[whyknot]

I just started this drug after switching from Lexapro. I had been on Lexapro for 3 yrs. and did well but I think it started wearing off. My Dr. switched me to Cymbalta and I've only been on it for two days. It seems every forum I look through, most people hate it, which has me concerned. I was wondering if anyone has had a good response from it? I did notice I felt a little ramped up and couldn't sleep last night so I will switch and take it in the morning instead of the evening. My Dr. also has me on 30 mg. for a week then 60 mg. I'm going to contact her and ask if I can stay on the 30 mg. for longer than one week. I hate to take more than I need.

Any thoughts anyone?

Hope you all have a better tomorrow!

[cookie]

Cymbalta helped me in the worst moment of my life. 6 years ago I was hit by severe depression, and cymbalta lifted my mood and energy. It worked for the first year, but then its efficacy wasn´t the same. Then the side effects were more than the benefits. I gained 50 lbs, has blinding headaches, didn´t care for anything, zero sex drive, I felt my life was in pause. I started weaning slowly, and started losing weight naturally, headaches went away, I had more energy. In the process of tapering I had a long list of emotional, and physical symptoms which I never had before the medication. I think most people will tell you that the drug worked while they were taking it, but once you try to stop you realize how much harm it has done to you. In my case (now that I am a very low dose), I have all this symptoms I never had prior to the medication (hair loss, joint pain, tinnitus, stuttering, difficulty finding words) and the symptoms for which it was prescribed worsened (depression, social fobia). Everybody is different and drugs affect every person differently

[spicycabanagirl]

I have been on different ssri's for 18 years, including but not limited to Prozac and Celexa. Have been on Cymbalta since June. Had been on Celexa for 12 years and had plateaud, since changing to Cymbalta I have lost weight, started to feel emotions again, have a sex drive, can have an orgasm, and generally am happier than I remember being in a long time. BUT people around me lately have noticed that when I am on edge, I am really on edge...to the point where they can hear it in my voice, and they (my employees) say that I am coming across in a very frightening way...and I don't realize it. Almost manic. Overall I am happy with this drug, however I would love to be drug free...they tell me I should never come off ssri's, and I don't know if I can, seeing as I own a business and have a busy life with a small granddaughter, etc. and don't want to be a basketcase.

Today I really snapped at my employees, and even I was aware of how it came across, and I am afraid of this behaviour. Anyone else ever have this? What can you tell me about it? Thank you.

[Herndon]

When I started Cymbalta, I was at a really, really low point in life and I do think that it initially helped me. However, I think that other, more positive non-prescription solutions could have helped me more in the long run. After a year plus at 120mg per day, I realized that I was again at another in a string of low points and with many new issues. There comes a time when in one of the rare moments of clarity a person realizes that something is not only working, it is part of the problem. I tried to quit Cymbalta once a few months ago, but didn't have a good approach and about went nuts and quickly went back on the full dose. I have now spent the last month working down from 120 to zero and have been completely off for 3 days now. I have wild vertigo and can't think straight much of the time, but I think it will pass eventually. I'm not going back this time. I've gotten some good ideas for natural supplements to ease withdrawal from other members of this site (wish I had looked here a month ago) and hopefully those will help me going forward. I have to say that it has been a bit comforting to read about other people experiencing the wicked withdrawal symptoms that I'm going through. Best wishes to everyone else who's going through this.

[Danwall]

I got off Cymbalta OK by reducing the dose, but after 2 months I was at a low and very negative, so I am back on to Cymbalta again, it works for me, The main side effect is a plus point because I have lost a stone in weight and I am trying for another stone before I get my apetite back again. There is a lot of negative contents about this drug, but they must realise that every one is different, and because it does not work for them it works for a lot more people.

[junksickdawn]

Yes, I loved being on Cymbalta. The only reason I'm getting off of it is because I feel stable and happy and I've been feeling this way for long enough while on the drug that I'm going to practice being happy now off of the drug. Been on it for 2 years, including this last stage of withdrawal.

My suggestion: make any and all changes up and changes down in dosage very slowly. Any change will set off symptoms. They must be budgeted for and so pick easy times to make any dosage changes.

Best!

[bella70]

I've now been on Cymbalta for depression (30mg for 1 week then 60mg) for 3 weeks, it was recommended to me by a friend who has had great success with it.. I was previously on Effexor and wasn't until I weaned myself off it, with terrible withdrawals, that I realised it actually hadn't been working. I have actually lost weight because I'm feeling a lot happier in myself therefore I want to get out and do more physical activity and I'm not comfort eating all the time. The only thing I have noticed is that my libido seems to be lower and reaching orgasm is harder but then when I was on Effexor my libido was very up and down, either going through the roof or non exsistant. So for me the jury is still out on Cynbalta but so far all is good.

