![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 12 of 12. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by 4WD on September 2, 2004, at 18:59:22
I saw my new pdoc today and got my RX for Cymbalta. Since I'm relatively med sensitive, he started me on 30mg once daily. (He was going to give me samples, but they only had 60mg ones. I guess the reps really are pushing the "one dose fits all" plan.)
I will keep everyone posted. I'm currently on Effexor 37.5 mg/day. He told me to start the Cymbalta while still taking the Effexor, get 3-4 days worth of Cymbalta in my system and then to taper the Effexor. (The Effexor only works to keep me out of the black pit- does nothing for energy/motivation/anhedonia.)
Since I always have lots of side effects and have failed many trials before because of them, maybe I'll be a good test of efficacy vs. side effects. I'll keep posting daily with the results. I take the first pill tomorrow (morning or night? can't decide.)
Marsha
Posted by Terry on September 2, 2004, at 20:07:14
In reply to Cymbalta: I'm jumping on the bandwagon, too., posted by 4WD on September 2, 2004, at 18:59:22
Well sounds like everybody is giving it a try. Great in a few months we'll have an avalanche of Cymbalta withdrawal posts.
Sorry no offence personally. in fact, best of luck to you. I guess i'm just getting a little cynical.
Terry
Posted by 4WD on September 2, 2004, at 20:54:03
In reply to Re: Cymbalta: I'm jumping on the bandwagon, too., posted by Terry on September 2, 2004, at 20:07:14
> Well sounds like everybody is giving it a try. Great in a few months we'll have an avalanche of Cymbalta withdrawal posts.
>
> Sorry no offence personally. in fact, best of luck to you. I guess i'm just getting a little cynical.
>Terry,
No offense taken. But there are a lot of us out here who've tried so many things that just didn't work out - my personal list includes:
doxepin, imipramine, desipramine, trazadone, prozac, celexa, zoloft, paxil, wellbutrin, lexapro, serzone, effexor, amitriptyline, neurontin, St. John's Wort and 5HTP. If there's even a chance that I can tolerate a therapeutic dosage of Cymbalta without disabling side effects, I'm going to give it a shot. And I'd rather do that than stay on low dose Effexor and continue to have lethargy, apathy and anhedonia. Maybe I'm too optimistic but you know, if you can't keep hoping, you might as well give up.
Marsha
p.s. Nobody, *nobody,* is more cynical than I am when it comes to meds and drs.
(and to dentists and auto mechanics and physical therapists and chiropractors and religion and politics and the rest of the entire world....)
Posted by Bob on September 3, 2004, at 17:46:46
In reply to Re: Cymbalta: I'm jumping on the bandwagon, too., posted by Terry on September 2, 2004, at 20:07:14
> Well sounds like everybody is giving it a try. Great in a few months we'll have an avalanche of Cymbalta withdrawal posts.
>
> Sorry no offence personally. in fact, best of luck to you. I guess i'm just getting a little cynical.
>
> TerryLOL!!!
You sound as cynical as me! It will be very, very interesting to see if Cymbalta brings anything new to the party.
Posted by Pantt on September 3, 2004, at 17:53:05
In reply to Re: Cymbalta: I'm jumping on the bandwagon, too. » Terry, posted by Bob on September 3, 2004, at 17:46:46
I just spoke to my pdoc about cymbalta and he said he had noticed very positive results in his patients and almost immediately. Well...I thought for a minute me too me too but the cynical side won out and I told him I was waiting until people had been on it a few months and then see how they were doing. I hope it really does the trick for you. I'm following all the babblers who try it....so please keep posting and good luck :)
Posted by theo on September 4, 2004, at 7:11:37
In reply to Re: Cymbalta: I'm jumping on the bandwagon, too., posted by Pantt on September 3, 2004, at 17:53:05
I was going to jump on but decided to wait.
I remember doing great on Paxil. When Lexapro came out, my doctor said what wonderful results he's seen and how advanced this med was and going to be the one and had me discontinue the Paxil for Lexapro.
