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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by banga on November 20, 2004, at 13:49:38
In reply to Re: Cymbalta -anxiety, posted by remar on November 20, 2004, at 11:24:58
The crawly feelings you got--are you familiar with restless legs syndrome? That may be what is going on in that respect....
In terms of anxiety, I've heard all versions: for some, Cymbalta lessens anxiety; for some, it increases; and for some, there is no change.I unfortunately, after 3 1/2 weeks, fear I'm one where the anxiety actually increases. By evening I am so keyed up, my jaw feels so tight and I cannot relax it. I had hoped maybe the increased anxiety is from withdrawal from Lexapro, but it doesn't seem to be geting better.
Also, I have hunger pangs all day, regardless of whether I eat. I'm not gaining weight, I don't think it changed my metabolism, I just feel hungry a lot.
I am getting discouraged. But I know some others on this board have said Cymbalta was great for them.
I might need to bite the bullet and go back to tricyclics.....
Posted by hope4best on November 20, 2004, at 18:57:55
In reply to Re: Cymbalta -anxiety-remar, posted by banga on November 20, 2004, at 13:49:38
Remar, I've been on meds where they didn't kick in until sometimes 6-8 weeks. And slowly the side effects seem to disappear (at least 4 me with Cymbalta). How long do u think u will give it? Best of luck.
Posted by KB on November 21, 2004, at 3:08:48
In reply to Re: Cymbalta -anxiety-remar » banga, posted by hope4best on November 20, 2004, at 18:57:55
I've been on Cymbalta about 6 weeks, but just went up to 60mg 8 days ago and have started waking up in the early mornings anxious and very hungry.
Posted by remar on November 22, 2004, at 3:03:21
In reply to Re: Cymbalta -anxiety-remar, posted by KB on November 21, 2004, at 3:08:48
this is only my forth day of taking it so i guess i should try to hang in there a little longer.the anxiety is getting a little better. i'm starting to feel tired during the day and awake at night like so many of you. so i might try taking it during the evening.i feel like this is the last hope for me because i've tried paxil and gained so much weight and celexa which was a nightmare then effexor which raised my blood pressure and cholesterol. i took imipramine with no good results many years ago.i know almost all of you have been through the same thing. thanks for the input it helps to know what other people are going through too. remar
Posted by hope4best on November 22, 2004, at 5:10:35
In reply to Re: Cymbalta -anxiety-remar, posted by remar on November 22, 2004, at 3:03:21
Yes, do try to hang in there--at least 4-6 weeks. The sleeping difficulties went away for me after about week 3. I would not recommend taking it at night, though. The rx info & online info has said it's best to take in the AM. When it was giving me sleep problems I started taking it very early--6:00 am. At first I was waking up in the middle of the night, wide-eyed and wide awake. I toughed it out and now I sleep like a baby. On the nights I couldn't sleep I found it to help if I got out of bed and either watched tv or read till I got tired again. Lying in bed wide-eyed thinking about how much sleep you're missing can make you very anxious. Hang in there! Good luck.
Posted by theo on November 22, 2004, at 19:38:31
In reply to Re: Cymbalta -anxiety-remar, posted by remar on November 22, 2004, at 3:03:21
Besides the weight gain, did the Paxil work good for you?
Posted by remar on November 23, 2004, at 15:43:48
In reply to Re: Cymbalta -anxiety-remar, posted by theo on November 22, 2004, at 19:38:31
i was on paxil for a year and it did work for my anxiety but i was tired alot and gained weight. if anxiety is your main problem then this drug will probably work for you. it did help with depression too but when i started gaining weight i hated it so i went off of it and started taking effexor. there are sexual side effects also that did not go away until i went off of it. hope this helps. remar
Posted by Minnie-Haha on November 23, 2004, at 17:56:52
In reply to Re: Cymbalta -, posted by curious2know on November 16, 2004, at 22:07:05
> i might have a cortisol imbalence and from what i understand there isnt much out there to treat that exact problem...
