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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 24 of 24. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by chess on March 13, 2005, at 16:39:37
Did anyone feel worse before feeling better on Lexapro? I've been on 20mg for 2 weeks now and I feel worse if not the same (anxiety & depression). I'm wondering how long I should stick with it?
Posted by Phillipa on March 13, 2005, at 17:52:48
In reply to Lexapro users, posted by chess on March 13, 2005, at 16:39:37
They say a month or longer. Personally I could not take the medication and quit. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by chess on March 13, 2005, at 18:11:00
In reply to Re: Lexapro users » chess, posted by Phillipa on March 13, 2005, at 17:52:48
why couldn't you take it?
> They say a month or longer. Personally I could not take the medication and quit. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by underthecs on March 13, 2005, at 18:21:09
In reply to Lexapro users, posted by chess on March 13, 2005, at 16:39:37
The 20mg helped, but my psych. increased my dosage to 40mg just last week. You may just need a higher dose. And this SSRI is supposed to have few side effects. Good luck.
Posted by Phillipa on March 13, 2005, at 19:31:57
In reply to Re: Lexapro users » Phillipa, posted by chess on March 13, 2005, at 18:11:00
It made my anxiety worse, and I felt like a "space cadet". My husband was Rx'd it also and he couldn't take it. It made him laugh inappropriately. Fondly,Phillipa
Posted by Chris O on March 14, 2005, at 4:25:28
In reply to Lexapro users, posted by chess on March 13, 2005, at 16:39:37
Chess:
I just went off Lexapro after taking it for 8 months. Higher dosage levels were differently better for me with 30mg-40mg being the optimal dosage. 10-20mg was not great for me in terms of symptom reduction. However, all in all, I thought Lexapro was not a very powerful drug in combating my GAD and OCD. It left me feeling fatigued during the day and...like you, I couldn't tell if it really reduced my symptoms that much. I don't notice much of a difference after a month or so, but other people here have said it took them a couple of months to get full effect from Lexapro. Oddly, even though Lexapro is supposed to be more powerful than Celexa, I found Celexa at 20mg to be more powerful than Lexapro at 30-40mg. I don't know if it's just me, but I have heard others say the same thing about Lexapro being weaker than Celexa, even though it's supposed to be stronger.
I wish you luck,
Chris> Did anyone feel worse before feeling better on Lexapro? I've been on 20mg for 2 weeks now and I feel worse if not the same (anxiety & depression). I'm wondering how long I should stick with it?
Posted by Bill LL on March 14, 2005, at 9:28:40
In reply to Lexapro users, posted by chess on March 13, 2005, at 16:39:37
Lexapro works fairly quickly compared to some of the other AD's. If I were you, I would probably increase it to 40 mg right now. You can then try going down to 30 mg later if the 40 works.
I personally took 40 mg Lexapro until 3 months a go when I switched to Cymbalta (60 mg). When on Lexapro, I also took Strattera. this combo covered both serotonin and norepinephrine. I was doing very well with focus, depression, and anxiety, but I was tired. That's why I switched. Cymbalta by itself covers both norepinephrine and serotonin. So far, I am less tired now.
> Did anyone feel worse before feeling better on Lexapro? I've been on 20mg for 2 weeks now and I feel worse if not the same (anxiety & depression). I'm wondering how long I should stick with it?
Posted by Chris O on March 14, 2005, at 13:08:11
In reply to Re: Lexapro users, posted by Bill LL on March 14, 2005, at 9:28:40
Bill:
Sorry to go off on a side tangent here, but my pdoc just gave me some samples of Cymbalta to try after I decided to stop taking Lexapro. I'm just wondering how your faring with the Cymbalta. What side effects are you experiencing? What do you think are the pros and cons of the med, etc.? I querried others a couple of weeks ago on this question and got mixed feedback--some seemed pleased with Cymbalta, others not.
