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Thread: Cymbalta ( a new thread)

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    Default Cymbalta ( a new thread)

    I had some direct questions and didn't want to bring back to life old threads.

    I actually went to the DR to renew my xanax script (2mgs at night) She ended up giving me 8 bottles of cymblata free, a 30 day supple of a sleep med that starts with an R (too lazy to get up and look at it) and i think on accident lowered my xanax dose to .05 which won't do shit for me.

    I'm going to have to call her tomorrow and tell her that I need the 2 mgs as I dont want to push my body into withdrawals with it.

    Anyways, I took the first dose of cymbalta yesterday on an empty stomach. I truly did notice a difference. Which I know isn't expected for at least a week or two. I felt disconnected from myself, queasy (needless to say it's the best laxative) then so alert it was astonishing. As if I had a ton of caffiene. I took the xanax before bed and slept like a baby.

    I took it today and felt the disconnected feeling (I have to physically MAKE myself do shit) then I took an hour nap and I feel fine. Relieved and this prevailing happy feeling.

    Is this normal? I'm not suffering from depression, I'm on this for my GAD and PTSD. I tend to dwell on my abusive childhood and it keeps me from making rational decisions. Like a touch of OCD.

    Just any info is appreciated on this med. I've googled it to death but of course all I read is a million "I hate it!" posts. Even though I'd dissected them and found most people that were given this had been on SSRI's and did great. (which isn't what cymbalta is) I don't handle SSRI's at all. They make me feel insane and give me panic attacks. So having an SNRI is hopefully the trick. Or they had been placed on it for pain management and didn't suffer anxiety or depression. and I think that's why they weren't into the med.
    as damp as a cellar. . . all mildewy I'm as damp as a cellar. . . all mildewy

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    Default Re: Cymbalta ( a new thread)

    my doc gave me a sample of that stuff little did i not know that a monthly script is close to 150 a month without isnurance. so i never bothered taking it....its rotting in my cabinet with 90 days worth of celexa ill never take becuase the side effects were too heavy for me.

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    Default Re: Cymbalta ( a new thread)

    Yeah I know celexa is more for bi polar etc. And Cymbalta is amazing for GAD (apparently). I figured it would be that much monthly. I'm guessing my monthly script cost will be around 300 dollars with everything included that I'm now on.

    I'd just like to go on with my life without dwelling and panicking over dumb shit constantly.
    as damp as a cellar. . . all mildewy I'm as damp as a cellar. . . all mildewy

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    Default Re: Cymbalta ( a new thread)

    if you can afford it go for it. ive tried so many meds in the past 3 months im taking a break. i might try them someday.

    i always end up with the worst side effects.

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    Default Re: Cymbalta ( a new thread)

    I do too. But I think it's because I was always put on SSRI's which isn't what i need. I'm just stunned how I felt effects so quickly. Being sleepy 30 minutes after I take it sucks. But I guess if i can crawl my ass out of bed by 10 AM and take it, then I can sleep it off before work and be fine.

    Im just concerned going into work being active and having some weird reaction to it.
    as damp as a cellar. . . all mildewy I'm as damp as a cellar. . . all mildewy

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    Default Re: Cymbalta ( a new thread)

    well the first day i took celexa it made me hyped up and manicky and im not bipolar. then all the bad effects set in. i hope it works for you! let me know.

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    Default Re: Cymbalta ( a new thread)

    I'll keep you updated. I feel drained today But I think that's because I over slept this morning. I went to bed at 11pm and my body woke up at 8 am. I should have stayed up and took the dose. But instead I went back to bed thinking I would be working this evening and obviously I would have been exhausted.
    as damp as a cellar. . . all mildewy I'm as damp as a cellar. . . all mildewy

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    Chicagoeditor
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    Default Re: Cymbalta ( a new thread)

    What dosage of Cymbalta are you taking? After much trial and error, over years, it seems to be the anti-depression med for me. That said, when I initially tried it--60mg--it made me very anxious. We cut it back to 20mg, which worked for well over a year. But then I went off it. On my return, I found the 20 wasn't very effective, so bumped it to 60, which seems to do the trick.

