Hello, I haven't posted on these forums before, but I am having some very strange side effects to Cymbalta and I wondered if anyone can help.

I started on them four days ago, and shortly after I took one last night, I started getting a really loud humming noise in my head; a really quite loud, low-pitch hum. And it stayed like that until I went to sleep which was about four hours later, and I still have it a bit now. At the same time I had a sort of tingling in my back, and when I woke up briefly both my arms were semi-numb. Also, when I got up my face/eyes looked really puffy and my eyes looked like they were bulging or something! But it really scared me, although it seems to have died down now, although my face does still look a bit puffy. But anyway, I don't think I'm going to take one again tonight because if I get the loud humming noise again and it doesn't go away it might mean I've got a really high blood pressure or something like that.

Anyway, I just wondered if anyone else has had similar stuff happen, especially the humming in the head, or have any ideas for what it might be? Many thanks!

Dizzy

Now is actually the time when you should go back to the doctor, so s/he can check whether these are bad signs that means it isn't going to work out for you, or if they are merely alarming but transcient side-effects. I wouldn't advise you just to stop, because you will interrupt the therapeutic build-up. Really, at least phone the doc, even if you can't get an appointment - it sounds very unpleasant.
Some people do report tinnitus (humming, buzzing, whistling type sounds in the ear) and I had it briefly too. But it went away. Keep in touch with the doc, especially when just starting the med, rather than just not taking it, or you'll never know if it might have helped...

Thanks moonlightress, I didn't know whether these sorts of noises were normal or not. I would like to stay on these tablets ideally because I did get a bit of a 'rush' when I first took them, which I haven't had with any other of the antidepressants.

...as far as the humming indicating that you might have high blood pressure - only a BP measurement would be able to confirm that (part of why I say report to the doc :) ) But it's not necessarily so. But even if it is, a couple of days of high BP isn't disastrous. Just ask to have your BP checked from time to time, to allay this worry.

I have high BP, and it takes 3- 4 separate measurements (ie on different occasions) to confirm a diagnosis according to International Hypertension Guidelines. If is is raised, your doc WILL keep a eye on it.

Yeah that's true, I think it's hard to tell if it was the blood pressure or something else. I had a quick look on the internet and it seems like it's not a symptom, but I couldn't imagine what on earth else it could be. Unfortunately it's quite difficult for me to see a doctor because I'm not permanentley registered with the one I'm seeing and the receptionists get a bit funny. It's a shame I didn't have a blood pressure monitor with me at the time because it would've been easy to tell then, I suppose. I think though with the fact that my eyes and face looked weird as well I put two and two together and thought maybe it was something like raised pressure in my head, but that's most probably a slight case of the hypochondria! I guess if it was raised blood pressure it could just be a passing thing, as you say. I do have enlarged pupils though.

Here in South Africa we can usually walk into any pharmacy and get our BP checked. Don't know where you are, but do you have such options? Or a walk-in clinic. Or know ANYBODY who's a nurse who has a BP monitor? Just some suggestions...

Oh yeah, that's a good idea, I might give the pharmacy a go. I just phoned one up and she said she doesn't think I should stop taking it, or that it sounds like blood pressure. So there you go! Thanks for the suggestions, Dizzy

Be very careful when stopping Cymbalta. I took this med for two months in 2006 and quit cold-turkey because it was making me feel nauseaus and tired all of the time. When I quit I became violently ill for over two weeks. I thought I had some bad kind of flu or food poisoning or something. Now, two years later I realize what happened. The rapid decrease in dose 30 mg to nothing made me go into withdrawal. Research Cymbalta withdrawal on the internet before you decide to stop. The "brain zaps", also called "exploding head" are documented in Wikipedia. These are very scary side effects. Read up on it first. After getting off of Cymbalta I have stopped taking any meds for depression/anxiety. Now I eat a balanced diet, exercise and try to make meaningful social interactions a part of everyday.

A note to women with small children. Anxiety is a normal part of motherhood. This reaction mechanism helps to keep the mother close to her offspring. I used to have terrible anxiety when my kids were young, now the youngest is 9 and I no longer experience anything like it. Medicating the symptoms doesn't usually help. At best it masks them, at worst it brings on all sorts of negative side-effects.

While on SSRIs and Cymbalta I tried to commit suicide three times. Since I've been off I feel great. Just a little blue once in a while.

Sorry that this situation happened while you were on Cymbalta, Merriweather. It sounds like you are on a good plan for treating your depression. I hope things are better in your life. I know with a pain disorder that lead to depression, Cymbalta has made a bid difference in my life, but we're all different and have different experiences. I have been on Cymbalta since it came out and know about the flu-like start-ups I went through and still get the zaps if I'm late, taking this med. I also had them on Lexapro, so I guess some of us have this kind of side-effect on ssri or ssnri's. Yeck!

Love, Jackie

Dizzy,

I hope you get back with your doc to see if these effects are caused by the med or by symptoms. I know that when starting meds, we're usually anxious and on the lookout for side effects. I have had my blood pressure spike on other ad's, and have had to switch, but I wasn't aware until I went back, that it elevated. I hope you find someone with a cuff or go to a drugstore and get this checked, so it can either be attended to or ruled out.

I'm so tense with other medical issues that the neck soreness is commonplace, as are shoulder pain. Maybe anxiety about starting a newer med has something to do with feeling tense when you are sleeping? I know my life is full of anxiety and I sleep with my arm under my pillow and it always results in the muscles feeling stiff and sore on that side when I wake up. Also, psych meds can result in some kind of tintinnitis or ringing, humming sensation in your ears, so this is common.

Maybe letting us know what dose you are starting on would help. I cross-tapered from Lexapro on a small dose and it was difficult starting this med as I had the flu-like symptoms and when I went back in a week, I thought I also had some kind of virus, but it was the start up effects hitting me. I know I can only take it in the morning, where some ad's I have been or were too sedating and could only be taken at night, so I'd be dosing off during the day.

Jackie

Thanks for the replies, guys. In the end I decided to stop taking Cymbalta, as it was only 4-5 days into treatment, and I am away from my main doctor. I'll be able to see him next week though, so what I'm going to do is start on it again, and as soon as I get the humming thing I'm going to go and get checked out. It was really so bizarre! All I can describe it as being is like maybe feedback on an amplifier or something like that, like a vibration that fills your whole head. I didn't mind it too much, it's just that it was so noticable I thought it was something dangerous. But oh well, I think it'll be o.k. in the end, if I try them again and see what happens. The first day I started taking them I did feel quite sort of 'high' but in a good way, so I do kind of hold out quite a lot of hope for these having good mood effects, because the other ones I've tried before haven't been very good, although I've probably not been on a high enough dose. I tell you something I didn't like though, the fact that they stop you dreaming! In a weird sort of way I really like dreams, & after a few days I noticed they weren't really happening, so I'll miss them when I start on them again, because I find them quite bit of escapism. You'd think being a depressive I'd have bad dreams, but they're normally o.k. and quite entertaining, really. Oh well, thanks again y'all!

Dizzy