Thanks,
Chris
Posted by Mildred on March 14, 2005, at 23:42:37
In reply to Bill--How's the Cymbalta working for you? » Bill LL, posted by Chris O on March 14, 2005, at 13:08:11
Posted by Bill LL on March 15, 2005, at 9:42:36
In reply to Bill--How's the Cymbalta working for you? » Bill LL, posted by Chris O on March 14, 2005, at 13:08:11
I'm very happy with it so far. My tiredness (60 mg Cymbalta) is definitely not as bad as it was with 60 mg Lexapro.
It also helps more than Lexparo with my ADD symptoms, and therefore I was able to stop the Strattera.
Cymbalta makes me more calm than Lexapro, but it seems to raise by pulse rate and blood pressure just like Strattera did. Doesn't this seem ironic that a drug would both make me more calm, and also raise my pulse and pressure? (I think that Ritalin can also do that).
Also, when I switched to Cymbalta, the sexual side effects got better (less). But then I added a calcium channel blocker for hypertension and the sexual side effects got worse again.
But I have been on various blood pressure meds for a long time.
Cymbalta is currently the only psychogenic drug I am taking and is really working pretty good.
> Bill:
>
> Sorry to go off on a side tangent here, but my pdoc just gave me some samples of Cymbalta to try after I decided to stop taking Lexapro. I'm just wondering how your faring with the Cymbalta. What side effects are you experiencing? What do you think are the pros and cons of the med, etc.? I querried others a couple of weeks ago on this question and got mixed feedback--some seemed pleased with Cymbalta, others not.
>
> Thanks,
> Chris
Posted by Chris O on March 15, 2005, at 13:28:42
In reply to Re: Bill--How's the Cymbalta working for you?, posted by Bill LL on March 15, 2005, at 9:42:36
Posted by barbaracat on March 18, 2005, at 0:02:54
In reply to Re: Bill--How's the Cymbalta working for you?, posted by Bill LL on March 15, 2005, at 9:42:36
I posted a few weeks ago on my strange experience with Cymbalta, which caused very pronounced psychedelic phenomena at 30mg and catapulted me into a flaming mania. I titrated waaay back to 3 pellets and achieved a good antidepressant response with no side effects other than some mild activation.
I'm now up to 10 pellets and still doing well. Went off for a week to see if I was imagining things and my depression returned. Going back on it, the response was immediate, a very strong NE kick. I'm quite happy with it, the only AD this high-strung bipolar has been able to tolerate.
I realize that the standard 30-60mg dose may be warranted for unipolar depression but that dose may still be too high to begin with, according to my prescribing doc. Those with a touch of bipolar disorder might benefit from AD dosages that are far less than the standard in general, and definitely for Cymbalta, if my experience continues to hold true. So far it is, and I'm still amazed. At this rate a 60mg capsule will last months. - BarbaraCat
> I'm very happy with it so far. My tiredness (60 mg Cymbalta) is definitely not as bad as it was with 60 mg Lexapro.
>
> It also helps more than Lexparo with my ADD symptoms, and therefore I was able to stop the Strattera.
>
> Cymbalta makes me more calm than Lexapro, but it seems to raise by pulse rate and blood pressure just like Strattera did. Doesn't this seem ironic that a drug would both make me more calm, and also raise my pulse and pressure? (I think that Ritalin can also do that).
>
> Also, when I switched to Cymbalta, the sexual side effects got better (less). But then I added a calcium channel blocker for hypertension and the sexual side effects got worse again.
>
> But I have been on various blood pressure meds for a long time.
>
> Cymbalta is currently the only psychogenic drug I am taking and is really working pretty good.
>
> > Bill:
> >
> > Sorry to go off on a side tangent here, but my pdoc just gave me some samples of Cymbalta to try after I decided to stop taking Lexapro. I'm just wondering how your faring with the Cymbalta. What side effects are you experiencing? What do you think are the pros and cons of the med, etc.? I querried others a couple of weeks ago on this question and got mixed feedback--some seemed pleased with Cymbalta, others not.
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Chris
>
>
Posted by lois on March 19, 2005, at 9:08:08
In reply to Re: Bill--How's the Cymbalta working for you?, posted by Bill LL on March 15, 2005, at 9:42:36
Bill,
How long have you been on 60 of Cymbalta? How long did it take you to not be tired on Cymbalta?
