Anyone take this medication..Cymbalta?
822899
I have been on Cymbalta now for nearly 2 years (since February 2005). \n\nI also had a slight nausea problem --- Cymbalta is considered a little bit stimulating since it increases the activity of norepinephrine, a stimulating neurotransmitter chemical.  (It also works on serotonin, just like Prozac and the SSRIs do.)  The stimulant activity might be what's causing your nausea.  The serotonin activity can do it by itself, also.\n\nI found that Remeron(TM) (generic: mirtazapine) helps combat the nausea that Cymbalta gives me, but I can only take Remeron at night since it pretty much knocks me out.  The nausea control seems to work all day, though.\n\nIn general, Remeron very well known to increase appetite (weight gain is listed as a side effect, and is one people complain of often).  However, the right dose might help you achieve the correct appetite level.\n\nNOTE: Please do NOT confuse Remeron with Rozerem(TM) (generic: ramelteon), which is a prescription sleep aid.  They both might make you sleepy, but as far as I know, the latter doesn't affect appetite.\n\nPlease speak with your physician regarding all of the above, and best wishes.
901156
These are questions only your Dr. can answer properly, however, if I were in your shoes, I would do some research on the different meds available for what you're experiencing.\n\nThere are mainly 3 neurotransmitters involved in treating depression, where one of the three needs to be regulated about 80% of the time to fix you.  They are neuropinephrine, dopamine and serotonin.  Effexor is a multiple reuptake inhibitor, which effects the reuptake of two neurotransmitters, namely dopamine and neuropinephrine.  At this point, if it's not making you feel better after 10 months 1) You're not targeting the right neurotransmitter (you may need to switch to a serotonin reuptake inhibitor like lexepro) or 2) The reuptake in Effexor is not working for you, which is not uncommon and you may need to switch to another MRI like Cymbalta or Wellbutrin.  \n\nThe constant fatigue is a normal side effect for Effexor, however, you should get past it in 2 weeks to a month.  If it's come back 10 months into taking it, chances are it stopped working.  Again, this is common for reuptake inhibitors.\n\nFrom what I've researched, Effexor is the hardest antidpressant to get off of.  75mg is a very small dosage, where you can take up to 375mg/day.  It may be a good idea to quit now and try something else.  The discontinuation dosage is 35mg per week; so if you increase the dosage and it still doesn't work, it will take you longer to get off of it.  However, you may need a stronger dose, based on what you discussed, but that is for you and your Dr. to decide.\n\nThese are just all theories, based on some research I've done on antidepressants - I always research drugs before I take them, based on my diagnosis.  At this point,  you haven't described your diagnosis, aside from depression and anxiety.  In most cases a simple SSRI combined with a theraputic does of a benzodiazepine (Ativan, Xanax, Klonopin) usually do the trick.  If you have Unipolar/Bipolar, schitzoafective, BPD, it's a whole nother ball game.\n\nI hope this helps and good luck.
1129537
Yes, I've been taking it for six months.  I suffered with chronic pain for several years, but I have found relief with cymbalta 60 mg a day. I still have pain, but it has decreased by at least 50% as of right now I have no side effects from it.  hugs!
630497
i just resently switched, but i use it because i have horrible panic attacks. the other medicines that i took made me feel depressed and so far this one hasn't. i have only been taking it for two or three months and sometimes it might take longer to see results. but so far, i am very happy with the results with Cymbalta. i also know a woman that took it for depression and she said that it made her sleepy. but i have never felt that way, guess it just works different for different people. best of luck to you!!!
467140
Cymbalta is a SSNRI.  This is a selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor.  It is used to control depression or pain.  Some of the side effects include dizziness, sleepiness, tremors, insomnia, nausea, dry mouth, constipation, diarrhea, vomiting, weight loss, decreased appetite, sweating, blurred vision, decreased libido, erectile dysfunction, abnormal orgasm.  It takes about 4 weeks to feel the effects of the drug.  Do not abrubtly discontinue taking it.  That is all I know about it.
