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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 25 of 25. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by floatingbridge on November 14, 2010, at 13:55:00
After a bumpy first day, the cymbalta is tolerable so far.
I take 30mg in the a.m. I find it mildly stimulating, and at this dose it has not produced brain fog--usually my worst AD side effect. In a week or two we take it to 60mg and see how that goes.
Conundrum suggested an add-on of remeron at night which we are considering down the line.
Maybe this could help. Wouldn't that be nice? We could all use a lucky break.
Thanks for all the input, info, and support.
fb
Posted by morgan miller on November 14, 2010, at 14:18:33
In reply to started cymbalta Friday, posted by floatingbridge on November 14, 2010, at 13:55:00
So you are taking Cymbalta with Remeron?
I hope it works out for you!
Posted by floatingbridge on November 14, 2010, at 14:53:40
In reply to Re: started cymbalta Friday, posted by morgan miller on November 14, 2010, at 14:18:33
Hi Morgan :)
Just cymbalta for now. Remeron, maybe. Might help smooth out my sleep w/o using a sleep aide.
I'll post if I add remeron.
fb
Posted by morgan miller on November 14, 2010, at 15:16:07
In reply to Re: started cymbalta Friday » morgan miller, posted by floatingbridge on November 14, 2010, at 14:53:40
Cool..Hope Cymbalta works some magic. Keep us posted.
Morgan
Posted by Maxime on November 14, 2010, at 16:11:05
In reply to started cymbalta Friday, posted by floatingbridge on November 14, 2010, at 13:55:00
I am happy to hear that so far there are no bad effects from the Cymbalta. Is it so stimulating that you are having trouble going to sleep?
It's about time that you had a med that worked well for you FB.
Posted by Phillipa on November 14, 2010, at 19:33:20
In reply to started cymbalta Friday, posted by floatingbridge on November 14, 2010, at 13:55:00
FB fantastic!!!!!! I had no side effects from cymbalta. Hope that stimulating effect is a mood brighening one too. Love Phillipa
Posted by floatingbridge on November 14, 2010, at 20:31:04
In reply to Re: started cymbalta Friday » floatingbridge, posted by Phillipa on November 14, 2010, at 19:33:20
Phillipa, so far, so good. Did get by with less pain meds. I also acquired voltaran gel on Friday (topical nsaid) and that helps.
I took it this morning prepared to give up the day due to sides, but none.
You know, it's the honeymoon....
Thanks :)
Posted by floatingbridge on November 14, 2010, at 20:32:39
In reply to Re: started cymbalta Friday » floatingbridge, posted by Maxime on November 14, 2010, at 16:11:05
Thanks, Maxie. I value your support :)
Posted by Phillipa on November 14, 2010, at 20:52:37
In reply to Re: started cymbalta Friday » Phillipa, posted by floatingbridge on November 14, 2010, at 20:31:04
Think positive no honeymoon it will work. I know it will. Oops forgot to goggle the voltaren gel. But adding to things to look up. Love Phillipa
Posted by Maxime on November 14, 2010, at 22:14:01
In reply to Re: started cymbalta Friday » Phillipa, posted by floatingbridge on November 14, 2010, at 20:31:04
I also acquired voltaran gel on Friday (topical nsaid) and that helps.
>
If I had voltaran, I would have to bathe in it. ;) Do you apply it to your joints?
Posted by floatingbridge on November 15, 2010, at 0:47:20
In reply to Re: started cymbalta Friday » floatingbridge, posted by Maxime on November 14, 2010, at 22:14:01
Maxime, sometimes to joints, but mostly hands, fingers, thumb, feet, back of calves and along lower spine. Little amounts break the snowballing effect of pain. I think my pain is more fibro-like.
But heck, it's marketed for joints and osteoarthritis. No generic yet.
Every little bit helps, especially with reducing pain. Being able to rub a small amount of gel on the exact spot--not medicating my entire body--and getting temporary relief is a small miracle.
Have you tried otc topicals like aspercreme? (Since you mentioned mild responce to tylenol.)
