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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 Pluto on December 28, 2006, at 7:18:46
Hi
I am 40mg of Prozac which is not doing much good for me. My doc has prescribed Cymbalta 30mg twice daily. My question is how to make the switching? Can I directly go to Cymbalta? Or should I stop Prozac and wait for some days to clear it out from my system? Is it dangerous to mix Prozac with Cymbalta?
Please, any input from your experience..Cheers
PLS
Posted by stargazer on December 28, 2006, at 7:38:27
In reply to Prozac to Cymbalta. How to Switch?, posted by Pluto on December 28, 2006, at 7:18:46
Why didn't your doctor advise you how to switch over to Cymbalta? That's what they're supposed to do even if someone here can help you, which usually they can. It's just that the doc should be doing this with you so you can understand what may happen in the switch over, like what to look for, when to call him/her, etc.
I thought I had the package insert but I don't...that is usually where I can find that info...Since Prozac has a long half life, you can probably stop it, cold turkey and just start with the Cymbalta.
I would probably only take 30 mg for a week or so and see what effects it has...then increase to 60 mg after a week as long as you're doing oK...Just my opinion, since I have huge med side effects on higher doses.
SG
Posted by Pluto on December 28, 2006, at 8:30:23
In reply to Re: Prozac to Cymbalta. How to Switch?, posted by stargazer on December 28, 2006, at 7:38:27
Posted by Phillipa on December 28, 2006, at 11:41:37
In reply to Re: Prozac to Cymbalta. How to Switch?, posted by stargazer on December 28, 2006, at 7:38:27
Doesn't he have a covering doc? I'd give a call but I think you can switch over. Love Phillipa
Posted by linkadge on December 28, 2006, at 15:49:46
In reply to Re: Prozac to Cymbalta. How to Switch? » stargazer, posted by Phillipa on December 28, 2006, at 11:41:37
I don't think there is a problem with both being in the system at once. Though prozac has a very long half life.
I would just stop taking the prozac and start with 30mg of cymbalta for a few days, then go up to 60mg.
You could also drop to 20mg prozac if you had 20mg caps, or by splitting the cap in half, and add 30mg cymbalta on that.
Linkadge
Posted by blueberry1 on December 28, 2006, at 15:57:45
In reply to Prozac to Cymbalta. How to Switch?, posted by Pluto on December 28, 2006, at 7:18:46
I'm bothered that the doctor didn't give you careful instructions. Prozac has a halflife of about a week. There will still be significant levels of prozac in your system after a week, and even after 2 weeks, and it takes 4 to 5 weeks for it to be nearly gone.
On one hand, people combine all sorts of strange meds to custom tailor how they feel. It is possible you might like how prozac and cymbalta feel together. On the other hand, combining two different meds that both enhance serotonin can lead to serotonin syndrome which is dangerous. So the switch is tricky because you don't know what is going to happen, either good, bad, or neutral.
To be safe, it might not be a bad idea to keep the cymbalta dose at a minimum for the first two weeks.
There will be withdrawal effects from prozac and start-up side effects from cymbalta all mixed together, so it is hard to tell what is what. Prozac's long halflife does make the withdrawal smoother than other meds.
You might want to call the doctor and ask him how long the prozac halflife is and also if he has successfully switched other patients straight over to 60mg cymbalta without problems.
Posted by jimmygold70 on December 29, 2006, at 10:16:38
In reply to Prozac to Cymbalta. How to Switch?, posted by Pluto on December 28, 2006, at 7:18:46
Ye. Cut the Prozac off completely (no need to taper), and get Cybalta up over a week or two.
J
> Hi
>
> I am 40mg of Prozac which is not doing much good for me. My doc has prescribed Cymbalta 30mg twice daily. My question is how to make the switching? Can I directly go to Cymbalta? Or should I stop Prozac and wait for some days to clear it out from my system? Is it dangerous to mix Prozac with Cymbalta?
> Please, any input from your experience..
>
> Cheers
> PLS
This is the end of the thread.
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