitized state: https://taper.community/thread/57d0fb51-6e6e-4517-9d3d-1dd2f2e3880c If you go to the Symptoms and Self-Care section of the forum and click on the Guides tab, you'll find some other helpful articles. Also, the I Need Support section is good too. Hang in there, it does get better. Catina ❤️

Venlafaxine (tapering) - Current dose 17.92 mg
Trazodone - 50 mg
Levothyroxine - 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.

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