Thursday, February 16, 2012

Stopping Cymbalta: Things You Need To Be Aware Of

By Ben Tollison


Cymbalta, or duloxetine, is a medicine that's prescribed to help patients with depression problems, fibromyalgia, or from general nervousness. Cymbalta works by raising the levels of serotonin and nor-epinephrine in the body. Withdrawing from the medicating can be quite complicated and uncomfortable, and stopping Cymbalta should not be done suddenly or without medical supervision and guidance.

When a patient discontinues cymbalta, they may begin to recognize a bunch of symptoms that weren't present prior to that time. Such symptoms may include, but are not limited to, elevated blood pressure, sensations of giddiness, sensations of queasiness, headaches, and nightmares. Because Cymbalta can be a very strong drug and it can have such a heavy impact on a patient's life, it can also be difficult to stop.

Another symptom that patients may notice when they're stopping the use of Cymbalta might be what are called "brain zaps". This is a symptom that may be difficult to explain, but basically feelings similar to a shock to the brain. An electric shock to the skin is not unlike a brain zap, but with a brain zap it simply feels like a sudden electrical shock to the brain that quickly abates.

If a patient stops taking their Cymbalta medicine it's crucial that they inform their physician about this fact immediately. It is rarely desirable that a person stop taking the drug unless they have been told to do so. A doctor will generally tell someone who is taking Cymbalta that they will need to follow a strict schedule to stop taking the drug.

The schedule for stopping Cymbalta will often need patients to take less of the drug in a time frame of several weeks, perhaps as much as one or two months depending on the dose and on the individual patient's condition.




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