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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by sunshine211 on November 1, 2004, at 23:50:02
In reply to Re: Cymbalta / Week 3-invisiblemanpa » happy lady, posted by Hopeful79 on November 1, 2004, at 22:46:10
Hey to everyone taking Cymbalta. An update that is long over due. I have been taking it now for about 1.5 months at 60mg a day. Things seem really good. I am sleeping A LOT better, no depression, I have emotions that are normal (no flat line or ups and downs). With that I do have to say that my anger is up a little bit, but I have always had a little attitude, nothing I can't control. I take a half of a .05mg of Klonopin everyday to keep the anxiety at bay.
Side effects-bad-constipation. (laugh) I am serious! Eat more fiber i guessSide effects-good-I am not as numb below the waist if you know what I mean.
Posted by Hopeful79 on November 2, 2004, at 1:23:43
In reply to Re: Cymbalta-it's working, posted by sunshine211 on November 1, 2004, at 23:50:02
That's great to hear sunshine please keep us posted on your progress and am sure we'll do the same. As far as constipation you could try some magnesium citrate by mouth, that may help. Ok well Im sure it'll be ok. Your post has also given me a ray of hope for my progress with Cymbalta. Take care.
Posted by DaveJ on November 4, 2004, at 12:30:10
In reply to Re: Cymbalta-it's working » sunshine211, posted by Hopeful79 on November 2, 2004, at 1:23:43
Hello,
I have been on a number of SSRI's and just switched to Cymbalta from Zoloft. My first week on 30mg was great. Yesterday I started 60mg per day and I am not feeling as good. Today and yesterday I have had a real heavy feeling in my head and very tired. Has anyone else felt this way when uping the dosage of Cymbalta? I have also felt some of the flu like symptoms mentioned in another post. Other than these last 2 days I have felt a definite improvement over the Zoloft. I am also wondering if the way I feel has to do with the Zoloft finally getting all the way out of my system as my doctor recommended stopping the Zoloft (50mg day) cold turkey when I made the switch to the Cymbalta. I am taking it for Panic Attacks and it seemed to help but the wierd feeling in my head the last 2 days has triggered some of the panic feelings. Any ideas?
Thanks and best wishes to all struggling with Anxiety and Depression - it really is no fun.
Dave
Posted by invisiblemanpa on November 4, 2004, at 14:55:40
In reply to Re: Cymbalta-it's working, posted by DaveJ on November 4, 2004, at 12:30:10
Being on my third week and up to 60 mg, I think I am feeling a bit less depressed, a little more motivated and not quite as tired. As for the anxiety I am not sure yet, I don't think I will be able to make a fair assessment of that until I starting backing off of the Klonopin, which has been a life saver. The first and second week I was very tired especially in the afternoon..napping...and the second week I most definately felt flu like symptons but that has past and they were not very bad......so far I would say a pretty easy start compared to some past attempts........and yes good luck and prayers to all.
e
Posted by Hopeful79 on November 4, 2004, at 20:44:37
In reply to Re: Cymbalta-it's working, posted by DaveJ on November 4, 2004, at 12:30:10
Nov 4,2004
Hey Dave J
What's up,I know what you're experiencing. I haven't increased to 60mg Cymbalta yet. I'm now 10 days on 30mg and I'm still adjusting I felt great at first but feel strange on and off as well. Truly I think you're still adjusting but maybe the 60mg is too much for you and you may need to drop back down to 30mg. Also your body may indeed be responding to the fact that the Zoloft is no longer aboard. Definitely inform your dr. of this. I'm also on Luvox so again I'm still adjusting. That's my suggestion. If after a couple of days of 30mg your still symtomatic you may need a little Zoloft added back so your nerves aren't as much in shock. Another thing I deal with is dry mouth. Let me know how you do.
Posted by DaveJ on November 5, 2004, at 9:42:06
In reply to Re: Cymbalta-it's working » DaveJ, posted by Hopeful79 on November 4, 2004, at 20:44:37
Thanks for the advice. I decided to try taking a 30mg in the morning and one in the evening. I still have some of the sample 30mg capsules from my doctor. I will try this through the weekend and see if I feel any different. If not feeling a little more normal by monday will call my doctor and see what she reccommends. It is helpful to know that there are other people experiencing simular things. Hopefully it will work out well for all of us. Thanks again and I will post again after I see how this weekend goes.
Dave
Posted by 3librasgirl on November 5, 2004, at 9:49:26
In reply to Re: Cymbalta-it's working, posted by DaveJ on November 5, 2004, at 9:42:06
I'm glad to hear that Cymbalta is working for some of you. I just started 30mg of Cymbalta today, this time next week I am supposed to up to my terminal dose of 60mg. Switching to this new medication after a year and a half of Wellbutrin XL is kind of scary to me, especially after reading about some of the problems that occurred during the trial phase. I did really well on Wellbutrin with no adverse side effects except for occasional dry mouth during the first 2 months. I would have stayed with Wellbutrin except I reacently had a really really bad major depressive episode, and since wellbutrin doesnt address serotonin issues, my pdoc decided to make the switch. I have my fingers crossed, I'm so tired of being sad. Best of luck to everyone else! Keep posting!
