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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by socialphobic on August 6, 2008, at 21:51:24
I am about to start cymbalta either today or tomorrow. My two main concerns are the possibility of insomnia (I already suffer insomnia as it is) and the withdrawal problems.
Effexor didn't help for me, so is cymbalta likely to be any different? I heard that it hits norepinephrine a lot quicker than effexor and at lower doses.
As for withdrawal, I have heard it can be just as bad as effexor. I went through hell coming off effexor but I fixed it by taking a single dose of prozac which relieved the symptoms within a few hours.
Does the prozac withdrawal trick also work with cymbalta? If and when I come off cymbalta, I will take a dose of prozac at the first sign of any withdrawal symptoms. Has anyone else done this with success? It worked for effexor, so i'm hoping it will work for cymbalta.
Also is cymbalta or effexor generally more effective? I'm guessing cymbalta would be a little more effective due to it hitting NE quicker and at lower doses?
Posted by yxibow on August 6, 2008, at 23:44:36
In reply to Starting cymbalta, posted by socialphobic on August 6, 2008, at 21:51:24
> I am about to start cymbalta either today or tomorrow. My two main concerns are the possibility of insomnia (I already suffer insomnia as it is) and the withdrawal problems.
>
> Effexor didn't help for me, so is cymbalta likely to be any different? I heard that it hits norepinephrine a lot quicker than effexor and at lower doses.
>
> As for withdrawal, I have heard it can be just as bad as effexor. I went through hell coming off effexor but I fixed it by taking a single dose of prozac which relieved the symptoms within a few hours.
>
> Does the prozac withdrawal trick also work with cymbalta? If and when I come off cymbalta, I will take a dose of prozac at the first sign of any withdrawal symptoms. Has anyone else done this with success? It worked for effexor, so i'm hoping it will work for cymbalta.
>
> Also is cymbalta or effexor generally more effective? I'm guessing cymbalta would be a little more effective due to it hitting NE quicker and at lower doses?
I've heard of using prozac for withdrawals from medications -- I don't know about cymbalta specifically.Cymbalta actually has a lower profile of NE (6:1 5HT to NE).
I suffer from insomnia as well.
If you feel that it is activating, the best choice would be to take it all in the morning.
A fair number of people actually find Cymbalta sleep inducing, just as others find stimulants relaxing, paradoxically.
Yes, I'm afraid it like other SNRIs can cause problems coming off of it -- but if you go down slowly (like by 20s) you're less likely to experience problems then dumping the medicine entirely because it is ineffective for your symptoms.It is very subtle, and can take a fair time to show signs of work, but if it is the medication for you then of course it will provide benefits. When I was on it I did exceed Lilly's evidence based dose of 60 -- I was up to 120, and a lot of people do --- insurance may or may not pay for the extra dosing. I had some short "epiphany" at 80mg, but that was brief.
As they say, your miles may vary.
Good luck
-- best wishes
Jay
Posted by antigua3 on August 7, 2008, at 7:44:30
In reply to Starting cymbalta, posted by socialphobic on August 6, 2008, at 21:51:24
I switched from Effexor to Cymbalta and felt a difference right away. I weaned off Effexor as I was picking up the Cymbalta so I had minimal side effects coming off (my pdoc did a good job with this).
for me, Cymbalta has been so much better--less flat emotionally, more productive and just better all around.
I had gotten to as high as 225 or maybe 300 on Effexor and didn't like how it was making me feel. I've been as high as 90 maybe on Cymblata (so hard to remember--funny thing though, my memory is much better on Cymbalta), but I'm down to 40, which isn't really even a therapeutic dose. I think I'm weaning off it.
But I was very tired for a long time. Some of it turned out to be anemia, which I didn't know that I even had, but I've still pretty much been tired on it.
I'm on Lyrica, too, now. 100 mg a day. That was added in the last year to combat the tiredness, and it has helped some.
I remember Effexor causing insomnia, but I've never had that problem with Cymbalta. Jitteriness is my main problem (hence the Lyrica).
I take it in the morning.
good luck,
antigua
Posted by Phillipa on August 7, 2008, at 12:38:44
In reply to Re: Starting cymbalta, posted by antigua3 on August 7, 2008, at 7:44:30
Lyrica helps your anxiety is that the same as jitterness? If so have you ever been on benzos and find the lyrica better? Cymbalta did get to 60mg for three months noticed nothing till was off it and then aches and pains didn't have before guess cymbalta hid them or could it have caused them? But withdrawal wise didn't have a problem went down by first to 30mg and then kind of took it a bit slower. Phillipa
Posted by antigua3 on August 8, 2008, at 10:42:07
In reply to Re: Starting cymbalta » antigua3, posted by Phillipa on August 7, 2008, at 12:38:44
Jitteriness is anxiety too me, but at an extreme. Lyrica seems to help, but I still take Klonopin when I need to, when the jitteriness goes through the roof. Since lowering Cymbalta and upping the Lyrica, I think I feel better, But I don't like the idea of having to up one to tolerate the other. Like I said, maybe it's time to get off of the Cymbalta altogether. But we always want off our drugs when we feel better. That's a warning sign to me.
Lyrica helps with aches and pains too, although I wasn't prescribed it for that at all. Just a pleasant side effect, instead of an intolerable one.
antigua
Posted by Phillipa on August 8, 2008, at 19:29:12
In reply to Re: Starting cymbalta » Phillipa, posted by antigua3 on August 8, 2008, at 10:42:07
Oh it did nothing for depression anxiety first time was like a sugar pill for me. Phillipa
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