Hi all. I saw my doctor today for a refill of my cymbalta. I told him I was having some nervous energy from the cymbalta, so he gave me samples of 60mg (which I am currently taking) to take for the next 3 weeks. Then he wants me to drop down to 30mg. He gave me some samples to do this for a few weeks. He said it that is too low, he can prescribe 20mg to take twice to equal 40mg. I have no idea what that will cost to do, if the 20mg are as expensive as the 60. With insurance, I still pay $120 a month for the 60mg cymbalta. Very expensive, I think. Anyway, what do you all think? I'm a little worried, but I guess I can just try it and see what happens. I didn't think 30 would even do anything, but I must have been wrong.

Kelly

My guess is that he wants you to try to see if it makes a difference. One of my friends was on 30mg., and did well and couldn't get over the fact that I was on 60. If you are feeling nervous, it's possible that it's from meds. I have an anxiety disorder and I don't feel anxious or nervous, so I guess we're all different on how we metabolize any meds.

Let us know how it goes. Do you have to pay a deductable for each script you turn in? That could be expensive. I know it was a new med and when I paid for it, it was $25. a bottle. I think it has another year or two before it goes into generics.

Jackie

Oh my god!

Think that in Italy is dispensed (like about all prescriptional meds of any kind) by the SSN (The sanity public service) paying only a "ticket" of 2 Euro (about 3$) for 28 tabs of Xeristar (italian name for duloxetine) 60mg.

Wow, I didn't know there was that much of a price difference. Jackie, I have a deductible to meet, but the $120 is still supposed to be a discounted price. I didn't even meet my deductible this year until November, so it will pretty much cost me that much almost the whole year next year.
Yes, he thought going down to 30 or 40mg might help with the nervous energy, so I'll try it. It won't be for another 3 weeks, because he wanted to make sure I had another 3 weeks of the 60mg in me for some reason....I can't remember now. I guess the 30 might maintain the progress I made from the 60? Anyway, we'll see. He first said we'd just try something else again, but I said no. I didn't want to mess what seems to be a good thing up. lol I guess if the 30 doesn't work, I can always go back up to 60.
Keep me in your thoughts in the next few weeks. I'm curious to see what happens. He did say he has always thought I have some depression ( I think it's mainly anxiety), and that the 30 or 40 may not be enough. I know if it costs the same amount to get the 20mg and I have to take two at one time, there is no way I'll do that. A month's script would only last me 15 days. I couldn't afford that! So, it will either be 30 or back to 60.

Are you taking anything like buspar for the anxiety? Alof of folks have to take something for anxiety along with antidepressants. Your doctor sounds great. I wish I had someone so caring.

On another note-did any of the ladies on here notice anything weird going on with your private parts. Sorry not sure how to put that. Aside from the memory loss I've experienced and am still trying to figure out if it was indeed the cymbalta or possibly buspar, I had problems in that area that are now gone since I've weaned down to 30 mg. I took my last 30mg two days ago. I can't believe I am completely off of cymbalta this fast. It's not as bad as effexor but it's not fun. I have stabbing pains in my head and I'm very nervous. I feel very druggy. I didn't notice any side effects though until two days ago when the week of 30mg was over.

You'll need to pm me and let me know what you mean, as nothing weird is going on with my private parts, and I've been on it since it came out.

Americandancer,

Call a round and see what kind of prices there are for this med. I know that some pharmacies charge more than others......

Jackie

Bleh. Will this fatigue ever go away? Will I always feel like I need a nap in the afternoon? I want some energy!!!!!

Are you on a lower dose?

Jackie

I had dropped down to the 30mg, like my doctor suggested. I stayed at that for awhile and moved back up to 60mg the last several weeks. I was hoping that might help the energy level, but I just stay so tired. I have energy for awhile shortly after I take my cymbalta, but then in the late afternoon/early evenings I have to force myself to get things done. You would think that with it being an anti depressant, it would make me want to get things done. I still manage to cook dinner and run my kids everywhere, but I have to force myself to do it and I get irritable. My husband even accused me of staying home/inside too much and not getting out. That really ticked me off! If I wasn't so tired and didn't have to cook, clean, wash and iron, maybe I could get out more! GRRRRR....

I made an appt. with my doctor and the earliest I could get in is Wednesday morning. So, I'll talk to him about the fatigue issue. Also, all my refills are for 30mg, so with taking 60mg, I'm out already. I doubled the dosage. I'll see what he says and assume he'll write me a new script for 60mg. I really don't want to stop cymbalta, just want to know what to do about the fatigue. Thanks for the support! It always helps so much to get input from others instead of just talking to a doctor who has never taken the med.