594576
Hello:\nThis answer is in response to your question posted about anxiety, xanax and trazadone.\nTrazadone is an atypical anti-depressant, quite ancient in pscyhopharmacology. It was originally used strictly for depression, but the main side effect was sedation and drowsiness. Many doctors today now use it to help people suffering from insomnia, however it will give you a hangover effect the next day, some people worse than others. If you have been on trazadone for a while, more than a few weeks, you will want to taper off the medication. I dont know what dose you are on, usually somewhere between 50 and 150 mg at night. Taper from 150 to 100 for two weeks, then taper down from 100 to 50 for two weeks, then taper down from 50 and break the pills in half so you get 25 mg and take that for a week. That way you wont have the side effects of coming off the med too quickly.\nNow as far as xanax (alprazolam) this is in a group of sedatives called "benzodiazapines". They have been around a long time, and have been used for ages for anxiety disorders, generalized anxiety, panic attacks, insomnia. The problem with this class of drugs are that they are controlled by the DEA which means they have potential for abuse, tolerance and addiction. Be careful with this class of drugs though, they really cause sedation. I dont know what dose you were given but as a physician I never start someone any higher than 0.25 mg one to three times per day depending on how bad their symptoms are. These will definately cause sedation, incoordination, dizziness, loss of balance and you absolutely cannot drive or operate any machinery until you know how your own body is going to be affected by them. They are wonderful drugs if used as prescribed and used appropriately. They are falling out of favor with new drugs like Effexor-XR, paxil, zoloft, cymbalta, all of which are used for depression, anxiety and panic attacks, and sometimes obsessive compulsive disorders. I would talk to your doctor about your symptoms and you both can make a decision together as to the appropriate therapy for your symptoms. A lot of physicians are becoming "scared" to prescribe the benzodiazepines because they are DEA controlled and the docs are afraid they will lose their licenses if they over prescribe them. My point of view on these drugs are that if a patient really needs them, then it is in the doctors oath to help the patient. The benzodiazepines include not only xanax (alprazolam) but valium (diazepam), ativan (lorazepam), halcion (strictly for sleep because it so incredibly sedating, dalamane (also for sleep but bad hangover effect the next day) and klonipin (clonazepam). They all act in the same fashion but some work very quickly some work very slowly on the body.\nWhen I do use one of these drugs for anxiety disorder or panic attacks, I usually use xanax very low dose or klonipin at a low dose to take ONLY AS NEEDED when you feel an attack coming on. The benifit of xanax is that is rapid acting (half an hour) as opposed to klonipin which takes an hour or so. The best thing is discuss this with a physcian you feel comfortable with and who is amenable to prescribing this class of drugs.\nI hope this helped answer your questions and alleviate some of your concerns.\nRegards,\nWarren Shaffer, M.D.
1029805
I'VE HAD BI-POLAR DISEASE FOR YEARS.  I HAVE BEEN PUT ON EVERYTHING FROM PROZAC TO LITHUM.  A YEAR AGO I GOT A DIFFERENT DOCTOR.  HE PUT ME ON A COMBINATION OF TRILECTAL 600 MG, ABILIFY 30 MG AND LURICA 100 MG. I KEEP AN EVEN BALANCE IN MY UPS AND DOWNS MORE THEN I EVER HAVE AND THIS IS THE BEST I'VE FELT IN SEVERAL YEARS.  I HAVE NO SIDE EFFECTS FROM THESE DRUGS.  BUT REMEMBER EVERYONES SYSTEM IS DIFFERENT, WHAT WORKS FOR ONE PERSON MIGHT NOT WORK FOR ANOTHER.  HOWEVER, YOU COULD ASK YOUR DOCTOR TO TRY YOU ON THESE COMBINATIONS.  FIRST HE WILL HAVE TO LOOK AT ALL YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES AND ANY OTHER MEDS YOU'RE ON TO SEE IF THIS COMBINATION IS RIGHT FOR YOU.  IF IT IS, GREAT! TRY IT.  IT MIGHT BE A LIFE SAVER FOR YOU, AS IT HAS BEEN FOR ME. HUGS!
561684
Right now I'm on Cymbalta 60mg and Welbutrin 150mg for depression.  The Cymbalta makes it extremely difficult to have an orgasm, which REALLY, REALLY SUCKS.  But I can't live without it, and I've tried just about everything else.  The Welbutrin is good...it gives me energy.  I used to be on 300mg, and it made me jittery.  When I first start taking it, I have trouble sleeping for a few days, but that goes away.  If I take it at night, though, I have trouble sleeping.\n\nWhile I'm at it, I might as well tell you about the rest of what I've tried for depression.  Celesta, Paxil, and Prozac didn't really work for me...I don't remember any side effects.  Seroquel made me VERY sleepy...I had to come off of it for that reason.  Geodon (a mood stabilizer) also made me sleepy, and gave me terrible panic attacks.  Aderall (for supposed ADD) made me VERY hyper.  Zoloft worked great for my depression, but had the same sexual side effects as the Cymbalta I'm on now.  Cymbalta is supposed to have a much lower occurance of such side effect compared to Zoloft, I'm just unlucky.  Zoloft is terrible...I know guys who couldn't ejaculate while they were on it.\n\nI think that's it for psyche meds.  The only other thing I'm on is birth control, Ovcon50.  It's absolutely great!  I used to get really bad cramps and heavy periods that lasted 7-8 days...now I just get a dull ache if anything and my periods only last 4-5 days and are much lighter.  YAY!\n\nHope that was all helpful.  Oh, I'd just like to add that all the psych meds make you feel weird at first, kind of fuzzy-brained.  And Geodon and Welbutrin gave me heart palpatations.  The heart thing went away with Welbutrin, but I wan't on Geodon long enough to find out.\n\nOh, also, the sexual side effects are not quite as bad right before you take your next dose, because it's been 24 hours since you took it last...it's good to take it at night, just before you go to bed (if it doesn't affect your sleep), because that's typically when you'll be having sex (take it AFTER the sex).\n\nOne other thing...I've never been on Remeron, but I know for a fact that it causes weight gain.\n\nOk, that's it for me...tootles!