It was a disaster for me and I think has been for a lot of people.
I'm usually the first one to try something new but think I'll wait until more results are shown from patients versus the early claims made by Lilly for Cymbalta.
Posted by 4WD on September 4, 2004, at 14:37:20
In reply to Re: Cymbalta: I'm jumping on the bandwagon, too., posted by theo on September 4, 2004, at 7:11:37
> I was going to jump on but decided to wait.
>
> I remember doing great on Paxil. When Lexapro came out, my doctor said what wonderful results he's seen and how advanced this med was and going to be the one and had me discontinue the Paxil for Lexapro.
>
> It was a disaster for me and I think has been for a lot of people.
>
> I'm usually the first one to try something new but think I'll wait until more results are shown from patients versus the early claims made by Lilly for Cymbalta.
If I were doing well on my current med, then I'd certainly think long and hard about switching. For me, though, I *wasn't* doing well on Effexor, and didn't do well on Prozac (at least not after the first few years), Celexa, Zoloft, Paxil, Wellbutrin or Lexapro.Anyway, my doc (this was my first visit to my new p-doc) said he'd prescribed Cymbalta to three people before me so far and hadn't had any calls with complaints so far. Of course, it's early times.
I'm going to start a thread with daily updates on efficacy and side effects, like SLS has done.
Marsha
Posted by Paul_d_234 on September 4, 2004, at 17:53:43
In reply to Re: Cymbalta: I'm jumping on the bandwagon, too., posted by 4WD on September 4, 2004, at 14:37:20
Good, I'll be looking forward to the updates Marsha. I'm going to switch from Zoloft to Cymbalta to see if I can get rid of the weight gain and Sexual side affects without bring a new depression back.
I see my PDOC in 2 weeks.
Posted by tedar on September 6, 2004, at 19:57:56
In reply to Re: Cymbalta: I'm jumping on the bandwagon, too., posted by Paul_d_234 on September 4, 2004, at 17:53:43
> Good, I'll be looking forward to the updates Marsha. I'm going to switch from Zoloft to Cymbalta to see if I can get rid of the weight gain and Sexual side affects without bring a new depression back.
>
> I see my PDOC in 2 weeks.> I hope this switching works out for you, but there is actually nothing in the Lit, that suggests switching from Zoloft to Cymbalta might reduce either of those side effects. Zoloft may actually have fewer sexual side effects, because of its moderate dopaminergic effect.
Posted by Paul_d_234 on September 7, 2004, at 8:53:52
In reply to Re: Cymbalta: I'm jumping on the bandwagon, too., posted by tedar on September 6, 2004, at 19:57:56
Well I figure that the literature / studies show anti-depression / anti-anxiety benefits without a lot of weight gain and Sexual Side Affects then I might be better off on Cymbalta.
Zoloft works great for me on depression, however weight gain is high and sexual side affects are medium. Welbutrin/Serzone combination worked for a while with no weight gain (in fact weight loss) and no sexual side affects but then they popped out after 2 years and I had to go back to Zoloft.
Posted by theo on September 7, 2004, at 15:31:36
In reply to Re: Cymbalta: I'm jumping on the bandwagon, too., posted by 4WD on September 4, 2004, at 14:37:20
Marsha,
When you were taking Prozac, were you taking name brand or generic?
Posted by 4WD on September 8, 2004, at 13:50:37
In reply to Re: Cymbalta: I'm jumping on the bandwagon, too. » 4WD, posted by theo on September 7, 2004, at 15:31:36
> Marsha,
>
> When you were taking Prozac, were you taking name brand or generic?Hi. I was taking the name brand. There was no generic at the time I was on Prozac (1988-1997). I was prescribed 20mg /day but I took 20mg about three days a week and it worked fine that way or at least it did for the first 6-7 years before it pooped out. It caused me a lot of muscle tension in my neck and shoulders and a lot of insomnia though.
Marsha
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.