I have to admit that on the days I work, I usually take a brief 'power' nap in the early evenings. I imagine it's from the Cymbalta. My kids are teens so it's not like I have to watch them, lol! I know it's difficult to get things accomplished in this state. I'm looking forward to what your doc says about it. Mine would say, "It's working, so let's leave it as it is", lol!

Love, Jackie

And mine will more than likely say the same thing, lol! I just want to know if he thinks I should go back to the 60mg and stay there for awhile. I am also going to ask him about taking 30 in the am and 30 in the pm. Maybe if I take the other 30 when the fatigue hits, it will stop. I'll be sure to let you know what he says.

I am on 60mg twice a day and still only pay my $40 copay for 180 capsules. It would be the same for 90. If it were generic it would be only $20. So far I am not impressed with Cymbalta. I think their "depression Hurts" ad campaign is a bit bogus. Sure depression hurts, but they are peddeling it like it were a fancy aspirin. [color="#FF0000"][/color][size="3"][/size]

My doctor's appt. got changed to this week coming up, so I'll see what he has to say then. I do like cymbalta, even though it is so expensive. $40 for 180 capsules is very good, Swede. I'm sorry it's not working for you. I like it, even though it is still making me so tired. But, tired is better for me than majorly stressed out and anxious. I've realized that this past week. I may not even ask my dr. to change anything. He's going to think I'm majorly nuts now, lol.

If my doc can't give me free samples, it's $120. for a months supply as I have no insurance. It's still in the expensive stage and I'm sure the marketing is high so they can get as many people on it when it goes into generics, so they can keep raking in the $$.

I went on 30mg., about the second month to see if it would take the stomach thing away. My doc thought I was stretching it, too. When these meds are new, the docs don't hear much about the side effects people have as they don't have many on it. Everyone I know who takes it for Fibromyalgia reports relief from the horrible muscle flares, Swede. I know we're probably a small segment of the population, but this med was initially made for people with diabetes who had neuropathy, and if you have any kind of feet and leg pain, docs may well try it. Not that it works on the people it was designed for, but you know how it goes. As time goes on, more and more claims until someone stands up and say, "NO, IT DIDN'T DO THAT!" I never asked my doc if it worked for the person with diabetes, so maybe their claims are unfounded. I'm sorry if you aren't getting relief. I still have to take neurontin for restless leg syndrome along with the Cymbalta. They make an outstanding combination for controlling the flares, cramping and inability to sleep due to the symptoms. I've spent a great majority of my life on the sofa with a heating pad, crying with pain. I no longer do. Yes, I now have to deal wtih the fatigue that the condition and the side effects of these meds have, but at least I have a life that is more pain free. I may qualify for disability due to both of the conditions that depression and fibromyalgia cause for me, but the money is better if I can work and I need the outside socialization, or the anxiety would make me a hermit, very easily. Depression and anxiety are so exhausing to deal with, along with a pain disorder that reacts to the weather. I can tell you right now that it's going to rain in the next 12 hours in Ohio, as this is how my body reacts. I can feel it in my hands at 56 years old. It slows my pace down. I'd be feeling like I was walking in water without meds and I don't want to ever go back there.

I hope that you can find a combination that work for you, Swede. It would make all the difference in your life. It does in mine!!

Love, Jackie

I saw my doctor today and he gave me a script for wellbutrin xl and said to stop cymbalta and switch to 150mg wb for a week, then 300 wb for a week. He said that should help the fatigue, and if the anxiety/panic gets unbearable, we can change back to cymbalta. I think I'm going to call him tomorrow and tell him I'm going to just stick with the cymbalta. I don't think I can do it......deal with the wb. The last thing I need is more agitation/irritability going on in my life. He did say cymbalta is very similar to a combination of wb and an ssri, such as zoloft. I had read that before, but didn't believe it. Do you think he'll be mad I changed my mind so quickly? Also, my refills are for 30mg and I think I need 60. Do you I just tell the nurse that and tell them I'll come pick up a script for 60mg? They charge extra for phone in prescriptions. I feel like I am absolutely going nuts! I need to just take the cymbalta everyday and get on with my life. Then, I start reading all sort of negative stuff and change my mind. Can anyone help me?

Or should I try the wb and see what happens? Ugh!!!!! I hate this so much.....