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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 linkadge on July 24, 2013, at 19:40:32
Has anyone taken both effexor and cymbalta?
Is cymbalta more activating?
Linkadge
Posted by SLS on July 24, 2013, at 19:43:35
In reply to can anyone compare effexor and cymbalta, posted by linkadge on July 24, 2013, at 19:40:32
I experienced fatigue and tiredness with Cymbalta that I didn't with Effexor.
- Scott
Posted by linkadge on July 24, 2013, at 21:21:17
In reply to Re: can anyone compare effexor and cymbalta, posted by SLS on July 24, 2013, at 19:43:35
How would you compare them overall (I know you think fairly highly of effexor)?
Linkadge
Posted by BrainDamage on July 25, 2013, at 4:50:37
In reply to Re: can anyone compare effexor and cymbalta, posted by linkadge on July 24, 2013, at 21:21:17
Ok, Iv'e never taken Cymbalta
But this is my understandingIn theory Cymbalta should be more stimulating because it has stronger Noradrenaline re-uptake
In practice, people seem to find Cymbalta more fatiguing than Effexor
I have no idea whyNoradrenaline re-uptake doesn't always translate into more energy & drive
Milnicipran is very strong on Noradrenaline, but some people find it very sedating apparently
Posted by SLS on July 25, 2013, at 6:39:50
In reply to Re: can anyone compare effexor and cymbalta, posted by linkadge on July 24, 2013, at 21:21:17
> How would you compare them overall (I know you think fairly highly of effexor)?
>
> LinkadgeLinkadge, you know that I am a poor representation of the archetype case of depression. I say that just so that you can take with a grain of salt anything I report regarding my experiences with medications.
Cymbalta produced a mild improvement that lasted for less than a week before pooping-out. However, this is my usual pattern of reaction to antidepressants. Effexor also produced a short-lived moderate improvement. However, a mild improvement persisted for quite awhile. I am biased towards Effexor compared to Cymbalta because it has an established track record, and is more effective than most SSRIs. Lexapro is the SSRI that is most comparable to Effexor in terms of efficacy. It is my impression that some people will respond better to Pristiq than to Effexor. Of course, this is not based upon any kind of scientific investigation - just a few anecdotes of people who have taken both drugs. Perhaps it is a Celexa/Lexapro type thing, although the molecular relationship is different (desmethyl metabolite for Effexor vs. enantiomer for Celexa).
A friend of mine is doing spectacularly well on a combination of Pristiq + Wellbutrin. For her, Lexapro + Wellbutrin was not nearly as effective. I don't think she had tried Effexor, though.
I wish I could have been of more help.
- Scott
Posted by Phillipa on July 25, 2013, at 9:45:09
In reply to Re: can anyone compare effexor and cymbalta » linkadge, posted by SLS on July 25, 2013, at 6:39:50
I took Cymbalta and didn't experience fatigue. Took 60mg. Same time as you Scott. New to babble when you failed I figured it wasn't a good med not knowing your history. But I do know that I did not have back pain on it. When I discontinued it was when I noticed I had it. At the time it was new and the doc just gave it to me. I think every patient he had was on it. Effexor also tried once when new and had to discontinue as too stimulating. But this was also before menopause so feel hormones played a part in all my experiences with ad's. Phillipa
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