HI,

i have been off work and so depressed thta even fter 10 mths I struggle to get out of bed. I have all the classic symptoms to the full extent. i have not found any relief from the meds that i have tried. I was last depressed 5 yyrs ago and put on Effexor. I was on 600mgs and then it did not seem to be helping and my depression came back 10 mths ago worse than ever. i have tried celexa,wellbutrin, and afew others and nothing has helped. i have started cymbalta 4 wks ago and again no relief. i am afraid that i will not get better since this has never taken so long with so many meds not working. I feel that iam in the middle of a huriicane and everthing around me is being destroyed. (relationships,finances etc etc).

For the 1st time ever suicide has crossed my path since I can not continue to live like this forever!!!

Your only 4 weeks into the new meds so it may take time or a dose change. Get yourself up and out to exercise, eat well, and talk to your doctor ASAP!!!

sklach --

Welcome.

You sound like you're in a great deal of despair. You're not alone here. As Nole said, try to hang in there and give your Cymbalta a chance. You're off to a good start, but 4 weeks isn't quite long enough to see the fullness of what an AD can do for you therapeutically. It can take up to 6-8 weeks to feel the full therapeutic effects of an anti-depressant. Sometimes even a bit longer for some depending on the severity of depression. It's very hard when you're feeling so much despair and just want to feel better (I've been there), but try to hang in there as best you can and give Cymbalta a fair shake. Have you spoken to your doctor about increasing your dosage? This might be a good time to take your dosing up a notch.

Sorry to hear that Effexor stopped working for you. Unfortunately, sometimes AD's do "poop out" necessitating a change to another medication. I hope you'll find Cymbalta to be helpful, sklach. It can be a frustrating process trying different meds, but you WILL find relief. Keep pressing on, keep your doctor in the loop and if you're feeling suicidal, call one of the hotlines posted on the home page of this website (scrolling at the top). There's no shame in it. You deserve the best of you and so do your friends and loved ones. In the meantime, if it helps to keep posting here on this site, please do. There is a Cymbalta forum here (you've posted in the Celexa/Lexapro forum) -- I encourage you to check it out too. I think you'll find this to be a caring, supportive community.

Hang in there. My heart goes out to you.

Best,
HopefulOne

This post has been edited by HopefulOne: Jun 10 2008, 09:12 PM

Have you ever tried augmenting your AD with something else?
I've read that a lot of people have benifited greatly from doing this.
Do you also take a benzo for anxiety? That they say can contribute to it too.

Best of luck to ya

You should print this post out and let your doctor read it! Also if suicide becomes a serious option for you please call one of the hotlines or get to your nearest ER asap. You will find relief, trust me I speak from experience. 2 visits to the ER in one month and the cancelation of grad school later and I am finaly finding some relief from the whirlwind that was my emotions. I use a benzo for my panic attacks. I don't use it often, but just having it helps me feel a little more comfortable because I know the ativan is there if I need it. I would encourage a balanced diet, PLENTY of sleep, a hobby, and a nice brisk walk daily. Please let going to the ER or to your doctor on an emergency visit be your cry for help, not something you know you don't want to do. Stick with the Cymbalta for a bit, give it some time. In the mean time keep talking to us. We are here for you. We are one community, we hurt together, and let me tell you it actualy helps to know others are relating even if it is just on the internet.

Also my PM box is always open if you would like to chat one on one.


IowaGuy