Posted by Hopeful79 on November 5, 2004, at 23:06:08
In reply to Re: Cymbalta-it's working, posted by DaveJ on November 5, 2004, at 9:42:06
Dave,
Hey that was just a test, my password was all goofy. I'm glad you are taking the proper action for yourself. Have a good weekend and please continue to let us here know how you are.
Posted by Hopeful79 on November 5, 2004, at 23:08:53
In reply to Re: Cymbalta-it's working, posted by 3librasgirl on November 5, 2004, at 9:49:26
Yea I know exactly how you feel but things will hopefully work out for you and all of us here at Psycho-Babble. Do continue to share.
Posted by curious2know on November 6, 2004, at 9:36:28
In reply to Re: Cymbalta-it's working » DaveJ, posted by Hopeful79 on November 4, 2004, at 20:44:37
Hey everyone,
I have just taken my first dose (30mg)of Cymbalta and I'm really hoping this helps greatly with diminishing my anxiety. I started to dissociate, my doc says its what i do when i become extremely anxious. Just hoping this stuff will make me feel more "together". Anyone else have probs with anxiety/dissociation? If so what has worked better for you? Antipsychotics, benzos, etc...? Thanks and best of luck to everyone!
Posted by invisiblemanpa on November 6, 2004, at 10:14:57
In reply to just starting cymbalta, posted by curious2know on November 6, 2004, at 9:36:28
Good luck with Cymbalta...I am on the end of my third week and have had very few side effects plus feelings of depression seem to be lightening up. I also suffer from Socail Anxiety and GA...and have hopes that Cymbalta will help with this in the long run...but so far with all of the different AD I have tried, none have helped with anxiety...only benzos have helped...right now I am having a lot of luck with Klonopin...good luck!
e
Posted by banga on November 6, 2004, at 11:22:40
In reply to just starting cymbalta, posted by curious2know on November 6, 2004, at 9:36:28
I started Cymbalta 11 days ago...there seems to be some positive results, more for depression than anxiety, still hoping for the best.
Antipsychotics (Risperdone, Geodon) helped me short-term with anxiety and rumination, but it seemed to peter out and so doesn't seem like a long-term solution, at least for me. Haven't really tried out thigs specifically addressing anxiety other than SSRIs, which haven't really helped. I will try for a baseling response with Cymbalta, then see if/what I could supplement with.
Posted by whitdaddy on November 6, 2004, at 13:25:23
In reply to Cymbalta, posted by earthgirl on October 11, 2004, at 13:53:31
I started Cymbalta about four weeks ago. First week I took 30mg a day and then went to 60mg after that. I got my typical response from SSRIs...a little bit of relief from anhedonia and amotivation for about a week, and then nothing. I am wondering (and hoping) if it will start working again after a few weeks. Has anybody experienced this? If so, please tell me how long it took for you to get results.
Thanks!
Posted by curious2know on November 6, 2004, at 18:21:06
In reply to Re: just starting cymbalta-curious2know, posted by banga on November 6, 2004, at 11:22:40
Thank you for your advice everyone, it's the end of my first day in Cymbalta and im a little nauseas. I too am on Klonopin and out of all the many, many, meds i've been on Klonopin has worked the best for my anxiety. Also if anyone is interested in self-help stuff, The Midwest Center for Stress and Anxiety with its CEO, Lucinda Bassett, has some great coping tools. I've got a tape set from them and it's really a great tool for me. Thanks for your support and please keep posting and letting us know how the Cymbalta is working. God Bless!
Posted by 3librasgirl on November 9, 2004, at 18:53:03
In reply to just starting cymbalta, posted by curious2know on November 6, 2004, at 9:36:28
Hello again! Today is the end of day 5 for me, and already I am feeling happier. My chief complaint is that if I take the Cymbalta at 10am (when I get back from Conditioning and Learning) then I feel like a am on amphetamines come 1 or 2pm. I have been experiencing the kind of ANS arousal that usually accompanies a startle reaction, except it lasts for HOURS. My boyfriend told me I was acting "totally cracked out" and I agree! I have never been a fan of benzo's, especially xanax (which I refuse to take anymore) so the only way I have been able to be any sort of normal for these past few days is by taking Klonopin. I know a lot of you on this board take Klonopin too, and I am happy with the results that it has been giving me, but I am reluctant to take anything that is either physically or psychologically addictive... especially something that has such severe physical reprocussions when you decide to stop taking it. I am going to give Cymbalta another week and a half, and if I am not able to function without Klonopin then I am going to stop taking it and return to the Wellbutrin and get back into therapy (which is WAY too expensive for me on my college-student-living-on-scholarship budget) Good luck to everyone and keep posting, all of your insight is helpful to us all! Hope you all had a good weekend :)
*Suzanne*
Posted by happy lady on November 9, 2004, at 22:56:37
In reply to Re: Cymbalta » happy lady, posted by hope4best on November 1, 2004, at 19:42:17
Hi Hope4best,
I am taking 30mgs of cymbalta because I take 40 mgs of paxil. We are augmenting the paxil with a lower dosage of cymbalta. I feel great except for my GERD/ stomach nausea. The only other side effects I feel is a little sleepiness. I feel calm and well.
