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Cymbalta (duloxetine) is an antidepressant and antianxiety medication that is also used to treat diabetic neuropathy and fibromyalgia. It belongs to the class of drugs known as serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs). SNRIs have a profound effect on the brain, increasing the activity of norepinephrine and serotonin neurotransmitters. Some people develop withdrawal symptoms when they stop taking SNRIs.
When you stop taking Cymbalta, your brain may take some time to acclimate to being without it. You may have flu-like symptoms and dizziness during this period. In the days and weeks after your last dose of Cymbalta, you may have headaches, vomiting, and nausea. Nightmares or unsettling dreams, as well as pins and needles sensations that appear and disappear throughout the body, are more upsetting symptoms.
Even though these symptoms are usually minor, they might be worrisome if they occur unexpectedly. When patients stop taking antidepressants, they are rarely told about the possibility of withdrawal symptoms. If your physician did tell you, it’s possible they used the term “antidepressant discontinuation syndrome,” which can be confusing or misleading.
According to a pooled study of six distinct placebo-controlled research trials, 44.3 percent of patients who stopped taking duloxetine (Cymbalta) experienced withdrawal-like symptoms, as opposed to 22.9 percent of those who took the placebo. Dizziness was the most prevalent symptom, second by headache and nausea.
The majority of individuals in the duloxetine (Cymbalta) studies described their complaints either as mild or moderate. Around 65 percent of those reporting withdrawal symptoms indicated their problems went away in roughly a week.