I tried to "bablemail" you, but that didn't work so if you don't mind sharing through the thread: You mentioned that you may have a cortisol imbalance. Here's MY cortisol story:
Fourteen months ago I awoke one night with what seemed like flu symtoms -- nausea, chills -- and extreme anxiety, too. I have been to many doctors since then and have been seeing an endocrinologist for over a year. He found thyroid nodules (though my TSH was fine) and put me on thyroid medication to shrink them (but that caused me to go hyperthyroid and to aggravate my symptoms). Finally, about a month ago, he did a 24-hour urine free cortisol test and found that it was elevated. Though the amount -- 114 ug -- is not indicative of Cushing's disease, it could be "pseudo Cushing's". So now I'm trying to educate myself on this. Pseudo Cushing's, as I understand it, is frequently caused by untreated depression. I was DXd Bipolar Type 2 six years ago, but started doubting the DX a couple of years ago because of some things that started happening and some things I learned about other disorders. Here I am back to a square-one sort of situation. Did the high cortisol cause my insomnia, anxiety and depression? (anxiety was not previously an issue for me) Or have insomnia, anxiety and/or depression caused my cortisol to go -- and stay -- up?
On top of it all, I can't seen to get my various doctors to work together to figure this out, so I do the best I can, which is very difficult, since my mood is frequently very low and my cognitive skills, too. My number one problem seems to be lack of sleep (I fall asleep OK, but wake in the middle of the night), but nothing I've tried -- drugs or behavioral changes -- seems to help much. My psychiatrist has mentioned Cymbalta, but I've kinda been watching to see what others experience.
So, willing to share YOUR (cortisol) story?
Posted by Minnie-Haha on November 23, 2004, at 18:06:35
In reply to Re: Cymbalta » invisiblemanpa, posted by earthgirl on October 16, 2004, at 12:06:21
> So far, Cymbalta has worked like magic. But it is only the top of the first inning in the Cymbalta ballgame for me, so, I'll get back to you in the 7th inning stretch.
>
> EarthgirlOK, Earthgirl, as far as I can tell, you should have been on Cymbalta about 6 weeks now. Is that close enough to the 7th-inning stretch? How's it going? Also, could you refresh us on what your DX/symptoms/treatment plan was (were) before you started Cymbalta?
Thanks!
Posted by earthgirl on November 23, 2004, at 21:28:22
In reply to Re: Cymbalta » earthgirl, posted by Minnie-Haha on November 23, 2004, at 18:06:35
Hi All,
Mini Haha, thanks for asking about me (I have a serious "I don't matter" complex...). I am envious of you feeling the magic:-)
Cymbalta, so far, has not been the answer for me. I had such high hopes that I think I am in denial that it's not working right now. I'm still waiting for it to kick in. The only side effect I have experienced is some insomnia.
I had been taking Prozac for the last 10 years (Major Clinical Depression, Recurrant=diagnosis). About 2.5 years ago I experience "poop out," and have been on various cocktails ever since. My mainstay was 60-80 Prozac, 300 Wellbutrin, and 1mg Klonopin to go to sleep.
So, right now I am on 60 Cymbalta, 300 Wellbutrin, and 1mg Klonopin.
I'm going to give it some more time, and then I'm going to ask my pdoc if I can go up to 80mg Cymbalta.
EG
> > So far, Cymbalta has worked like magic. But it is only the top of the first inning in the Cymbalta ballgame for me, so, I'll get back to you in the 7th inning stretch.
> >
> > Earthgirl
>
> OK, Earthgirl, as far as I can tell, you should have been on Cymbalta about 6 weeks now. Is that close enough to the 7th-inning stretch? How's it going? Also, could you refresh us on what your DX/symptoms/treatment plan was (were) before you started Cymbalta?
>
> Thanks!
>
Posted by invisiblemanpa on November 24, 2004, at 2:03:27
In reply to Re: Cymbalta, posted by earthgirl on November 23, 2004, at 21:28:22
I switched from the poisonus Effexor XR..with high hopes for Cymbalta. So far I would say I am very dissappointed. At about week 4 I had to add back in Remeron, which I had quit taking with the Effexor, I had serious depression symptons return.
