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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 17 of 17. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by grammy on July 20, 2008, at 19:48:37
I was on Cymbalta for 3 years after being on Prozac for 14 years and it quit working. I got to where I wanted to sleep all the time on Cymbalta and I couldn't feel anything - I couldn't cry. My P-doc took me off of it slowly (4 day ago) by cutting it down by adding 100 mg. of Wellbutrin at the to 30 mg. a day I had been taking and then after a month dropping the Cymbalta 30 30 mg. for a month and then completely off the Cymbalta. I haven't had any Cymbalta in 4 days and I've had dizziness and strange feelings in my head - probably some people call them brain zaps. I knew what to expect from reading posts and I kind of like the brain zaps - they feel kind of cool. The nurse said to drink lots and lots of water to wash out the Cymbalta. I don't know were I go from here because all my aches and pains have come back and I'm missing the Cymbalta. I'm one of the few people who feel it's a great drug - for me at least.
Posted by Phillipa on July 21, 2008, at 12:55:04
In reply to Cymbalta, posted by grammy on July 20, 2008, at 19:48:37
You know when I tried cymbalta that is what I noticed no lessening of anxiety but I had aches and pains never had when went off it. But I went from 60 to 30 and off and then back to luvox. So no brain zaps. Love Phillipa
Posted by Bob on July 21, 2008, at 22:24:52
In reply to Cymbalta, posted by grammy on July 20, 2008, at 19:48:37
> I was on Cymbalta for 3 years after being on Prozac for 14 years and it quit working. I got to where I wanted to sleep all the time on Cymbalta and I couldn't feel anything - I couldn't cry. My P-doc took me off of it slowly (4 day ago) by cutting it down by adding 100 mg. of Wellbutrin at the to 30 mg. a day I had been taking and then after a month dropping the Cymbalta 30 30 mg. for a month and then completely off the Cymbalta. I haven't had any Cymbalta in 4 days and I've had dizziness and strange feelings in my head - probably some people call them brain zaps. I knew what to expect from reading posts and I kind of like the brain zaps - they feel kind of cool. The nurse said to drink lots and lots of water to wash out the Cymbalta. I don't know were I go from here because all my aches and pains have come back and I'm missing the Cymbalta. I'm one of the few people who feel it's a great drug - for me at least.
I know somebody who has been taking Cymbalta for a number of months now and she is having increasing problems with sleeping too much. I eventually had this problem with Effexor. Strange how these drugs that are supposed to be energizing can end up being the opposite.
Posted by grammy on July 22, 2008, at 22:15:59
In reply to Re: Cymbalta » grammy, posted by Bob on July 21, 2008, at 22:24:52
Bob, did you get off Effexor and if you did what did you get on. I'm on 100 mg of Wellbutrin now and boy am I jittery and I'm having anxiety attacks in my sleep. I hope it goes away. I sure have energy now, though - I clean, clean, clean all the time.
Posted by Bob on July 22, 2008, at 23:58:42
In reply to Re: Cymbalta, posted by grammy on July 22, 2008, at 22:15:59
> Bob, did you get off Effexor and if you did what did you get on. I'm on 100 mg of Wellbutrin now and boy am I jittery and I'm having anxiety attacks in my sleep. I hope it goes away. I sure have energy now, though - I clean, clean, clean all the time.
I took the Effexor well over 10 years ago now, I think. Basically right when it came out, and nobody knew about the epic withdrawals. I got off it by tapering down very, very slowly. It wasn't the XR formula as that had not come out yet, so I was able to shave pills. I eventually got down to "wisps of powder" and then stopped. About a day later the syndrome hit. It took weeks to get over it and I can still remember it to this day. Unfortunately, that is only one of the bad pharmacological experiences in my life since then. I forget what I tried after Effexor (maybe Depakote + Welbutrin)? Since then I've tried many, many drugs as well as ECT. It's been a long journey.
