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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by StevenInLB on January 1, 2005, at 18:43:45
In reply to Luck with Cymbalta, no luck with Effexor?, posted by mogger on December 30, 2004, at 16:15:23
I am currently on Cymbalta 30mg, starting about 3 weeks ago and I tried Effexor up to 75mg about 2 years ago. I would say that the Cymbalta side effect profile is much less severe than with Effexor. I noticed some inital dizzyness, headache and increased sweating, thats about it. Yes they are both SNRI's but they are different drugs, and like all of us know we all react differently. I've noticed some mood improvement and in general Cymbalta feels to be one of the cleanest antidepressants I've taken.
> Hi everyone,
> Has anyone had luck with Cymbalta after not having any luck on Effexor? I am worried as my sister was on Effexor and it aggravated things but from what I am reading they are similar so I am thinking that the outcome will probably be the same. Just had to go off MAOI's as she had a hypertensive reaction. It sucks because she was actually helped by them. We are running out of hope as she has been on just about every AD and had ECT with only partial benefits.
Posted by Donna Louise on January 3, 2005, at 22:08:48
In reply to Luck with Cymbalta, no luck with Effexor?, posted by mogger on December 30, 2004, at 16:15:23
> Hi everyone,
> Has anyone had luck with Cymbalta after not having any luck on Effexor? I am worried as my sister was on Effexor and it aggravated things but from what I am reading they are similar so I am thinking that the outcome will probably be the same. Just had to go off MAOI's as she had a hypertensive reaction. It sucks because she was actually helped by them. We are running out of hope as she has been on just about every AD and had ECT with only partial benefits.
I agree with the others. I have taken both and find they are very different. Cymbalta really is working for me. With effexor I retained some depression and got extra jumpy in addition. Not so with Cymbalta.
I was to report to someone (sorry can't remember who, but I did remember to report, that is great improvement!) how I was doing after another month had passed. I think I am in my 10th week with this drug and still doing well.Donna
Posted by mogger on January 3, 2005, at 23:38:09
In reply to Re: Luck with Cymbalta, no luck with Effexor?, posted by Donna Louise on January 3, 2005, at 22:08:48
Thanks Donna for sharing your experience! That gives me hope.
Posted by mogger on January 3, 2005, at 23:39:31
In reply to Re: Luck with Cymbalta, no luck with Effexor?, posted by StevenInLB on January 1, 2005, at 18:43:45
Great to hear that Steven, i am glad to hear that it is working for you. Effexor was a disaster for my sister.
Posted by Wildflower on January 4, 2005, at 10:09:27
In reply to Luck with Cymbalta, no luck with Effexor?, posted by mogger on December 30, 2004, at 16:15:23
I was on effexor a few years ago with no results other than fits of anger. Cymbalta seems to be working much, much better for me.
Posted by mogger on January 4, 2005, at 16:23:13
In reply to Re: Luck with Cymbalta, no luck with Effexor?, posted by Wildflower on January 4, 2005, at 10:09:27
Wildflower,
Great to hear that you are doing better on the Cymbalta. Hope it continues to work for you. My sister is starting it on Saturday as she has had to wait 2 weeks whilst coming off Parnate. Hope you are well, thanks for replying.
Posted by Minnie-Haha on January 4, 2005, at 18:47:53
In reply to Re: Luck with Cymbalta, no luck with Effexor?, posted by Donna Louise on January 3, 2005, at 22:08:48
> ... Cymbalta really is working for me. With effexor I retained some depression and got extra jumpy in addition. Not so with Cymbalta.
>
> I was to report to someone (sorry can't remember who, but I did remember to report, that is great improvement!) how I was doing after another month had passed. I think I am in my 10th week with this drug and still doing well.
>
> DonnaHi, Donna. It was me who asked you to report back in a month. Thanks.
I am glad to hear Cymbalta is still working for you! I started it myself a little over three weeks ago: first week at 30mg, since then 60mg. So far, so good. I haven't noticed a huge boost in my mood, but I haven't felt like crying and I do feel a little better -- just maybe a little flat?
Most of my side effects have decreased or at least remained liveable so far: a little constipation, fidgeting, sweating, thirst, the occasional headache. One SE, though, is causing me some worry and may neccesitate cutting back or quitting if it persists or can't be addressed with minimum hassle: insomnia.