[spicycabanagirl]

I also liked this drug...a lot. I really felt the best I had ever felt. But about 3 months in my anger symptoms returned and my Dr. changed me to Prestiq, which I am on now, and that took well over two months to get settled on , but so far so good now. I still don't feel as well as I did while on Cymbalta, which is too bad. I do think this drug works well for lots of people....we only hear about the negatives on the internet!
good luck.

whyknot, on 07 July 2011 - 09:48 PM, said:

I just started this drug after switching from Lexapro. I had been on Lexapro for 3 yrs. and did well but I think it started wearing off. My Dr. switched me to Cymbalta and I've only been on it for two days. It seems every forum I look through, most people hate it, which has me concerned. I was wondering if anyone has had a good response from it? I did notice I felt a little ramped up and couldn't sleep last night so I will switch and take it in the morning instead of the evening. My Dr. also has me on 30 mg. for a week then 60 mg. I'm going to contact her and ask if I can stay on the 30 mg. for longer than one week. I hate to take more than I need.

Any thoughts anyone?

Hope you all have a better tomorrow!

[Belphoebe]

I can't say enough about how important it is to find the underlying cause of your depression. Unless you fix that, all the antidepressants in the world aren't going to make you better, though they will mask the symptoms. The cause may be physical, as it was in my case. The "arc of life," the curve that's supposed to be in my neck, is pretty non-existent. I've lost 98% of the curve that's supposed to be there. What that means is that every nerve going to every part of the body from that area of my spine - organs, hormone-producing glands, everything!! - is being pinched. Nerve impulses aren't getting to where they're supposed to be, so my body isn't functioning the way it's supposed to function. Think about it - if the nerve to your heart is damaged, what happens to your heart? if the nerve to your shoulder is severed, will your hand work? Those are extreme examples, but what if you wear a wrist watch or bracelet that's too tight? Can you start to feel the effects - numbness, tingling, coldness in the fingertips - all symptoms of nerves being pinched. If it goes on long enough, the nerve will be damaged. Now, move that example to the nerves in your neck, the nerves that control mood balancing hormones....

The depression and anxiety problems I have started over 30 years ago, and about the same amount of time my spine has been degenerating (based on the level of damage my xrays show). Please have your spine checked, preferably by a chiropractor who knows about healing - like those at Maximized Living. They have centers all over the US, and they're not like other chiropractors I've been to.

[luvmylife]

I realize that this is long but I need help.

I have been on Cymbalta for almost five years now. I suffer from severe anxiety attachs which will start in the morning with some weigh on my chest and through the day the weight will get heavier and heavier. I try to control it by going to a quiet place, controlling my breathing, multiplying threes or doing prime numbers (mathmetician). Eventually after a few days of my normal life aggrivating me I end up in a full panic attack, in the hospital begging them to get the extra 300 pounds off of my chest so I can breath just one deep breath. Then the cycle begins again.

My entire life has been a tragedy and at the time cymbalta saved me. I could suddenly breath again and people didnt think I was crazy anymore. Cymbalta made me not worry about anything at all. Eventually I was let go from my job because I didnt care, I cant seem to get rid of the 20 pounds I put on, and I have no desire to do anything, but I do now have the courage to tell the people that screwed me up to get out of my life forever including my ex husband who continuously called me crazy. Since then even though it sounds like my life hasnt gotten better, it really did. I meet the love of my life and had two childen. We bough a house and we are as financially stable as it gets right now. The only thing that I have not tackeled is going off of my meds. I tried after I had my first child because I was already off when I was pregnant and nursing, but after a few week of weaning my son off my chest started to collapse again. I didnt tell my husband because all I wanted was to be normal, but eventually I ended up in the hospital and he had not idea what was going on. Same thing after baby number two but I ended up being rushed to a hospital from my new job which then was conviently released from that job.

So here I am, stuck on cymbalta for what feels like the rest of my life and I strongly feel that I can overcome this or at least I can do something that will control just the anxiety and not the plethora of other conditions that it controls. I have always been on the lowest dosage even though drs recommend higher. So I went from taking it once a day to once every other day and things where wonderful. Recently I changed it to once every two days and today I went off the wall. (This makes me cry) This morning my five year old was afraid of me, he was hiding behide my car and when I asked him what was wrong he asked me why I was was being so mean. It made me feel horrible. Though the day I have been waiting for someone to say something stupid or for someone to piss me off so that I can unleash on them. I fully realize that this is the withdrawl and remind myself constanly that this is not me, but I am so afraid that this is going to change the relationship with my children and my husband. Most of you probably think im completly off my rocker, and I am but thats me. I fully believe that if my surrounding world is perfect, that I can finally try to fix myself without distractions. If anyone has suggestions please reply.