Posted by Phillipa on July 23, 2008, at 19:59:19
In reply to Re: Cymbalta » grammy, posted by Bob on July 22, 2008, at 23:58:42
Same time I took it and only lasted about five days then stopped it. Guess didn't take it long enough for withdrawal. I was just relieved to be off it. Felt much better. Phillipa
Posted by Zeba on July 26, 2008, at 22:51:28
In reply to Cymbalta, posted by grammy on July 20, 2008, at 19:48:37
Ydp; it sounds like you have the brain zaps. I know quite a few people who say going off of Cymbalta is horrible, even a month after stopping it. One person told me that she and others have been put on Prozac, and that helps to eliminate the side effects. I never heard a drug could cause so much trouble. I have never taken Cymbalta and don't ever plan to. The body aches are another thing several people have told me they have after stopping Cymbalta. Don't know why that would be, but one person told me it took her two months to finally no longer have an adverse reaction from stopping Cymbalta. If I were on it, and I wanted to go off, I guess I would go really, really slowly like weeks at a dose and then another week at a tiny decrease, etc. That would be what I would do.
Zeba
Posted by Phillipa on July 26, 2008, at 23:43:11
In reply to Re: Cymbalta » grammy, posted by Zeba on July 26, 2008, at 22:51:28
OOPs reread my first thread. I didn't have body aches on pains when on cymbalta that was the only thing that was good they came when off of it and are with me today and that was over five years ago. So I feel they work for pain. Just my experience. As the first time on it no problem going off of 60mg. Second time was a different story as that was a different doc who wanted me to start at 30mg and be up to 120mg in a months time. He scared me to death as at that time the manufacturer didn't recommend anything above 60mg since then they say it's okay to go much higher. I felt relieved the second time to get off 30mg as I felt uncomfortable with that pdoc. Phillipa
Posted by Tony P on July 29, 2008, at 16:34:10
In reply to Re: Cymbalta » grammy, posted by Zeba on July 26, 2008, at 22:51:28
Re the body aches, I understand Cymbalta is prescribed for certain types of nerve pain, so it would make sense if there were a rebound ache effect. I wonder if Neurontin (Gabapentin) would help -- it is also prescribed for some types of nerve pain, & I found it helped even with sciatica. And it's very different chemically from an SNRI, so it shouldn't interfere with the tapering. Might even have a small antidepressant effect.
Tony
Posted by Tony P on July 29, 2008, at 16:47:08
In reply to Re: Cymbalta » grammy, posted by Bob on July 21, 2008, at 22:24:52
> I know somebody who has been taking Cymbalta for a number of months now and she is having increasing problems with sleeping too much. I eventually had this problem with Effexor. Strange how these drugs that are supposed to be energizing can end up being the opposite.
I've been on Cymbalta (60mg/day) for 4 months and my hypersomnia (which I had before) is getting worse & worse, alternating with hypomanic spells where I stay up all night and then crash for 10 or 15 hours.Also, it seems as if the Cymbalta is already pooping out. I don't feel nearly as balanced as I did a month ago, and a minor setback recently sent me from feeling reasonably good to suicidal in minutes (can you say emotionally labile, boys and girls?). Luckily I talked it through with a counsellor rigth away and got some balance back.
Has anyone else experienced such a quick poop-out on Cymbalta? Maybe I'm just getting used to feeling normal, whatever "normal" is?
Also I'm gaining weight like crazy. I am also on Remeron, and was gaining weight slowly on that, but the last couple of months have been extraordinary -- 25 lbs! Granted my life-style is partly to blame; but the last post I read on Cymbalta & weight gain suggested it was relatively neutral. Any further comments?
Tony
Posted by dcruik518 on July 30, 2008, at 7:25:18
In reply to Re: Cymbalta - sleep + weight gain, posted by Tony P on July 29, 2008, at 16:47:08
Tony,
Maybe both are responsible. Get off of them. That's a really large amount of weight.
Posted by Tony P on August 3, 2008, at 0:42:51
In reply to Re: Cymbalta - sleep + weight gain, posted by dcruik518 on July 30, 2008, at 7:25:18
I'm seriously considering dropping one or the other, or both. I'm a pdoc-free zone at the moment, so I'm essentially running my own med program for the next couple of months, with other professionals to advise. I think I'll give it a try -- cut one out first to see the effect, and check with my GP when I've got some experience & data.
I'm tempted to can the Cymbalta first -- it's the most recent addition to my meds, and roughly coincides with the really rapid weigth gain. Also I think I was doing better depression-wise on the other meds (including Remeron) plus a low dose of Selegeline (10 mg/day oral); I was a bit shaky & had to watch my coffee intake, but I felt better & was more active.
