When seeking help for mental health and behavioral health issues, medications are sometimes used to help alleviate symptoms. One such medication used is Cymbalta, also known as duloxetine. However, continued use of Cymbalta could lead to problems, resulting in personal stories of how Cymbalta ruined my life. Before starting this medication, it is essential to learn more about it, its potential side effects, and other issues people have experienced.
What Is Cymbalta?
Cymbalta is an FDA-approved SNRI (serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor) used to treat various mental and behavioral health disorders and certain medical conditions. The drug increases the levels of serotonin and norepinephrine in the brain.
What Does Cymbalta Treat?
Cymbalta is used to treat various conditions, including:
- Depression: Cymbalta helps regulate moods and alleviate symptoms of depression.
- Anxiety disorders: The medication can help reduce symptoms associated with various anxiety disorders while improving overall well-being.
- Fibromyalgia: Cymbalta has been used to treat fibromyalgia and brings pain relief while improving physical functioning.
- Diabetic Neuropathy: The drug alleviates nerve pain associated with this type of diabetes.
- Chronic joint and muscle pain: Cymalta can be prescribed to help manage and reduce chronic joint and muscle pain.
What Does Cymbalta Do to the Brain and Body?
Cymbalta is a multi-functioning medication that increases the release of serotonin and norepinephrine. By elevating these neurotransmitters, it does several things in the brain and body:
- Elevated mood: Increased levels of serotonin make people feel good. Some people may also experience euphoric-like sensations and feelings.
- Increased cognitive functioning: Elevated levels of norepinephrine help people increase their attentiveness, focus, and concentration.
- Elevated arousal: Elevated Norepinephrine levels may cause increased arousal in some people.
- Reduced pain: Cymbalta blocks the reuptake of serotonin and norepinephrine, blocking pain signals sent through the central nervous system to the brain.
When Someone Describes “How Cymbalta Ruined My Life”
How Cymbalta ruined my life is said by different people due to the side effects they experience while on the medication. Another reason they say this drug has ruined their lives is due to the difficulties they can face when attempting to quit this medication.
Side Effects
As with any medication used to treat mental health and behavioral health issues, Cymbalta can have different side effects, including:
- Insomnia: Some people have difficulties falling asleep or sleeping through the night.
- Nausea: Some people feel nauseous when using the drug, which can range from mild to severe.
- Fatigue: People using Cymbalta can feel tired and have a lack of energy.
- Changes in appetite: Some people find they lose their appetite, while others notice they feel hungrier than normal.
- Weight changes: Weight changes are usually a weight loss or weight gain. People have reported weight gain even when experiencing a loss of appetite.
- Headaches: Headaches are a common side effect of Cymbalta. They can range from mild to severe and have symptoms similar to migraines.
- Dizziness: Some people experience dizzy spells when using this medication. The dizziness can come and go at various intervals.
- Sexual dysfunction: Instead of increased arousal, some people experience sexual dysfunctions.
- Dry mouth: The drug can cause dry mouth in some people.
- Increased sweating: The medication can cause some people to sweat more often than usual.
- Euphoria: Some people experience euphoria, excitement, and are overly energetic when taking the drug.
Cymbalta can also have more severe and serious side effects in some people. While rare, they should be addressed immediately by a healthcare professional.
- Thoughts of self-harm and suicide
- The whites of the eyes will be yellow, indicating liver problems
- Blood in one’s urine or stool
- Vomiting
- Coughing up or vomiting blood
- Bruising for no apparent reason that worsens
- Bleeding from the gums
- Long-lasting headings
- Confusion
- Frequent muscle spasms and cramps
- Generalized weakness
- Hallucinations
- Tightness in the chest
- Easily becoming angry or aggressive
- Shortness of breath
- Painful exertions lasting longer than two hours
- Allergic reactions
- Fainting and will not wake up
- Blueish-colored lips, tongue, or skin
Quitting
Quitting Cymbalta can be uncomfortable and unpleasant due to the different withdrawal symptoms people experience. The drug should never be stopped “cold turkey.” Instead, it is necessary to develop a weaning and tapering schedule. This will give the body time to adjust to lower doses gradually and can help people avoid unwanted withdrawal symptoms.
Part of the reason quitting Cymbalta can be difficult and unpleasant is because the body needs time to readjust. The serotonin and norepinephrine levels in the brain will drop and take time to return to pre-Cymbalta levels. It is this change that causes withdrawal symptoms.
Cymbalta Withdrawal Symptoms
If Cymbalta use is stopped suddenly without weaning and tapering, people can experience unpleasant withdrawal symptoms, including:
- Irritability
- Nightmares/night terrors
- Sleep disturbances
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Dehydration
- Dizziness
- Pins and needles sensations
- Cravings for the drug
In very rare cases, seizures can also occur if Cymbalta use is abruptly discontinued.
Is Cymbalta Addictive?
While generally considered non-addictive, some people do develop a dependence on Cymbalta and an eventual addiction to this drug. Dependence and addiction occur from an increase in serotonin and norepinephrine levels in the brain.
For people who experience euphoria when taking the drug, these pleasurable sensations are remembered by the brain as rewarding behaviors. As a result, some people will develop cravings for Cymbalta outside their regular dosing schedule.
Another factor that can result in addiction is tolerance. Over time, the body develops a tolerance to the medication, making it seem like it is not working, even though it is. Since some people think their medication is no longer working, they start self-medicating and taking higher doses than prescribed. This causes higher levels of serotonin and norepinephrine, resulting in euphoric states.
What If I Am Addicted to Cymbalta?
If you find you are addicted to Cymbalta and cannot stick to your regular dosing schedule, it is vital to seek help from a qualified treatment center. It will be necessary to start the detox process by carefully being weaned and tapered off the drug. During this time, evidence-based and holistic therapeutic modalities can help, including:
How Cymbalta Ruined My Life: Conclusion
While Cymbalta can be a beneficial medication to treat various mental health, behavioral health, and medical conditions, it does pose risks people need to be aware of before starting this drug. If someone notices side effects after starting the drug, they need to report these to their healthcare provider immediately. However, they should not stop the drug abruptly until after talking to their doctor.
Discontinuing Cymbalta use should be medically supervised with a weaning and tapering schedule to avoid unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. If it is medically necessary to cease the drug abruptly, having medical supervision can help manage the unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. Lastly, if someone has become addicted to Cymbalta, they should seek professional addiction treatment.
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