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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 verne on November 24, 2006, at 21:26:07
Of all the anti-depressants I've tried, cymbalta did the most for the depression and it was even an appetite suppressant. I just didn't have the usual gnawing hunger pains several times a day that leads to overeating.
But I had always quit in the past because it made sex impossible - completely anaorgasmic. And since at low doses it's an aphrodisiac, it was real torture.
In past trials, I had taken 20-40mgs per day. This time we are working up to 60mgs per day in the hope that a higher dose will suppress the libido in the same way it does my appetite.
Cymbalta can be stimulating at times but I have klonopin to get me through any rough spots. Paradoxically, Cymbalta can also make me drowsy, still other times, euphoric. Closest thing to acid I've had in over 20 years. LSD was always the ultimate anti-depressant for me. I couldn't stop smiling and my cheeks would hurt the next day. (too illegal and impure anymore to mess with though)
The only other side effect I'm concerned about is the "steel stool syndrome". This isn't just constipation but something from another world. Like passing a small iron meteorite.
So I'm looking *forward* to a life of celibacy and toilet dread.
verne the vanquished
Posted by Phillipa on November 24, 2006, at 23:18:04
In reply to Back On Cymbalta, posted by verne on November 24, 2006, at 21:26:07
Verne I didn't have any of those side effects. Wish I'd have euphoria. Just got rid of physical pain. Love Phillipa
Posted by Racer on November 25, 2006, at 13:48:48
In reply to Back On Cymbalta, posted by verne on November 24, 2006, at 21:26:07
Verne, I'm not sure, but that might have been more information than I really wanted... ;-)
Thank you for the smile. When you dread your visits to that small room, at least you'll know that you brought mirth to someone a world away through your description. Doesn't that make it all worth it? (NOT!)
(Actually, I'm having constant diarrhea from Zoloft, and will be telling the doctor at my next appointment that if I had to choose, I'll take diarrhea over constipation any day of the week. Next to come up with an antidepressant which causes NORMAL BOWEL HABITS! Drug company researchers: are you listening?)
As for the anorgasmia, that sucks so hard it will remove the chrome from your bumpers. Periactin helped me, when I was on Prozac/Effexor. It's like Viagra, in that you gotta take it about an hour before you wanna benefit from it, and I nearly always dozed off about an hour later, but it worked for me. After taking it, I could roll around and yell with the best of them. (Side benefit for me: I could split the pills and share them with my cat, who also had a prescription for them. Much cheaper to share my scrip, since insurance covered it...) Periactin is cheap, and safe as houses -- it's an old anti-histimine which is used for any number of things, although never as an anti-histimine anymore. Even if you don't have insurance, 30 tablets is about $10.
Good luck with Cymbalta, and I send you best wishes for a benign bowel response...
Posted by verne on November 25, 2006, at 17:23:01
In reply to Back On Cymbalta, posted by verne on November 24, 2006, at 21:26:07
Racer,
Thanks for the input. I'll look into Periactin. Perhaps, I'll be able to continue my non-existent sex life afterall. Sort of like checking for the mail I never get.
Senna and Smooth Move tea usually takes care of the other problem. None of the other drugs I've tried ever caused the *problem*, but they didn't do anything for the depression either.
On another note, my insurance, "tricare" considers cymbalta "non-formulary" and the equivalent of effexor. In other words, a month's supply of cymbalta costs me $27.00 and effexor $3.00. But in my experience there's a huge difference. I find cymbalta *cleaner*.
verne
Posted by Wildflower on November 27, 2006, at 20:30:00
In reply to Back On Cymbalta, posted by verne on November 24, 2006, at 21:26:07
Hi Verne.
Have you noticed any change in the effectiveness of Cymbalta the second time around? It was a lifesaver for me a while back and I've recently tried taking it again but found that my body reacts very different from the first time I took it. I'm so thirsty and have such a dry mouth that I stopped taking it.
And yes, I had the same SEs as you described in your posts...
Posted by verne on November 27, 2006, at 20:56:54
In reply to Re: Back On Cymbalta » verne, posted by Wildflower on November 27, 2006, at 20:30:00
Hi Wildflower,
I'm a little jittery this time and having to take more klonopin to compensate. The first time around I slept a lot, ate less, and somehow lost significant weight.
I'm still at only 20mgs per day and will increase to 40mgs next week, and then 60mgs the third week. From past experience the appetite suppressing quality doesn't kick in until I'm at 40mgs or 60mgs per day.
I have experienced a kind of niacin-like flushing about 15 minutes after taking cymbalta. That's new. It's like a hot flash that lasts a few minutes. I'm definitely less depressed but still lack motivation or focus.
I'm hoping to stick it out at 60mgs per day for a long time in spite of the SE's. I don't have much of a life as it is, so I'm willing to give up sex. I just hope the higher dose kills the libido too.
At lower doses (5-10mgs per day or even less, grains of the stuff) cymbalta is an aphrodiasiac. I kept it around for recreational use.
But I have to quit playing around and take my weight problem, the depression, and alcoholism seriously. I haven't drank in over two weeks and I'm starting to exercise again.
I guess there's hope.
verne
Posted by verne on November 28, 2006, at 14:03:22
In reply to Re: Back On Cymbalta » Wildflower, posted by verne on November 27, 2006, at 20:56:54
After just five days at 20mgs per day, my vision is notably blurry. There's a little bit of dance or vibration in my vision. I guess cymbalta is like acid in more ways than one.
Perhaps, cymbalta has awakened the acid residue left from heavy LSD use in my early 20's.
Even at 20 mgs sex is nearly impossible. (anaorgasmic) I guess half possible and very frustrating. I'm hoping at 60 mgs the libido disappears.
I know cymbalta is good for pain but I always experience low-back pain - especially in the morning. Just a dull ache.
I want to give cymbalta up but remind myself I didn't have much of a life before so what's there to go back to? Or look at?
Why do I need clear vision anyway - to better see the rut's walls?
verne
This is the end of the thread.
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