    Likewise, I have xannax, which I like taking (1/2 tablet) if I want to knock myself out for bed.

    Oh, and I recently added Provigal (thread on this) to this cocktail of medications because I was excessively exhausted and unfocused. I must say, the Provigal is working, although I found it made me jumpy at a full dose. Again, the trick was to cut back to a half tablet.

    Good luck with everything.

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    Default Re: Cymbalta ( a new thread)

    Im on 30mgs. I don't feel jumpy, just a bit disconnected at first till I take a nap. Again today i over slept so I'm going to blame how I feel today on that. But I feel calm. Even with bursts of energy I feel calmed down.

    I have tendencies of OCD and so far even in 2 days they are severely less than prior. My xanax helped BIG time with my OCD as it was but it knocks me out so I can't take it during the day.

    I kinda feel like this drug would NOT mix well with my starbucks drink. Something sorta just red flags high dosage of caffiene+cymbalta might throw me into bad panic attacks. The kind where you faint.

    When did you notice the effects. Iv'e not been depressed in any way for a few months. I get the winter blues here but usually that's due to the lack of funds in the club and poor management of my time/money. I've been evaluated for Bi polar, Severe depression etc and I have none of those. But my GAD I would bet is just as bad. I hope to god I found something that will increase the the happiness in my life.
    as damp as a cellar. . . all mildewy I'm as damp as a cellar. . . all mildewy

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    Chicagoeditor
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    Default Re: Cymbalta ( a new thread)

    Quote Originally Posted by Sophia_Ashley View Post

    I kinda feel like this drug would NOT mix well with my starbucks drink. Something sorta just red flags high dosage of caffiene+cymbalta might throw me into bad panic attacks. The kind where you faint.
    Well, I have one medium (I refuse to call it a "tall") Starbucks espresso drink every morning, followed by one or two cups of coffee at work. I haven't wigged out yet. But, you're right, if you're inclined to panic attacks, it's not good to tempt fate.

    Quote Originally Posted by Sophia_Ashley View Post

    When did you notice the effects. Iv'e not been depressed in any way for a few months. I get the winter blues here but usually that's due to the lack of funds in the club and poor management of my time/money. I've been evaluated for Bi polar, Severe depression etc and I have none of those. But my GAD I would bet is just as bad. I hope to god I found something that will increase the the happiness in my life.
    Pretty sure you won't feel Cymbalta after one pill. Like the others in this category, it takes a week or two to kick in. At least that's my understanding. Like you, this winter, here, kicked my spiritual teeth in! I don't know many people who didn't have some depressive symptoms this winter. It was hideous. (For point of reference, it's hideous in Chicago today, with October weather conditions a few days before May!)

    Good luck with everything!

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    Default Re: Cymbalta ( a new thread)

    Thanks. I'm really sensitive to meds. I know I'm feeling it but not what I will remain feeling. If that makes sense at all. I felt lexapro by day 4 and I was wired and hating it by day 7 which is when I bailed on it.


    As long as I dont' want to crawl out of my skin, or end up pacing etc then I'm all for this. The dry mouth has kicked in though. I've purposely not looked up side effects so I'm just guessing this must be from it. I drink tons o' water so I'm on it.

    My DR did state this is one of the very few meds people actually lose a LOT of weight on. I truly have none to lose. But knowing I won't gain 50 lbs is a relief
    as damp as a cellar. . . all mildewy I'm as damp as a cellar. . . all mildewy

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    Default Re: Cymbalta ( a new thread)

    ^^^ Makes sense. Most reuptake inhibitor type meds take several weeks to reach their permanent effect, but they CAN have other effects sooner. I know someone who got horrible nightmares and suicidal ideation within days of going on the wrong SSRI. The first day I went on Wellbutrin, I got very visual and horny (since I was staying in a hotel with no private internets I wound up literally drawing pictures to wank to!) and the second day, I got very sleepy. I've heard this is sometimes a temporary effect of *many* norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, as they basically take a while to "build up" the neurotransmitters, during which time those neurotransmitters are unavailable for use. Wellbutrin is dopamine + norepinephrine, so the sleepiness was short duration and mild; it has a stimulant effect in the long run.

