Hydrocodone, Ultram, Cymbalta Withdrawals

[aerianne]

Can anyone offer any suggestions of how to ease the withdrawal symptoms I'm having going from 40-60mg Hydrocodone a day to 20 mg a day in one week; 100mg daily of Ultram down to 50mg daily in one week; and from 90mg daily Cymbalta to 30 mg. a day in one week?  I feel like I could bite nails in half.  My head is in a vice and has these startling wooshing-type things.  My legs are getting restless.  I'm tired but I can't sleep very well.
Any help at all would be appreciated.

[Ga Guy]

Is there a reason you're having to cut all three of these at once? If I were you, I'd wean off the hydo first, then the Ultram, and the Cymbalta lasy. Having the antidepressant around during the opiate weaning process can be very beneficial.

[aerianne]

That sounds like a wonderful idea, but due to money issuesI am at the last of my prescriptions and don't have money to do anything but quit it all.

[Ga Guy]

Well unfortunately, there's little you can do except try and taper down best you can. I would recommend that you try and continue the Cymbalta...or switch to an antidepressant that's available as a generic. The Ultram can cause depression issues (the hydro as well), so stopping an antidepressant with these could be too much.

[aerianne]

Okay, that's what I've gleaned from reading the forums.  I have been given Lexapro samples by someone and know that I can tolerate them because I was on them a couple years ago.  I started them today as I am on my last week of Cymbalta.  Thanks Guy.

[madtram]

What a tough situation but on the upside, when they are all over with, you have more money in your pocket & quite possibly improved health.

Because Ultram itself contains an antidepressant, withdrawal often leads to heightened anxiety & disrupted serotonin so it may be a double whammy if you discontinue the Cymbalta at the same time.  I agree with the others, if at all possible, try to taper off the Ultram as quickly as you can manage before attacking the Cymbalta.

This sounds very harsh, are there no free clinics where you could at least be prescribed sufficient meds to do a reasonable taper program?

Best wishes,

Michelle