What the first doctor advised — the 3 week tapering — was not out of bounds at all. You obviously need longer. You’d be surprised at how many medical providers don’t bother to mention anything about gradual tapering of antidepressants.
I actually ended up seeing the same doctor again today. She is just going to keep me on the Cymbalta but see how the 30mg dose does for me over the next few weeks (I was on 60 until I tried the tapering). The 30 I put myself back on has made a world of difference. She said we can get back to tapering later on. I can say for sure that the Cymbalta was, and is now, making a huge difference with the neuropathy burning and pain.