Were you less or more tired than on 30 mgs?
I am on 60 and more alert, but just as tired as on Lexapro? I was wondering if I need more time, am on too much, or not enough? I have been on 60 for about 3 weeks.
Thx,
Lois
Posted by SLS on March 19, 2005, at 9:16:40
In reply to Re: Bill--How's the Cymbalta working for you? » Bill LL, posted by barbaracat on March 18, 2005, at 0:02:54
Hey BC.
I am very, very happy to see you find something that helps you so much.
Stay well.
- Scott
Posted by barbaracat on March 19, 2005, at 9:43:25
In reply to Re: Bill--How's the Cymbalta working for you? » barbaracat, posted by SLS on March 19, 2005, at 9:16:40
Thanks, Scott. So far so good, but we'll see. Things have a history of pooping out for me, but I'm learning alot in the meantime. If these 10 or so pellets of Cymbalta continue to work it will be the most confounding thing. But I won't complain. Be well. - BC
> Hey BC.
>
> I am very, very happy to see you find something that helps you so much.
>
> Stay well.
>
>
> - Scott
Posted by Rhapsody on March 19, 2005, at 18:39:14
In reply to Re: Bill--How's the Cymbalta working for you? » SLS, posted by barbaracat on March 19, 2005, at 9:43:25
BarbaraCat,
Do you take the 10 pellets of Cymbalta in your mouth with water or do you put them in a capsule?
Posted by barbaracat on March 20, 2005, at 0:17:51
In reply to Re: To BarbaraCat, posted by Rhapsody on March 19, 2005, at 18:39:14
What I do is empty the entire capsule into a small container, wet my fingertip and pick up an approximate amount and either flick some off or swallow what's there and add more. I just lick the pellets off my fingertip and swallow some water, either before or with breakfast. Each little grain is enteric coated and doesn't dissolve until reaching the stomach so it doesn't matter if some of the flicked off ones get a little wet because they don't melt together. I use up the pellets until they're gone and a capsule lasts a ridiculously long time.
I'm using 30mg capsules and don't know how different dose capsules compare, i.e., if 60mg capsules have double the amount or are bigger pellets, are filled by weight or volume. I'll have to get out my magnifying glasses, a tweezer, and compare them one day. I started with 3 and as I increase the difference between one pellet isn't as noticeable, but I still take pains to be exact - a challenge since they're so tiny.
> Do you take the 10 pellets of Cymbalta in your mouth with water or do you put them in a capsule?
Posted by Phillipa on March 20, 2005, at 14:58:28
In reply to Re: To BarbaraCat » Rhapsody, posted by barbaracat on March 20, 2005, at 0:17:51
This was a discussion on Pbabble once before. Some suggested getting empty capsules from the Rx. I had some vitamins that I was no longer taking, so I emptied them and put the pellets in them. They said not to take them alone as they will dissolve if not in some medium, such as yogurt, any food. Yes they do last a long time. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by barbaracat on March 20, 2005, at 23:36:05
In reply to Re: To BarbaraCat » barbaracat, posted by Phillipa on March 20, 2005, at 14:58:28
I honestly don't think anything special is needed as far as dissolution. The enteric coating prevents dissolving until they hit stomach acid and yogurt, applesauch, whatever, isn't going to nake a difference with this. Taking the higher dosage capsules with food is recommended because of possible nausea, however, the nausea strikes a good couple hours after injesting because of the time it takes for the enteric coating to dissolve.
I take the pellets right before breakfast, no special vehicle other than licking my finger with the pellets on them. A capsule seems cumbersome when counting exact numbers of pellets, and you've got to have capsules around. Nah, make it easy, the low tech way works fine.
However, I plan to call Pfeizer to ask a few questions about how uniform a dose each pellet is. I can't imagine anything that small would all have exact measures. I'll also bring up your issue about needing food and anything else that seems pertinent. Not sure they'll be too happy about supporting something that will cut their Cymbalta sales into fractions.