[spicycabanagirl]

oh Honey, I can so relate. I think you should go back on your regular dosage as soon as possible and stop berating yourself for needing these meds right now. YOur children and your husband need you to take these meds as well. Please. I am not a dr. nor do I know you or what is best, but I hear whatyou are saying and I was there. My children are now grown. Thank God. But I used to wait for my son to keep pissing me off enough so that I could unleash on HIM. Yes. I remember driving away, leaving him in the driveway one day and driving away, because he got his new shoes dirty, and I was so mad I told him he had to stay home. and I drove away. Today he is 25, married and a father to my wonderful 15 month old granddaughter. He doesn't remember me being such a bad mother. This I do not deserve. Please, do what you need to do to stay calm and balanced. YOu can work on getting off meds when there aren't so many people depending on you. I am now 50, have no children at home and am considering coming off meds in the spring, but I know there is a 50 percent chance I won't be able to succeed. But if I fail, my husband will be beside me and I won't be leaving my children in my wake. I spent over 20 years with extra weight, side effects that include sexual dsyfunction, and a lackluster for life, but I am glad that I did not take my own life, cause my children irrepairable damage or ruin my husbands life in the mean time. This is a serious disease. Do yourself a favour, take the load off by staying on your meds. It's not the worst thing that could happen! God Bless you!!!! HUGS!

[whyknot]

Hi everyone. Thank you for all your input. I stayed at the 30 mg until 6 wks. ago then I started having that "angry edge" some of you are experiencing. My Dr. changed my dose to 60 mg and I feel I am doing fairly well now. I don't have the edge now but I am worried I will get used to the 60 mg then need a higher dose. Where does it end? I have had depression problems for over 40 yrs. and dealt with it on my own. I held down jobs and put two kids through college. About 8 yrs. ago. I started falling apart. I have tried working on my problems with a couple of different psychiatrists but it didn't work. It took me 40 yrs. to get where I am now, I think it would take another 40 to turn things around In response to some of the posts, I do have spine problems. I have had back surgery, both shoulders operated on and I have Leukemia, so I've got some crappy bones! My bones and I are trying to get along ...

luvmylife - I do the same as you. Sometimes I need to be alone and I say I am going to go regroup. You are not off your rocker. Have you talked with your Dr. about your wanting to go off of the med? Have you tried anti-anxiety meds instead? I agree with spicycabanagirl. I think it's so important to speak with your Dr. about your problems because you have a family that needs a healthy mom. Please continue your meds until you can get medical advice to do otherwise.
{{{hugs}}}

[Jamy]

whyknot, on 07 July 2011 - 09:48 PM, said:

I just started this drug after switching from Lexapro. I had been on Lexapro for 3 yrs. and did well but I think it started wearing off. My Dr. switched me to Cymbalta and I've only been on it for two days. It seems every forum I look through, most people hate it, which has me concerned. I was wondering if anyone has had a good response from it? I did notice I felt a little ramped up and couldn't sleep last night so I will switch and take it in the morning instead of the evening. My Dr. also has me on 30 mg. for a week then 60 mg. I'm going to contact her and ask if I can stay on the 30 mg. for longer than one week. I hate to take more than I need.

Any thoughts anyone?

Hope you all have a better tomorrow!

I like some aspects of it and hate other aspects of it. I love the fact that it's worked better for me than anything else I've tried, as far as controlling my stress and anxiety, which has enabled me to start making some changes that will help me cope with my anxiety and the anger and depression that arises from it. But I sure hate hate hate the weight gain. I went from a size 10/12 to 18 in just three years. I also sleep or want to sleep ALL THE TIME. BLECH!!! I have written about my experience with cymbalta and other anti-depressants in my introductory post in this forum. I am totally prepared to suck it up and deal with whatever crappy withdrawl symptoms I have to deal with if I need to, but dang...it's kind of self-defeating to have to go through all that when you took the drug because you were feeling bad in the first place...know what I mean?

Jamy

[tomitsu]

Hi..I have been on cymbalta for 5 years, married no children but very happy. Cymbalta did help me for a bit....but in the last two years it has become an anchor. I have gained weight from size 6 to size 10!! I have also become lethargic and unmotivated in last year. I have no drive anymore. All I do is sleep or stay awake in middle of night-which probably doesn't help weight issue. My thyroid is out of wack(?) also zero sex drive! I was taking testosterone inj for that....helped a little. Anyway I am tired of hiding behind this drug. I am starting the weaning process tomorrow. I believe Cymbalta robbed me of a normal life.