Posted by aloe on September 8, 2004, at 11:23:08
In reply to Re: Cymbalta (duloxetine) - report, posted by awatts on September 4, 2004, at 14:36:47
I'll be checking in, too, for updates on others Cymbalta experiences, and to leave reports on my own. I am starting Cymbalta today, with the hope that the sexual side effects won't be as bad as with others. I just hope this isn't another case of the Lexapro debacle, where the manufacturer hypothesizes that the sexual side effects will be minimal, despite the fact that it has the same active ingredient as Celexa. I wouldn't think it would be any surprise that Lexapro showed the same sexual effects as Celexa.
The insert that comes with Cymbalta may also be constructed to "disguise" some of the sexual side effects. If you look, instead of having just one category for "sexual side effects", the insert separates into their own categories the following dysfunctions: Orgasm abnormal, ejaculatory dysfunction, libido decreased, erectile dysfunction, ejaculation delayed. That way when you see 2% for one category you think, "Oo! Only a 2% chance of abnormal orgasms. That doesn't sound too bad compared to Celexa's (or any other SSRI's) 30% chance of general sexual dysfunction." But add up the numbers in Cymbalta's categories and suddenly you've got a number larger then 2%.
Also noticeable from the package insert is that sexual dysfunction was much more prevalent in males. Sorry guys.
I don't know how much I believe these package inserts,though. I have experience in the science field, and I am well aware of how numbers can have various interpretations depending on which biased eye is looking at them. Plus, the trials used to acquire the numbers aren't as free from variables as the people conducting the studies like to think they are.
I'd better stop now. Sorry if I just bored you all to death.
> I'm watching your Cymbalta progress with great interest - please keep posting, everybody. I will be starting Cymbalta soon - as soon as I get all of the Effexor out of my system.
>
> Effexor XR was working for me (150mg), but I decided that I was no longer willing to be shut down sexually. My hope is that Cymbalta will work on the depression/motivation as well as Effexor did WITHOUT making orgasm impossible.
>
> If anyone notices adverse sexual effects from Cymbalta, please post!
>
> Thanks.
poster:aloe
thread:380308
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040904/msgs/388012.html