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Help ! Fishinghat ? Anyone ? Insomnia :(


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#1 sk8mom

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Posted 08 March 2017 - 11:52 AM

after suffering a Severe major depression from 2007-2011 - I was on remeron 30mg and cymbalta 60mg for a few years, I can't remember when exactly I started counting beads but in a year I was down to 15mg remeron and 30mg cymbalta... I was doing very well, and continued to wean cymbalta (while staying on 15mg remeron) in the past year or 2... all summer 2016 and fall I was at about 10mg of cymbalta and still doing well, during the fall I went as low as about 4mg of cymbalta - 15 mg of remeron...although I had a lot on my plate working full time, full time single mom of two teenage girls, away a lot on the road for work or my girl's competitive sports etc.. In December 2016 I started to get really tired, low energy, low mood and a little anxiety, I freaked a bit thinking the depression was coming back but could not stop work for many reasons,,, I continued that way until February (upping cymbalta to maybe 8-10 mg)...then I saw my doctor and was off work as of Feb 14th...(up remeron to about 22.5mg) then I saw my psychiatrist on feb 23rd...and he told me to bring back cymbalta to 30mg and remeron to 30mg... which I did (being scared of the depression coming back) BUT since then - I can't sleep... I used to sleep very well... now, I fall asleep around 11h00pm and wake up at 2h00am I have a lot of energy (probably too much for 3 hours of sleep).... after a week of this I started wondering if it's not too big of a jump for me ?? too much stimulis? or maybe it's just a coincidence but it feels like it's just too much :(

I talked to the pharmacist who confirmed It very well might be,,, my doc is on vacation until monday, i wean down again much faster this time since it had only been a week I was back on 30 - took like 50 beads out first night then about 20 each night - I took  110 out last night (out of 275).... went back down to 15 remeron... still didn't sleep last night :(

I'M so scared, I was doing so well and now I have no idea what I should be doing :(

 

the other possibility could be my hormones (pre menopause maybe as I am 48) or my thyroid (hypothydoidism since 2010) but I did get my thydoid checked this morning, waiting for results in the next few days...

 

thanks


#2 Raven72

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Posted 08 March 2017 - 11:55 AM

I will defer to Fishinghat on this one but it does seem like a bit of a jump in my opinion. As for the sleep, we just have to find the time to sleep when we can. Our bodies can only take so much, 30 min to 1 hours naps here and there are very helpful.


#3 fishinghat

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Posted 08 March 2017 - 12:32 PM

sk8mom, Hi

 

I am wondering if the Cymbalta increase is causing the issue. One of the most common side effects of Cymbalta is insomnia.

 

As far as sleep, well there is Benadryl which can help and also hydroxyzine which is also a sleep aide and anti-anxiety medicine. Hydroxyzine has no withdrawal and is by prescription. You need something like these so you can rest, clear your head and think straight. Doubtful its the hormones as you would be having some hot flashes, night sweats, etc.

 

You were doing so well at the lower Cymbalta levels that I am surprised your dr raised the Cymbalta/Remeron just because of fatigue. That wouldn't be from Cymbalta withdrawal. It can cause fatigue but almost always accompanied by a host of other withdrawal symptoms. The key here is why the fatigue set in while you were doing so well. I think you are better off now that you are returning to those lower doses. As far as sleep. Well it is a cyclic thing. The less sleep you get the more anxious and worried about rest you become and you get even less sleep. It can be hard to break that cycle. Like Raven said, get sleep when you can.

 

I don't know what else to say. I am not sure I helped much. Please keep us informed. You are so close to getting off the C.  That 4 mg dose is real low. Hang in there.


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#4 sk8mom

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Posted 08 March 2017 - 01:46 PM

thanks fishinghat

I think that is what is causing the insomnia (too much cymbalta in my system too fast) I have a very sensitive system... I was doing well, but probably was doing too much and didn't rest enough... my psychiatrist was just scared that the depression was coming back and wanted to stop it right away... except it's way too much for me now, (he is also very PRO meds and beleives I need to be on them for life) so I guess I will continue going down on the cymbalta until I can hopefully reach a point where I can sleep again (didn't know that insomnia was a symptom of cymbalta - never really checked but feel strongly that it is....


#5 fishinghat

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Posted 08 March 2017 - 05:44 PM

I was just noting that on the drug insert that comes with Cymbalta it mentions insomnia 24 times. I guess they mean it.  lol


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#6 sk8mom

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Posted 12 March 2017 - 04:43 PM

hello again fishinghat,

yes i am pretty sure that is why I was not sleeping,,,, last night I slept for 8 hours straight...first time in 11 days :)

although I am still feeling daytime mild anxiety which is driving me crazy because I was doing so well and had NO anxiety for so long :(

right now, I am back at 15mg remeron and about 15mg cymbalta. (more than the 4mg I was on,,, but less than the 30mg that drove me to insomnia for 11 days straight !!