BEFORE I started Cymbalta, I had NO trouble falling asleep but was regularly waking in the middle of the might and having a hard time getting back to sleep. (The meds I was on at the time were Trileptal and Ativan.) NOW, I am having trouble falling asleep, too. However, I told my pdoc that I was getting sleepy sometimes in the early afternoon (about five hours after taking my dose, in the a.m.), so we have changed my schedule to late afternoon, to see if maybe I get sleepy at bedtime. I just started that today, so we'll have to see what happens. (I also now have an RX for Clonazepam instead of Ativan to take at bedtime if I wish, but I really don't like taking benzos regularly so I hope that won't be necessary.)
In your December post you said you have "major depression and GAD with all the obsessional thinking that goes with it." For comparison, my DXs are Bipolar II and mild OCD. (I'm not sure about these; I think I may actually have mixed depression and anxiety instead of BP disorder, but that's a long story.)
That's as much as I can share for now. I want to give this trial another three weeks (that will be six total) before I give it a stronger endorsement.
FWIW: I have chronic neck and shoulder pain from some old injuries and I noticed a significant reduction in discomfort when I went from the 30mg Cymbalta to 60mg.
Minnie
Posted by Phillipa on January 4, 2005, at 19:38:39
In reply to Re: Luck with Cymbalta, no luck with Effexor? » Donna Louise, posted by Minnie-Haha on January 4, 2005, at 18:47:53
Since I have weaned almost off Cymbalta, I have all kinds of head, neck, and back pain. Maybe Cymbalta was helping this. I was told it was just approved for peripheral neuropathy. Phillipa
Posted by Phillipa on January 4, 2005, at 19:39:56
In reply to Re: Luck with Cymbalta, no luck with Effexor? » Donna Louise, posted by Minnie-Haha on January 4, 2005, at 18:47:53
Since I have weaned almost off Cymbalta, I have all kinds of head, neck, and back pain. Maybe Cymbalta was helping this. I was told it was just approved for peripheral neuropathy. Phillipa
Posted by Donna Louise on January 4, 2005, at 21:59:50
In reply to Re: Luck with Cymbalta, no luck with Effexor? » Donna Louise, posted by Minnie-Haha on January 4, 2005, at 18:47:53
Well good, I am glad that the person who wanted the 2 month report read it!
I really have had no side effects from cymbalta. I sleep really well but do have the serotonin dream weirdness. I guess you could call that a side effect but it is not bothersome so I don't think of it. Another thing I forget to mention because I have had it ever since I have started meds is the sexual dysfunction. That is the one side effect I have and I have it on all of them.
I wondered if I was really bipolar II with the combination of depression and anxiety that I have and gave lamictal and topamax a trial. They did nothing for me. The only thing that helps is something with serotonin in it and then I have to augment with something for energy and motivation. I was on strattera and prozac before cymbalta. It could well be that my conditioning to strattera is what has enabled me to be side effect free on the cymbalta. It took me a really long time to adjust to the strattera and I didn't like the one side effect that did not go away and that was the breathlessness and weakness I would get when doing something exertional. That really interfered with my way of life.
What a bunch of rambling tonight. I hope some of this helps someone.Donna
Posted by tina13 on January 7, 2005, at 18:01:13
In reply to Re: Luck with Cymbalta, no luck with Effexor? » Minnie-Haha, posted by Phillipa on January 4, 2005, at 19:38:39
Hi...I've really enjoyed reading these responses and hope to get more info! Lets start off...I have major anxiety issues...and have been on lexapro, celexa, effexor, zoloft, klonopin and now cymbalta. so far, the effexor worked the best (which most of say u hate) but i got off it b/c the sexual dysfunction. i cant seem to get rid of that damn problem! now i've been taking cymbalta for a little over 2 wks..and am on 60mg. so far, ive had horrible constipation, dry mouth and still sexual dysfunction. and im not too sure if its really working for my anxiety. what do u guys think??? i need advise!
Posted by Phillipa on January 7, 2005, at 18:14:53
In reply to Re: Luck with Cymbalta, no luck with Effexor?, posted by tina13 on January 7, 2005, at 18:01:13
How can you know if it is not helping or helping with your anxiety? I'm confused. What do you mean by anxiety? Can you work, be with people, ect. Phillipa
Posted by tina13 on January 7, 2005, at 19:42:45
In reply to Re: Luck with Cymbalta, no luck with Effexor? » tina13, posted by Phillipa on January 7, 2005, at 18:14:53
> How can you know if it is not helping or helping with your anxiety? I'm confused. What do you mean by anxiety? Can you work, be with people, ect. Phillipa
Hi...i mean generalized anxiety, on a daily basis. i'm just not sure if the medicine will take longer to kick in, b/c i still have anxiety.
