DISCLAIMER: THIS IS NOT MEDICAL ADVICE! We do not employ doctors or licensed medical professionals, so we do not provide medical advice. Nothing presented here is a substitute for the advice of a DOCTOR or other licensed health care provider. Never stop, start or add medications or supplements to your health or mental health care regime without first checking for interactions or other problems, and thoroughly researching the substance. Before you employ any information here, consult your health care professional. No information here is the result of valid clinical trials.

Recovery from Antidepressant Use

Tapering and Withdrawals

Tapering Methods: THE BEAD, SCALE, AND COMPOUNDING PHARMACY METHODS OF TAPERING OFF CYMBALTA:
The tapering method can impact the duration and severity of withdrawal symptoms. A slow, steady taper with decreases of 5% or less (of the previous dose) - holding 14 days or more days between decreases - can greatly minimize withdrawal symptoms and reduce the risk of developing protracted (bad, long-lasting) withdrawal, aka Protracted Acute Withdrawal Syndrome (PAWS). Prepare for your taper, and fully understand the process before making decreases.
Tapering Guide
MANAGING WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS NATURALLY (including sleep suggestions):
Managing Withdrawals
NUTRITIONAL SUPPORT THAT HELPS TO HEAL THE BRAIN AND BODY:
Anxiety, irritability, anger, rage, cravings (sugar, food, alcohol), fatigue, and extreme hunger during withdrawal are linked to blood sugar fluctuations and nutrient depletion. Scheduling 5 small, protein-rich meals each day, and having protein snacks on hand can help to keep blood sugar level. There are many plant-based (non-soy, non-dairy, non-meat) sources of protein. Avoid soy protein because it affect hormones. Also try to cut out sugar, dairy, sweeteners, alcohol, simple carbs and anything that converts directly to sugar when digested. Please note that nicotine also causes rapid spikes and dips in blood sugar.
Nutritional Support that Helps to Support the Body and Brain
KNOWN FOODS AND SUBSTANCES TO AVOID WHILE ON ANTIDEPRESSANTS OR IN WITHDRAWAL:
Supplements (and even foods) that increase serotonin can also increase the risk of Serotonin Syndrome (SS), especially when taken in combination with other serotonin-affecting drugs, or while in withdrawal. For many people it is not a matter of LOW serotonin, but rather of poor serotonin metabolism. Recent studies are also showing that many types of anxiety are a result of HIGH serotonin instead of low serotonin, so taking a supplement that increases serotonin increases the likelihood of problems.
Known Foods and Substances to Avoid
ANTI-INFLAMMATORY, PAIN-FIGHTING DIET (a lifestyle choice):
The meaning of "optimum" in OPTIMUM DIET is that which best supports recovery from illness and the maintenance of health. This support also includes optimum energy, athletic performance, mental power and endurance, preventing degenerative disease and staying young. The majority of people will have to adapt to new way of thinking about food in order to benefit from good nutrition. Good food choices and dietary practices promote health while also working to prevent disease. For some people, their health conditions are so urgent that they will need to make immediate, radical dietary changes; others will have more time to transition into better health. A multitude of seemingly authoritative voices struggle for first place in the current marketplace of ideas on nutrition; it is important to choose a healthy path that will allow for recovery from antidepressant use/tapering off Cymbalta.
Anti-inflammatory, Pain Fighting Diet
RESOURCES FOR FINDING HOLISTIC, FUNCTIONAL AND INTEGRATIVE PRACTITIONERS:
If your doctor is prescribing Cymbalta and other toxic psychotropics, you may be better served by finding a doctor that will try to help you find the cause of your condition rather than writing prescriptions to mask the signs your body is giving you. Also, it will greatly improve your life if you find a physician and/or clinician that can help you SAFELY taper off these meds. This is nothing to take lightly. Never go "cold turkey" off psychiatric drugs if it is at all possible. CHW cannot personally recommend any of the doctors or health care providers in this resource. Everyone needs to do their due diligence and interview any health care provider before placing trust in their hands. It is your body and your life. Don't be afraid to fire a doctor if they are not providing you with good information and advice.
Resources for Finding Holistic, Functional & Integrative Practioners
TESTING:
All Pharma drugs affect all organs and some can mask underlying root health problems. Mental health, autoimmunity, fibromyalgia and chronic pain symptoms may be caused by toxicities, sensitivities, deficiencies, infections, imbalances (hormone, thyroid, pituitary, adrenal), physical or emotional trauma, genetic factors, system overloads (mycotoxins/molds), poor coping skills, leaky gut/poor gut health or even the medications a person is taking. If you have tapered off of Cymbalta (or other pharma) and still feel out of sorts or sluggish, etc. consider these tests: Testing
RESOURCES FOR FIBROMYALGIA, CHRONIC PAIN AND CHRONIC HEALTH CONDITIONS:
Fibromyalgia, Chronic Pain and Health Resources
WAVES AND WINDOWS IN SSRI RECOVERY (by NPATH):
Waves and Windows
FOR FAMILY AND FRIENDS~WHAT YOU MIGHT SEE WITH PSYCH DRUG WITHDRAWAL:
What you might see if your friend or family member is having an adverse reaction or withdrawal when abruptly or rapidly stopping an SSRI/SNRI antidepressant or other psychotropic drug. These symptoms can also appear during a very slow taper, but it is less likely. The symptoms can last months, even years, and may come in waves and windows of varying intensity, from mild to life-threatening. This list is from Paxilprogress.org which is no longer active.
For Friends and Family
MIND, BODY AND SPIRIT RECOVERY - A VISUAL AID:
A visual aid full of ways to help the mind, body and spirit recover from antidepressant use and withdrawal. Getting off the drug is part of the journey. We also need to look for and address the underlying root causes of anxiety, depression and chronic pain. Clean diet, good nutrition, supplements, rebuilding gut health, and making other positive, healthy lifestyle changes are the other, just as important, part of the equation for recovery.
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=oa.633206066835145&type=3

Avoid These Foods and Supplements

DISCLAIMER: THIS IS NOT MEDICAL ADVICE! We do not employ doctors or licensed medical professionals, so we do not provide medical advice. Nothing presented here is a substitute for the advice of a DOCTOR or other licensed health care provider.…

CHW Dangers of Not Tapering Slowly

CHW Tapering Off Multiple Drugs

There are three schools of thought on tapering multiple drugs: 1) Taper one drug at a time in order to connect decreases to withdrawal symptoms.2) Taper all at once – very slowly 3) The stair-step method, where one drug is slow tapered for awhile, and then tapering that drug is stopped before tapering the next drug begins.

CHW Posting & Journaling Your Taper

When you post, help us to support you. We need the full picture. For us to help you properly when you post, we need that information. So it is very important to keep a journal while tapering.

CHW Bipolar Alternatives to Drugs

Bipolar is purely subjective. Many times the bipolar diagnoses is really side effects from prescription or street drugs and alcohol, and/or problems with blood sugar regulation and nutrient absorption. Not saying that people aren’t truly suffering but the way to heal is not with powerful, toxic pharmaceutical drugs.

CHW Serotonin Syndrome

In Cymbalta Hurts Worse, we spend an inordinate amount of time stressing the importance of a slow, slow taper to avoid Discontinuation Syndrome, but it is important to also mention Serotonin Syndrome. Sometimes people have such an immediate bad reaction to Cymbalta or other drugs their lives are in danger the drug must be stopped immediately.

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FOR INTERNATIONAL SUICIDE HOTLINES:

Please take the time to report your adverse symptoms from Cymbalta and Cymbalta withdrawal to the FDA. Call 1-800-332-1088

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