Also there has been absolutely zero crossover benefits for anxiety.Thank God for Klonopin or I would be non functional. I don't know whether Cymbalta is going to work for me, give it more time or switch to Lexapro...which I was going to ask to try if the Psy. doc would not prescribe Cymbalta...plus co pay is horrible...$70...compared to most other meds at $10 or less........it is all to confusing.......I would rather just crack open a few cold ones!....
e
Posted by Minnie-Haha on November 24, 2004, at 10:06:42
In reply to Re: Cymbalta, posted by earthgirl on November 23, 2004, at 21:28:22
> Hi All,
>
> Mini Haha, thanks for asking about me (I have a serious "I don't matter" complex...). I am envious of you feeling the magic:-)
>
> Cymbalta, so far, has not been the answer for me. I had such high hopes that I think I am in denial that it's not working right now. I'm still waiting for it to kick in. The only side effect I have experienced is some insomnia.Earthgirl,
Sadly, I'm feeling no magic, either. But I'm not on Cymbalta -- I'm trying to decide if I should give it a try. The "has worked like magic" words I included (below) in my post were from YOUR post of October 16. That was why I was following up with you. I don't know what to do. I've had anxiety and depression for over a year -- with a major feature being INSOMNIA (I fall asleep OK, but wake in the middle of the night and have trouble getting back to sleep, so I'm usually running on 3-5 hours of sleep AT MOST) -- and my psychiatrist has suggested Cymbalta, but I just don't know. Reports on this message board are not consistent on this drug...
Minnie
> > > So far, Cymbalta has worked like magic. But it is only the top of the first inning in the Cymbalta ballgame for me, so, I'll get back to you in the 7th inning stretch.
Posted by Phillipa on November 24, 2004, at 14:49:03
In reply to Re: Cymbalta » earthgirl, posted by Minnie-Haha on November 24, 2004, at 10:06:42
No results for me either. I cut back to 30mgs, so I can get off it before something like Effexor syndrome starts. Was on 30mgs for 4 weeks, then 60mgs for 4 weeks and had same wake-up problems even with sleep meds. Also continue to bde robot like and can't concentrate or feel emotionally. Phillipa
Posted by earthgirl on November 24, 2004, at 20:29:27
In reply to Re: Cymbalta » earthgirl, posted by Minnie-Haha on November 24, 2004, at 10:06:42
Mini-HaHa,
Yes, that first week there was some magic. Ahhhhh.... the good old days:-)
Re: your insomnia. You are right about those of us on Cymbalta reporting a wide and inconsistent variety of side effects, so, you never know how YOU are going to react. I could help you to sleep like a baby, who knows?!
What are you on now? Do you take anything for sleep?
EG
Posted by earthgirl on November 24, 2004, at 20:31:38
In reply to Re: Cymbalta, posted by Phillipa on November 24, 2004, at 14:49:03
Phillipa,
So, what are you thinking about doing now? Do you have any ideas about what you might try taking next? What else are you taking?
Earthgirl
Posted by Phillipa on November 24, 2004, at 22:07:05
In reply to Re: Cymbalta, posted by Phillipa on November 24, 2004, at 14:49:03
To tell you the truth, I'm thinking about letting my neurotransmitters have a rest and get all the antidepressants out of my system. I might be willing to try a mood stabilizer like lamictal, or trileptal. Will have to see what happens with W/D and what my pdoc says when I tell him. Phillipa
Posted by Hopeful79 on November 25, 2004, at 21:19:02
In reply to Re: Cymbalta, posted by Phillipa on November 24, 2004, at 22:07:05
I don't know man mood stabilizers, unless you're bipolar tend to worsen depression at least in my experience. You can add a mood stabilzer to your antidepressant and see how that goes but I've tried Depakote, Lithium, Lamictal, Topomax, Gabitril, Tegretol and each one created a general woresening of symptoms but my father takes Depakote so it depends on you.
Posted by remar on November 25, 2004, at 22:31:48
In reply to Re: Cymbalta, posted by Hopeful79 on November 25, 2004, at 21:19:02
i would like to ask what mood stabalizers are. did'nt spell that right, sorry. i'm on day seven of cymbalta and my results are anxiety in the morning to tiredness during the evening and trouble sleeping through the night. i'm thinking of trying something different but i don't know what. did anyone have luck with lexapro? i have'nt tried that one yet. is it the same as paxil?
Posted by banga on November 26, 2004, at 0:38:59
In reply to Re: Cymbalta, posted by remar on November 25, 2004, at 22:31:48
My personal experience---keep in mind we are all diffrerent in what works for us, side effects, etc.---
I too have had anxiety from Cymbalta, I am very disappointed. I will probably go off it.