Posted by Donna Louise on January 7, 2005, at 20:19:16
In reply to Re: Luck with Cymbalta, no luck with Effexor?, posted by tina13 on January 7, 2005, at 19:42:45
Hi Tina, I find that buspar augmentation helps with the anxiety but the only drug that has knocked it out entirely was the paxil. Problem was that it knocked out everything else too. For me, any of these drugs that inhibit serotonin re-uptake give me the sexual dysfunction. Wellbutrin helps some, not much, with that for me. However, without these drugs, I have no life due to the depression and anxiety so it is really a small price to pay. And it usually for most people with most drugs takes 4-6 weeks to get a full effect if not longer.
Donna
Posted by tina13 on January 7, 2005, at 20:56:04
In reply to Re: Luck with Cymbalta, no luck with Effexor?, posted by Donna Louise on January 7, 2005, at 20:19:16
> Hi Tina, I find that buspar augmentation helps with the anxiety but the only drug that has knocked it out entirely was the paxil. Problem was that it knocked out everything else too. For me, any of these drugs that inhibit serotonin re-uptake give me the sexual dysfunction. Wellbutrin helps some, not much, with that for me. However, without these drugs, I have no life due to the depression and anxiety so it is really a small price to pay. And it usually for most people with most drugs takes 4-6 weeks to get a full effect if not longer.
>
> Donna
Hi Donna...what is buspar augmentation? i never heard of that. Thanks for your input...so u think i should just give the cymbalta some more time??
tina
Posted by mogger on January 7, 2005, at 21:29:43
In reply to Re: Luck with Cymbalta, no luck with Effexor?, posted by tina13 on January 7, 2005, at 20:56:04
Tina,
I have buspar augmentation after I went on Lamictal and Zoloft. I actually am at 90mg a day on Buspar and love it! It calms my anxiety down so much, if I had the chance I would eat it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I think it helped with sexual dysfunction as well. Take care,
Joseph
Posted by Donna Louise on January 8, 2005, at 5:06:44
In reply to Re: Luck with Cymbalta, no luck with Effexor?, posted by tina13 on January 7, 2005, at 20:56:04
> > Hi Tina, I find that buspar augmentation helps with the anxiety but the only drug that has knocked it out entirely was the paxil. Problem was that it knocked out everything else too. For me, any of these drugs that inhibit serotonin re-uptake give me the sexual dysfunction. Wellbutrin helps some, not much, with that for me. However, without these drugs, I have no life due to the depression and anxiety so it is really a small price to pay. And it usually for most people with most drugs takes 4-6 weeks to get a full effect if not longer.
> >
> > Donna
>
>
> Hi Donna...what is buspar augmentation? i never heard of that. Thanks for your input...so u think i should just give the cymbalta some more time??
> tina
>I take Buspar to augment any SRI I take. It seems to synergistically boost the efficacy, currently, of cymbalta. I know my pdoc would say to give it more time, as she has said to me many many times...
Donna
Posted by tina13 on January 9, 2005, at 17:15:19
In reply to Re: Luck with Cymbalta, no luck with Effexor?, posted by Donna Louise on January 8, 2005, at 5:06:44
thanks for your imput! also, did anyone find that cymbalta gave you more anxiety? i'm going on my 3rd week of it and that's how i'm feeling. i'm already thinking about going off it. let me know...thanks
tina
Posted by thistlethorn on January 10, 2005, at 14:56:59
In reply to Re: Luck with Cymbalta, no luck with Effexor?, posted by tina13 on January 9, 2005, at 17:15:19
A question for those of you who have made the switch: how did you do it? Did your pdoc have you taper completely off the Effexor before starting you on Cymbalta, or was the change-over more abrupt? If abrupt, what dose of Effexor were you taking before you moved over to the newer medication?
I am currently on a high dose of Effexor XR. The drug had been helpful to me for a number of years, but has recently become less effective at keeping my depression at bay. This is why my pdoc suggested Cymbalta and why I'm considering it.
I'll be grateful for your responses.
tt
Posted by tina13 on January 10, 2005, at 18:40:12
In reply to Effexor XR to Cymbalta transition, posted by thistlethorn on January 10, 2005, at 14:56:59
> A question for those of you who have made the switch: how did you do it? Did your pdoc have you taper completely off the Effexor before starting you on Cymbalta, or was the change-over more abrupt? If abrupt, what dose of Effexor were you taking before you moved over to the newer medication?
