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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by blueberry1 on February 4, 2007, at 6:03:12
First few days on cymbalta I did it twice a day. Felt like crap all the time, much worse than I started. That is evidenced by my absence here. I used to post frequently. Since cymbalta I have just hibernated into agony.
After a few days I started just once a day dosing in the morning. After a couple hours, tiredness and dysphoria would hit. Then about midday I got much more depressed. Then in afternoon serious tension nervousness would hit, to where I was totally disconnected in a conversation, and I was crinkling up my forehead in agony constantly, kind of like when you are squinting to look at something that is hard to see. Then about 12 hours after dosing the clouds would start to clear and I would be feeling a little better in the evening. As cymbalta wears off after 12 hours, I start feeling like my regular depressed self, which is significantly better than my cymbalta depressed self. Cymbalta's halflife is 12 hours, so this pattern seems to make sense to me.
It's only been 2 weeks but has been getting worse each day and not better. The only side effects that went away are nausea an headaches. The dysphoria/depression/nervousness crap intensifies with each day.
Even at my low dose and short time I expect withdrawals to be miserable and scary. Wish I had never let my doctor talk me into this crap.
Posted by Phillipa on February 4, 2007, at 11:56:21
In reply to It's the cymbalta, posted by blueberry1 on February 4, 2007, at 6:03:12
Blueberry I'm so sorry. I felt like my head would blow up the second time I took cymbalta lasted l0 days at 30mg. Love Phillipa
Posted by laima on February 4, 2007, at 20:48:01
In reply to Re: It's the cymbalta » blueberry1, posted by Phillipa on February 4, 2007, at 11:56:21
Yes, Blueberry, I totally believe you. What you've been reporting sounded so much like what happened to me when I tried cymbalta. At least now you know for sure. I'm so sorry you had to go through that.
Posted by lcat10 on February 4, 2007, at 22:53:22
In reply to It's the cymbalta, posted by blueberry1 on February 4, 2007, at 6:03:12
Blueberry
I don't understand why your doctor would say stick with something that is making you feel worse. I had lots of trouble with Cymbalta too, and my pdoc had me get off of it right away. I have had so much trouble with med's, and it does no good to continue with something that makes you feel worse, has side effects, or causes terrible reacations. What dose are you on and for how long, and what could you do if you tapered off of it; would you have something else to take??
Posted by Declan on February 5, 2007, at 3:27:44
In reply to It's the cymbalta, posted by blueberry1 on February 4, 2007, at 6:03:12
So, you suspect
NE
Seratonin
something else?
Posted by Bill LL on February 5, 2007, at 12:45:03
In reply to Re: It's the cymbalta » blueberry1, posted by Declan on February 5, 2007, at 3:27:44
It's so weird how these medications affect everyone differently. I started Cymbalta about a year ago and have never felt better. I started with 60 mg and am still on that dose. I had previously taken Lunesta (40 mg), but it made me tired.
Then 8 months ago I added 3 mg of Xanax XR (3 mg) at night to replace Lunesta. Once again, I never changed the dosage.
I also take Toprol XR (a beta blocker) for blood pressure; but it also noticeably helps with the physicial feelings of anxiety.
These are my current psychoactive drugs. I have probably taken about 25 different drugs and combinations of drugs in the past; but never with results as good as with the current combination.
Posted by Phillipa on February 5, 2007, at 17:37:20
In reply to Re: It's the cymbalta, posted by Bill LL on February 5, 2007, at 12:45:03
Bill not being critical but I think you may have meant 4mg of lunesta not 40. Love Phillipa
Posted by stargazer on February 5, 2007, at 21:10:01
In reply to Re: It's the cymbalta » Bill LL, posted by Phillipa on February 5, 2007, at 17:37:20
Why don't some of the pdocs, and others, understand there are some meds that are just not compatible with our biological makeup. Other meds cause allergic reactions, so why would AD's be so different? It may not be a typical "allergic" reaction but it is definately an adverse reaction, not an inconvenience to be ignored.
Remember, suicidal ideation was not always considered a SE of AD's and we only learned that after ignoring the side effects for God knows how long. How many people had to die before we finally learned that not all suicides were caused by the depression but rather from the medication?
When will some people understand that there are some AD's that will make us worse, rather than better. All drugs have these kind of effects and people with other illnesses are listened to and believed when they say the med is causing them such distress. Why can't psychiatric patients be given the same credibility as others? We still have the ability to experience what is real and our assessment of a med should be given full credibility for our judgement. We are the best judge of how a med is working, not our doctor or anyone else who hasn't had a similar reaction to the same med.
I stopped Cymbalta after two weeks due to a worsening of my depression...end of trial...no regrets...move onto the next med...there is no time to waste when it comes to treating depression. Life is too fleeting to waste time on useless or harmful medications. Stargazer
Posted by meAgain on February 7, 2007, at 16:01:57
In reply to Re: It's the cymbalta, posted by laima on February 4, 2007, at 20:48:01
What medication has worked for the people who stop Cymbalta..I am about to ask my doc to take me off it, but I have been on practically every SSRI and Effexor...but never a MAOI. Feel lost...Any suggestions? love,em
This is the end of the thread.
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