Hi Sergeant,
I can completely understand why you want to taper because the libido problems are really affecting you.
But I would encourage you to go slowly and not underestimate your overall well-being. I’ve gained more than 10 years of experience with attempts to taper Cymbalta, and I’d be happy to support you by sharing what I’ve learned.
Maybe you don’t even need to get all the way down to 0 mg. It’s possible that your libido could already improve after reducing by 10, 20, or 30 mg. Unfortunately, withdrawal symptoms can become so unpleasant that sometimes you almost wish the libido problem was your biggest concern again. That’s why I’d go slowly and document your most important symptoms every day, or at least every third day.
For example:
- Anxiety
- Energy/motivation
- Mood/depression
- Gastrointestinal symptoms
- Concentration
- Libido
Other symptoms may temporarily appear if the taper is too fast, such as irritability or sensory hypersensitivity, and these are worth monitoring as well.
If you reduce by around 5% of your previous dose every 4–6 weeks, it may be relatively manageable down to around 30 mg. Below that, things often become more difficult.
Your lifestyle can also play an important role—stress, diet, exercise, and so on.
Be prepared for this process to take 3–5 years. Slower is the key here.
How can I support you with my experience?