Since I have tried many antidepressants with not the best help, I am for the first time trying a mood stabilizer--Lamictal. Mood stabilizers, simply put, are meant to be used for people with Bipolar disorder--swings to the extremes in mood (excessive highs and lows). Mood stabilizers tend to---stabilize mood, stop the swings. For some people who have depression and don't respond to antidepressants, sometimes a mood stabilizer helps.
Lexapro worked for me for a while, then stopped, but it was good for a while. It seems Paxil helps many with anxiety as well as depression, but for many people it causes weight gain. I liked Paxil but gained too much weight. Lexapro doesn't typically cause weight gain.
Posted by Hopeful79 on November 26, 2004, at 9:06:37
In reply to Re: Cymbalta, posted by remar on November 25, 2004, at 22:31:48
Lexapro is a refined form of the drug Celexa and in the same family as Paxil, Prozac, Zoloft, and Luvox. These are all SSRI's (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors). But each has its own unique chemical structure. So they are similar but als different. If you're only on Day 7 Cymbalta I would give it more time than that but if the anxiety is that severe you may need an add on med for now till the Cymbalta kicks in. Cymbalta is different cause its an SSNRI. It targets serotonin and norepinephrine. Now my mom takes Lexapro and does well with it. But me, it didn't work too well.
I am also on Luvox 100mg 3 times a day for the last 3 yrs or more. I was so depressed I asked my doc if I could try Cymbalta. He said sure. Now I still have to take the Luvox cause at this time I need the combination of both antidepressants. And so far so good but still adjusting. As far as anxiety, you may want to have your thyroid checked too.
Posted by Minnie-Haha on November 26, 2004, at 13:16:53
In reply to Re: Cymbalta » Minnie-Haha, posted by earthgirl on November 24, 2004, at 20:29:27
> Re: your insomnia. You are right about those of us on Cymbalta reporting a wide and inconsistent variety of side effects...
>
> What are you on now? Do you take anything for sleep?I take Trileptal (mood stabilizer -- 150mg/am, 300mg/pm) and Ativan (0.5mg-1.0mg) as needed (at bedtime or if I wake in the middle of the night), but neither is really doing much for me. Just helping me cope (barely), but not making me feel better or well.
Posted by remar on November 26, 2004, at 23:25:54
In reply to Re: Cymbalta, posted by Minnie-Haha on November 26, 2004, at 13:16:53
thanks for the info banga and hopeful. i know i should give cymbalta more time it's just that when the anxiety is so bad you want it to stop right now. i have had my thyroid checked and my dr. said everything ls normal. i have noticed the yucky depressed feeling that would come over me is happening alot less and the anxiety is better at night. i'm not ready to go up to 60 mgs yet because i'm just starting to get over the nausea and was finally able to eat an almost full dinner tonight.i'll hang in there and see how things go. good luck to all of you! remar
Posted by Hopeful79 on November 27, 2004, at 3:23:43
In reply to Re: Cymbalta, posted by remar on November 26, 2004, at 23:25:54
hey try crystallized ginger for nausea it helps.
Posted by curious2know on November 29, 2004, at 8:36:10
In reply to Re: Cymbalta, posted by Hopeful79 on November 27, 2004, at 3:23:43
Hey everyone! im on week 3 or 4 of cymbalta and it's working ok. I feel slightly less anxious, but i too am having trouble sleeping. When i actually can sleep i start having nightmares! It is very unpleasant, but im not sure if i should give this med a few more weeks or not. My doc thinks i have a cortisol/nonrepinephrine chemical imbalance. also my doc has told me there is currently no specific meds for a cortisol imbalence. ok, so what to do? also my dissociation is slightly better but still a problem. anyone have any suggestions for either problems? Thanks for you postings everyone, it helps to know im not the only one going through all of this. God bless!!
Posted by Roland Deschain on November 29, 2004, at 17:17:48
In reply to Re: Cymbalta, posted by curious2know on November 29, 2004, at 8:36:10
Howdy Curious,
I myself just started taking Cymbalta 3 days ago (30 mgs. x2) and yeah I don't sleep well either (but no nightmares-yet) in fact, typing this post is more challenging than I thought; trying to put cogent thought on-line without fading. A loss of appetite as well, but I'm not giving up just yet.
Hopefully these side effects will go away.
Good Luck,
Roland
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