Now, I am wondering if the anxiety is still from a little too much cymbalta in my system or lack of sleep... I don't know if I should stabilize here for a few days or keep weaning down,... man I HATE this drug !!!! :(


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#7 fishinghat

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Posted 12 March 2017 - 05:38 PM

I would stabilze 2 or 3 days and then if I am alright I would start weaning again.


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#8 sk8mom

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Posted 13 March 2017 - 08:25 AM

well.... another sleepless night last night.... I was so happy to have slept well the night before, I thought things were settling down.... guess not... I can't believe he made me go from 4mg to 30mg... I was doing better before than now :(

to think I was down to about 38 beads without much withdrawal symptoms... and now I am back at 142 and feel worse... It's discouraging :(  been off work for a month already with all this.... I need to get back on my feet soon


#9 fishinghat

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Posted 13 March 2017 - 09:44 AM

I sympathize sk8mom. You know when a dr suggests a change it needs to be respected and considered but the final decision is yours. You have the right to disagree and choose another path. He/she can not know exactly how you feel even with the best of communications so if your gut is telling you not to go back to 30 then feel free to explain that to him. It counts.

 

On the brighter side, you will get back there (4 mg) and get off this stuff.

 

Something to consider is doing a little trick I read about in a medical journal. One dr would take his patients down in dose (say back to 4 mg in your case, you have not been on 30 very long again) and then instruct the patient that if the symptoms get too bad then take a few extra beads to help the symptoms. It takes a little while to find out how many it takes. He said that with time the need for extra beads wanes and the person goes on bead counting. This avoids going all the way back up to 30 mf. Something to think about.


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#10 sk8mom

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Posted 13 March 2017 - 09:49 AM

you are so right.... I do not think I need more cymbalta.... actually on 15mg now, and I might need less than that... I will continue going down until I feel a bit better I think... def NOT going back up... thank you so much for your help and knowledge... very much appreciated. :)


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#11 fishinghat

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Posted 13 March 2017 - 10:25 AM

Your so welcome.

 

You are strong and will make this.


#12 sk8mom

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Posted 16 March 2017 - 04:32 PM

Hi again

Just saw an old post of mine dated mid-November 2016 ...I was doing amazing then and I was on 65 beads (about 7mg).. hard to believe I then went down to 4mg by December and then was on about 10mg in February when things were getting out of hand and I was trying to cope better,,, up to 30mg when the insomnia started and now down to about 15mg with still restless nights, although better than it was - not the greatest sleep and anxiety on some days now... how did everything get out of hand like that ?? I may have dropped from 7 to 4 too fast maybe ?? geez I was doing so well and I know this is not as bad as many of the people on here but I am so sensitive to any changes I am trying to get stable again as smoothly as possible :(


#13 gail

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Posted 16 March 2017 - 05:03 PM

Hello Sk8,

Wouldn't we like an answer to that! And wouldn't we be appeased just knowing the answer!

We are sure of only one thing, and that is​, nothing is sure. I understand that you want to know what is doing what. Same here. Too much of this? Not enough of that? Brain wracking it is.

Amazing at 10mg. Up to 30mg. Down to 15 mg, restless nights. Doing good here and bad there.
What gives? Knowing the answer would bring us recomfort. For sure!

Sk8, it's a guessing game, just like life, a guessing game! We never know for sure.

I know that what I wrote brings no relief, I wish that it would. Just pray for the best even though we don't know the answers. Perhaps, one day, all will be Cristal clear.

Hang on to that!
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#14 fishinghat

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Posted 17 March 2017 - 08:50 AM

Those last 10 mg are a bear. They need to be handled very slowly and often with some medication help to take the edge off. They seem to have a mind of there own.


#15 sk8mom

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Posted 26 March 2017 - 09:15 AM

UPDATE:  finaly things seem to get better, I am sleeping much better, although waking up a few times a night I do fall back asleep quite easily, sometimes I still get a night once in a while with less hours of sleep but still a huge improvement from the first few weeks of March, anxiety seem to have left me since the past few days... I am now on 15mg remeron and about a little less than 15mg of cymbalta (taking 144 beads out from 275)... I will continue to taper much slower this time and I will know now not to go back up too much ...

thanks for all your help and support  xoxox


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#16 fishinghat

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Posted 26 March 2017 - 03:16 PM

Great, remember our motto...Time and patience. You will make it with that attitude. You are a strong women and I admire you for it. 


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#17 sk8mom

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Posted 26 March 2017 - 03:25 PM

thanks fishinghat...never underestimate all the help you provide us with all your knowledge on here :)


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#18 fishinghat

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Posted 26 March 2017 - 06:05 PM

You are kind. Just returning the favor from what others did for me.

 

God Bless





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