> This was a discussion on Pbabble once before. Some suggested getting empty capsules from the Rx. I had some vitamins that I was no longer taking, so I emptied them and put the pellets in them. They said not to take them alone as they will dissolve if not in some medium, such as yogurt, any food. Yes they do last a long time. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by Phillipa on March 20, 2005, at 23:56:43
In reply to Re: To BarbaraCat » Phillipa, posted by barbaracat on March 20, 2005, at 23:36:05
Someone also said that the pellets were not uniform in size but that the capsules were filled by volumn. I think it was Ed. Why not Babble him. He won't mind. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by Bill LL on March 21, 2005, at 9:29:44
In reply to Re: Bill--How's the Cymbalta working for you? » Bill LL, posted by lois on March 19, 2005, at 9:08:08
Lois- Since I was previously on 60 mg Lexapro (higher than a starting dose), my doc started me on 60 mg Cymbalta. The transition was very smooth.
I was less tired almost right away after the switch. But when I was on Lexapro, I was also on Strattera (for ADD) which can make people tired. I also stopped the Strattera wnem I switched to Cymbalta since both drugs affect norepinephrine and help with my ADD symptoms.
Do you still have anxiety and/or depression? If so, you would probably need a higher dose than 60 (which is safe to take). If your problem is only tiredness, than you probably do not want to increase the dose.
I get relief from tiredness by drinking a lot of tea in the morning and walking around. If I am very tired at my desk, I walk around for a couple of minutes and feel much more energetic.
Otherwise, you may need to add a stimulant such as Ritalin. Or maybe Provigil.
> Bill,
> How long have you been on 60 of Cymbalta? How long did it take you to not be tired on Cymbalta?
> Were you less or more tired than on 30 mgs?
> I am on 60 and more alert, but just as tired as on Lexapro? I was wondering if I need more time, am on too much, or not enough? I have been on 60 for about 3 weeks.
> Thx,
> Lois
Posted by Hattree on March 21, 2005, at 11:43:14
In reply to Re: Bill--How's the Cymbalta working - Lois, posted by Bill LL on March 21, 2005, at 9:29:44
Thought I'd report that I too am dumping out most of a 30mg capsule and experiencing some definite relief from depression. Go figure.
Posted by barbaracat on March 21, 2005, at 14:31:21
In reply to Re: minscule doses, posted by Hattree on March 21, 2005, at 11:43:14
Yowzaa!! I knew it wasn't my imagination! But are you throwing away the bulk of the capsule and only taking a portion? No need to. Keep using up all the pellets from the capsule.
BTW, do are you bipolar? Approx how much are you taking and when did you begin? Any side effects? I went through minor discomfort with side effects (peripheral muscle cramps, increased tension) at 3 pellets which went away within week. Now at 12 pellets, all sx are gone except for a definite positive antidepressant one.
> Thought I'd report that I too am dumping out most of a 30mg capsule and experiencing some definite relief from depression. Go figure.
Posted by barbaracat on September 25, 2005, at 15:45:08
In reply to Re: minscule doses, posted by Hattree on March 21, 2005, at 11:43:14
An update for those who were interested in the micro-dose experiment with Cymbalta. I was continuing to do fine on 10-15 pellets in that my severe depression was gone but I still dealt with alot of anxiety - much of it situational I'm coming to realize. But I was slowly titrating up to see if more would help the anxiety.
I also had a bad fall and injured myself, not able to do much and starting to feel depression creeping in. So I took the plunge and began taking a whole 30mg capsule about 2 weeks ago. None of the trippy effects of the last attempt, thankfully, much lessened anxiety, thankfully, but also extreme tiredness, apathy, blobbing and oozing around the house and beating on myself for being a lazy slug. I didn't realize raising the Cymbalta might have been to blame. I'll take lethargic depression over mixed states wailing anyday, but this is not my idea of an opimal med response. It's depressing to be this lethargic and unmotivated. I'd be frustrated too if I had the energy.
I have a script for Adderall which I'm going to try. Ideally, I'd like my current level of low anxiety with a lot more zip. Otherwise, I'll go back to my 10 pellets and hope they still work. - Barbara
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