Posted by morgan miller on November 16, 2010, at 13:29:25
In reply to Re: started cymbalta Friday » Maxime, posted by floatingbridge on November 15, 2010, at 0:47:20
FB, how is it going so far on Cymbalta? Hope things are going well so far.
I can't take Cymbalta, it was too powerful in some ways. Or at least it was when I tried it.
Posted by floatingbridge on November 16, 2010, at 14:40:11
In reply to Re: started cymbalta Friday, posted by morgan miller on November 16, 2010, at 13:29:25
Hi Morgan,
It's a little difficult to say, due to my cross-taper. My digestive tract/abdomen has been bothering me before the cymbalta, but now it is worse.
It is stimulating in an odd way, like when I started effexor. Mood brightening. Whether that stays...
I'm at 30mg. Oddly, it wears off (?) unlike pristiq mood-wise. Maybe I'm imagining or Maybe it's the low dose.
Too strong for you? How so?
Btw, the pristiq is going to be tricky for me to discontinue :(
Thanks for asking!
Posted by morgan miller on November 16, 2010, at 15:29:26
In reply to Re: started cymbalta Friday » morgan miller, posted by floatingbridge on November 16, 2010, at 14:40:11
I'm sure you can get off pristiq without any lingering effects, it's just going to take some time.
>Too strong for you? How so?
I never seemed to sleep very deeply or for very long on Cymbalta. I also didn't like that my urine was bright yellow and had a funny smell. I feel like it said something about how hard Cymbalta may have been on my body and it's ability to eliminate the toxic substances in Cymbalta. That's just me though, of course everyone is different. Don't let what I say discourage you. That is certainly not why I mentioned that it was not good for me. I really hope Cymbalta works out for you. I know a few people personally that really like Cymbalta.
Posted by floatingbridge on November 16, 2010, at 16:00:42
In reply to Re: started cymbalta Friday, posted by morgan miller on November 16, 2010, at 15:29:26
Oh, no worries Morgan. You are relating your experience, which is valuable. I think cymbalta might be helpful once I transition. After all, it hasn't been a week.
Strong is good. I need it :/ Just as long as I don't have ongoing abdominal distress. I've been taking mildly warming herbal remedies (TCM). They seem to help.
I appreciate your support and interest :)
fb
Posted by PartlyCloudy on November 16, 2010, at 16:48:35
In reply to Re: started cymbalta Friday » morgan miller, posted by floatingbridge on November 16, 2010, at 16:00:42
> Oh, no worries Morgan. You are relating your experience, which is valuable. I think cymbalta might be helpful once I transition. After all, it hasn't been a week.
>
> Strong is good. I need it :/ Just as long as I don't have ongoing abdominal distress. I've been taking mildly warming herbal remedies (TCM). They seem to help.
>
> I appreciate your support and interest :)
>
> fbI had some gastric distress on startup, too. It settled down for me after a while on its own. I was helped with ginger tea. I'm feeling pretty good on 30mg Cymbalta in the morning, 15 mg Remeron at night along with my regular 200 mg Seroquel and 1.5 mg Xanax.
pc
Posted by floatingbridge on November 16, 2010, at 17:49:28
In reply to Re: started cymbalta Friday » floatingbridge, posted by PartlyCloudy on November 16, 2010, at 16:48:35
pc,
I'm so glad to hear that :)
Is the remeron nightly or back-up? Conundrum said it might work well with cymbalta. Have you noticed this?
Does the seroquel act as a 'stabilzer' for triggers? (My own reaction to it was terrible; however, I'm interested.)
How great that your dosage is low... and that you're feeling better :) How cool is that!
And finally, one dose in the a.m. really
lasts you all day? Good to know.Yahoo! I'm hopeful. It's been awhile.
Any night sweats?
(Too many questions--stop me!)
Posted by PartlyCloudy on November 16, 2010, at 18:02:26
In reply to Re: started cymbalta Friday » PartlyCloudy, posted by floatingbridge on November 16, 2010, at 17:49:28
Here I go :-)
> pc,
>
> I'm so glad to hear that :)
>
> Is the remeron nightly or back-up?It's now tolerated nightly. At first I was a walking zombie for a day and a half after a dose of 15 mg! What a lightweight.
