Posted by jrbecker on August 30, 2004, at 16:40:18
In reply to Re: Cymbalta (duloxetine) - report for SLS JB, posted by mxrider on August 30, 2004, at 13:00:57
> Hello Scott and JB,
>
> I have a quick question for either or both of you. I have not responded well to SSRI's as of yet. I experience pronounced agitation, irritability, and insomnia. The exception being a low dose of Paxil CR (12.5) day for 2 years. I also take Klonopin 1mg/day b.i.d. for depression and SP. I think I may have soft BP but no dx yet. My question is you have reported no anxiety or other side effects with duoloxetine. How have you reacted to SSRI's in the past? Did you experience anxiety or agitation to those meds? Any input would be helpful.
>
> Chrisyes, that's typically been my response to SSRIs as well. And yes, I have a dx that falls in line with atypical depression and soft BP II symptoms too.
I did experience some of the same side effects while on Effexor, but to a lesser degree than those experienced with most of the SSRIs. Actually, I'm quite certain that my anxiety is much better on Effexor than with SSRIs. Agitation is less, but not considerably. Insomnia was not a problem on effexor since I kept it so low (i took it at night and it actually helped me doze off), however, I can imagine that for many, effexor might be worse than SSRIs for some people.
My current approach is to always keep the dosage low and to augment with exercise - my best weapon for counteracting these side effects.
As for Cymbalta thus far, I'm happy to report that I'm having LESS of these issues (agitation, anxiety) than I did on Effexor.
Besides induced apathy, agitation has always been my biggest complaint about antidepressants. The side effect itself might come from a variety of causes (e.g., 1) 5HT2A agonism, 2) decrease in prefronal dopamine activity, 3) P450 liver metabolism).
see:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040608/msgs/354870.html
klonopin did help my agitation, and my anxiety to a lesser extent, but in the end I found it was too emotionally-blunting.have you tried effexor before? If so, what was your reaction?
poster:jrbecker
thread:380308
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040830/msgs/384259.html