Coming off Duloxetine 90mg

[chrissy]

Hello everyone!
I am now at the point where I have weaned completely off 2400mg gabapentin without any real problems. I have also dropped 30mg duloxetine so I just have 60mg left. I actually can't believe that I am able to get to this point! BUT, I just can't get down from the last 60mg duloxetine. I have been trying to only take it every other day and I have been suffering with insomnia, nightmares, cold sweats, pain flare ups but most annoyingly is dizzyness.
Does anyone have any tips? Or do I just tough it out? I am quite a strong person so I know I can get through it but it is dragging on a bit and the dizziness stops me from driving etc. I am considering going cold turkey and spending a day in bed and just trying to get it out of my system.
I don't have time to go to the doctors to be told to up my meds again if I don't want the symptoms so I turn to you guys for advice

[stephanies]

Years ago when I took this drug for pain I had some of the same symptoms you describe when discontinuing. Can you decrease from 60 mg. to 30 mg.? For some drugs that are capsules, I have even broken open the capsules and dumped out half the medication and then put it back to together to just get half a dose for a few weeks. Then I would dump out more and more until I was only taking very little and then I would stop completely. Maybe this is an option to wean down more slowly?

Stephanies

[chrissy]

Thank you! I have spent the afternoon dividing out the little balls in to halves and then quarters so I'm hoping to do halves for a week and then quarters for a week then freeeeeeeee! Lol

[deBBieW]

Hi Chrissy,
Ditto what Stephanie mentioned, try a 30 mg dose. Also, my physician helped me by having me take a very low dose of noritriptyline .... Maybe the last month or so, and that helped me a lot. The slower, and lower the dose the better.

Best of luck, wish I was coming off some of my meds sooner rather than later.

Debbie

[Rosemary]

Hi Chrissy

Thank you! I have spent the afternoon dividing out the little balls in to halves and then quarters so I'm hoping to do halves for a week and then quarters for a week then freeeeeeeee! Lol

Lovely to read of your good progress - with two little children to look after you need your life back and a future.

Rosemary X

[chrissy]

Thanks Rosemary, I feel like I am coming out of a fog in terms of the meds. With the pain I still have some flare ups but it is manageable and that makes me feel that once my body adjusts to coming off the meds I will take another step forward
I hope you are seeing some improvement too? Stick with the Physio, it is worth it x

[chrissy]

Just wanted to update. I stopped all medication a week ago. I weaned down from 90mg to 15 of duloxetine but the effects going from 15 to nothing were still horrendous. For the last week I have been dizzy, flu like and had horrible brain zaps. It has really been the hardest thing and I have been so tempted to go back on to it. Today the effects have not been too bad but are still there. I'm not saying this to scare anyone but just to pre warn you. My advice is try to have someone around (my husband works away) and if you have kids maybe try to get help for a few days. You need to be strong mentally and physically for coming off these drugs. I'm glad I am coming out the other side now!!