On the other hand, the Remeron is a well-known weight gain inducer, especially combined with a high-carb. diet such as I've been on recently.
Obviously I need to regulate my diet and increase exercise, too, but I think you're right - I'm past just "fat" into the real danger zone and I need to act quickly.
Posted by dcruik518 on August 4, 2008, at 7:43:12
In reply to Re: Cymbalta - sleep + weight gain » dcruik518, posted by Tony P on August 3, 2008, at 0:42:51
Hi Tony,
Yes, people forget how deadly weight gain can be. So I think your decision to get off these meds which seem to be causing the massive weight gain is wise. The CDC or some other organization recently made a statement that obesity is actually a greater health risk than smoking.
I wonder if the two drugs might be acting in synergy to cause the weight gain, because Cymbalta alone is not really known for weight gain. I suspect the weight gain probably has more to do with the Remeron. If you can afford it, you might try the new AD, Pristiq. It's working well for me and doesn't seem to have the side effects that Effexor had--i.e., nervousness, weight gain.
~DRC
Posted by Bob on August 4, 2008, at 11:41:50
In reply to Re: Cymbalta - sleep + weight gain, posted by dcruik518 on August 4, 2008, at 7:43:12
> Hi Tony,
>
> Yes, people forget how deadly weight gain can be. So I think your decision to get off these meds which seem to be causing the massive weight gain is wise. The CDC or some other organization recently made a statement that obesity is actually a greater health risk than smoking.
>
>
> ~DRC
I don't think people are actually forgetting how bad weight gain can be. It's just another of the tragic compromises people have to make in order to treat their very serious problems. Weight gain is a serious problem for many of the drugs and like fatigue and sexual dysfunction, it's difficult to avoid.
Posted by Tony P on August 5, 2008, at 18:54:29
In reply to Re: Cymbalta - sleep + weight gain, posted by dcruik518 on August 4, 2008, at 7:43:12
I'll keep an eye open for Pristiq - it's not available in Canada yet. Meanwhile, I'll ask my Dr. about switching back to Cipralex (Lexapro) when I see him next - might be a couple of weeks, I have a feeling he's on holiday. I don't recall having any weight gain on Cipralex and it was fast-acting & amazingly side-effect free (except the doggone sex thing, which was one reason I switched to Remeron in the first place).
Right now, I'll cut both my Remeron & Cymbalta in half & maybe phase out the Cymbalta altogether over 3-4 days if the withdrawal isn't too uncomfortable/depressing, and talk to the duty MD at the walk-in clinic.
Posted by dcruik518 on August 13, 2008, at 15:42:58
In reply to Re: Cymbalta - sleep + weight gain » dcruik518, posted by Tony P on August 5, 2008, at 18:54:29
Sounds like a good plan. Where are you now with it? ~Dwight
> I'll keep an eye open for Pristiq - it's not available in Canada yet. Meanwhile, I'll ask my Dr. about switching back to Cipralex (Lexapro) when I see him next - might be a couple of weeks, I have a feeling he's on holiday. I don't recall having any weight gain on Cipralex and it was fast-acting & amazingly side-effect free (except the doggone sex thing, which was one reason I switched to Remeron in the first place).
>
> Right now, I'll cut both my Remeron & Cymbalta in half & maybe phase out the Cymbalta altogether over 3-4 days if the withdrawal isn't too uncomfortable/depressing, and talk to the duty MD at the walk-in clinic.
Posted by West on August 15, 2008, at 13:02:19
In reply to Re: Cymbalta - sleep + weight gain, posted by dcruik518 on August 13, 2008, at 15:42:58
Cymbalta is working really well for me. It's balanced effect on NE and 5HT and specifically its affinity for the NE transporter, is much greater than that of (des)venlafaxine: something to consider when the 'dual action' is what's thought to be responsible for getting more people well (often faster) than the SSRIs (like citalopram)
Mirtazipine's most potent site of action is the H-1 histamine receptor which mediates its strong sedative effects and appetite increases. It is most likely to be the drug responsible for your weight gain. Personally I would try tapering off that before the cymbalta, not the other way round.
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