>
> I am currently on a high dose of Effexor XR. The drug had been helpful to me for a number of years, but has recently become less effective at keeping my depression at bay. This is why my pdoc suggested Cymbalta and why I'm considering it.
>
> I'll be grateful for your responses.
>
> ttHello...I was taking 75 of effexor and it took me 2 mths to get off it. my dr. had me take less and less each week(i guess thats how ur suppose to do it). it was pretty hard to get off it and there were definately withdrawel effects. good luck !!
Posted by mikerush on January 11, 2005, at 11:49:39
In reply to Effexor XR to Cymbalta transition, posted by thistlethorn on January 10, 2005, at 14:56:59
I was on 225/mg per day, my pdoc had me wean down to 37.5/day and then I stopped for a couple of days. I never really felt any withdrawal symptoms as I was tapering down. Then my pdoc started me on Cymbalta at 30/mg day for one week and bumped it up to 60mg/day which I am still on. I still haven't decided if it is better than Effexor but I was at the point where the Effexor wasn't working for my GAD as well, so I wanted to try something different.
Posted by Elroy on January 11, 2005, at 19:26:35
In reply to Re: Cymbalta, posted by curious2know on November 29, 2004, at 8:36:10
Have you had your cortisol levels checked? 24hr UFC test is best. If your 24hr UFC is above normal, then have Late Night Salivary Cortisol Tests done to make sure you don't have Cushing's Disease. If not, but you still have high cortisol, then it's probably "pseudo Cushings", then need to look into research being done with mifepristone (RU486) to knock out high cortisol and re-set HPA axis which would then correct excessive cortisol secretion.
Posted by thistlethorn on January 12, 2005, at 20:17:49
In reply to Effexor XR to Cymbalta transition, posted by thistlethorn on January 10, 2005, at 14:56:59
Thank you, Tina and Mike. Your posts are interesting and helpful.
I'm taking 450 mgs of Effexor now, so I worry that it may take a very long tapering-off period and a continuing descent into deeper and deeper depression before I'm at the point at which I can even begin to take the Cymbalta. That's why I'm sort of clinging to the Effexor even though it's lost much of its efficacy for me.
Mike, as you tapered down, did your pdoc augment your diminishing doses of Effexor with another med?
tt
Posted by tina13 on January 13, 2005, at 14:30:04
In reply to Re: Effexor XR to Cymbalta transition, posted by thistlethorn on January 12, 2005, at 20:17:49
> Thank you, Tina and Mike. Your posts are interesting and helpful.
>
> I'm taking 450 mgs of Effexor now, so I worry that it may take a very long tapering-off period and a continuing descent into deeper and deeper depression before I'm at the point at which I can even begin to take the Cymbalta. That's why I'm sort of clinging to the Effexor even though it's lost much of its efficacy for me.
>
> Mike, as you tapered down, did your pdoc augment your diminishing doses of Effexor with another med?
>
> ttglad i was of help. anyway i stopped taking the cymbalta after almost 3 wks b/c i felt llike it was giving me more anxiety. im still waiting to hear from my dr. i think im just gonna tell him to put me back on effexor. what do u guys think? i need some advise!
Posted by Elroy on January 13, 2005, at 17:34:11
In reply to Re: Effexor XR to Cymbalta transition, posted by tina13 on January 13, 2005, at 14:30:04
Not sure if this helps, but my situation was one of primarily anxiety and secondarily depression - say a 60/40 mixture! My psych doc had me on Ativan (worked better than nothing but not super spectacular) and recently switched me to Xanax XR. Now that she feels she has a better handle on the anxiety - maybe too much as I feel quite a bit of sedation - she now wants to add an AD, specifically Cymbalta, in order to balance things out. Possibly something like that is the answer? It seems like many ADs are "overstimulating" and many anti-anxiety meds are depressing. So maybe its the combination that's needed?
Elroy
> > Thank you, Tina and Mike. Your posts are interesting and helpful.
> >
> > I'm taking 450 mgs of Effexor now, so I worry that it may take a very long tapering-off period and a continuing descent into deeper and deeper depression before I'm at the point at which I can even begin to take the Cymbalta. That's why I'm sort of clinging to the Effexor even though it's lost much of its efficacy for me.
> >
> > Mike, as you tapered down, did your pdoc augment your diminishing doses of Effexor with another med?
> >
> > tt
>
> glad i was of help. anyway i stopped taking the cymbalta after almost 3 wks b/c i felt llike it was giving me more anxiety. im still waiting to hear from my dr. i think im just gonna tell him to put me back on effexor. what do u guys think? i need some advise!
>
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