Good luck to you and the best always.
Happylady
Posted by sunshine211 on November 10, 2004, at 1:21:16
In reply to Re: just starting cymbalta, posted by 3librasgirl on November 9, 2004, at 18:53:03
I too did not want to take Klonopin nor did I know what to do when I found out that it could be so addictive. But I think it really depends on the person and the dosage. Against the Rx, I have stopped taking it, started, and taken portions of the it at various times. Reason being is that I take it at night mostly, and I if I do not get about 8 hours of sleep I will be SUPER foggy the next day.
How many college students can actually get 8 hours of a sleep every night and go to class the next day. So there are some nights that I just don't take it.Bottom line is that I have never really noticed any crazy side effects, after a day or two I might have very MILD anxiety. Other than that I have been good. Also, taking it long term is okay if needed if you are physically healthy. your body is more than able to function properly and digest (metabolize) the drug. If you are worried get a liver enzyme check every few months.
Have a nice weekend too!!!
P.S. Check with your school health center, they might have low cost or no cost therapy sessions with a psychologist that is over seen by a psychiatrist.
Posted by remar on November 10, 2004, at 2:14:59
In reply to Re: just starting cymbalta, posted by 3librasgirl on November 9, 2004, at 18:53:03
hi 3librasgirl, what dose are you taking, is it 30 or 60 mgs? the best of luck to you. remar
Posted by hope4best on November 10, 2004, at 4:52:30
In reply to Re: just starting cymbalta, posted by 3librasgirl on November 9, 2004, at 18:53:03
Hi, just wanted to mention that I was also "cracked out" during my first 2 weeks on Cymbalta! I felt great but also was not my normal self. You can search for my previous posts to see how I felt. Anyway that goes away (it did for me at least) after a couple weeks in your system. So far I love Cymbalta. Good luck!
Posted by partlycloudy on November 11, 2004, at 5:41:22
In reply to Re: just starting cymbalta » 3librasgirl, posted by hope4best on November 10, 2004, at 4:52:30
I'm switching from Effexor to Cymbalta and I'm encouraged by your posts that it will help. Freaking out about tapering from Effexor, but trying not to anticipate a rough ride.
pc
Posted by Wildflower on November 11, 2004, at 10:20:32
In reply to Cymbalta, posted by earthgirl on October 11, 2004, at 13:53:31
Urinary hesitation is listed on the drug information sheet. Have any of you experienced this? If so, did it go away after a while?
I had problems with this on Lexapro and I seem to be experiencing the same thing on Cymbalta.
Posted by hope4best on November 11, 2004, at 16:53:55
In reply to Cymbalta - urinary hesitation?, posted by Wildflower on November 11, 2004, at 10:20:32
Hi, during my first couple of weeks on Cymbalta I did experience some urinary hesitation. Also I would suddenly feel a strong urge to urinate, and then when I'd go there would hardly be anything! I found myself going to the bathroom much more frequently for the first couple weeks, I think mainly to avoid that sudden urge to go at an inopportune time. I am now in my 6th week and all urinary-related problems appear to have stopped. :)
A little tip I heard a while ago...if you are having trouble (hesitancy) urinating say the multiplication tables to yourself. Many people find this helpful in allowing yourself to release it.
Posted by hope4best on November 11, 2004, at 16:54:51
In reply to Re: just starting cymbalta, posted by partlycloudy on November 11, 2004, at 5:41:22
Best of luck to you! Keep me posted on your progress.
Posted by Hopeful79 on November 11, 2004, at 18:17:19
In reply to Cymbalta - urinary hesitation?, posted by Wildflower on November 11, 2004, at 10:20:32
I would definitely suggest that you go to your primary care physician who may refer to a urologist. I have trouble to even before Cymbalta and my dr referred me to urology.
Posted by Hopeful79 on November 11, 2004, at 18:30:54
In reply to Re: Cymbalta - urinary hesitation? » Wildflower, posted by hope4best on November 11, 2004, at 16:53:55
Better yet drink plenty of cranberry juice or take cranberry capsules. This can prevent infection and help you to urinate better, at least in theory anyway. If you experience any nausea at all try crystallized ginger.
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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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