Symptoms: Emotional blunting, sexual dysfunction, cognitive impairment, insomnia, anhedonia, dyskinesia
I was on Cymbalta for 5+ years for depression and anxiety. I was feeling better, and my blood pressure was becoming high, so my doctor tapered me off Cymbalta. He took me from 60 mg to 30 mg to zero in a month. I got very sick and developed severe insomnia.
The doctor gave me an antipsychotic, olanzapine, for the insomnia. He told me that I would not become dependent on it, and he did not warn me about any of the side effects. I developed tremors, sexual dysfunction, emotional blunting, anhedonia, and cognitive impairment. I slept, but it was never a good sleep. I went from a very independent person to barely functioning.
I told my doctor about my symptoms. I told him that my blood pressure had gone up. He did not run any blood tests or check whether olanzapine interacted with Cymbalta. (I later found out that they should not be taken together.) He denied that the medications were causing my blood pressure issues, but I found out on the Eli Lilly website that they did. He disregarded my concerns about all the symptoms I was experiencing.
He then gave me a stimulant, which made my brain feel like it was exploding, so I stopped. I then found out my glucose and cholesterol had risen. The doctor told me to just stop taking the olanzapine without any tapering guidance. I tapered on my own, but I think I did it too fast.
I am now tapering off the Cymbalta, but all of these symptoms still persist and I struggle to function. I have had to go on disability.