    Cymbalta is serotonin + norepinephrine + slight dopamine effect.

    The scariest thing about drugs of that type is SSRI discontinuation syndrome: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SSRI_di...ation_syndrome -- which is apparently more likely with multiple reuptake inhibitors like Cymbalta, Effexor. I'm lucky because the drug I need doesn't have any substantial effect on serotonin, which seems to be the common factor.


    But whatever the drug you need, it's great to find the right one.

    I've found Wellbutrin tends to pull me out of anxiety loops, and I'm not sure whether to attribute that to its norepinephrine effects or its dopamine effects. Either way, it's really handy. Other people have reported the opposite effect. I take this as a sign that it's really doing the right thing for my brain chemistry, because I have a complex of related brain chemistry problems that manifest as ADD with mild depression + mild OCD or anxiety, and I seem to find some relief from all of them with this (and also am way more long-winded online!)

    Oh, yeah, and her's a link with lots of information:
    http://www.crazymeds.us/cymbalta.html
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    i think people like going to parties and clubs and looking like douchebags.

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    Default Re: Cymbalta ( a new thread)

    I had really bizarre dreams and actions last night and into today. I seriously didn't know where I was when I woke up, I kept having to reassure myself I was at my boyfriends house. It's not a place where I'm unfamilier with the surroundings either. Coming home to my apt I got lost. I've lived here over 3 years!

    I also woke up snappy and mean and told him I wanted to move away. I have NO idea why. But Paxil and other drugs made me incredibly aggressive early on too. I was hoping to avoid it with this med.

    The dry mouth and having to pee every 10 seconds is irritating as well. I swear to god the only thing that works is xanax and avoiding high stress situations. I don't know what I'm going to do about my PTSD.

    I've been avoiding doing everything from work to getting dressed. It's like I'm super depressed I felt fine when I started on Cymbalta I just thought I was in a good place in my life and wanted to extend that living quality and knew that without meds or therapy that might not be possible.

    Therapy for PTSD is the pits. I don't want to recall those awful things. But this morning I couldn't tell if it was my boyfriend or my rapist while I was begining to wake up. I feel helpless. I called my DR who said I was sensitive to meds and to discontinue taking it.

    Blech. I wish there was an easy answer or solution.
    as damp as a cellar. . . all mildewy I'm as damp as a cellar. . . all mildewy

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    Default Re: Cymbalta ( a new thread)

    Quote Originally Posted by Sophia_Ashley View Post

    I've been avoiding doing everything from work to getting dressed. It's like I'm super depressed I felt fine when I started on Cymbalta I just thought I was in a good place in my life and wanted to extend that living quality and knew that without meds or therapy that might not be possible.

    The wrong drug can make everything worse. It sounds as if the Cymbalta actually triggered PTSD symptoms. It's good you're stopping now, as that probably avoids a scary discontinuation syndrome in the future.

    But I will say, taking anti-depressants when *not* depressed can *also* actually screw you up. Remember earlier I was talking about Wellbutrin and how good it is for me? Well, I get almost no side effects, and certainly no weird mood effects. But people who take it in order to quit smoking, who are not depressed, often wind up with weird side effects including serious ones like mania! There are occasional reprts of people flying off the handle and getting violent! Please take these drugs seriously. As it says in the article I linked, Cymbalta is for MAJOR depression. It's used off-label for other things, but is a SERIOUS drug.

    The best way to prevent your life from taking a downturn when you're already doing well is to remain aware and active day to day, do things that stimulate your mind and make your body happy, treat yourself like a princess.

