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I Am On 60 Mg Of Cymbalta For Anxiety And Neuropathy. I Have Been On It For A Long Time, Over 5 Years, Now I Want To Get Off And Everyone Says How Difficult It Is To Do That. I Have Bad Tinnitus And Scared About What Will Happen. Any Hints?

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Posted on Sun, 19 Mar 2023
Question: I am on 60 mg of cymbalta for anxiety and neuropathy. I have been on it for a long time, over 5 years, Now I want to get off and everyone says how difficult it is to do that. I have bad tinnitus and scared about what will happen. Any hints. I go to my doctor this Wednesday and again will have trouble convincing her I want off this stuff!! Any clues to make it a little easier? XXXXXXX E
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Answered by Dr. V. N. S. Parinam (54 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
How to withdraw Cymbalta

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

There are not clear and concise recommendations by FDA to stop cymbalta. So it is the free hand of the doctor who prescribes it to withdraw gradually. So please choose a doctor who is knowledgeable and sympathetic, generally a addiction medicine or pain medicine doctor.
My opinion is.... do not rush through the withdrawl and give yourself a time of at least 3 months. Be knowledgable about the withdrawl effects and how to deal with them.
You can opt for two approaches, one is gradual withdrawal reducing the daily dose by 10% each week, I prefer this one. Some physicians also try the other approach by putting the person on Fluoxetine (prozac) for two weeks and sudden withdrawl of both drugs. The Fluoxetine is long lasting and it can deal with the withdrawal effects of cymbalta for next one month.
Hope this is clear.
Thanks.
Note: Consult an experienced Otolaryngologist / ENT Specialist online for further follow up on ear, nose, and throat issues - Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Dr. V. N. S. Parinam

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2008

Answered : 1727 Questions

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I Am On 60 Mg Of Cymbalta For Anxiety And Neuropathy. I Have Been On It For A Long Time, Over 5 Years, Now I Want To Get Off And Everyone Says How Difficult It Is To Do That. I Have Bad Tinnitus And Scared About What Will Happen. Any Hints?

Brief Answer: How to withdraw Cymbalta Detailed Answer: Hi, There are not clear and concise recommendations by FDA to stop cymbalta. So it is the free hand of the doctor who prescribes it to withdraw gradually. So please choose a doctor who is knowledgeable and sympathetic, generally a addiction medicine or pain medicine doctor. My opinion is.... do not rush through the withdrawl and give yourself a time of at least 3 months. Be knowledgable about the withdrawl effects and how to deal with them. You can opt for two approaches, one is gradual withdrawal reducing the daily dose by 10% each week, I prefer this one. Some physicians also try the other approach by putting the person on Fluoxetine (prozac) for two weeks and sudden withdrawl of both drugs. The Fluoxetine is long lasting and it can deal with the withdrawal effects of cymbalta for next one month. Hope this is clear. Thanks.