449702
i works really well, i know loads of people who kept trying all the herbal rememdies such as st johns wort and wouldnt do anything for them, and it also reacted with other meds they where on! Citalopram is the one that worked wonders for my partner, but all the anti-depressants in the drug group SSRI's work well, its just finding one that doesn't give you bad side effects. \n\nGood luck what ever you choose
1147134
I take clozapine,I find it really calms my nerves,I've become addicted to it though,so be careful!!
986042
It is the only medication of its kind that quickly brought depression/anxiety under control (for me and other members of my large extended family), perhaps because it impacts both Serotonin and Norepinephrine levels.  Slight dryness of mouth and some fatigue were the main side-effects ... minor compared to the alternatives ... this medication has probably saved lives in our family.
931767
I have taken antidepressants off and on for 22 years.  I have taken tricyclics, SSRIs and what they refer to as atypicals (like Effexor).  I know hundreds of people who take them through my work and they are fine.  The antidepressants allow them to function more comfortably while hopefully they work on other ways of dealing with life and the causes of the depression or other disorder.\n\nBut...as to what we know long term...I asked my doctor the same thing and he said, and I agree, we do not know.  The trycyclics have been around a while, but they are not given much anymore.  The SSRI's have not been around a "life span" so in essense we are still finding out about them.  \n\nWe do know that for some people, they reach a point where they stop working and they much either up the dose, change to a different medicine or add a medicine to what they are taking now.\n\nSome people are NOT able to take them, that we do know. And, we do know that the reaction to them is very individualized...one person may do great, the next person may not get any relief at all. Going off them should be done with your doctor and any of them should be tapered off very, very slowly to prevent relapse.\n\nIn time I think there will be better medicines for us and we will also know more about those we take now.  Medicine is advancing almost as fast as technology.  But, really, I am glad you are doing okay now.
203473
I have never tried Cymbalta personally but here are what some Fibromites have to say about their experiences.\nhttp://groups.google.com/group/alt.med.fibromyalgia/browse_frm/thread/99e602342167a15a/e606c2c121bfc958?lnk=st&q=fibromyalgia+Cymbalta&rnum=1&hl=en#e606c2c121bfc958\nhttp://groups.google.com/group/alt.med.fibromyalgia/browse_frm/thread/d23846ba22437735/3d7f72162ad18c62?lnk=st&q=fibromyalgia+Cymbalta&rnum=4&hl=en#3d7f72162ad18c62
757241
It's great that you are paying attention to your medication and it is important to understand a doctor's decision about your medication. I might be able to offer a bit of a clue to your question.\n\nFluoxetine (prozac) is more widely used than citalopram because it has been around for a much longer period than citalopram and as a result has the trust of the medical profession. Also beware of statistics which you may find in pharmaceutical product sheets. Different clinical studies are structured in different ways which can affect the statistical outcome. It's very hard to draw comparisions from these alone, rather than looking at head to head studies which can provide a better understanding. This is not to say fluoxetine isn't a good medication.\n\nIt's also important to know that different antidepressants target your neuroreceptors slightly differently and thus affect your symptoms in different ways. Your doctor may have felt you would benefit from citalopram more than fluoxetine. In your info above, you've said they both seem to work for the same issues you are experiencing. For many people with depression, there are symptoms which are experienced by all but just in different levels for each person. It's essentially a spectrum. Some people can't get out of bed, others can't sleep and even more are in the middle. In deciding which antidepressant is best for you, your doctor has to pinpoint where you are on the spectrum which isn't always clear.\n\nSee how you go with your new medication. If you notice side effects or you are concerned about how you feel, go back to your doctor and clarify the situation. \n\nBest of luck!
602496
I have type II Bipolar(mostly depression). I take 100mg lamictal, 300mg Zonegran(not frequently used by doctors)Relatively new still around here, but it is a seizure type medication, and 20mg prozac. These work great for me and i am able to live a normal life. In the past I had been taking 2500mg Depakote and felt terrible. I kept gaining weight and got up to over 200lbs, I was tired all the time and did not want to leave the house, My hair began falling out and I had so much edema that you could dent me like rotten fruit and I had to take lasix and aldactone to counter some of the fluids. My doctor would not switch my medications so i found one who would. With current medications I lost the 70 lbs. that I gained from depakote, I am able to work full time, manage my home and care for my children. Life is good again.
946442
I only take Zoloft and Niravam, but my cousin was recently put on Cymbalta...she has had severe debilitating headaches and cannot go to work...She also says she has the desire to mutilate and kill herself and others.
387274
I know the sensation you're talking about. I was on Paxil for a while and when I was comming off it I got rushes through my head (felt like electricity), plus I'd get dizziness along with it that felt a little bit like vertigo. I cut my dose down gradually over about a month or so. Have you tried 75mg for a week then 50mg for a week, then 25mg for a week, then one every other day for a week?