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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
[email protected]Shown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by sedona on October 18, 2004, at 14:44:07
Hi-I've been having lousy luck with medications for depression. My most recent antidepressant is Cymbalta. I have taken 30 mg for 3 weeks and 60 mg for 8 days. I haven't felt any better really. I sleep all the time and can't find any motivation to do my schoolwork. I'm also on a leave of absence from work because I was having such a hard time functioning.I'm very confused about what to do about this medication because my psychiatrist doesn't seem concerned about my lack of motivation and excessive sleeping. I know it takes a while for these drugs to work but it's been 4 weeks now. Should I quit this drug or keep taking the 60 mg in the hopes it might kick in eventually??
Thanks
Posted by hawkeye on October 18, 2004, at 15:53:21
In reply to Cymbalta users-Please help, posted by sedona on October 18, 2004, at 14:44:07
I think you should give the 60mgs/day dose more time to work. The 30mgs/day you were taking was not a full therapeutic dose.
I have been taking 40mgs/day of Cymbalta for three weeks and will be going up to 60mgs/day this week. While my mood has improved I also have been suffering from a lack of motivation and excessive daytime sleepiness. I am hoping that the 60mgs/day dose will eventually help on the latter.
I also believe that you should try to go back to work as soon as possible, even if you are not feeling well. For you, going back to work may prove to be the best medicine.
Posted by sedona on October 18, 2004, at 16:30:38
In reply to Re: Cymbalta users-Please help, posted by hawkeye on October 18, 2004, at 15:53:21
Thank you Hawkeye. I will be returning to work on November 1. I'm just feeling a little hopeless, because in the past when I have tried antidepressants I have noticed at least a litle improvement (although never enough in the end)in the first couple of weeks. It's the sleepiness that is killing me. I have to take Adderall just to get out of bed, but it is not the same as being not depressed-it's only a temporary boost. I just want to think that this lethargy and apathy will pass soon, because I am not doing well in my college classes. It's like my drive is gone. I hope you are right, and I will give it more time. I just can't help but think that this is going to be yet another drug to add to my growing list of drugs that have left me more more apathetic and tired than I was before I started them.
> I think you should give the 60mgs/day dose more time to work. The 30mgs/day you were taking was not a full therapeutic dose.
>
> I have been taking 40mgs/day of Cymbalta for three weeks and will be going up to 60mgs/day this week. While my mood has improved I also have been suffering from a lack of motivation and excessive daytime sleepiness. I am hoping that the 60mgs/day dose will eventually help on the latter.
>
> I also believe that you should try to go back to work as soon as possible, even if you are not feeling well. For you, going back to work may prove to be the best medicine.
Posted by hawkeye on October 18, 2004, at 17:20:36
In reply to Re: Cymbalta users-Please help » hawkeye, posted by sedona on October 18, 2004, at 16:30:38
sedona, I know how you feel. About the Aderall, I take dexedrine which has a similar effect.
As to your studies you should ask yourself if you are not doing well at school because you are depressed or are you depressed because you are not doing as well as you would like to.
Be kind to yourself and don't be too hard on yourself. At times like this you just have to accept the fact that at the moment you are depressed, muster your all your strength and try harder to overcome your current condition. Don't give-in to your depression, but rather try harder to accomplish what you want. I know that it's a lot easier to say this than to do it, but it is what we have to learn how to do.
Hang in there with the Cymbalta for another month and expect the best outcome. Just because other meds have failed, doesn't mean that Cymbalta won't be a winner for you.
Posted by sedona on October 18, 2004, at 17:32:58
In reply to Re: Cymbalta users-Please help, posted by hawkeye on October 18, 2004, at 17:20:36
Posted by hawkeye on October 18, 2004, at 18:18:17
In reply to Thank you for your kind words (nm) » hawkeye, posted by sedona on October 18, 2004, at 17:32:58
My PDoc tells me: "You can't stop trying to accomplish what you need/want to do. If you can't run -- You walk. If you can't walk -- You crawl, but you keep-on trying."
Posted by utopizen on October 19, 2004, at 21:21:45
In reply to Re: Thank you for your kind words, posted by hawkeye on October 18, 2004, at 18:18:17
As someone with a 1.6 GPA and a senior undergrad, please be advised it's important to seriously consider now whether you should have your doc talk to your dean and arrange for a voluntary semester break, with medical excusal from the W's, because come finals week if you haven't been able to keep up you will be in a fetal position, not having slept for like 3 nights, and be on so much Adderall out of desperation to complete papers while having had no sleep you will get three incompletes, get depressed over them to the point of them turning into F's... ok, so maybe I'm personalizing a bit... lol... but seriously, don't assume you'll be able to coast by. If you can't keep up with the work now, you won't be fit for finals week, and you will go crazy. It's not worth it.
Take the semester off if you feel you're not on track by this point-- now's the time to make the call, not finals week or something. And keep up hope, but don't depend on hope to lift you out of depression and let you finish work and cram for finals after weeks of being behind.
take care!
This is the end of the thread.
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