    Still, the existence of a thought-loop problem indicates that it may be a neurotransmitter issue somewhere up the line, so a drug may be indicated. Sophia_Ashley, I'm curious -- you mentioned that the drug was helping with OCD effects (which jibes with my Wellbutrin experience, which means that this is *probably* through norepinephrine reuptake inhibition because that is what Wellbutrin and Cymbalta have in common) but that you ended up irritable and confused (which are BOTH side effects of OD on serotonin/SSRI's. My spouse's father got Prozac handed to him for a memory issue and wound up hallucinating.)

    So, I'm curious, maybe you should look into Strattera aka atomoxetine: http://www.crazymeds.us/strattera.html

    It's pretty obscure, it only affects norepinephrine, it's usually an ADD drug but is used off-label for panic/anxiety.

    (gawdamn, I have to get a degree to go along with all this information floating around in my head.)
    Quote Originally Posted by red red red View Post
    Like super-fast, frenetic, chipmunklike stylized humping with this look on her face like "Kill! Kill!"
    Quote Originally Posted by iseestars View Post
    i think people like going to parties and clubs and looking like douchebags.

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    Featured Member Sophia_Ashley's Avatar
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    Default Re: Cymbalta ( a new thread)

    thank you so very much for this info. I looked all over the net...googling the crap out of cymbalta and it causing aggrivation and even the scarier effects I've had. NOTHING. I knew logically that if you don't have "issues" it can cause them. Just from when I tried Paxil and that's basically in a nut shell what took place.

    However what scares me with Cymbalta is the withdrawal. The fact that it's the worst out there. So I think it's better I nip it in the bud now rather than drag it out. However, the longer the day wears on the more normal I feel? It's fucking weird. The first 10 hours of the day I'm a zombie
    as damp as a cellar. . . all mildewy I'm as damp as a cellar. . . all mildewy

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    Chicagoeditor
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    Default Re: Cymbalta ( a new thread)

    Quote Originally Posted by Sophia_Ashley View Post
    However what scares me with Cymbalta is the withdrawal. The fact that it's the worst out there.
    Ummm. I stupidly neglected to mention this. Yes, the withdrawl (done accidentally in my case during a week-long trip when I forgot my Rx) isn't fun. At all. On the other hand, the positive impact when I'm taking the dose counterweights this negative, in my case.

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    Default Re: Cymbalta ( a new thread)

    Quote Originally Posted by Sophia_Ashley View Post
    However what scares me with Cymbalta is the withdrawal. The fact that it's the worst out there. So I think it's better I nip it in the bud now rather than drag it out. However, the longer the day wears on the more normal I feel? It's fucking weird. The first 10 hours of the day I'm a zombie
    If you haven't been taking it long, you're probably not at high risk for withdrawal. It takes a while to get acclimatized. :-) Lucky you!

    Oh, and here's something I didn't notice yesterday in the info page when I c/p'd the link:

    "While nothing works for everything, this is the first time I've read a case report about an antidepressant making PTSD worse." http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1...?dopt=Abstract

    So yeah. It really sounds like your doctor didn't know what he was doing, and you may want to consider getting a new one. :-(
    Quote Originally Posted by red red red View Post
    Like super-fast, frenetic, chipmunklike stylized humping with this look on her face like "Kill! Kill!"
    Quote Originally Posted by iseestars View Post
    i think people like going to parties and clubs and looking like douchebags.

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    Default Re: Cymbalta ( a new thread)

    I'm on Cymbalta, been on it for about a year, and I think I'm going to get off it. For one, its maxed out my prescription coverage ONCE AGAIN and so now I'm looking at $300-odd a month for it, plus now I have to pay full price for my birth control and allergy meds. My doctor always stocks up on the free samples the clinic gets so she can give them to me for free, which is so sweet, but its not a permanent solution. And also....it just doesn't seem to be working anymore! I have PTSD and on same days I'm as high as a kite and other days I can barely get out of bed. That doesn't sound like a successful drug to me!

    It definitely worked at the beginning though. I was on Zoloft for a while, and then Lexapro, and neither had much effect. I'm on 120mg of Cymbalta per day though, which I guess makes me the crazy chick of SW

    If only there was something out there guaranteed to work for everyone, every time!!


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