Posted by Minnie-Haha on January 28, 2005, at 11:15:25
Over the last few weeks I have posted a few comments on my experience with Cymbalta in response to other threads. I am now coming up on 6 weeks at 60mg, so I thought I'd share my experience. FWIW: I am a middle-aged woman, possibly perimenopausal. My DXs are mild BP2 and mild OCD. I also have chronic neck, back and shoulder pain from old injuries. Before starting on the Cymbalta I had 15 months of anxiety (new for me), depression, insomnia and nausea. I lost weight and felt chilly all the time (also new, as I tend toward craving carbs and feeling hot). In addition to the Cymbalta, I am also taking Trileptal (150mg am/pm) and (very infrequently now) Ambien or small doses of Ativan or Klonopin to help me sleep.
On Cymbalta, my mood continues to improve slowly but surely. I do not feel like crying all the time and my family and friends report that I seem much more animated. Side effects have mostly decreased: a little constipation, fidgeting, sweating, thirst, the occasional headache. Insomnia was a problem at first, but then I switched to taking the Cymbalta in the late afternoon/early evening and that seems to have helped.
Effects that cause me some concern at this point are 1) slightly higher blood pressure/pulse and 2) a little weight gain.
My PCP, pdoc and I have agreed to keep an eye on the BP. If it continues to go high more often than is acceptable (sometimes it is OK), we might decrease the dose. In the meantime, I work out at Curves 3 times a week and I adjust my pace so my heart rate stays in the fat-burning range (and doesn't go into the higher range, which it keeps trying to do).
Concerning the weight gain, I attribute that to the fact the the Cymbalta has done such a good job on my anxiety that I don't feel nauseated anymore. I hope that by continuing to stay active and watch my portions, I won't gain a significant amount of weight... and maybe even lose some, if my mood and activity level continues to improve. (I suspect that if nausea and loss of appetite had not been a part of my illness before I started the Cymbalta, an increase in appetite and weight gain would not be affecting me now.)
As for activity, except for getting myself to exercise 3-5 times per week, I have mostly wanted to sit around the house and read, use my computer or watch TV, so I am a little worried about amotivation. My pdoc gave me a RX for 75mg Wellbutrin, which I can fill if this persists. I also have a follow-up with an endocrinologist in a few weeks (I have a couple of small but inactive thyroid nodules) and I may talk to him about Cytomel instead.
Finally, the Cymbalta has helped a lot with my chronic pain, though I have had a little break-through in the past week or two. Also, little break-throughs of anxiety, but more normal, not lingering or panicky... or keeping me up all night!
That is all. I will try to keep you all posted on my progress...
Minnie
poster:Minnie-Haha
thread:449155
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20050128/msgs/449155.html