> Conundrum said it might work well with cymbalta. Have you noticed this?
Most definitely. It's as if I'm able to feel naturally, the full range of emotion, and it's OK.
Wow. It's totally OK to have an "off" day and not get all worried and anxious about it. What a revelation.>
> Does the seroquel act as a 'stabilzer' for triggers? (My own reaction to it was terrible; however, I'm interested.)
>
I think it's mostly a sedative and a mild anti depressant. I tried going up to 300 mg as instructed and became totally loopy and incoherent. So unpleasant and out of it. So I went back to 200 mg Seroquel and I'm fine.> How great that your dosage is low... and that you're feeling better :) How cool is that!
>
> And finally, one dose in the a.m. really
> lasts you all day? Good to know.
>
> Yahoo! I'm hopeful. It's been awhile.
>
> Any night sweats?
No, not at this dosage. Happy dance on that.>
> (Too many questions--stop me!)Never too many questions!
Posted by Phillipa on November 16, 2010, at 21:12:49
In reply to Re: started cymbalta Friday » morgan miller, posted by floatingbridge on November 16, 2010, at 16:00:42
FB any pain relief from it? It really does work for that. Love Phillipa
Posted by floatingbridge on November 17, 2010, at 0:36:50
In reply to Re: started cymbalta Friday » floatingbridge, posted by PartlyCloudy on November 16, 2010, at 18:02:26
And thanks for the info.
I think reducing the pristiq is complicating the process.
I don't want to start eating sugar with a spoon... but I just might give remeron consideration.
Posted by floatingbridge on November 17, 2010, at 0:42:21
In reply to Re: started cymbalta Friday » floatingbridge, posted by Phillipa on November 16, 2010, at 21:12:49
Phillipa, I think there could be the possibility of pain reduction, however, I'm having difficulty tapering the pristiq. I'm probably on the more sensitive end of the spectrum with pristiq. In the past, knew if I forgot a dose by feeling very sick. Ugh.
I will definitely keep you posted.
Posted by PartlyCloudy on November 17, 2010, at 7:39:45
In reply to happy dance, too, for you :) » PartlyCloudy, posted by floatingbridge on November 17, 2010, at 0:36:50
> And thanks for the info.
>
> I think reducing the pristiq is complicating the process.
>
> I don't want to start eating sugar with a spoon... but I just might give remeron consideration.Discontinuing the Pristiq was downright awful, I won't deny it.
I held on to the starting of the Cymbalta as a carrot - the reduction of my overall daily pain - to keep me going. I followed my pdoc's written instructions on discontinuing the Pristiq and it was very uncomfortable to go through. Also too swift, but I wanted *so badly* to get the potential relief from getting on to the Cymbalta. I'm glad that I stuck with it, as I found relief from the initial dosage onwards.
take good care,
pc
Posted by Conundrum on November 17, 2010, at 11:47:46
In reply to Re: started cymbalta Friday » morgan miller, posted by floatingbridge on November 16, 2010, at 14:40:11
> It is stimulating in an odd way, like when I started effexor. Mood brightening. Whether that stays...
Are you saying its mood brightening right off the bat? I noticed this the day after I took Pristiq the first time, things seemed brighter and more colorful. When I would look at something it would trigger a memory and a feeling or perhaps a feeling and a memory, either way it was nice. This lasted a couple weeks and then wore off.I did some research on Pristiq and found out that it immediately increases norepinephrine, but serotonin doesn't greatly increase until a couple weeks later... around the time the effect wore off. It is odd because SSRIs increase serotonin immediately. Also Pristiq is a much stronger SRI than an NRI, so its weird that norepinephrine would increase first.
Perhaps its a stimulant effect?Hopefully, since Cymbalta's NRI effect is much stronger than Pristiq's this effect will become more pronounced.
Posted by floatingbridge on November 19, 2010, at 10:40:22
In reply to started cymbalta Friday, posted by floatingbridge on November 14, 2010, at 13:55:00
Posted by Maxime on November 19, 2010, at 20:16:40
In reply to one week in; feeling positive. thanx 4 support :) (nm), posted by floatingbridge on November 19, 2010, at 10:40:22
This is the end of the thread.
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